A variety of individuals experience dental decay in one form or another throughout their lives. After all, it is one of the most common dental concerns there are. Restorative dentistry helps to address decay through a number of stages in order to preserve your natural smile. In some cases, however, it can spread rapidly to the point that a tooth becomes entirely compromised, resulting in the need for extraction. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist takes a look at the dangers and harm infection can cause, as well as how addressing it early on with a dental filling can benefit your health.
Stopping Decay from Spreading
Dental decay, like a number of other oral health concerns, begins with harmful oral bacteria. You see, these bacteria are present in every smile, and total eradication is virtually impossible. Instead, our next best move is to practice excellent preventive care to ensure your smile’s safety and protection. This involves a steady combination of brushing and flossing at home, attending routine dental visits, and paying mind to what you are eating and drinking.
Oral bacteria tend to thrive in the hard-to access areas of the mouth such as the back molars and in-between teeth. Here, they feed off of the food particles and sugars we consume, which in turn cause them to secrete harmful acids. These acids aid in expediting the structural breakdown process, ultimately resulting in weakening and finally, a hole or cavity.
A Level of Protection
Without treatment, your cavity will become worse over time. The infection will spread inward and target dental pulp and nerves. Here, it impacts your oral function, as you may begin to experience sharp shooting pains, sensitivity, and more. Once it develops past this stage, there is not much else that can be done other than extraction. Because of this, our team encourages addressing the problem early on.
When you come in for your cavity treatment, our team will carefully but thoroughly remove all diseased or infected portions of your tooth, then subsequently clean the area. From here, we will apply a dental composite resin to the hole and shape it to satisfaction. Once this has been accomplished, we will cure or harden the material using a special light, then you will be good to go! For more information about this process, reach out to our team today.
Prioritizing Your Natural Teeth
The last thing you or your dentist want is for you to lose a natural tooth. After all, they are permanent. It is always better to act sooner rather than later when it comes to your oral health, and a filling is the way to go.
Learn More Today
Contact Dr. Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to learn more about your options or to schedule your next appointment with our team today.
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