To help keep your family safe, many of you are staying home when possible and avoiding large gatherings with other people. We applaud this, and hope you continue to stay home and help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid necessary treatments, like addressing cavities or dental infections. In today’s blog, we explain why people of all ages, including kids, need fillings.
Cavities and Tooth Loss
What makes a cavity such a danger for kids? Many people assume that since baby teeth fall out, treating cavities is unnecessary. However, the tooth could fall out naturally months or even years after a cavity forms, which means a tooth could become infected. If the infection is severe, the tooth could become lost prematurely, which impacts how the permanent teeth erupt and increases the risk of misalignment. Cavities form when the outer layer of enamel is weakened by poor oral hygiene or injury, allowing bacteria to reach the inner dentin. As the cavity grows and spreads through the dentin, your child may encounter tooth sensitivity and toothaches. If your little one reports pain in a tooth, then let us know right away.
Fillings
For most cases of tooth decay, our team will administer a local anesthesia and then remove the decay from the tooth itself. We clean it thoroughly and then prepare the filling material. Our minimal restorations are made from a metal-free blend of glass and acrylic, known as composite resin, which we can shade to match the color of the tooth structure. We apply the material and then shape the tooth as we cure the composite resin under a light. Finally, we polish the tooth, addressing the cavity in a single visit.
When to Contact Our Team
If you or your child encounter toothaches or pain when eating, please let us know. We still offer emergency care for residents of our community, and that includes tooth decay and infections. When you and your family visit, we will make sure you’re not sharing the waiting room with other patients. We also clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in between each visit to help ensure the health and safety of our patients and our team members. If you have any questions about identifying and treating tooth decay for people of all ages, or about how you can protect your smile from worsening oral health concerns, then contact our team today.
SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO OFFERS CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, we want to make sure your entire family continues to keep their smiles healthy and bright from home. For more information on our children’s treatment options, contact our N. Zaragoza dental practice by calling 915-849-9000.