If you have a cavity, this will lead to pain in a tooth and over time, could even increase the risk of an infection. But we can offer treatment, and even do so in only one visit! In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about our natural-looking dental filling.
The Causes (and Warning Signs) of Cavities
What causes a cavity to form in your smile? Tooth decay could occur when factors weaken and erode the outer enamel, exposing sensitive inner structures to bacteria. This could happen due to plaque and tartar buildup, which is caused by factors like a diet high in sugar and poor brushing and flossing routines. Your enamel could be weakened or damaged by teeth grinding or an injury too. When bacteria reach the inner dentin, this causes a cavity to form, one which will grow in severity with time. Eventually, you could experience pain when you eat or drink, or a persistent toothache, and when this happens you need care to prevent infection from occurring! We can help in one visit with a dental filling.
Placing Dental Fillings
Once we examine your smile and assess the extent of your decay, we will numb the tooth to ensure you are comfortable as we complete the filling. We then remove the decay from the tooth and thoroughly clean it. We may also etch portions of the tooth. We then prepare the metal-free material, which we shade to blend with the tooth. We apply this in multiple layers on the tooth, and shape the tooth as we cure the composite resin under a light. The final step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. Your filling will look natural, ensure your bite remains properly balanced, and prevent your decay from forming an infection that could threaten smile stability.
Ensuring a Lifelike Appearance
While metal restorations are effective, they may not be safe for young children, pregnant women, or the elderly. They stand out against the rest of your tooth. But with composite resin, we have a metal-free material that is safe for all ages, which bonds with the tooth to provide a long-lasting and durable restoration, one that protects the tooth for years to come. We can also use the same material in a cosmetic procedure to repair minor damage and mask esthetic issues, such as teeth stains or even gaps between the teeth.
If you have any questions about how we restore your tooth with a dental filling in only one visit, then please reach out to our team today to learn more and start the treatment process.
Dental Impressions Offers Lifelike Dental Restorations
We want to help you enjoy a lifelike and durable solution to a cavity. To schedule an appointment for cavity treatment, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
