What Are the Treatment Options for Teeth That Are Already Decaying or At Risk Of Falling Out?

Poor oral hygiene, frequent snacking, excess bacteria, and regular consumption of sugary foods and beverages are some causes of tooth decay. When bacteria erode your tooth’s enamel, you’ll start experiencing tooth sensitivity and some pain. You will need to go to the dentist who installs dental fillings in San Diego, CA. Besides the dental filling application, there are other treatment options for decaying teeth, and this article will list them.

What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Decay?

You might not feel any pain when bacteria first erode your tooth. But as the decay progresses, you might experience the following symptoms:

• Pain when chewing or biting down on food.
• Visible pits in your teeth.
• Tooth sensitivity, especially when having hot or cold foods and drinks.
• Toothache can occur without any apparent reason or cause.
• White, black, or brown staining on the affected tooth’s surface.

What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay

The first stage is when there are white spots. In this stage, the tooth is affected by the erosion of sugars and acids. This erosion causes white spots that signify the loss of essential minerals in the tooth. The bad thing with decay at this stage is that it can only be identified through a dental exam. Therefore, you should go to the dentist near you for regular dental checkups so that they can treat the decay at this stage.

The second stage is where the enamel begins to decay. If you did not go for decay treatment at the first stage, then a filling will be the only treatment at this stage. This is because once the decay has eroded the surface of the enamel, there is no defense against bacteria.

When decay reaches the third stage, you will begin to feel pain. At this stage, the cavity erodes the dentin beneath the enamel. It would be best if you looked for a dentist who installs tooth filling near you as they can still prevent the spreading of bacteria to the tooth’s pulp.

Failure to go to a dental office for a tooth filling means that the cavity will reach the tooth’s pulp, which will cause excruciating pain. This stage is crucial as failure to go for treatment might spell doom for your affected tooth. Root canal therapy will be suitable if you undergo treatment at this stage. The treatment involves the removal of the affected pulp and cleaning the canals.

The final stage is where the infection has reached the tooth’s root tip and exited the tooth’s structure tip. When this happens, the infection begins to spread to other surrounding tissues and even the bone structure.

After knowing the stages of tooth decay, it is safe to say that you can identify tooth decay before it reaches the final stages. What are the different treatment options that the dentist can recommend?

Treatment Options for Tooth Decay

Fluoride Treatment

If you go to the dentist early, they recommend applying fluoride gel or paste to the affected area. Fluoride treatment is effective before the decay erodes the tooth’s enamel. Fluoride will be effective as it protects and strengthens the enamel, making it resistant to erosion by bacteria.

The dentist will also advise you to avoid taking lots of sugar in your diet because it can compromise your teeth’s enamel.

Tooth Fillings

Fillings are the primary treatment for a tooth cavity. They are effective when there is mild tooth decay as they will be used to fill the holes caused by decay. During the procedure, the dentist will clean the decayed tooth, remove the decayed part and fill the cavities. The advantage of tooth fillings is that there are different types, and therefore you can choose which matches the color of your other teeth and your budget.

Crowns

When the decay has advanced, then the dentist will recommend a tooth crown. A tooth crown will protect the entire tooth. Before placing the crown, the decayed area of your tooth will be removed, and the tooth will be prepped to ensure the crown fits well.

Root canal

If the decay reaches the tooth’s pulp, root canal therapy will be suitable to save your tooth. The process involves the removal of the infected pulp, cleaning the root canal, and using fillings to cover the cavities.

Tooth decay can lead to tooth loss, so you should schedule regular dental visits at the Center for Oral Health so that our dentist can identify any dental issue and treat it swiftly.