Treating Cavities With Tooth-Colored Fillings

austin dental fillings

Our tooth-colored fillings provide a natural-looking and durable solution to tooth decay, so you can smile and eat without discomfort, and also enjoy lifelike results. In today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentists will discuss how we diagnose a cavity, and how we place fillings that blend with your smile.

The Causes and Symptoms of a Cavity

A cavity could impact people of all ages, and essentially forms when harmful oral bacteria make contact with the dentin, the inner layers of your tooth structure usually protected by tooth enamel. However, poor oral hygiene, such as infrequent or improper brushing and flossing, a diet high in sugar and lack of professional cleanings, could mean plaque and tartar buildup that weaken and erode enamel. In addition, an injury could crack or chip a tooth, which again exposes the dentin. Likewise for untreated bruxism (chronic teeth grinding). Warning signs often include sensitivity or toothaches that last for more than a day. If this occurs, please let us know right away.

Treatment with a Tooth-Colored Filling

Using digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, our team will diagnose the presence of a cavity. If we find one, we will administer a local anesthetic to the area around the tooth to numb it. Next, we remove all decay and clean the surfaces of the tooth. We prepare and place the filling material, curing it under a light as the dentist sculpts the tooth. Composite resin is free of dental and safe for all ages. The material is long-lasting, and can be shaded to blend with the rest of your tooth. This is why we also use it to repair damage in our dental bonding procedure. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance.

Cavity Prevention

In one visit we can treat cavities, but you can also prevent them with daily care. For example, you should brush and floss daily to remove food particles and limit how much plaque can form until you see us for a cleaning. A dental cleaning allows our team to remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. Cutting back on sugary foods and drinks helps too, as this deprives harmful bacteria of a meal.

If you have any questions about what your family can do to avoid tooth decay, or if you have an aching tooth you would like us to take a look at, then please contact our team to learn more! We want to help you and your family enjoy comfortable and healthy smiles for a lifetime.

Talk To Your Austin, MN Dentist About Restorative Dental Care

Our team is ready to help your family maintain healthy and comfortable smiles with lifelike restorations. To find out more about our approach to restorative dentistry, contact your Austin, MN, dentists, Dr. Potach and Dr. Mitchell, by calling 507-437-6312.