Most of us have experienced a cavity at some point. They can surface due to poor hygiene or even health issues such as acid reflux. There is good news, though. Cavities caught in the earliest stages can be reversed. In this blog, your Mansfield, TX, dentist discusses’ the benefits of maintaining dental check-ups to catch potential cavities early, how to prevent them, and what to do if the cavity has already progressed too far.
How Do We Identify Cavities?
When you arrive for your dental check-up, most likely we will take radiographs. With this up-to-date digital technology, we can see cavities at their earliest stages. If the decay is just within the tooth’s enamel layer, it is called incipient decay. It can be re-mineralized with excellent home care, fluorides, or other special products. If the incipient decay progresses past the enamel layer it will need treatment. Catching cavities early allows us to treat them with conservative dental fillings. This will help to preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
What is a Filling?
You may associate fillings with the old metal ones, but the ones we use are made from biocompatible composite resin. They blend seamlessly with your natural tooth so you may forget that you ever had a cavity there in the first place! Not to mention, it is a highly durable material that is chemically bonded to enamel. This makes it extremely strong and with great care, a dental filling can last up to 15 years.
What if I Don’t Treat the Cavity?
Left untreated, the decay will continue to travel through the other, more vulnerable layers of the tooth. After traveling through the tooth’s dentin layer, the cavity will reach the pulp. This is the live portion with blood flow. Once the bacteria enter this area, the tooth becomes infected, leading to a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.
Prevent Cavities with a Dental Check-Up
Let us use our expertise and technology to prevent or treat cavities in their earliest stages. To schedule an appointment or to find out more about how we can help you maintain healthy teeth, reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates in Mansfield, TX today at (817)473-6227!
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