How Checkups Lead To Early Cavity Detection And Treatment

How often should you see your dentist? To stay consistent with routine preventive dental care, you should have an appointment set every six months. There are several benefits to sticking with this habit of attending exams. These visits include professional teeth cleanings that remove harmful tartar deposits, as well as plaque and food debris, from your smile. They also allow your Maple Grove, MN dentist to closely check you for any signs of gum disease or decay. Having a cavity caught and treated early can actually change the approach taken during restorative dentistry. If decay is spotted shortly after the cavity becomes an issue, it can be treated while it only does limited harm. Typically, treatment will end with the placement of a dental filling, a more conservative restoration than a dental crown.

A Cavity Can Go Unnoticed When It First Forms

You can remain unaware that a cavity has formed on a tooth. As it begins to spread, you may not realize that increasing harm is being done to your tooth structure over time. However, you can recognize when something wrong when the cavity is serious enough to cause an infection to occur. An infection results when bacteria are able to access the tooth’s pulp, its central chamber which contains living nerves. At this point, your treatment will have to involve a root canal procedure as well as a dental crown. While these services can effectively stop a cavity, it should be noted that you will lose more of your tooth structure than you would have if the cavity had been caught and treated early.

Scheduling Cavity Treatment With A Dental Filling

If your dentist sees a cavity during a checkup, they can inform you of its presence and discuss your treatment. A dental filling is the more conservative treatment option – it occupies less space than a dental crown, and requires less modification of your tooth structure. Our tooth-colored fillings are able to bond with your enamel and imitate its color. This allows you to have treatment completed without experiencing a change in your smile!

Other Problems We Can Identify And Address During A Routine Checkup

Your dentist is going to look for more than just tooth decay during a checkup. If you exhibit the symptoms of bruxism, or mention aches and pains that are symptoms of TMJ disorder, you can learn about treatments to ease persistent pain, stiffness, and sensitivity. We can also talk to you about sleep apnea – with a custom appliance to improve your breathing at night, you can enjoy peaceful rest without the use of a CPAP machine.

Schedule Your Next Checkup With Your Maple Grove, MN Dentist’s Office!

At our Maple Grove, MN dentist’s office, patients can count on support to keep them free of concerning oral health troubles. To find out more, please call Elm Creek Dental at 763-416-0606.