Happy optimistic African American woman in colorful pink clothes laughing isolated on yellow backgroundTaking care of your smile means more than just brushing your teeth, as each component of your oral cavity contributes to your overall oral health. Indeed, this is why your dentist emphasizes the importance of not only brushing, but flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and attending your routine checkup and cleaning appointments. Still, sometimes you can take every step in the book to prioritize excellent oral health, just for one instance of falling short to set you back greatly. In today’s blog, your Cedar Rapids, IA dentist discusses the need for restorative dentistry and how a dental filling can address a cavity.

Taking Care of Decay

It goes without saying that among the bacteria-related oral health concerns out there, dental decay is the most common. This process occurs when oral bacteria that have been lurking in the hard-to-clean areas of the mouth continue to thrive by feeding on particles from the food you consume. Certain items in particular such as sugar feed these microorganisms and cause them to produce a destructive acid.

The acid that bacteria produce can eat away at your tooth’s structure, causing a small hole known as a cavity to form. Unfortunately, the issue does not stop here, as the infection will only continue to spread until it has successfully compromised your entire tooth. This is only one example of the effects of decay, and knowing that there are several other infections or complications that can occur, it is only natural that we have a backup measure in place such as restorative care.

Restorative dentistry consists of any treatment that aims to reduce the presence of a threat or infection that has already began to wreak havoc. To learn more about this process and what your options may be, give our team a call today.

Looking at the Process

When you are dealing with dental decay, it is always best to treat the issue sooner rather than later. In fact, a cavity is best addressed with a dental filling, barring that it has not spread significantly past the point that it will be effective.

To mitigate the effects of decay, a dental filling seeks to first remove the infected portions of a tooth, clean the area, and then fill the open hole with a composite resin material. Once the material has been shaped to satisfaction, it is then cured using a special light. Contact our team to learn more.

Advantages of Composite Resin

In addition to addressing your infection and restoring your tooth’s health, a dental filling can offer a lifelike finish. You see, the composite material that is used can be tooth-colored, allowing for a much more discreet solution to cavities than traditional metal fillings.

Learn More Today

Contact Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA by calling 319-364-7108 to learn more about the need for timely restorative dental care and schedule your next appointment with our team today.