What Exactly Is a Cavity…
And What Does the Dentist Do If I Have One?
Simply put, a cavity is a hole in your tooth that is caused when acid in your mouth eats through the enamel. Along with cavities, dentists also repair worn or broken teeth, and the treatments that we use differ depending on the extent of the damage to your teeth and the results that we want to achieve.
These are the different options that we have to choose from:
Fillings – These are used to repair a hole caused either by a cavity or tooth wear. The decayed and weakened part of the tooth is removed, the hole is cleaned and sometimes a resin is painted inside of the tooth to protect the blood vessels and tiny nerves. The hole is then packed with filling material, which either hardens within the first few minutes, or is hardened by the use of a blue light. The filling materials we use are all tooth-colored, which means the fillings blend in with your teeth and won’t detract from your smile.
Crowns – If the cavity in your tooth is large or if the tooth has been weakened or broken, we use a crown. First, the decay is removed and then by using the advanced technology of Cerec, we are able to create the porcelain crowns in our office and can be applied the same day.
Inlays and Onlays – An inlay goes on the biting surface while an onlay covers a larger portion of a tooth. Since inlays and onlays are very strong and more durable than fillings, they can often be the best option when we are repairing teeth like molars that are used for chewing and grinding.
Root Canals – At the very center of each tooth there is a core of nerves and blood vessels in an area that is called a ‘root canal.’ When a cavity is very deep or if an injury has destroyed some of the tissue in the center, the tooth becomes prone to infection. This sometimes results in an abscess, which is an area of pus that forms in the root canal. When this happens, that area has to be cleaned before the tooth can be repaired and filled.
Veneers – Veneers are thin porcelain restorations that are cemented on the front surface of a tooth to change the appearance of shape, position, or color of a tooth. They are also used to mask a chip or severe wear. |
