When you have a toothache, this could often mean the presence of a cavity and the need for treatment. Our team can help with a lifelike and durable dental filling. In today’s blog, your Maple Grove, MN, dentist explains how we help restore the health and beauty of a tooth with a lifelike dental filling.
The Warning Signs and Causes of Tooth Decay
What are the warning signs of a cavity? If you have a checkup every six months, then our team can likely catch cavities in the earliest stages of demineralization, before your tooth hurts. Otherwise, you may not realize your tooth needs care until it hurts, and at this stage the decay is advanced and the risk of infection is higher. Cavities form when harmful oral bacteria encounter the sensitive layers of dentin beneath the outer enamel. This happens when the enamel is eroded or damaged, through factors like poor brushing and flossing, a diet high in sugar, sports injuries, or teeth grinding. Without treatment, the decay will grow and spread throughout your tooth!
Placing Dental Fillings
When you see our team, we will carefully examine your smile with digital imaging and x-ray technology, so we can identify the position and assess the severity of your decay. We then numb the tooth so you are relaxed and comfortable as we remove the decay and clean the tooth. Finally, we place the filling material and sculpt the tooth as the material cures beneath a light. Instead of metal, we use composite resin, a blend of acrylic and glass-like particles that is metal-free and safe for all ages. We can shade this to blend with your tooth. Along with treating cavities, this material can also be used on a dental bonding procedure to mask common cosmetic imperfections.
Protecting Smiles
You can also take steps to help lower the risk of cavities, so you avoid them altogether. To do so, be sure you cut back on the amount of sugar in your diet, as this feeds harmful bacteria to create plaque buildup and weaken enamel. Make sure you brush and floss daily to remove stray food and drink particles, and that you see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months. We will monitor your smile and also remove all plaque and tartar to safeguard your teeth. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat tooth decay, or if you have an aching tooth that needs a composite resin dental filling, then contact our team today.
Do You Need Custom Dental Restorations?
If you need treatment for your aching tooth, then call Elm Creek Dental in Maple Grove, MN at (763)416-0606! Our team can help with the placement of a durable and lifelike dental crown.