Despite how well you keep your on top of your oral hygiene, tooth decay can happen. Unfortunately, cavities can strike even the mouths of those who are vigilant about their oral health. Decay can be caused by tooth grinding, genetics, and other reasons beyond a lax in oral hygiene. Whatever the cause of the cavity, it is important to take care of it as quickly as possible. If you are keeping up with your recommended dental exams at least twice a year, your dentist can better identify a cavity in time to treat it with a filling. A filling can save your tooth from further harm or even extraction.
What To Expect
The process of a filling includes disinfecting and restoring a tooth that tooth decay has attacked. First, your dentist will apply local anesthesia area around the affected tooth. Then the tooth will be completely disinfected of any bacteria; damaged tooth debris may also need to be removed. To protect and restore the tooth, a material will be used to seal up the enamel to give strength to the tooth. Composite bonding, tooth-colored filling, is made of material that is composite resin that looks and acts like a tooth. Composite fillings can seamlessly blend into your smile better than metal fillings. .
What If I Skip The Filling?
Tooth decay is a progressive disease that does not go away or heal on it’s own. Tooth decay will worsen until it is treated. Very early tooth decay can be reversed if caught early enough. But once it becomes a cavity, it cannot be reversed. A cavity is a hole formed by the decay eroding away your tooth’s enamel. Without a filling, the decay will continue to erode your tooth. The decay will dig further within your tooth reaching the inner pulp, which contains the tissues and nerves of your tooth. At this point, there is a risk of dangerous infections and very painful inflammation. A root canal treatment or even dental extraction may become necessary once tooth decay is allowed to get this far.
A filling can stop tooth decay
A filling can save your tooth from further harm. To schedule a consultation, call Grinnell Street Dental at (307) 672-7567. Located in Sheridan, WY, we also proudly serve the residents of Gillette, Billings, Miles City, and all surrounding communities.
