Chapel Hill Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offers complete dental care for children and adults. Our main concern is preventing tooth decay. We also offer various services to manage and treat tooth decay, including dental fillings, crowns, and root canals. Treating a tooth cavity in our Chapel Hill, NC, office can restore the function and comfort of your teeth and gums.
Dr. James Furgurson is a family dentist in Chapel Hill, NC, dedicated to his patients’ health. If you notice any differences in the health of your teeth and gums, contact our office. We will help you get the care you need. Learn about the causes, signs, and treatments for dental cavities below.
What Causes Tooth Cavities?
Plaque is a sticky substance that builds inside the mouth along the gum line and between the teeth. Bacteria in plaque feed on sugar and starch. They then make an acid. This acid can wear away tooth enamel and cause cavities.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush and floss daily, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and limit sodas and candy. Coming in for a cleaning twice a year will help keep your teeth and gums deep-cleaned and healthy.
Common Signs of Cavities
Our team can identify early signs of tooth decay before most patients experience any physical symptoms.
Common signs of tooth decay include:
- White spots on teeth
- Spontaneous tooth pain
- Dark or dull teeth
- Toothaches
- Tooth sensitivity
- Visible holes in teeth (tooth cavities)
Early on, a tooth infection can cause dull tooth pain. Over time, as the infection progresses, it can lead to chronic tooth pain and sensitivity. Addressing changes in your dental health as soon as possible can prevent problems like cavities.
How to Prevent Tooth Cavities
Dr. Furgurson can prevent tooth cavities with professional cleaning, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants. Maintaining regular dental check-ups is key to preventing and diagnosing these problems.
At regular dental visits, we provide exams. During these examinations, we will look for signs of cavities. We will take dental X-rays to determine if you have infected dental pulp.
During a dental cleaning, we remove bacterial buildup and food debris from the teeth and gums. We also floss between teeth and polish the teeth. After cleaning, we recommend sealants and fluoride. These cavity treatments help protect and strengthen teeth.
Sealants are plastic coverings that protect teeth. We place sealants on the molars and premolars, the teeth in the back of the mouth. We apply sealants to the molars because they can be hard to reach.
Our office recommends sealants for children when their permanent molars grow. Protecting the molars can prevent cavities in these teeth.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen the tooth enamel. During fluoride treatment, we apply a varnish to the teeth. We will ask that you wait thirty minutes after the treatment so the fluoride can penetrate the tooth enamel. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste at home can also help prevent cavities.
At-home care is essential to cavity prevention. Before brushing, you can floss between your teeth to remove leftover food. Then, brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid abrasive toothpastes that can wear down your teeth over time.
Tooth Cavity Treatment in Chapel Hill, NC
If you already have signs of tooth decay, he may recommend the following treatments:
- Composite Dental Fillings: We can place composite dental fillings in a single visit. Fillings treat minor tooth cavities. They seal out infection and blend in with natural teeth. Composite fillings are also known as white fillings because they use tooth-colored materials.
- Porcelain or Gold Fillings: If the cavity is larger, Dr. Furgurson may place a stronger filling made of metal or ceramic. Metal fillings are very tough, so we often use them for back teeth that do most of the chewing..
- Root Canal: When tooth decay progresses close to the tooth’s nerve, it can cause extreme pain. A root canal procedure will eliminate the infection from inside the tooth. We remove the infected pulp from the canal and clean the tooth during the procedure. Dr. Furgurson can restore the tooth following the procedure using a dental crown to prevent future problems.
- Tooth Extraction: A large cavity can compromise the tooth structure in the most severe cases. If an infection is extensive enough that we cannot save the tooth, we may recommend tooth removal. While patients may fear pain during an extraction, we ensure you feel comfortable during this treatment.
One or more of these treatments can help restore the comfort and function of your teeth. We will discuss your options after determining the extent of your tooth cavities.