Get the upper hand on cavities.
With your toothbrush! When you brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and floss at least once a day, you’re taking major steps to keep plaque-forming bacteria from eating away your teeth.
While proper brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from the surfaces of your child’s teeth, they can’t always reach into the smallest pits and depressions on the chewing surfaces of their back teeth, enabling food particles and plaque to accumulate. In these cases, our pediatric dentists can apply a dental sealant that will bond into these depressions to help prevent a cavity from developing.
Since dental problem often begin early in life, children and teenagers are especially good candidates for dental sealants.
Sealants on back teeth, like most of our procedures, are covered by Medicaid and most private dental insurance plans.
What if I have a cavity?
Cavities may not hurt right away, but if they aren’t fixed, they can lead to painful infections and even the loss of your tooth. If your child’s dentist finds one, she can treat it quickly and send you on your way.
Cavities aren’t unusual, even for people who take care of their teeth. But if you get one, the important thing is to get it fixed!
How we fill a cavity:
- We’ll be sure you’re comfortable before we start
- We’ll numb the immediate area so you won’t feel any discomfort (let the dentist know if you’re feeling any pain in case you need more medication)
- The decayed parts of the tooth are removed and remaining surfaces cleaned
- The area is filled to create a lasting repair
What’s the right filling? There are lots of choices.
There are lots of selections when it comes to fillings. Whether you are considering gold, porcelain, silver or plastic resins, your dentist will explain your options and our staff will work with your insurance plan to help you determine what’s best for you.
Dental fillings, like most of our procedures, are covered by Medicaid, Medi-Cal and most private dental insurance plans.