Treating Advanced Cavities
Posted December 3, 2015 by Wager-Evans Dental

Fillings Versus Crowns
Your dentist treats a cavity by excising the infected portion of your tooth, and restoring what has been lost with a filling. The metal-free composite materials used for fillings can match the color of your teeth, so that they do not stand out visually from your natural teeth. However, if too much of your tooth has been damaged by a cavity, you may need a dental crown. A dental crown is a custom-made cap that covers a weakened tooth. A crown assumes the function of the damaged tooth, and is designed to withstand the impact and pressures your teeth regularly undergo.
Root Canal Therapy
If left untreated, a cavity can erode enough of your tooth to infect its pulp. A root canal treatment is a procedure where your dentist removes an infection that has penetrated the interior of your tooth. Without a root canal treatment, an infection that has reached the pulp can kill your tooth. An infection at this stage can even spread to your jawbone, and threaten the health of your other teeth. A tooth that has received a root canal treatment will typically be restored with a dental crown.