Although your dentist is the best person to evaluate your smile for treatment, let’s talk about
whether your cavity will need just a filling or if a root canal would be your best form of care.

When a Filling Is All That’s Needed

If your tooth isn’t discolored and you’re only experiencing minor pain or sensitivity, your dentist
may be able to repair the tooth with a simple filling.

When tooth decay happens, bacteria eat through the first layer of your teeth, the enamel. The
decay may progress to the second, softer layer, the dentin, and results in a cavity. If your cavity
has not progressed to the third layer of the tooth—the nerve tissue—a filling should suffice.

Getting a filling is a relatively simple procedure and you and your dentist can talk about what
filling material would suit you best. Although your filling will need to be replaced at some point
in your life, it shouldn’t get worse with the proper home care and dentist visits!

When Root Canal Therapy Could Help

Some people may have cavities that are beyond repair or be experiencing other symptoms that
will result in the need for a root canal. For instance, if your cavity is large enough or deep
enough that it would be impossible for a filling to repair your tooth, root canal therapy may be
the most appropriate form of treatment.

If your tooth is discolored in any way, such as having a brown or yellow hue that’s noticeably
different from the other teeth, the nerve tissue inside your tooth may be dead. In this case, a
root canal is the best treatment. If you’re experiencing severe tooth sensitivity or pain, you may
need a root canal.

Fortunately, a root canal isn’t much different from getting a filling these days. Technology has
made it possible for your root canal to be performed with no pain and you’ll be able to save
your natural tooth!

Which Do You Need?

If your cavity is a relatively normal size and not accompanied by discoloration, pain, or
sensitivity, you may just need a filling. However, if your cavity is large, has cracked your tooth,
or is causing you pain and sensitivity, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy to save
your tooth.

Whether you need a filling or a root canal, you’ll still be able to save your natural tooth, which
is the most important thing. When you can keep your natural tooth, you’re saving a part of your
smile that would otherwise need to be replaced with a cosmetic dentistry option!

If you’re seeing evidence of a cavity, don’t delay in making an appointment with your dentist.
Prompt treatment can prevent your cavity from turning into a problem that needs root canal
therapy to fix!

The post Is a Filling Okay, or Will I Need a Root Canal? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Signs to Watch Out For

You should be monitoring your child’s brushing habits until they’re old enough to brush and floss on their own. However, it’s still a good idea to check in with your children regularly to see how they’re doing with their oral care. It’s easy for kids to neglect to brush for the two full minutes or to miss spots!

Watch out for bleeding during brushing. You can do this by observing your child rinsing out their mouth after brushing: any pink or red in the sink could be a sign of gum disease! You may also see if your child has red or swollen gums. Gums that look red or puffy could indicate a problem. If your child complains that brushing hurts, their teeth and gums may be sore from gum disease.

Effects of Gum Disease

Children who suffer from gum disease can have both short-term and long-term effects. Your child may experience temporary tooth sensitivity, especially if their gums are beginning to pull back from their teeth to reveal tooth roots. The sensitivity may range from mild to severe depending on how advanced the gum disease has gotten.

Your child may also experience a loss of alveolar bone. This is the bone that helps hold the teeth in place, also known as the tooth’s socket. When alveolar bone is lost, teeth can become loose. This increases the chances that your child may lose their teeth as a result of gum disease. A checkup with your dentist can determine if gum disease is the culprit behind loose or sensitive teeth!

What You Can Do

If your child hasn’t been getting regular dental checkups, now’s the time to start! Your local dentist can examine your child’s teeth and look for signs of gum disease. If gum disease is present, your dentist will likely conduct a deep cleaning to clear away plaque and any infection around the tooth roots to help restore oral health.

However, this is only part of the treatment. Addressing the habits that made gum disease possible will also be part of your visit. Although sometimes a child will be reluctant to take advice from a parent, hearing it from a dentist can make a difference. Your kid-friendly dentist can help motivate your child to take better care of their smile!

Gum disease in children can go unnoticed until signs and symptoms begin to appear. Take your child in for regular dental exams to ensure his or her teeth and gums are healthy. If signs of gum disease are apparent in-between visits, schedule a visit sooner. Encourage your child to brush, floss, and eat healthy. We only get one set of adult teeth!

The post Gum Disease in Children: Signs, Effects, and What You Can Do appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

How Does a Cavity Form?

Cavities are formed by tooth decay over a period of time. Decay is caused by bacteria and acidic conditions that allow bacteria to thrive. When we brush and floss, we remove much of the harmful bacteria. That’s why proper care on a daily basis is vital for cavity prevention.

Sugary foods, sodas, and other highly acidic foods and beverages speed up the growth of bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria results in plaque and eventually tartar. The bacteria destroy the minerals that make up tooth enamel, the protective layer on the outside of a tooth. A cavity occurs when enamel has been worn away to the point that the tooth is permanently pitted.

What Can Happen if I Don’t Get It Filled?

Unfortunately, once a cavity forms, you can’t reverse the damage simply by brushing and flossing.

Eventually, the tooth will continue to decay. With the protective enamel gone, infection can set in. Once this infection reaches the roots of the tooth, a root canal will be necessary to remove the infected part of the root and avoid tooth death or loss.

Ultimately, filling cavities save time, money, and pain. No one wants to have to go to the dentist multiple times to have an expensive procedure like a root canal followed by having to get a crown to protect the tooth. Instead, it is a far easier procedure to get the cavity filled.

Why Some Avoid Filling Cavities

There are usually two main reasons: expense and fear. If you have insurance, even state-issued insurance, cavities should be covered. At most, you will have a small copay. Root canals and crowns are rarely covered by insurance, so getting cavities filled is the smart option.

Don’t let fear keep you out of the dentist’s chair. Getting a cavity filled is a simple and virtually painless procedure due to modern medicine and numbing procedures. Ask your dentist what options are available to make you more comfortable during your visit.

The post Can I Leave My Cavities Unfilled? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.