When you have a cavity, this could be a source of discomfort and leave your tooth vulnerable to infection or abscesses. To treat the issue and safeguard your smile, we could place a lifelike dental filling. In today’s blog, your Katy, TX, dentist talks about how we prepare and place our biocompatible and lifelike dental fillings.
The Dangers of Tooth Decay
Cavities can form in smiles of all ages, and occur once the outer tooth enamel is compromised. The weakened or damaged enamel then exposes the sensitive inner dentin, a soft structure that decay forms in. As the cavity grows and spreads, this leads to tooth sensitivity and toothaches, and could make your smile vulnerable to infection and with it, an increased risk of tooth loss. Enamel can become compromised due to plaque buildup brought on by poor oral health habits, or via injury or teeth grinding. To protect your smile, you need to have a filling placed once you notice toothaches that don’t subside after a few hours.
Biocompatible Composite Resin
While metal fillings are effective, they don’t look natural and may not be safe for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, or those with metal allergies. But composite resin is hypoallergenic and safe for all ages. Made of a metal-free blend of quartz and acrylic-like particles, this is color matched to blend with your tooth and offer lifelike results. They’re also durable and can stay in place for years to come. In fact, we also use the same material in our dental bonding procedure to address common cosmetic issues with the color and shape of your teeth, or to repair injuries to the smile.
Placing Dental Restorations
Our team will begin by taking detailed digital x-rays of the smile to identify the position and assess the severity of your cavity. We then numb the tooth so you’re comfortable as we remove tooth decay and clean it thoroughly. We then prepare the filling material and apply it in several layers, layers that we sculpt as the material cures beneath a special light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance and a smoother outer surface. In one visit, we treat tooth decay and bring relief to your smile.
If you have any questions about treating tooth decay with a dental filling, or about how better oral hygiene habits could keep cavities at bay, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a healthy and whole smile for years to come!
Your Katy, TX, Dentist Provides Treatment for Cavities
Our team wants to help treat cavities and protect smiles from dental infection. Call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849 for more information or to schedule your appointment.
