Your oral health is impacted by a variety of factors and conditions that can lend themselves to much larger complications as time goes by. Indeed, treatments such as fluoride and other items are intended to help boost your grin’s strength and protect against the dangers of oral bacteria and infection. Still, complications can arise that negatively influence the outcome, in which case immediate care is typically warranted. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist takes a look at circumstances in which decay begins to affect a tooth with a cavity, and how a dental filling can help keep your smile safe.
Hiding in Nooks and Crevices
It goes without saying that dental decay is one of the biggest threats to anyone’s oral health, if not the biggest one. In fact, it affects millions of individuals of all ages every year, and it can cause anything from minor cavities to major structural damage.
Whether you are aware of it or not, decay begins as oral bacteria lurking in the nooks and crevices of the mouth. These bacteria are present in every oral cavity, and it is virtually impossible to remove them in their entirety. Instead, our next best bet is to practice excellent preventive care at home and try our best to keep them at bay.
These microorganisms tend to thrive in the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, making the back molars and gumline an ideal spot to set up camp. Here, they begin feeding off of the food and sugars that we consume, causing them to secrete harmful acids that aid in the breakdown of our teeth. It is at this point that a small hole or cavity may form, signifying the first stages of dental decay.
Persistent Damage
The problem that arises with decay is not that a small cavity may form in a tooth, but that it will continue to grow in size and severity if not properly addressed. Indeed, as the infection progresses, your cavity will become larger and larger and the oral bacteria will work their way inside your tooth. Here, it will begin to impact your oral function and cause pain, sensitivity, and more.
Even still, without any form of care, the situation will continue to get worse. Once it progresses past this step, your next viable option will likely be extraction in order to protect your oral health. For more information about this process, reach out to our team today.
Know Your Options
Because the situation will only get exponentially worse with time, your best bet is to address the concern early on with a dental filling. This process involves our team applying a composite resin material to help fill the open hole, then curing it with a special light.
Schedule Your Visit
If you would like to learn more about your restorative dental options or schedule your next appointment with our team, contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 today.
