Fixing a Hole: Treatment Options for Cavities
At Eastern Virginia Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer a comprehensive range of advanced dental services, providing solutions to oral health problems of all types, including cavities. Cavities are probably the best known of all oral health problems, among adults and children alike. From an early age, most of us are taught to fear cavities; we are told to avoid sugary foods, to brush and floss our teeth after each meal, and to visit the dentist at least twice a year to keep these oral demons at bay.
Yet, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an amazing 92 percent of adults aged 20 to 64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth, with an average of approximately 14 teeth affected to some degree by decay.
Fortunately, it is never too late to seek treatment for cavities. At our Chesapeake, VA dental practice, we can restore form, function, and optimal health to virtually any mouth – and help to keep that mouth clean and cavity-free through routine preventive appointments.
If you are experiencing mouth pain or you have teeth that are structurally damaged, don’t wait. Schedule your initial consultation with Dr. A Jeffrey Weisberg or Dr. Clay Weisberg at Eastern Virginia Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today.
How Are Cavities Treated?
There are several available methods for treating cavities. Our dentists will choose the method that is best suited to your particular case based on the extent of your cavity and the strength and integrity of the remaining tooth structure.
The treatments for cavities available at Eastern Virginia Family & Cosmetic Dentistry include:
- Cosmetic Fillings: Cosmetic fillings serve the same purpose as traditional silver amalgam fillings, but are made of a tooth-colored composite resin material that blends seamlessly into the tooth once it is placed, shaped, and hardened. This mercury-free filling option is best suited to treating smaller cavities.
- CEREC® Inlays and Onlays: At Eastern Virginia Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, our in-house CEREC® machine allows us to custom-craft immaculate ceramic restorations of the finest quality while you wait. If you have a cavity that is slightly too large to be treated with a cosmetic filling, but not large enough to warrant a dental crown, we can fill it with a ceramic inlay or onlay. An inlay is customized to fill a cavity that occurs within the cusps of a tooth, while an onlay will extend to one or more of the cusps of a tooth.
- CEREC® Dental Crown: If a cavity is so large that the tooth is not strong enough to support a filling, inlay, or onlay, we will cover the entire surface area of the tooth with a custom-made dental crown. The crown will be crafted to replicate the entire tooth from the gum line up, making the smile whole again, while also restoring its strength and function and protecting it from further harm.
Learn More about Treatment Options for Cavities
To learn more about treatments for cavities, please contact Eastern Virginia Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today.