Tooth-Colored Fillings
Decay is an epidemic in America and is largely preventable with proper home care, fluoride toothpaste, regular brushing and flossing, and professional dental cleanings. Unfortunately, even for those patients who are truly diligent in their home and professional dental care, decay sometimes sneaks in.
Diagnosing Decay
Decay is caused by bacteria. They feed on the food particles in our mouths – especially sugar and starchy foods. Bacteria create an acidic environment in your mouth that softens the enamel protecting your teeth.
Dr. Jessie Scott performs comprehensive oral exams for our patients and can detect some decay visually because it creates dark grooves or pits on your teeth. Some decay is hidden from view and dental x-rays are necessary for a proper diagnosis.
At Scott Family Dentistry, we use digital x-ray technology. It is ultra low in radiation and gives us high-resolution images for the fastest diagnoses possible. Routine dental x-rays are part of our preventive oral care routine and are the best way to treat destructive decay before it causes serious structural damage to your tooth.
Many patients wonder why they need x-rays if they are not experiencing dental pain. Decay rarely causes pain unless it is very advanced. By then, it could be too late to save your tooth or you may require root canal therapy.
Treating Dental Decay
Dr. Jessie Scott takes great care and pride in restoring the health of her patients’ teeth. Maintaining the health of your smile is important and so is the appearance! That is why we choose to provide our patients with tooth-colored fillings.
Composite resin fillings are made of a mixture of BPA-free plastic and glass particles. They come in a wide variety of shades to match your natural teeth. Dr. Scott can make even the simplest restorations a seamless part of your smile!
While not all cavities require anesthetic, we will talk to you about this. Some patients are more comfortable having anesthetic while others want to avoid it, if possible. If you do require numbing, we use an innovative method of delivery that provides pain-free injections. The computerized delivery method is slow, eliminates discomfort, and provides precise anesthesia.
Next, Dr. Scott will remove all decay from your tooth and sterilize it before placing the perfect shade of composite material in your cavity, layer by layer. She will cure it with a special light and shape your restoration to precisely match the shape of your tooth. You'll be able to use your tooth normally right away.
Tooth-Colored Bonding
Composite resin is such a versatile material that we can use it to make small repairs to your teeth. Filling in chips, small gaps, and irregular areas of your tooth with composite can improve your smile dramatically!
Call Scott Family Dentistry Today!
We look forward to serving you. Our patients are like family, so we always give you the best care possible. Our warm and friendly staff makes your dental experience a positive one with their caring and compassionate approach to dentistry. Give us a call to schedule a dental exam!
