See What Makes Our Tooth Fillings So Good
One of the most important things I can do for the average patient is a thorough exam in looking for those routine cavities. We have the latest in digital X-ray technology to be able to identify those. It is important to make sure to intervene at the right time. There’s a spectrum of dentists, some that are aggressive, some that are maybe too conservative, and I think I’ve settled somewhere in the middle where me and my patients decide, when looking at our X-rays together, if this is a cavity that we feel like we need to treat. And if so, what is the best option? A lot of the time it is just a simple filling. And in our office here, we’re metal-free for the most part. We don’t do the old dark, mercury fillings. We make sure that we use a tooth-colored material that blends in really well with the smile. Aesthetically, you don’t have to worry about having a cavity fixed and having it be noticeable.
But sometimes there are other options that are more appropriate than fillings. The important thing I think is that we look at the situation together, and if there is decay, not only fixing the problem that’s there, but what can I do to help you prevent the next cavity? That’s one thing that first, when I see a patient with decay, my mind is immediately going to what I can do for you to help this from continuing to be an ongoing problem. We start talking about methods of prevention that help prevent decay in the future.