Cavities are a painful issue that can impact smiles of all ages, from your youngest to yourself. Without treatment, cavities are linked to toothaches and eventually, painful infections. But our team can treat cavities in one visit with tooth fillings. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about how we place our lifelike tooth fillings.
The Causes and Risks of Cavities
Each of our teeth are made of layers. The innermost is the pulp, the nerve center of your tooth. Surrounding it and making up most of the tooth is soft and sensitive dentin. The outermost is the protective layer of enamel. Tooth decay forms when bacteria can bypass the enamel and reach the enamel. This could happen due to injury or teeth grinding, or the enamel being weakened by plaque buildup, itself caused by factors like poor brushing and flossing habits and a diet high in sugar. Without treatment, the decay can grow and spread, eventually reaching the pulp to cause an infection! But we can treat it with a filling to stop discomfort and save your tooth.
Placing Our Tooth Fillings
If we find you have a cavity, then our team will offer a metal-free composite resin, one that bonds with the tooth and that can be shaded to blend with the tooth to offer a lifelike appearance. The placement only takes one sitting. We begin by numbing the tooth to keep you comfortable as we remove decay and clean the tooth. We then prepare and place the composite resin material. As we shape and sculpt the tooth, the composite resin is cured beneath a special light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. In one visit, we can stop toothaches and safeguard your smile.
Following your treatment, you can take steps to help reduce the risk of future cavities. For example, you can brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. You should also floss before going to bed each evening, and try to cut back on the amount of sugar and starch in your diet. These factors can help safeguard your smile against the threat of future cavities and infections!
Dental Bonding
Did you know the same material we use in our dental filling procedure can be used to address cosmetic imperfections? Our team can use composite resin in a bonding procedure to mask teeth stains, repair minor damage, and even reshape malformed teeth or close gaps between them, all in a single sitting! If you have any questions about how we treat tooth decay with our lifelike and safe dental restorations, or about making major cosmetic improvements in only one visit with dental bonding, then contact our team today to get started.
Learn More About Treating Tooth Decay
With restorative dentistry, we can treat issues like tooth decay and protect your smile from discomfort and tooth loss! Our fillings and bondings are lifelike in appearance and blend with the rest of your smile with ease. When you are ready to schedule your appointment with our office, contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111.
