Common Dental Issues and Treatment Options
Proper care for your smile keeps your teeth and gums healthy, but also has a positive impact on the entire body. Despite maintaining a proactive oral care routine and visiting the dentist twice a year, it’s important to note the common dental issues patients face and the treatment options available at your family dental office to correct these concerns.
Tooth Decay
Cavities are a common dental concern for both children and adults. They are caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Plaque produces an acid that can breakdown tooth enamel, allowing bacteria to access the dental pulp that keeps the tooth alive. A typical treatment for cavities is fillings, whether silver or tooth colored. The process involves sealing the area where the enamel has been destroyed to protect the tooth from further decay. If decay is too severe, root canal therapy or extraction is recommended.
Gum Disease
Gum disease a preventable condition and has many stages in severity. Most gum disease begins with gingivitis, which is a slight irritation along the gum line, and if not properly removed, infection and inflammation increase to the point of complete tooth loss. If you notice bleeding while brushing your teeth or flossing, you may be experiencing this early stage of gum disease.
Treatment for gum disease begins with a professional deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planning. The dentist scales along the surface of the tooth, above and below the gum line, to remove plaque and tartar. Then they smooth these treated areas to help gums reattach to teeth once the surface is clean.
Missing Teeth
Whether you’ve lost teeth due to trauma or have plan to have it extracted due to major tooth decay, missing teeth must be replaced in order to protect your bite and smile alignment. If a tooth was knocked out due to trauma, it may be possible to place is back in the socket if there is no further damage to the tooth. If you cannot see an emergency dentist right away, keep the tooth in a solution of milk and water.
If a tooth has been extracted or cannot be placed back in the socket, replacement options such as fixed bridges or dental implants are recommended. These restorative treatments replace the tooth, protects your smile alignment, and allow you to eat or speak comfortably.
Visiting the dentist twice a year is essential to preventing some of these common dental issues. For more information about dental treatments at our office, call us today.