Whether it is large or small, your dentist will need to remove active tooth decay from your teeth to protect you from an active cavity. At first, that cavity will only cause problems with your enamel. You may not even feel pain from it. Unfortunately, once a cavity has started, there is not a way to stop it without dental treatment. It will eventually eat through your enamel, and can threaten the living tissue and blood vessels in your tooth. The best way to restore your tooth after that treatment will depend on the severity of that cavity. If removing some enamel is the only step your dentist needs to take, you can expect to receive a filling. However, if more of your tooth has to be removed, you may need a dental crown.

Restoring Smaller Cavities With A Filling

If you have it caught in time, you should only require a filling to restore a tooth that has had decay removed. A composite resin material is used for the filling, which can bond directly to the surrounding enamel while looking like your natural tooth structure. Treating a cavity promptly is important, as it can spare more of your healthy tooth.

Protecting A Tooth After Treatment With A Dental Crown

Dental crowns have functions beside cavity treatments. For instance, if you need a dental bridge, the teeth around your missing tooth are each fitted with crowns. They can also repair an injured tooth. However, they are commonly relied upon to protect a tooth when too much material has been lost to decay.