Dr. Alan Dechter and Dr. Matthew Moy treat patients who suffer from tooth decay in Silver Spring, MD. This dental problem is often seen in people who do not properly care for their teeth. However, dental caries can also run in your family.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Plaque is the main culprit for tooth decay. It is a sticky substance that forms when saliva mixes with sugars or starches from the food and drinks you consume. Bacteria in your mouth thrive on these sugars and starches and produce acid. Plaque is constantly building up on your teeth. Cleaning your teeth often is the only way to remove them. This is why brushing your teeth a minimum of twice a day is vital.
Failure to remove plaque allows the acid to erode tooth enamel. It will create small holes in the tooth that will grow bigger and bigger, slowly destroying the tooth.
Tooth Decay Treatment in Silver Spring, MD
Treating dental caries in the early stages is fairly easy. If you visit your dentist every six months for regular check-ups, they will be able to spot a tooth cavity. To treat it, a simple dental filling will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and fill it in. This will prevent further erosion of the tooth and strengthen it.
Unfortunately, many people avoid their regular dental appointments. When this happens, your dentist cannot spot the decay or treat it. The cavity will grow larger and larger and treatment becomes more difficult. Advanced tooth decay is imminent without treatment.
Dental Inlay or Onlay
If tooth decay is affecting a significant portion of the tooth, you may require a dental inlay or only. These are dental restorations that replace the damaged portion of a tooth and are custom-made in a dental laboratory.
Dental Crown
If most of the tooth is destroyed, a dental crown may be necessary to give the tooth strength and stability.
Root Canal Therapy
Sometimes bacteria can get inside the tooth, causing a severe infection. In this case, root canal therapy is needed to get rid of the painful infection.
Extraction
If a tooth is damaged beyond repair from decay, your dentist may need to extract the tooth.
Tooth Decay in Children
Incidences of dental caries in baby teeth are rising, especially in children ages 2-11. This could be happening for several reasons. Children tend to consume more sugary foods and drinks and starchy foods high in carbohydrates. Anyone who consumes an excess of these types of food and drinks is at higher risk of developing tooth decay. Combine this with the fact that children do not have the best oral hygiene habits yet and it is easy to see why kids have so many cavities.
One of the main goals at Dechter & Moy Dentistry is to work closely with children to teach them how to properly care for their teeth. Consequently, at each routine check-up, our dentists and staff will spend time with your child, teaching them proper oral hygiene habits. We will show them how to brush their teeth and floss effectively. Additionally, our dentists and staff will explain to them the importance of caring for their teeth. We will also spend time with parents and teach them how to care for their child’s teeth at each age.
Schedule a dental visit to our Silver Spring, MD dental practice. The dentists at Dechter & Moy Dentistry are your tooth decay specialists, so call (301) 508-9755 or request an appointment online.