Common Cavity Questions
If you are worried about your child’s dental health and want to prevent cavities, you may be wondering what you can do for them. Here are some answers to common cavity questions.
Common Cavity Questions: How Can I Prevent Cavities?
Preventing cavities is simple, but it requires a lot of commitment. Cavities can be halted through basic home care: brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and reducing your intake of sugar. Regular visits to your dentist, including teeth cleanings every three to six months, are also beneficial. If you follow all these instructions, you should get fewer cavities.
Foods with high sugar content are the most damaging to your dental health. In order for plaque to build up or a cavity to develop, sugar must be present in the mouth. You should not only brush and floss after you have sugar but also limit your consumption of sugar in the first place.
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Common Cavity Questions: Why Should I Floss?
Flossing is critical in preventing cavities from occurring in between the teeth. When you brush your teeth, all you clean are the surfaces that you can see. You cannot really clean in between the teeth with a toothbrush, and this is where dental floss can make up the difference.
Common Cavity Questions: How are Cavities Filled?
Fillings vary according to the size of the cavity. If you have a large cavity, we will administer local anesthesia, drill out the cavity, place a dentine bonding agent in the space, insert the white filling, and harden the filling with light. This procedure is typically smooth and simple. The cost of a filling depends on how many surfaces of the tooth it covers. Generally, the cost ranges from $100 to $200.
Most fillings are made now from composite, synthetic resin. There are many companies that manufacture this material, and due to its popularity, cost efficiency, and versatility, we use composite resin as a filling material in all our dental procedures. There has been much debate about the safety and usefulness of mercury amalgam fillings, another trendy option. There is no scientific consensus on the matter, but nevertheless, our office has not used amalgam mercury filling in over 10 years.
If you have any further cavity questions, please call our Amherst office today to schedule a free consultation.
