Cavities can form in the smiles of kids and adults alike, and treatment is needed to not only stop toothaches, but prevent infection and the risk of tooth loss. With a lifelike composite resin tooth filling, we can offer an option that blends with your smile. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about how we create and place these natural-looking dental fillings.
The Factors Behind Tooth Decay
What causes a cavity to form in a tooth? Each of your teeth are coated in a protective layer of enamel, designed to prevent issues like injury or tooth decay. But poor oral hygiene and other factors could allow the enamel to weaken and erode, so bacteria can reach the inner dentin to cause a cavity. A diet high in sugar and poor brushing and flossing habits could create plaque buildup, which weakens and erodes the outer enamel. Without treatment, the decay grows in severity until the tooth becomes infected and requires more extensive intervention. But we can stop decay and protect the smile with a tooth filling.
Placing Your Lifelike Tooth Fillings
How do we place your dental filling? We will examine your tooth to assess the position and severity of your decay. We then numb the tooth with a local anesthetic so you stay comfortable as we remove the decay and clean the tooth. We then prep the material. We use a metal-free composite resin restoration, which we can shade to blend with your tooth. We apply this in several layers and then sculpt and shape the tooth as the composite resin cures under a light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. In one visit, we can halt toothaches and prevent the decay from becoming an infection.
Preventing Cavities
We also want you to know that with a few simple changes to your daily routine, you can significantly cut down your risk of cavities. For example, start and end your day by brushing your teeth for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, which removes food and drink particles and also strengthens the outer enamel. Be sure you floss every evening to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot. Limit the amount of sugar in your diet, and also find time to see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months.
If you have any questions about cavity prevention or about our lifelike tooth fillings, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help keep your smile strong and beautiful!
Schedule Your Appointment for a Restorations Placement
Our team is ready to stop toothaches and protect your smile from an infection with our dental restorations. To schedule your next appointment with our team, contact Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS in Astoria, NY by calling 718-728-8320 today.
