Almost all of us have heard the words, “There’s a cavity.” The good thing about those words is that the earlier the cavity is found, the easier it is to repair and the more likely that the tooth will be saved. Your dentist will find the spot and choose the best dental treatment for cavities that applies to your situation.
Cavities are places on your teeth where the acids formed by plaque destroy part of the tooth. They’re most common when you’re younger but can happen to anyone. You can tell that you have a cavity when you feel pain with food or drink that is cold, hot, or sweet. You also may be able to see the actual hole in your tooth. A dentist can see early cavities on dental x-rays. Don’t ignore a cavity. It can lead to tooth loss.
There’s really only one way to solve the problem of a cavity. Remove the rotten part of the tooth before it gets to the nerve and replace it with another material. That’s where the dentist will decide which is the best dental treatment for your particular situation. There are several choices in materials for the filling. Metals like gold and silver amalgam (alloy) are popular for their strength. Other options are porcelain and composite resin, both of which look more like teeth and are useful for fillings in the front teeth. Stronger amalgam fillings are often used for molars.
Fluoride rinses or toothpastes are recommended to help prevent cavities. Avoiding sticky foods and proper cleaning are also tools to reduce the incidence of dental cavities. We’re not able to grow new tooth tissue to replace what has been lost, so prevention and early treatment is very important.
Another dental treatment for cavities is to place a sealant on the teeth as they come in. This keeps food from sticking in the deep grooves on the molars and reduces cavities. Brushing and flossing on a regular basis is really the easiest way to reduce or prevent cavities. Regular trips to the dentist will make sure that the cavities you do get are treated early. Treatment of a little cavity is far preferable to needing to have a crown or needing a root canal. Even worse yet is if the weakened tooth breaks. Don’t put it off. See your family dentist for cavity prevention and solutions. Keep your smile healthy!
Cosmetic dentists use treatments such as
teeth whitening and placement of
dental implants to improve your smile's appearance.
