Tooth decay is widespread and will impact kids and adults alike. Lack of treatment not only means pain in a tooth, but the onset of an infection too. Fortunately, we can offer treatment in only one visit! In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about stopping cavities with a tooth filling.

The Factors Behind Cavities

How does a cavity form in a tooth? For many, factors like a diet high in sugar and starch, combined with poor or improper brushing and flossing, allow plaque buildup to form. These layers cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone, and may erode enamel to cause cavities. Teeth grinding or injury that compromises the outer enamel could also allow tooth decay to form. When a cavity develops, this will grow in severity with time. Your tooth will feel sensitive when you eat or drink, or a toothache could form. When you have pain in a tooth, let us know right away! Treatment with a tooth filling can protect you from dental infection.

Treatment with a Tooth Filling

When we examine your smile, we will look closely at it with digital x-rays, which allows us to assess the cause and severity of your decay. With this information, we can choose the right solution. For many, this will involve a filling placement, a process that only takes one visit. Our team will begin by numbing the tooth to keep you comfortable as we remove the decay from it and clean the tooth. We then apply the filling material and mold it as the material cures under a light. Instead of metal, we will employ a composite resin that is metal-free and safe for kids and adults alike. The material can be shaded to blend with your smile too! Following placement and the curing process, we will polish the tooth for a brighter appearance.

Preventing Cavities in the Future

In addition to treating cavities in one sitting, we can also discuss treatments to help lower the risk of future cavities. We can offer a checkup and cleaning every six months so we can keep an eye out for the early stages of decay, and also remove all plaque and tartar to keep your enamel strong. At home, you should brush and floss daily, and also cut back on the amount of sugar in your diet. If you have any questions about how we treat tooth decay with a composite resin tooth filling, then contact our team today.

Schedule Your Dental Restoration With Delightful Dental Care

We want to help kids and adults alike enjoy treatment that looks natural! To find out more about how we treat a cavity, call Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO at (816) 942-7669.