Act Fast To Stop A Tooth Infection

Act Fast To Stop A Tooth Infection

Plan A for your oral health should focus on preventive care. After all, it’s better to have zero cavities than to get one. This is why we encourage you to brush and floss daily, and it’s why we hope you will visit our Torrey Highlands, San Diego, CA office for regular dental cleanings and exams.

Plan B is restorative dentistry. As much as most people would love to avoid needing this, the reality is that you and the people you love will likely need some restorative service during your life.

The sooner you act to deal with a problem like tooth decay or a tooth infection can make a big difference in how invasive and how expensive your treatment is. Today, we’ll be discussing dental fillings and root canals, and how getting one can keep you from needing the other.

To make an appointment for a cleaning or restorative care, call Brian Davey, DDS, at (858) 762-9991.

‘Filling’ Better

More than 90 percent of people will get a cavity. That’s not according to us. That’s according to the National Institutes of Health. If you’ve never had a cavity, keep doing what you are doing.

If you do develop tooth decay again or for the first time, then you should get a tooth-colored filling as soon as you are able.

Fillings have been around for centuries, but modern fillings are different than the metal fillings of old. Today’s dental fillings can be made with composite resin. After the decay has been removed, the resin fills the hole in your tooth.

The resin is hardened. It can then be polished, so it blends in with your natural tooth. These fillings restore the function of your teeth (just like metal fillings), but they go a step further and restore your natural smile as well.

Of course, by taking care of your cavities sooner rather than later, you can prevent a painful tooth infection from taking hold.

Get To The ‘Root’ Of The Problem

If decay goes untreated either because you didn’t notice it or tried to ignore, bacteria will continue eating deeper into your tooth. When bacteria reach the pulp (the soft tissue at the center of your tooth), it can become inflamed. That can be quite painful, and it’s also what prompts many people to seek treatment.

At this point, a root canal is often your best option. This procedure is how we remove infected tissue from your tooth. It also allows us to save your tooth by filling it with a special material that reduces your risk of reinfection.

After that is done, we can cap your tooth with a CEREC dental crown, which we can make here in our office. This restores the appearance and the function of your tooth.

Now, we also know that many people are fearful of root canals, perhaps because of things they have heard or how this treatment has been portrayed in movies and on television. The truth is we can do this will little or no pain. In addition to providing you with a local anesthetic, we also offer dental sedation to keep you pain- and worry-free.

Act Now

Whether you want to prevent a tooth infection or need to treat one, Dr. Davey and our team are ready to help. Just fill out our online form or call (858) 762-9991 to request an appointment at our Torrey Highlands dental office.