Learn About Tooth-Colored Fillings
A BRIEF REVIEW OF COMPOSITE RESIN FILLINGS
Odds are, any time you need to visit your dentist in Arlington, TX, you're crossing your fingers that he or she won't find a cavity. In fact, almost everyone has had a cavity or two at some point. For patients who've gotten a cavity recently, it was presumably filled with a tooth-colored filling. The current new version of the old, metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings are created with a composite resin compound that fills and closes off a cavity after the corroded part of the tooth has been removed. Unlike alloy fillings, composite resin fillings blend gorgeously with your natural teeth to keep your smile looking flawless. Because tooth-colored fillings are one of the most common procedures performed at MINT dentistry in North Arlington, we want to discuss a number of the more routine questions people ask about them.
HOW MUCH WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOOTH-COLORED CAVITY FILLINGS?
A patient's cost for a tooth-colored filling is determined by many things. Two important issues are the size of the cavity and whether sedation will be necessary. Filling a cavity is a simple procedure, which means it can generally be completed with just local anesthesia in a brief appointment. However, if you experience dental fears or a severe gag reflex, sedation, for example, nitrous oxide ("laughing" gas) or oral-conscious medication, could be suggested. For people who have dental insurance, the dental office can make sure of your coverage before charging you for the left-over amount. For individuals who don't have insurance, many dental practices in Arlington, TX offer flexible payment options or allow low-interest medical financing. In most cases, it's cheaper to treat a cavity with a composite resin filling than to disregard the problem until it gets worse.
FUTURE ISSUES IF YOU DON'T GET A NEEDED FILLING
Deciding to disregard your dentist's discovery of a cavity and recommendation to get a tooth-colored filling can cause more concerns and costlier measures in the long run. In the event that a cavity grows too big for a tooth-colored filling, it will likely be addressed with either an inlay or onlay. These treatments are more expansive than composite resin fillings but not as big as crowns. Inlays and onlays are specially crafted to fit over the decayed part of the tooth once it has been prepared. In the event that the decay has spread to the pulp of the tooth, it's possible that a root canal will be necessary. Root canal therapy extracts the infected pulp inside the tooth, and, often, the tooth is then covered with personalized crown to seal it off. Putting off dental treatment can allow the infection to extend to your other teeth, gums, and jawbone and, sooner or later, to get into your circulatory system and impact your general health. In short, the more you delay treating a cavity, the longer, more difficult, more expensive, and more unpleasant the treatment will be. Therefore, it is necessary to schedule yearly oral health checkups with your dentist in Arlington, TX so they can diagnose and treat cavities early.
STEPS YOU CAN IMPLEMENT TO AVOID CAVITIES
By now, you've likely figured out that it would be smarter (and cheaper) to head off cavities altogether. Despite the fact that nobody is completely immune from ending up with cavities, there are several things we can do to maintain the health of our teeth:
- CLEAN YOUR TEETH TWICE A DAY
Brushing your teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride no less than twice every day or after you eat is one of the most important things you can do to ward off cavities. The best times to brush are after having breakfast, as well as after dinner. This practice will help with scrubbing off food particles and germs before they can create a cavity. Though it's often not easy to brush after eating lunch, you could still rinse your mouth with mouthwash. - PREVENTIVE TREATMENTS
For those who are genetically susceptible to getting cavities or just want to be more diligent about avoiding them, you might ask your dentist about options for preventive treatments. Though they are usually suggested for adolescent patients, dental sealants and professional fluoride treatments might sometimes be effective options for many adults. Dental sealants are created with a transparent, flexible coating that is applied to the molars to help prevent pit and fissure cavities from developing in the rough top surfaces of the back teeth. Professional fluoride treatments help in supporting the enamel and preventing cavities. Usually, molar sealants and fluoride treatments are just included with dental insurance for child patients, but it's a wise investment for adults who would like to avoid having cavities. - GET DENTAL CLEANINGS TWICE PER YEAR
An appropriate home oral health system is very important in preventing cavities, but having professional cleanings at least twice a year at a dental practice in Arlington, TX is also imperative. In your professional cleaning, the dental hygienist will carefully scale your enamel to scrape off any spots of built-up plaque and tartar below your gumline. For those who brush and floss the recommended amount, there will likely be very little plaque and tartar, but the majority of individuals will have varying amounts, usually at the gumline or in areas that are hard to reach, for example, the back teeth. Having biannual dental cleanings from the dentist will facilitate the elimination of plaque and tartar before it can develop into a cavity. You might also ask your dental practitioner to show you where they removed the most plaque and tartar so you can pay attention to these areas more closely each time you clean your teeth at home. - FLOSS EVERY DAY
Cavities may form between the teeth and at your gumline. That's why it's important that you floss at least once every day. Flossing gets rid of the food detritus stuck in your teeth and aids in stimulating blood circulation in your gums. During your next professional cleaning, ask your dentist or hygienist to show you the proper flossing technique to ensure that you obtain the optimal benefits from your oral health care routine.
AN ADVANCED DENTAL TREATMENT FOR CAVITIES
If you ever develop a cavity, it's important to get it treated as soon as possible with a tooth-colored filling at a dentist's office in Arlington, TX. If you are in the market for an experienced dentist who provides innovative treatments such as tooth-colored fillings, schedule an appointment at MINT dentistry in North Arlington. Our experienced team of dental professionals is happy to work with everyone for any current issues, help them prevent future issues, and keep their teeth in top form.