At Cedar West Family Dentistry, we recognize that going to the dentist probably isn’t everyone’s favorite activity. However, attending regular visits is imperative for smiles of all ages to ensure that they stay healthy and that we catch any issues early on. If you suspect that you or your child might have a cavity, it is important that you come in for an appointment right away so that it doesn’t get worse. In today’s blog, your Richfield, MN, dentist will explain the importance of treating cavities early, and how we make the restorative process of getting a filling quick and easy.
How Do I Know If I Have a Cavity?
Sometimes, cavities can sneak up on you without you knowing they are present in your smile. Other times, however, you may experience some warning signs that your tooth has begun to decay. Most notably, you may experience pain in the form of sensitivity to heat and cold, sharp pain when biting down, or a toothache. If you ever find yourself with sudden or increased tooth pain, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to find out what is causing your discomfort so that it doesn’t get worse. Often, tooth decay is your culprit, and your dentist can clean the affected tooth, removing the infection and stopping the cavity from growing. Then, the hole left over needs to be filled.
Restoration Without Metal
Until fairly recently, cavities were filled using a mixture of metals that would be created to be hard enough to work with your teeth when biting and chewing. This left people and children with obvious, dark, metallic spots on their teeth indicative of the procedure they had undergone, which many would consider unsightly. Luckily, with today’s technology, you no longer need to worry about the appearance of your teeth after a filling. Using composite resin, we can create tooth-colored fillings that are color-matched to blend in with the rest of your natural tooth, creating a solution to your tooth decay that is practically invisible to the eye and will maintain the healthy structure of your tooth.
A Quick Procedure
Thanks to our highly trained office professionals and our composite resin materials, we at Cedar West Family Dentistry are able to offer you dental fillings in just one appointment! That means that as soon as we find tooth decay, we can eradicate it, leaving you with a strong, healthy smile, and avoiding the worsening of decay that can lead to a need for root canal therapy or even tooth extraction.
Time to Check Your Smile?
Regular dentist visits, along with good oral hygiene at home, are your best defense against cavities. If you are due for a checkup, or if you think you may need a filling or another restorative procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Keller by calling Cedar West Family Dentistry in Richfield, MN, today at (612) 861-7188.
