GENERAL
DENTISTRY

For over 150 years, cavities were filled with a mixture of metals, including silver and mercury. It was perfectly normal to see dark grey areas in someone's mouth when they laughed.

But today, you can get your cavities, as well as any other smaller hollow areas in your teeth, filled with composite fillings. Composite fillings are made from resins that are matched to your tooth's color - so they become invisible when applied.

Composite fillings also provide an excellent seal on the affected area, so that tooth decay can be prevented. The factors that go into our decision to use composite fillings include:

The size of the area that needs to be filled
The location of the affected area in the mouth (i.e., a tooth that is heavily relied on for chewing)
Allergies the patient might have
The preference of the patient regarding the use of metals in the mouth
Whether it is necessary cosmetically to have a tooth-colored filling


If you are unsure about the type of filling to use, schedule an appointment today for a consultation.

Depending on the type of treatment you have received for your dental problem, it might be necessary to:

Have your tooth restored to its original size and shape
Supply additional physical support for the treated tooth
Get a complete "makeover" on the affected tooth
For cases like these, a crown is the most logical option. 

Why should you consider crowns?
While inlays and outlays cover the chewing surface of the tooth and fillings fill in the empty interior space of the tooth, crowns completely cover every visible part of the tooth - which is why they are sometimes referred to as "caps." A part of your tooth remains but is essentially "rebuilt" to resemble the tooth at its exterior best.

While porcelain crowns certainly can improve the look of a tooth or multiple teeth, it is recommended only in conjunction with prior repair of the tooth - not simply for cosmetic purposes.

Generally caused by tooth decay or shock, pulp or nerve tissue damage can be an excruciating experience, with symptoms including pain while chewing, sensitivity and swelling. If left untreated, pulp damage can lead to abscesses, or pus-filled infections, and eventually to tooth loss.

Endodontics, or root canal therapy, is the branch of dentistry that deals with treating dental pulp damage and is the best way to directly address the pain and save the tooth. During a root canal procedure, infected nerve tissue is cleaned out and replaced with filler to prevent further infection. With proper anesthesia, root canal therapy can be a pain free process.

At West Texas Dental, we have specialized training in root canal therapy and take every measure to ensure our patients’ maximum comfort throughout the procedure. If you are experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity or swelling, it is important to act fast, not only to relieve your pain, but also to save the tooth from complete decay.

At West Texas Dental, we always make every attempt to treat your teeth and remedy any dental malady. Unfortunately, in some cases damage to teeth is in so advanced a stage that is may be necessary to extract the tooth in order to maintain dental health.

If a tooth is broken, cracked or extensively decayed it may be necessary to remove it. Likewise, a tooth that is associated with advanced stages of periodontal disease should be removed, as well as teeth that are poorly positioned or non-functional.

Whatever the cause, you can rest assured that West Texas Dental will carefully explore and inform you to any other options before making the decision to remove a tooth. Should tooth extraction become necessary, you are assured the nurturing care that comes with any West Texas Dental, procedure. We understand that the process of having a tooth extracted can be daunting and make every attempt to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.

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