A Filling Can Save My Tooth?
March 21, 2018
Despite how well you keep up with your oral hygiene, tooth decay can happen. Unfortunately, cavities can happen even within the mouths of those who are vigilant about their oral health. Decay can be caused by things other than poor choices, such as tooth grinding, genetics, and beyond. Whatever the reason behind the cavity, it is important to take care of it as soon as possible. Treating a cavity early can stop the decay from progressing into something much more problematic. A filling can save your tooth from further damage or even a necessary extraction. Keeping up with your recommended dental exams at least twice a year can give your dentist can better identify a cavity in time to treat it with a filling.
What Is a Filling?
The process of a filling includes both disinfecting a tooth that has a cavity and restoring it. To start, your dentist will apply local anesthesia to the area around the affected tooth. Next the tooth will be completely disinfected to remove any bacteria; any damaged tooth debris may also need to be removed. To protect and restore the tooth, a composite resin material will be used to seal up the enamel to strengthen the tooth. The composite resin bonding material can be color-matched to blend in with the rest of your smile.
The Dangers of Ignoring a Cavity
Tooth decay is a progressive disease that will not go away without treatment meaning that tooth decay will worsen until it is treated. Very early stages of tooth decay can be reversed if caught early enough. However, once it becomes a cavity, it cannot be reversed. A cavity erodes the enamel, which unlike the bones in your body, cannot regenerate. Without a filling, the decay will progress further within your tooth reaching the inner pulp, which contains the tissues and nerves of your tooth. At this stage, there becomes a risk of dangerous infections and very painful inflammation. A root canal treatment or even a dental extraction may become necessary once tooth decay is allowed to reach this dangerous stage.
A Filling Can Save Your Tooth
A filling can stop tooth decay from causing more damage to your tooth. To schedule a consultation with Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, call today at 816-427-4018.