Whether you are aware of it or not, your smile endures a significant amount of wear and tear over the years. From common concerns such as tooth decay and infection to the not-so-common occurrences such as chronic teeth grinding, there is not much your smile is immune to. For this reason, your dentist recommends practicing a thorough preventive routine. But what happens if you fall short? In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI dentist takes a look at developing tooth decay in the form of a cavity, as well as why you should have your cavities filled sooner rather than later.
Beware of Early Signs of Decay
It goes without saying that virtually everything under the sun can influence the integrity of your smile, and as such, it is important to practice a thorough preventive dental routine. More often than not, this includes taking care to brush your teeth at least twice daily, flossing in-between meals, and of course, attending your regularly-scheduled dental checkups and cleanings.
Sometimes, however, you may fall short in your preventive care. This can occur in the form of forgetting to brush a few times or being unable to properly clean the hard-to-access areas. Regardless, this will cause bacteria to wreak havoc and, likely, lead to tooth decay.
Dental decay is among the most common oral health threats out there, and it affects millions of Americans every year. It occurs when bacteria feed off of the food you consume, causing them to secrete a destructive acid that eats away at the enamel. Before long, a cavity has formed and you are in need of restorative treatment. To learn more about this process and how our team can help, give us a call today.
Seeking Timely Treatment
Though you might be inclined to wait a little bit before seeking treatment in the hopes that the cavity will go away, truthfully, it is much better to act with efficiency. Though minor cavities have been reversed through at-home care alone in the past, this occurrence is seldom.
Unlike a headache or upset stomach, however, a toothache will not get better. As a matter of fact, it is guaranteed to get worse, and it is for this reason that you are encouraged to seek treatment as soon as possible. Contact our team to learn more.
Understanding the Process
To mitigate the spread of a cavity, your dentist may recommend the help of a composite resin filling. This process begins with our team removing the infected portions of the tooth and cleaning the area. Following this, we will fill the open cavity with a tooth-colored composite resin, shape the material to satisfaction, then cure it with a special light.
Schedule Your Appointment
To learn more about the need for effective restorative dentistry, contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI by calling 248-693-6213 and schedule your next appointment with our team today.
