Learn About Tooth-Colored Fillings
A SHORT REVIEW OF TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS
Chances are, every time you have an appointment to see your dentist in Humble, TX, you're praying that they won't find a cavity. However, nearly everyone has had a cavity or two at some point. For patients who've been diagnosed with a cavity lately, it was presumably taken care of with a tooth-colored filling. The current new version of the traditional metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin substance that fills and seals a cavity after the rotten part of the tooth has been removed. Unlike classic fillings, tooth-colored fillings mix in seamlessly with your own teeth to keep your smile looking healthy and attractive. Because tooth-colored fillings are among the most frequent procedures performed at MINT dentistry in Humble, we would like to review some of the most common questions people have about them.
WHAT WILL I END UP PAYING FOR TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS?
Your cost for a composite resin filling is influenced by many things. Two important factors are the size of the cavity and if sedation is necessary. Treating a cavity is a quick procedure, which means it can usually be conducted with only local anesthesia in a lunch-hour appointment. Though, if you deal with dental anxieties or a severe gag reflex, dental sedation, for example, nitrous oxide ("laughing" gas) or oral sedation medication, is often recommended. If you carry dental insurance, the dentist should check your coverage before charging you for the residual amount. For individuals who don't have dental insurance, a lot of dental practitioners in Humble, TX offer affordable payment plans or accept low-interest medical financing. For most patients, it's cheaper to treat a cavity with a composite resin filling than to ignore the issue until it gets worse.
FUTURE ISSUES IF A PATIENT DOESN'T GET A NEEDED FILLING
Opting to ignore your dentist's diagnosis of a cavity and recommendation to get a composite resin filling can end up causing more pain and costlier measures in the future. If a cavity becomes too large for a filling, the tooth will likely be remedied with either an inlay or onlay. These treatments are bigger than tooth-colored fillings but not as big as crowns. Inlays and onlays are created to be cemented over the decayed part of the tooth after it has been prepared. In the event that the decay has spread to the inside of the tooth, it's possible that a root canal will be necessary. This procedure extracts the compromised pulp inside the tooth, and, in most cases, the tooth is then fitted with a tailor-made crown to seal it off. Not seeking dental treatment can encourage the infection to extend to the rest of your mouth and, ultimately, to enter your circulatory system and negatively influence other areas of your body. Basically, the more you delay fixing a cavity, the slower, more difficult, more costly, and more uncomfortable the treatment will be. For this reason, it is imperative to have annual oral health visits with a dentist in Humble, TX so he or she can diagnose and fix cavities before they get worse.
PRACTICES PATIENTS CAN IMPLEMENT TO HOLD OFF CAVITIES
At this point, you've most certainly come to see that it is simpler (and cheaper) to prevent cavities altogether. Despite the fact that no one is completely immune from getting cavities, there are lots of things we can do to maintain the health of our teeth:
- CLEAN YOUR TEETH TWO TIMES EVERY DAY
Cleaning your teeth with a toothpaste made with fluoride no less than twice every day or after every meal is one of the most valuable things people can do to prevent cavities. The most effective times to brush your teeth are right after you eat breakfast and again after your evening meal. This system will aid in removing food detritus and germs before they can produce a cavity. While it's often not practical to brush after having lunch, you could still rinse with mouthwash. - FLOSS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY
Cavities may occur between the teeth and at your gum line. Therefore, it's critical that you floss a minimum of once a day. Flossing removes the food detritus stuck in your teeth and aids in stimulating circulation in your gums. During your next professional cleaning, ask your dentist or oral health care professional to show you the most effective flossing technique so that you obtain the maximum effectiveness from your daily routine. - PROACTIVE OPTIONS
If you are genetically susceptible to having cavities or simply would like to be more on top of preventing them, you ought to ask your dental practitioner about suggestions for preventive treatments. While they are typically recommended for adolescent patients, professional fluoride treatments and dental sealants might sometimes be good choices for certain adults. Dental sealants are a clear, flexible coating that is put on the molars to help stop different types of cavities from occurring in the uneven top surfaces of the premolars and molars. Professional fluoride treatments assist in hardening the enamel and warding off cavities. For the most part, sealants and fluoride treatments are only paid for by dental insurance for younger patients; however, it can be a wise investment for adults who would like to avoid having cavities. - SCHEDULE DENTAL CLEANINGS TWO TIMES A YEAR
An appropriate home oral health system is very important in preventing cavities; however, having dental cleanings at least twice a year at a dentist's office in Humble, TX is also necessary. In your professional cleaning, a dental hygienist will skillfully scale your teeth to clean away any areas of accumulated plaque and tartar below your gum line. If you brush and floss the recommended amount, there will likely be very little buildup, but most people will have a small amount, typically at the gum line or in areas that are hard to get to, like the back teeth. Receiving bi-annual dental cleanings at the dentist will assist in the elimination of plaque and tartar before it turns into an area of decay. You may also request your dental professional to show you where he or she found the most buildup so you can focus on these spots more closely when you clean your teeth at home.
AN ADVANCED DENTAL TREATMENT FOR CAVITIES
If you do end up with a cavity, it's crucial to have it treated right away with a tooth-colored filling at a dentist's office in Humble, TX. If you would like to find a reputable dentist who performs advanced treatments like composite resin fillings, schedule an appointment at MINT dentistry in Humble. Our experienced team of dental professionals is happy to work with patients of all ages for any existing problems, help them head off later issues, and keep their smiles clean and dazzling.