If your tooth has developed decay, you may be concerned about the appropriate treatment for your condition. Due to advancements in dentistry, there is no need to fear that your treatment will be painful.
Nevertheless, your dentist is unlikely to treat all cases of decay the same. The selected treatment option will depend on the decay's extent or severity.
Here is a bit of information about various treatment options for dental decay.
Fillings
If the decay has resulted in the development of a small cavity, your dentist is likely to apply only a filling. Any bits of decayed tooth material are removed, and a filling is used to fill in the hole in the tooth structure.
The hole develops as acids produced by harmful bacteria in the mouth dissolve the tooth enamel. As more of the tooth material is dissolved, the hole in the tooth grows.
If the decay is caught in the early stages, most of the tooth material can remain intact, and a small filling should suffice for treatment.
Crowns
Dental crowns are applied to cover the tooth's natural crown. If a cavity has grown quite large, a dental filling alone may not be enough to support and protect the tooth properly. A crown may be needed.
The crown fortifies the tooth and protects the filling from becoming dislodged. It also restores the functionality of the damaged tooth.
Root Canals
In some instances, a cavity has grown so deep that it has penetrated both outer layers of the tooth. Once decay has reached the pulp, or innermost layer, an infection may develop, leading to the death of the tooth. In addition, the nerves that lie within the pulp may become inflamed or damaged beyond repair. In these cases, even a dental filling and crown are not sufficient to treat the tooth. A root canal procedure is necessary to salvage it.
During a root canal procedure, the dentist removes the pulp of the tooth, along with any decayed tooth material. The tooth's empty interior is then disinfected and filled. Once the filling is in place, the dentist adds a crown.
Since the dental nerves are removed when the pulp is extracted, any pain associated with the decayed tooth is alleviated. Additionally, the removal of any infected material helps prevent the further spread of the infection.
For more information about treating dental decay, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your local area.
Share14 November 2019
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!