When you have a cavity, you need treatment. Not only does an untreated cavity lead to uncomfortable aches and sensitivity, but you could run the risk of developing a painful dental infection too! To treat cavities, your Astoria, NY, dentist offers a restoration that looks natural and blends with the smile. But what makes our fillings look so lifelike?
The Importance of Treating A Cavity
First, let’s talk about tooth decay. The outer enamel that coats our teeth protects the sensitive inner tissues from harmful bacteria, which prevents the onset of a cavity. However, poor oral hygiene or injury could weaken and damage enamel, exposing the inner layers of dentin to bacteria. A cavity forms, one that grows in size with time until the inner pulp, your tooth’s nerve center, comes into contact with it. The tooth becomes infected, and could risk being lost! Warning signs of a cavity could include tooth sensitivity or a persistent toothache.
Creating a Metal-Free Dental Filling
We offer an alternative to metal fillings, creating the restoration from composite resin. A blend of glass and acrylic, composite resin can be tinted to blend with the color of your teeth. The material is also safe for people of all ages, and provides a long-lasting solution for tooth decay.
To place it, we start by removing any and all decay from your tooth. We then thoroughly clean the tooth and place the prepared material. As we cure the composite resin under a light, and sculpt and mold the tooth to ensure a comfortable fit and proper bite balance. We polish the tooth afterward for a more esthetically-pleasing appearance. The process offers a healthy and attractive smile in just one visit! In fact, we often use the same material in our bonding procedure, which addresses esthetic issues like teeth stains and misshapen/chipped teeth.
Keeping the Rest of Your Smile Safe
To prevent cavities, start by making time to brush your teeth when you wake up and again before going to bed. Each session should last about two minutes, and use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Before bed you also need to floss, as this reaches what a toothbrush alone cannot. A visit every six months is crucial too, as we can keep a close eye on your smile for warning signs of decay, and also remove all plaque and tartar to prevent enamel erosion. If you have any questions, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Treating Cavities?
We want to help treat cavities and return your smile to optimal health, beauty, and function, so you avoid toothaches and the risk of infection. To learn more about treating tooth decay, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
