Do you have pain or discomfort in your mouth? Perhaps your gums have been bleeding lately or are visibly swollen. If you look closely at your teeth, do you see dark spots? Lastly, do you have new food sensitivities to hot and cold items? If some of these things are true, it could be that a cavity has begun to develop on the surface of your tooth. A cavity, which is a whole in your tooth, needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
How To Fix a Cavity
Depending on the size of your cavity, several treatment options are available. If your cavity is small, we may be able to restore the enamel of your tooth with a fluoride treatment. If your cavity is larger, we will need to use a dental filling to fill in the enamel that is now gone. Dental crowns, root canals, and tooth extractions are more extreme measures to fix a cavity. However, if your cavity is large or has compromised your tooth, we may need to do more work to keep your tooth.
Let's Say You Do Not Fix a Cavity, Then What?
If you do not get your cavity filled, it will only get worse. Cavities do not resolve on their own. In fact, if you ignore the cavity, it will get bigger. Your tooth could weaken and crack or break. Worse than that, the cavity could lead to an infection in your tooth, which could spread throughout your whole body.
We Look For Cavities at Every Dental Exam
We are trained to look for cavities. If you consistently come to our office every six months for your dental cleaning and exam, you don't have anything to worry about. We can spot a cavity at an early stage. We can also teach you to look for cavities in your mouth. We want to help you be proactive in your oral health.
Do you have pain or discomfort in your mouth? Perhaps your gums have been bleeding lately or are visibly swollen. If you look closely at your teeth, do you see dark spots? Lastly, do you have new food sensitivities to hot and cold items? If some of these things are true, it could be that a cavity has begun to develop on the surface of your tooth. A cavity, which is a whole in your tooth, needs to be addressed as soon as possible.