Chances are at some point, practically everyone will have to deal with a tooth cavity. Tooth cavities are just one of the dental concerns that Signature Dentistry treats. At our Plano, TX family dentistry, Dr. Jacob Grapevine provides teeth fillings, and a range of preventive dental care services to prevent and treat tooth cavities in adults and children. Visit our general dentistry for all of your dental care needs.
What are Cavities?
Dental caries, or tooth cavities, are an unfortunate dental problem especially prevalent among children and adolescents. Tooth decay and cavities do affect adults and are commonly caused by plaque build-up.
When plaque comes in contact with sugar and starch, it activates bacteria in plaque, causing it to attack and erode tooth enamel. As the tooth enamel breaks down and wears away, it leaves the tooth susceptible to the formation of cavities.
As a person ages, they can become more susceptible to cavities because of receding gums. Gum recession exposes the lower part of your tooth which can decay much faster than the top part of the tooth.
Tooth Cavity Symptoms
Tooth cavity symptoms vary from one patient to another. Often, no tooth cavity symptoms are present in patients with early signs of tooth cavity formation. Dr. Grapevine is likely to see signs of early tooth decay during routine dental visit screenings and help to prevent the cavity from forming or getting worse.
This is one of the main reasons why routine, biannual visits to our dentist in Plano, TX are so important. The sooner he can spot the signs of decay, the more conservative the treatment will be. If tooth decay is not treated in a timely manner, it will get worse and may require a root canal or even an extraction.
As the tooth cavity gets larger, you may experience symptoms such as toothache, tooth sensitivity, pain when eating hot or cold foods and beverages, visible holes in teeth, or pus around the tooth and gums. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should schedule a visit with Dr. Grapevine as soon as possible to get your teeth checked out.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Cavity prevention is important for patients of all ages and starts with good oral habits. We recommend that children begin visiting with us as soon as their primary teeth begin to erupt, laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste (if over the age of 2)
- Floss daily – cavities can also form between teeth
- Have a healthy diet, limit sugary snacks and soda
- Visit our Plano dentist office regularly for cleanings and exams
Treating Tooth Cavities in Plano, TX
If you already have cavities or if your teeth are showing signs of decay, Dr. Grapevine offers a range of dental services to provide stability and protection to affected teeth. Dr. Grapevine provides tooth fillings in the form of cosmetic dental fillings, also called tooth-colored dental fillings, which are used to treat teeth with early stages of tooth decay.
For teeth with more significant tooth decay, Dr. Grapevine may use a porcelain filling (dental inlay or onlay) to give the tooth additional strength. If your tooth requires a root canal, Dr. Grapevine may place a dental crown on the tooth for additional protection.
The best dentistry is always preventive, and routine dental care can intercept problems to prevent tooth decay and cavity formation.