Cavities Specialist

What causes cavities?

Made mostly of minerals, the hard layer of enamel that surrounds and protects your teeth is incredibly durable and resilient. However, it’s also prone to erosion and damage from the acids and oral bacteria that reside in plaque.

Plaque is a thin, sticky film that forms on your enamel when sugar molecules come in contact with the bacteria that’s naturally present in your mouth. If you don’t brush and floss thoroughly enough to prevent plaque from building up, it can trap bacteria against your enamel and cause intense spots of irreversible decay known as cavities. 

Why is it important to treat cavities? 

While cavities may begin as tiny, superficial holes in your enamel, they tend to get larger, grow deeper, and spread to other teeth if they go undetected and untreated for too long. 

The longer a cavity remains untreated, the more likely it is to progress into a bigger problem. If untreated decay infects the soft pulpy center of your tooth or advances toward its roots, it can cause the kind of rampant damage and inflammation that eventually requires a root canal or an extraction.

The very same buildup of plaque and bacteria that causes cavities in the first place can also infect and inflame your gums, setting the stage for gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease.  

How are cavities treated?

Having regular dental cleanings and exams as recommended is one of the best ways to catch cavities early on when they’re still relatively small and easy to treat. 

In most cases, cavity treatment is a quick and painless process that starts with the application of a local anesthetic to numb the area. Once you’re comfortably desensitized, your dentist at Arbor Dental Group gently removes any decayed or damaged tissue and carefully cleans the area until it’s free of infection. 

Finally, to restore normal function, shape, and appearance to the affected tooth, your dentist applies a filling. Although there are several different filling materials available, ranging from pure gold to silver amalgam mixtures, resin composite fillings are among the most popular.

What are the benefits of resin composite fillings?

Also known as white fillings, resin composite fillings are made from a plastic and ceramic compound that’s custom-tinted to match your natural tooth color perfectly. 

Besides being the most aesthetically pleasing restoration available, resin composite fillings also bond to your enamel more readily than other filling materials, making them stronger and more durable than other solutions. 

To learn more about cavity treatment or prevention, call Arbor Dental Group or schedule an appointment online today.