So Your Dentist Found A Cavity – What Happens Next?

Image

So Your Dentist Found A Cavity – What Happens Next?

By Wright Smiles

Even if you are happy to have an explanation for why your tooth has become sore or sensitive, it can be hard to feel happy about the formation of a cavity. While your goal should be to avoid problems with tooth decay, you can be happy to know that your Southlake, TX dentist is able to deliver restorative dental work that can benefit both your smile and oral health. This is thanks to the modern materials we use when restoring teeth with a dental filling or dental crown. We can make sure that the restoration you receive is a good match for your smile, so that your tooth still looks healthy and natural after treatment. While they are popular for their appearance, these modern materials are still capable of giving you important functional support.

A Cavity Can Worsen Over Time If It Is Not Treated

One thing to keep in mind is that if you put off treating a cavity, decay can become a steadily more serious problem. In time, a cavity can work its way through your enamel, a development that can lead to your tooth becoming infected! This can change the approach your dentist takes to restoring your tooth in more than one way. It can change the type of restoration needed, as you may require more support than a dental filling could responsibly provide, and it can make a root canal procedure necessary.

Arranging Restorative Work After A Cavity Is Discovered

After a cavity is discovered, we can make arrangements to provide the appropriate care for your tooth.

  • If the tooth has already become infected, we can arrange a root canal to remove infected tissues from within the tooth, seal it, and then place a dental crown over it. A dental crown covers a tooth above your gum line, and some preliminary work is required to make sure that it fits properly.
  • If a cavity is identified before an infection has occurred, no root canal treatment can be necessary. If your dentist determines that a filling can provide enough support for the tooth, then this restoration will be placed in the area where decayed tissues were removed. Because a filling only occupies the area where a cavity was formed, minimal changes to your healthy tooth structure are needed.

Regular Checkups Help You Avoid Complications With Cavities

How can you make sure you avoid problems that demand root canal treatments and dental crowns? Stay consistent with regular dental checkups in order to protect your smile from the complications of an advanced cavity. Thanks to your regular reviews, your dentist can spot decay before it starts to cause painful symptoms, and treat it before there are complications.

Your Southlake, TX Dentist Can Provide Quality Care For Your Cavity

At our Southlake, TX dentist’s office, we are prepared to help our patients take care of teeth affected by decay.

Call our to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.