Cavities keep us in business. Cavities are the most common dental issue in the world. A lot of it has to do with genetics and a lot of it has to do with your dental hygiene.
Either way, cavities stink.
(chermitove / pixabay)
Brushing and flossing everyday are crucial in kicking cavities to the curb. However, professional dental cleanings are crucial as well to get a deeper clean and remove tartar.
Don’t skip your dental cleanings.
The average American will have three cavities in their lifetime. 25% will have a staggering 11 cavities in their lifetime.
Cavities are common. They are as common as the common cold.
Some More Stats
- 42% of kids under 11 have cavities in their primary teeth
- 59% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 have cavities on their permanent teeth
- 92% of adults between the ages of 20 and up have had at least one cavity.
Cavities can appear as soon as teeth appear. Some people are naturally more prone to cavities than others. Some parents think brushing isn’t very important for their toddlers since they will lose their primary teeth anyways.
That notion is far from the truth. Taking care of your child’s teeth is important at every age and builds a foundation for their future oral care. It also helps to build a foundation of good dental habits for your little one. Helping them to build good oral habits will be a service to them forever, and they will thank you for it. Proper brushing is important.
Cavity Fillings
If cavities are caught early enough, all you might need is a simple dental filling. The cavity in the tooth is filled with a certain resin material that has been customized to match the color of your tooth. Drilling may also be required to prepare the tooth for the permanent filling. The preparation also assures that the filling sticks and that any traces of trapped decay are removed.
The hole is filled with the resin, allowing it to cure the cavity. Sometimes a UV light is used. We take these steps to restore the natural look and function of the affected tooth. We perform tooth fillings in Utah on a regular basis. It’s a very standard procedure.
Crowns
Your kiddo may want a princess crown, but not a dental crown. Make sure to supervise their teeth brushing so that they are applying enough pressure and brushing every area of their teeth. Regular dental cleanings are also important to catch cavities early on so they can be resolved with a filling. If a cavity has caused severe enough decay to erode or deform the tooth on the surface, the entire tooth needs to be removed and replaced with a crown.
We will salvage as much of the tooth as we can, leaving a tooth stump that will accommodate a crown.
What is a Crown?
A crown is a piece of man-made tooth that is cemented to the stump. It is made to fit snugly onto the tooth. The crown is meant to protect the remaining part of the tooth from additional erosion and decay. Some crowns are custom-made to blend in with the tooth as much as possible.
Other crowns are made of metal and stand out. We recommend a dental crown that is made of materials meant to blend in with your teeth.
Root Canals
Hopefully a filling or crown did the trick. But, if your cavity has gotten bad enough and has affected the pulp of your teeth, you may need a root canal, or worse. There’s still hope to salvage your tooth with a root canal.
During a root canal, infected pulp is removed from your tooth. Your dentist may recommend you start taking an antibiotic to cure a possible infection that may be present as a result of your severe cavity.
Once the dead pulp is removed and your teeth are clean and infection-free, your tooth is filled in to prevent future bacteria from making its way to the pulp again.
Dental Extractions
Remember how we said a root canal or worse? By worse, we were referring to a tooth extraction. Removing the tooth is necessary when it can’t be salvaged by a filling or root canal. In cases where severe pain and infection are present, your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction as soon as possible.
After the tooth is removed and the gums have healed, you can replace the missing tooth with a dental implant or a bridge.
Dentistry has come a long way, and we are lucky for the technology and methods that we have today. Cavities are common, so don’t be so hard on yourself if you get one. If you’re doing everything you can to prevent cavities and still get one, chances are that genetics play a role. If you or your child is prone to cavities, make sure you have a Davis County dentist that you can trust. If you’re in the market for a family-friendly dentist, give us a call!