Our normal bacteria begins to convert everything we eat into acids as soon as it enters our mouth. These acids combine with food debris, saliva and bacteria to form plaque, which will stick to the teeth and eventually harden into tartar. This is especially the case with foods that are sticky and sweet. The resulting acid will begin to dissolve the enamel on the tooth surface, causing dental caries, or cavities. Routine brushing and flossing helps to remove plaque from our teeth, but since plaque formation begins within twenty minutes after eating, plaque buildup and the production of tartar are inevitable to a certain extent. Your regular hygiene visits give us the opportunity to remove the tartar that has built up, removing possible sources of decay from the surface of your teeth. At the same time, we will inspect for any damage that has already occurred.
Caught early, any minor tooth decay can be handled by drilling out the decayed portion of your tooth and replacing it with either silver alloy, gold, porcelain or a composite resin. As the strength of composite resins has increased, we are most likely to use that to fill your tooth, as it will result in the most natural looking repair.
If the decay is more extensive, it may have affected the structure of your tooth and weakened it considerably. In this case, in order to avoid your tooth breaking, after the cavity is removed and repaired, we would most likely use a crown to cover the weakened remainder of your tooth. This crown is oftentimes made of porcelain attached to metal and will provide much of the durability your natural tooth is now lacking. It will also result in a more pleasing appearance as the repaired portion is no longer visible.
If the decay is untreated, it will eventually advance as far as the nerve of your tooth, usually causing extensive pain as well as, oftentimes, and abscess and infection. Ultimately, this results in the death of the nerve itself, causing sensitivity, loosening and often blackening of the tooth. Other times, a nerve will die as a result of an accident or injury. In either case, a root canal is indicated, which would involve the removal of the decayed portion of the tooth along with the nerve and blood vessel tissue. The root of the tooth is then filled with a sealant and the tooth is filled and generally covered with a crown. This procedure stops the pain and strengthens your tooth, allowing you to keep your natural tooth and its functionality. Root canals have often historically had a bad "rep" as being a painful procedure. In actuality, generally the pain is a result of the decay process reaching that nerve, and often causing an abscess. With the methods we use today, root canals are most often pain free and most certainly alleviate your pain on an ongoing basis. We work very hard to make sure you remain comfortable and relaxed during any dental procedure.