Taking care of your smile means much more than just brushing your teeth. In fact, it actually includes a well-rounded preventive routine aimed at prioritizing the health of your teeth, gums, and more. Indeed, there are a myriad of threats and complications that can hinder your chances of maintaining a lifelong smile, and dental decay is among one of the most common. While restorative dentistry exists to address these concerns, bear in mind that time is not on your side, and you could potentially lose structures without proper care. In today’s blog, your Pella, IA dentist discusses the way varying degrees of decay impacts your smile, as well as how restorative treatment can be used to combat it.
Treating Mild Infection with Fillings
When an individual experiences the early signs of decay, what is happening is that oral bacteria are breaking down your natural teeth. You see, these bacteria are present in every smile, and it is up to us to stay on top of our health and keep them from wreaking havoc.
As these bacteria lurk and thrive in the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, they feed off of the foods and sugars we consume, causing them to produce a destructive acid. This acid then eats away at our natural healthy structures, and a small hole known as a cavity will form in their place.
In its early stages, decay can be treated with a composite resin filling treatment. This process involves carefully but thoroughly removing the decaying portions of tooth, then filling the open hole with composite resin. Once this step is complete, a special light is used to cure the material, then you are good to go. For more information, reach out to our team today.
Using Dental Crowns
Another restoration that many dentists appreciate for their versatility involve dental crowns. These caps can be used to protect a tooth as it is healing from another treatment – such as a filling – or simply to contain infection, protect surrounding structures from the threat, and to reinforce your smile’s strength. To learn more about the benefits of dental crown restorations, reach out to our team today.
Root Canal Therapy to Salvage Teeth
When individuals put off receiving treatment, the condition will only worsen. For instance, decay can spread internally and infect the inner dental pulp and nerves. To best address this concern, a root canal treatment may be useful. If a person does not seek treatment in a timely manner, however, he or she will likely face the possibility of needing an extraction.
Learn More Today
Dental decay is a serious concern, and it is not a topic to be taken lightly. Contact Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA by calling 641-628-1121 to schedule your next checkup today.