In an ideal world, we’d be able to prevent cavities altogether. However, even patients who follow five-star oral hygiene and never skip their dental visit can suffer from tooth decay. But the next best thing to preventing a cavity is to be able to detect it early. Early cavity detection allows for the most conservative treatment possible. In fact, you may even qualify for “no drill” dental restorations, which are offered at our Marietta office.
How Do We Detect Cavities Early?
At its beginning stages, a cavity is too small to detect with the naked eye. In fact, many cavities begin on the softer inside of the tooth. This is due to the growing use of fluoride, which works to harden the outer enamel of your teeth and resist decay. Therefore, in order to detect an early cavity on the inside of a tooth, advanced technology must be used. At Gilreath Family Dentistry, we’ve invested in laser cavity detection, a revolutionary technology that can successfully reveal early tooth decay when it is otherwise undetectable. Don’t worry; the use of laser cavity detection is painless and requires just seconds or minutes within your routine dental exam.
Remember that the dangers of leaving a cavity untreated is progressive damage to the entire tooth and possibly neighboring teeth. Instead of a no-drill restoration or simple dental filling, you may need a root canal and full custom crown for the affected tooth.
Is it time for your next dental visit? Don’t skip it. We may be able to detect and remedy a tiny cavity that you cannot see or feel. Call Gilreath Family Dentistry today to learn more about our non-invasive, state-of-the-art technology for detecting tooth decay.
Posted on behalf of Dr. Paul Gilreath IV,
