What Is a Tooth Decay and How Is It Treated?
While tooth decay may be inevitable, especially if your genetics leaves you with a predisposition to soft teeth, you don’t have to suffer from the condition. Whether your dentist discovers a tiny hole during a routine exam or you have advanced decay that requires more extensive treatment, your nearby family dentists at Stamford Dental Arts offer effective, painless solutions.
Don’t wait for tooth decay to stifle your happiness or change your quality of life. Call today for an appointment for a professional cleaning and exam.
While more common in children, tooth decay can happen to you at any time during your life. According to the World Dental Federation, close to 100 percent of the world’s adult population has some degree of tooth decay. If identified in the early stages of decay, your dentist can use a milder tooth decay treatment.
Regular visits to your local family dentist for checkups and professional cleanings are vital to catching decay in its earliest stages. If you live near Stamford, CT, Stamford Dental Arts has an expert multilingual dental professional who can help prevent or effectively treat tooth decay.
Symptoms of Tooth Decay
There are various stages of tooth decay, so your symptoms often depend on the extent of the decay. In the beginning stages, there may not be any pain at all. If you visit your dentist regularly, he’ll be able to catch your decay before significant symptoms appear. If you’ve been neglectful in your dental visits, the following list of symptoms may be signs of tooth decay:
- Tooth pain. Your pain can be dull and chronic, keeping you awake at night, or it can be sudden and sporadic with no apparent cause. On the other hand, you may not notice any discomfort whatsoever.
- Tooth sensitivity. Eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet may trigger tenderness or pain.
- Tooth discolorations. Black, brown or grey spots may appear on your teeth.
- Odd taste sensations. You may notice a bad taste in your mouth.
- Bad breath. While many things can cause bad breath, tooth decay can be a factor.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, visit a nearby Stamford dentist. Only a trained dental professional can know for sure if these symptoms are actually tooth decay. During an examination, your family dentist may ask you questions about how your teeth feel. He uses specialized dental instruments to probe your teeth for soft spots and takes digital x-rays as needed for further confirmation.
Tooth Decay Prevention
Completely avoiding tooth decay is rare. Still, there are some measures you can take to minimize your risks. Some of the best methods include:
- Visit your dentist regularly
- Floss your teeth daily
- Brush your teeth after every meal
- Try a fluoride mouth rinse
- Consider dental sealants, especially useful for younger children
- Avoid snacking
- Eat a healthy diet
- Avoid sugary foods
- Drink fluoridated water and plenty of it
My experience was fantastic. Sharon explained my invisaline treatment very well. All of the staff is very friendly and overall a wonderful place.
Tooth Decay Treatment
Tooth decay eventually results in permanent damage to your tooth in the form of a cavity. Once your dentist discovers the cavity, he has a few different options to cure your tooth decay. Each treatment is painless when you rely on one of several different methods of sedation available. Depending on the severity of the cavity, you may undergo:
- Fluoride treatment. At the very beginning stages of a cavity, fluoride may reverse the process by restoring the enamel and healing your tooth decay.
- Cavity filling. Your dentist must first drill out the diseased part of your tooth. He then uses one of a variety of different filling materials to fill in the hole created. The most often used material today is composite resin.
- Dental crown. If the decay has become so extensive that a filling is no longer sufficient, your dentist must use a custom-fitted crown to cover the top of your tooth.
- Root canal. If the decay has penetrated into your tooth’s pulp, your dentist must clean the interior of the tooth, including the root canals. He then fills the interior and caps it with a crown.
- Tooth extraction. If the decay has gone too far, your dentist must remove your tooth. You can then explore artificial replacement options.
Some degree of tooth decay is almost inevitable. But if you live nearby Stamford, CT and don’t have a family dentist, you’re in luck. Stamford Dental Arts is currently accepting new patients and they offer flexible financing options. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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