With the quantity of sugar and our modern eating habits, our teeth are more susceptible to decay than ever. According to the American Dental Association, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood with more than half of kids ages 5-9 having at least one cavity filled. At our practice in the Monrovia area, even young children who haven’t lost their baby teeth come in with cavities. The treatment is removing decay and filling the tooth to preserve the structure and prevent decay from eroding the:
Unchecked decay is the beginning of the end and can cause loss of the tooth structure that requires a dental crown or implant and crown to maintain your smile.
While the twice-yearly checkup is a necessity for patients to assess their dental health, there’s more to it than that. Our practice in the Monrovia area features Cariview, a device that detects tooth decay before it shows up on your X-rays. Cariview shines an infrared light on your teeth, detecting decay and weaknesses in the structure. This allows Dr. Q to treat your cavity before it becomes visible on traditional imaging.
If a cavity is detected when you come in for your check-up, we will schedule a treatment that works with your schedule. When you come back for the procedure, Dr. Q will use the digital images and information from Cariview to guide her through the procedure, which involves:
One filling usually takes no more than thirty to forty minutes, and you will be out the door and back to normal the same day.
It’s important to remember that an area of your mouth will be numb for a few hours after treatment. You will need to be cautious and wait until it wears off to eat to avoid biting too hard. Other than that you may feel some minor symptoms such as:
These will subside within a few days of your procedure and can be managed by taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
Our practice in the Monrovia area focuses more on nurturing good patient habits than simply recommending treatment. During your check-up, Dr. Q will ask questions relating to your diet and other habits that contribute to tooth decay. If she notices that you suddenly have cavities after a history of good dental health, she will try to discover the underlying cause so that you can avoid additional dental fillings in the future. The most common causes of cavities include:
By providing this additional step of assessment, we ensure that our patients are aware of the cause of their tooth decay and give them simple ways to correct it.
There is a right way to take care of your teeth, and we are happy to spend time helping you find out what you can change to prevent cavities. Each consultation is an opportunity for you to ask questions and us to help you achieve some of the best possible dental health. We’re here to help you maintain and improve your dental health.
To schedule a consultation, contact our office in the Monrovia area at (626) 599-9819. We’re always happy to answer any questions you have regarding your treatment options.