Cavities & Filings
Cavities are the dread for most people. The initial response is “But I brush my teeth.” However, cavities can and do still occur. And while some people are prone to cavities, others may never incur one after their childhood years.
Cavities occur due to normal activity in your mouth. When you consume foods with carbohydrates, bacteria in your mouth begins breaking the carbohydrates down for further assimilation in your body. As they break down the carbohydrates, these bacteria release acids. These acids begin to dissolve the hard enamel that forms the outer coating of our teeth. As the cavity progresses, it invades the softer dentin directly beneath the enamel, and encroaches on the nerve and blood supply of the tooth contained within the pulp. That’s when you discover the cavity, through pain.
Prevention
The prevention of cavities is to
brush your teeth more often, ideally right after consuming a meal. Realistically, brushing your teeth twice a day should keep your teeth cavity-free.
As part of your regular dental checkup, your Smiles by Design dentist will check for cavities by testing the surface of the tooth with an explorer, and by looking at the x-rays taken as part of the checkup.
Treatment
Treatment for cavities starts by cleaning out the cavity of any decay. A liner is often used to reduce tooth sensitivity. Then, the cavity is filled with resin, porcelain, or gold.
Smiles by Design have been using the
Biolase® Waterlase™ laser since 2000. The Waterlase™ uses a combination of air and water to create hydrokinetic energy to precisely drill cavities. Since there is no heat or vibrations generated, most restorations can be done without a shot. An added benefit is there is no longer the high-pitch sound of the drill screaming in your ear. The Waterlase™ just makes a light tapping noise as it cuts.
Another exciting laser product is the
Diagnodent® made by KaVo. The Diagnodent® uses a laser beam to look in the small cracks and grooves of teeth and seek out cavities. By finding these cavities before they are clinically visible, teeth can be restored smaller, and less invasively. This way, teeth can be maintained closer to their healthiest state, by preserving more of your tooth when a restoration needs to be placed.
After the procedure, you may experience sensitivity around the tooth for up to two weeks. In some cases, the filling will be built up too high, and a second appointment is needed to shave down the filling to a comfortable level.
