If despite your best efforts–daily brushing and flossing and regular dental cleanings–you feel pain when you chew your food, or you have a tooth that is sensitive to hot and cold, or a tooth that just won’t stop aching, you may have developed dental caries. And if that is the case, you are not alone! It can happen even with the best of care.
Dental caries, or cavities, are holes in your teeth that arise from constant exposure to bacterial plaque. Plaque is that clear, sticky film that coats your teeth until it is removed by brushing and flossing. If it is left untreated, plaque can harden fairly quickly into tartar. The damage to your teeth occurs when plaque releases acids that corrode your tooth enamel and the dentin layer underneath. Over time, the cavities get bigger and go deeper. They can form between the teeth, on the root surface of a tooth, and most frequently, on the top (or biting surface) of the teeth.
Our dedicated dentist, Dr. Heather Bobb, will restore your tooth’s natural function by removing the dental decay and filling the hole that is left behind. Dr. Bobb is pleased to offer composite fillings at our practice, which are tooth-colored products that produce natural-looking results. So if you are experiencing a problem with a tooth and come in for treatment, here is what will happen:
Dental filling – we will determine the extent of the tooth decay, which can involve taking X-rays.
Anesthetic – we will begin the procedure by giving you a local anesthetic to numb the area surrounding the affected tooth.
Removing decay – we will carefully cut through the tooth enamel and clean out all decayed tissue.
Placing the filling – once all decay is removed, we will shape the area to be filled with the composite filling material.
Polish – after the filling has been set perfectly to fit your bite, we will complete the process by polishing your tooth.
Once your tooth has been filled, it will function as good as new! So, if you are experiencing problems with a tooth, we invite you to come in and have our dentist take a look. You can reach our experienced dental team in Dripping Springs, Texas at 512-858-7200 today.