Having cavities is nobody’s goal when it comes to their smile and oral health. You might have a cavity if you are struggling with ongoing tooth sensitivity, pain in a tooth, seeing a hole in the problem tooth or black or white stains on certain teeth. These are symptoms of a potential cavity invading your mouth. And even if the symptoms are mild, they will not resolve on their own and will only get worse until it’s too painful to ignore.
Do I Have a Cavity?
The one sure way to detect a cavity and to stop it in its tracks is to see our dentist, Dr. James Powell so he can diagnose abd treat the invading decay. But, did you know that our exceptional dentist can detect tooth decay before you are showing any symptoms? This is actually desirable because catching cavities early is the least invasive and least costly way to treat a cavity! That’s just one reason your routine dental visits (at least twice a year) to get a professional dental cleaning and exam are so important.
How Does the Dentist Spot Cavities?
When you visit Dr. Powell, he will thoroughly examine your teeth and gently probe them with a special tool. This helps him to find pits or damage in the teeth. Another helpful decay-detecting method involves a special liquid stain using a nontoxic dye brushed over the teeth and then rinsed off with water. The stain rinses away easily from a healthy tooth but will stick to any decayed areas. So depending on your oral health and your risk for decay, Dr. Powell will set a schedule for taking X-rays of your teeth to spot developing cavities unseen by the naked eye.
Getting a Second Opinion
If you are hesitant about a diagnosis or treatment plan you’ve gotten recently, come visit Dr. James Powell and our team. We are always happy to provide a second opinion and rest assured, we have the skills and technology needed to give you an accurate diagnosis you can trust. In addition, we will make sure that you understand each of your treatment options. We want you to be able to make an educated decision about your smile or your family member.
Avoiding Cavities
To prevent future cavities from harming your smile, we recommend stepping up your daily oral hygiene routine. Brush your pearly whites twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Follow up with daily flossing in between teeth and the gum line. Limit sugar and acidic foods and drinks and consume more fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
Treating Cavities
Depending on the severity of the cavity, Dr. Powell may recommend the following treatment options:
-Tooth enamel remineralization: Applying fluoride combining calcium and phosphate ions to fortify tooth enamel.
-Dental restoration: Decayed areas are thoroughly removed and replaced with a dental filling material. A crown may be needed if the decay is too much.
-Root canal therapy: If the inner tooth chambers are infected, a root canal may be done to save the tooth, clean it all out and replaces it with a filling.
-Tooth extraction: If the affected tooth can’t be saved, Dr. Powell may extract the tooth and restore it with a bridge or dental implant so your smile isn’t missing a tooth.
Call Today!
If you suspect that you might have a cavity, we encourage you to call our dental office in Palmdale, CA, at (661) 349-7725 today to schedule an appointment or book a reservation online. Dr. Powell and our experienced team are dedicated to helping safeguard the health of your smile with exceptional dental care!
