Fix Cavities

Cavity Diagnosis

To identify tooth decay, your dentist will ask you about any tooth sensitivity or pain, examine your teeth and mouth, check for soft areas with dental instruments, and also look at dental X-rays to determine any decay or cavities.

Then, your dentist will be able to inform you what kind of cavity you likely have, which could be smooth surface, pit and fissure, or a cavity in the root.

Treatment For Cavities

To identify cavities or other dental issues before they are causing symptoms you should have regular dental exams. Regular care will allow for reversing early stages of tooth decay and preventing more. If you can get a cavity treated before it is causing pain, the treatment needed will be minimal. What kind of treatment might be needed will of course depend on the severity of the cavity, and your particular condition. Common treatments include fluoride treatments, fillings, crowns, root canals, and tooth extractions.

Fluoride treatments can help restore teeth’s enamel and has been known to reverse cavities in the first stages. Professional fluoride treatments are recommended, and contain more fluoride than that found in toothpaste, mouth rinse, and tap water. The fluoride treatments will likely be gel, foam, liquid or varnish applied to teeth or placed in small trays that fit over the teeth.

Fillings, also known as restorations, are the most common treatment when decay has gone beyond the early stage. Fillings can be made of materials such as composite resins (tooth-colored), porcelain, or a combination of several called dental amalgam.

Crowns, which are custom coverings fit to replace a tooth’s natural crown, are used when there is extensive decay or a tooth has become weakened. They may be made of resin, high strength porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold.

A Root Canal is a kind of treatment used when decay reaches the pulp of a tooth. This treatment can repair and save the infected or badly damaged tooth, rather than remove it. Only the tooth’s pulp is removed. Sometimes medication is injected into the root canal to clear infection. A filling is then used to replace the pulp.

Tooth extractions are used when a tooth becomes decayed to a point beyond repair. Removal becomes the only option. If you do have a tooth pulled it can leave a gap which can allow the shifting of other teeth, so getting a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth should be considered.

Do not wait to make an appointment if you are feeling pain or sensitivity in your teeth. To prepare for your appointment you can make a list of any medications you’re taking (including supplements), and make a list of any allergies you may have. You can also make a list of questions or concerns that you may have about treatments you’re familiar with or may have had previously. And, in the meantime, if you are experiencing pain you can: use warm water to brush your teeth, use toothpaste especially formulated for sensitive teeth, avoid foods and drinks that are hot or cold, try an over-the-counter pain medicine, or try an over-the-counter anesthetic specifically for tooth pain or sensitivity.

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