A Lifelike Solution For Cavities

Posted October 28, 2022

When children have an aching tooth, this could mean the presence of tooth decay. To bring relief and prevent an infection, our team can place a metal-free dental filling. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about how our team can treat a cavity in only one visit.

Recognizing Tooth Decay

How do you know if your child may have a cavity? Tooth decay could cause tooth sensitivity when your little one eats or drinks, or a persistent toothache that doesn’t fade with time and instead grows more severe. At this stage, the decay is pretty advanced and the risk of an infection is elevated. The decay could be caused by poor oral hygiene, which leads to plaque buildup and weakened enamel, or even an injury to the tooth. Treatment is essentially to prevent major discomfort and the risk of tooth loss!

Treatment with a Dental Filling

We will begin by thoroughly examining the tooth with digital x-rays and intraoral camera technology to identify the position of the tooth and assess the severity of the cavity. We then numb the tooth with a local anesthetic, and could discuss sedation to help your child enter a calm and relaxed state throughout the process if he or she has dental anxiety.

We then remove the decay from the tooth and thoroughly clean it. The composite resin material, which is metal-free and able to be color-matched to blend with the tooth, is applied in several layers. We sculpt and mold the tooth under a special light. The last step is to polish the tooth thoroughly for a brighter appearance and a smoother surface. The entire filling placement process only takes one visit to complete!

Prevention

Our team can also discuss options for preventing cavities from forming. With a visit every six months, we can watch for the earliest signs of decay and also remove all harmful plaque from the tooth. We can apply fluoride gel to strengthen the outer enamel, and dental sealants to coat the rear teeth and prevent food particles from being trapped where kids have a hard time reaching when they brush and floss. Speaking of, make sure your children brush twice a day for two minutes, and that they floss every evening. Kids should use a fluoride toothpaste too, a rice sized amount for those three and younger, a pea sized amount for those three and older.

If you have any questions about treating a cavity, then contact our team today to learn more.

Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Treats Cavities

We want to help kids stay free of painful dental cavities. If you have any questions about treating a dental cavity, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.