Discover Tooth-Colored Fillings
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS
Odds are, every time you are planning to visit your dental practitioner in Houston, TX, you're hoping that he or she won't say you have a cavity. In fact, nearly everyone will get a cavity or two sometime. For patients who've been treated for a cavity recently, it was probably filled with a tooth-colored filling. An innovative alternative to the old, alloy fillings, tooth-colored fillings are produced with a composite resin substance that fills and closes off a cavity after the unhealthy area has been taken out. Unlike classic fillings, tooth-colored fillings match perfectly with your natural teeth to keep them looking flawless. Since tooth-colored fillings are among the top procedures conducted at MINT dentistry in South Houston, we would like to go over a few of the more routine questions people want to know about them.
WHAT WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR COMPOSITE RESIN FILLINGS?
Your price for a composite resin filling is influenced by many factors. Two main factors are the diameter of the cavity and whether any sedation is necessary. Treating a cavity is a quick procedure, which means it can generally be completed with just local anesthesia in a lunch-hour appointment. However, if you experience dental fears or a strong gag reflex, sedation, for example, nitrous oxide ("laughing" gas) or oral-conscious medication, could be recommended. For those who have dental insurance, the dentist can make sure of your coverage before charging you for the remaining amount. If you don't carry dental insurance, several dental practitioners in Houston, TX offer flexible payment options or accept low-interest medical financing. In most cases, it's cheaper to treat a cavity with a composite resin filling than to avoid the issue until it gets bigger.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS IF YOU DON'T GET A NEEDED FILLING
Opting to ignore your dentist's diagnosis of a cavity and recommendation to receive a tooth-colored filling can end up causing more concerns and more expensive fixes in the long run. If a cavity grows too large for a tooth-colored filling, it may be treated with either an inlay or onlay. Inlays and onlays are more expansive than tooth-colored fillings but less substantial than crowns. Inlays and onlays are individually made to cover the decayed area after it has been prepared. If the decay has gotten to the interior of the tooth, it's possible that a root canal will be required. A root canal extracts the compromised pulp inside the tooth, and, in most cases, the tooth is then fitted with specialized crown for protection. Avoiding dental treatment can allow the infection to move on to the rest of your mouth and, eventually, to enter your circulatory system and negatively influence your body in general. In short, the more you delay fixing a cavity, the more protracted, more invasive, more expensive, and more painful the treatment will be. For this reason, it is crucial to get yearly oral health exams with your dentist in Houston, TX so he or she can find and fix cavities before they get worse.
PRACTICES YOU CAN IMPLEMENT TO AVOID CAVITIES
At this point, you've probably figured out that it would be wiser (and less expensive) to head off cavities from the get go. While nobody is totally immune from developing cavities, there are several things everyone can do to maintain the health of our teeth:
- PROACTIVE OPTIONS
For those who are predisposed to getting cavities or simply would like to be more diligent about avoiding them, you could ask your dental practitioner about options for preventive treatments. Though they are usually suggested for younger patients, dental sealants and professional fluoride treatments might sometimes be effective choices for some adults. Dental sealants are created with a clear, malleable material that is situated on the back teeth to help control pit and fissure cavities from forming in the uneven top surfaces of the back teeth. Professional fluoride treatments aid in strengthening the enamel and preventing cavities. Usually, sealants and professional fluoride treatments are only paid for by dental insurance for younger patients; however, it can be a wise investment for older patients who want to prevent having cavities. - HAVE DENTAL CLEANINGS TWO TIMES A YEAR
A sufficient home oral health regimen is particularly important in avoiding cavities; however, having dental cleanings two times per year at a dental practice in Houston, TX is also essential. In your professional cleaning, your dental hygienist will carefully scale your teeth to remove any spots of accumulated plaque and tartar under your gumline. Among individuals who brush and floss every day, there is usually very little accumulation, though most people will have some, usually at the gumline or in areas that aren't easy to reach, such as the molars. Getting twice yearly dental cleanings at your dentist will ease the elimination of plaque and tartar before it turns into a problem. You could also request your dental professional to show you where he or she found the most plaque and tartar so you can focus on these spots more closely while you brush at home. - CLEAN YOUR TEETH AFTER EVERY MEAL
Cleaning your teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride at least twice per day or after every meal is one of the best things people can do to prevent cavities. The most effective times to brush your teeth are in the morning after breakfast and again after having your evening meal. This routine will aid in removing food detritus and bacteria before they start to produce a cavity. Though it's typically not feasible to brush after eating lunch, you can still rinse your mouth with mouthwash. - FLOSS EVERY DAY
Cavities sometimes form between your teeth and along your gumline. Therefore, it's important that you floss at least once per day. Flossing gets rid of any food detritus stuck between your teeth and helps to stimulate blood circulation in your gums. During your next professional cleaning, ask your dentist or someone on his or her team to demonstrate the best flossing technique so that you get the most benefits from your oral health care routine.
A MODERN DENTAL MANAGEMENT OPTION FOR CAVITIES
In the event that you ever develop a cavity, you should have it treated promptly with a tooth-colored filling at a dental practice in Houston, TX. If you would like to find a reputable dental practitioner who provides up-to-date treatments such as tooth-colored fillings, schedule an appointment at MINT dentistry in South Houston. Our incredible crew of dental professionals is happy to work with younger and older patients for any current issues, help them head off future concerns, and keep their smiles clean and dazzling.