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Las Vegas, NV 89117 | 702 734 0776
Ok, you’ve just been told you need a filling or a crown at a recent dental visit to fix a cavity. We’ve already discussed How Tooth Decay Happens in a previous SmileByte article. Let’s now discuss what can be done after the cavity has been fixed to prevent future cavities from occurring.
Fillings and or Crowns fix defects or cavities in the teeth caused by tooth decay. However, a filling or crown doesn’t necessarily stop the tooth decay process, it merely removes the decayed tooth structure currently present. If the cause of the tooth decay in the first place is not found then further decay is possible around the brand new restoration. Tooth decay is basically a bacterial infection, and dentists typically refer to this bacterial build up as plague. Plaque is the white film that grows on teeth, and this is what we remove during daily brushing and flossing. It’s the white film that grows on teeth and that film tends to migrate to the spot where the restoration and tooth meet.
Since you have just had a restoration done to treat a cavity is it important to brush and floss daily and see the hygienist on a regular basis. These preventative measures will help to disrupt the plaque colonizing around your brand new restorations. In addition, there has been increasing amounts of research into this process and we are now able to provide each of our patients with a Risk of tooth decay profile ranging from low, moderate, to high. Based on this risk we will then be able to provide recommendations beyond regular brushing and flossing, in terms of dietary coaching, bacteria and saliva testing, hygiene protocols, antibacterial rinses, fluoride rinses and toothpastes, and xylitol gums and candies.
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