Do you attend dental visits for cleaning and examination regularly? If you have waited longer than six months since your last visit, it is time to make an appointment to prevent and treat possible decay. When you skip your visits, food debris and oral bacteria can build plaque that wears the surface of your teeth. The routine removal of plaque allows us to prevent the formation of cavities in your enamel. When this protective barrier breaks, it exposes the insides to infection and further damage to your tooth.
To prevent plaque from causing decay, pursue rigorous oral hygiene habits and visit our office twice per year. At your Maple Grove, MN dentist’s office, we can help you restore a tooth that receives a cavity. Remember that the earlier we detect decay, the more conservative treatment we can apply, so do not skip any examinations!
Restoring Your Tooth And Removing Decay
Tooth decay occurs when plaque and tartar deposits form and are not removed promptly. As bacteria feed on debris from food and drink, they produce acids that wear away at your enamel. Eventually, cavities cause holes that permanently alter your tooth’s structure and grow in size. Over time, they can become large enough to crack your tooth, infect the pulp, or destroy enough material to require extraction. Fortunately, your dentist can prevent additional degradation by removing decaying material and cleaning your plaque. Depending upon the extent of your decay, we will place a permanent restoration to support your tooth and return a healthy appearance.
Dental Fillings
When we discover a cavity during your checkup, we can treat less severe decay with a dental filling. Using a tooth-colored composite resin, we protect your tooth’s structure from re-infection by sealing the decayed area. Modern materials allow us to match your tooth’s natural color and shape compared to metal fillings. While it can be frustrating to learn your cavity needs treatment, catching decay early allows us to preserve the majority of your healthy tooth.
Dental Crowns
If decay progresses past treatment with a filling, dental crowns can provide more serious support for your damaged tooth. This treatment surrounds the entirety of your tooth above your gums and closely mimics its shape to fit neatly in your bite. To ensure a precise fit, we use modern imaging technology to design your crown. Depending on your esthetic and functional needs, we select from a variety of materials to restore your tooth.
ABOUT YOUR MAPLE GROVE, MN, DENTIST:
To speak with Dr. Richard Carter at Elm Creek Dental, or to schedule your next dental appointment, call our Maple Grove, MN, office today at (763) 416-0606. We proudly service the residents of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Rogers, Elk River, Osseo, Otsego, Plymouth, Wayzata, and surrounding communities.