Dental Fillings in Arvada CO
Thanks to advancements in dentistry and preventive techniques like fluoridated drinking water, we’ve come a long way in the fight against cavities. Unfortunately, we have yet to completely win the war.
Cavities are one of the most common conditions affecting Americans—just behind the common cold! According to the CDC, just about every one of us will have a cavity at some point in our lives even though we take great care of our teeth.
This is also one of the reasons why preventive visits are so important—even with excellent home care habits, your toothbrush and floss aren’t able to reach every nook and cranny. Routine visits allow us to catch problems like cavities in their earliest stages. This allows for simpler treatment and reduces the chances that you’ll experience any discomfort.
CariFree Bacterial Scanning for Cavities
One of the services we offer at our Arvada dental practice is cavity scanning using the CariFree system. Often, cavities that are just getting started aren’t visible to the naked eye. We want to catch cavities as early as possible so that we can provide simple, comfortable treatments.
CariFree allows us to perform a fast, painless test on your teeth and identify quantitative bacterial levels in your mouth. We can then focus treatment and nip these small problems in the bud, sometimes without the need for a filling!
Metal-Free Fillings for a Flawless Smile
If you do happen to develop a cavity, you probably have plenty of questions. What does this mean for your smile? Will you have a permanent discoloration in your teeth?
We don’t believe that something as simple and common as a cavity should permanently mar the appearance of your teeth. We use tooth-colored fillings that blend in so well with the natural shade of your enamel, even you won’t be able to spot the cavity that we filled!
Tooth-colored fillings have several other advantages as well. Unlike metal fillings, composite fillings require less shaping and altering of the tooth structure to place. Since the composite material actually bonds with your tooth structure, there’s less risk of your filling coming loose or allowing bacteria to get behind it. Plus, composite fillings are better for the environment.
What Causes Cavities?
Ideally, the best way to treat cavities is to prevent them from starting in the first place. We recognize that this isn’t always possible, but with good home hygiene and preventive treatments offered by Dr. Compton, we can significantly reduce the number that you’ll experience.
Most people think that cavities are caused by sugar. This is sort of true, but in a roundabout way. Cavities are actually caused by the acids excreted by bacteria when they metabolize sugar. Reducing the amount of sugar you eat is an important step, but sugar can also be found in many healthy foods, like fruit, so it’s still important that you brush at least two times a day and floss your teeth with good technique (which Joy is happy to demonstrate for you).
Is It Time for Your Next Check-Up?
In most cases, we recommend check-ups twice a year (Dr. Compton will let you know if you have different needs). Call Generations Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today to schedule your next check-up.
Are you overdue? Don’t worry—we will never shame you or make you feel guilty. Our goal is for you to feel good about your dental care and we’ll just work with you to help you get back on track. We can’t wait to see you!
