Aside from having good oral hygiene, sealants are placed on chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent tooth decay. A sealant is a thin coating material that flows into the grooves of the chewing surface on a molar. Sealants make it very easy to keep molars clean and to avoid food from getting stuck in the grooves causing cavities.
Our office is equipped with digital radiography, with the images almost instantly appearing on our computer screen!
Not all cavities are easy to reach. Fortunately, we use Diagnodent, a light that is used to detect bacteria and gauge the density of the tooth. This non-invasive technology offers early detection of cavities.
In order to treat a cavity, filling or restorative material is chosen based on the tooth which needs to be restored. Tooth decay eats holes in the substance of the tooth, called “dentin,” creating that most familiar of dental bothers: the cavity. At Make a Smile, we do not fill cavities with amalgam or silver fillings; we proudly use only composite, white fillings. Fillings are an easy way to prevent further decay and future problems.
Fluoride helps re-mineralize weak enamel, which is important for healthy teeth. Our office or your pediatrician can prescribe fluoride supplements in tablet or drop form as needed. Topical fluoride is externally applied directly to the teeth and is found in mouthwash and toothpaste.
If a cavity goes untreated and is not filled, decay passes through the dentin and enters the pulp, the soft, innermost part of a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. For this we perform a pulpotomy. The decay and pulp tissue are removed, the pulp chamber is filled with a special material and a stainless steel crown is cemented over the entire tooth to prevent breakage.
If a cavity at the pulp level is left untreated the decay spreads into the root canals, where nerves and blood vessels connect to the tooth. At this point the only procedure that can save the tooth is a root canal. The tissue of the root canals are removed and, as in a pulpotomy, replaced with a special material.
When the decay passes through the roots and forms an infection at the base, at which point the tooth must be “extracted,” or removed. When a back tooth is removed, the remaining teeth push closer together, leaving little room for the new permanent tooth. To prevent the new tooth from growing in crooked, a space maintainer is used. This is placed in the space left by the extracted tooth, almost like a place holder, keeping room for the new permanent tooth to grow in properly.
