The American Dental Association advises consumers to have a routine dental checkup performed by a dentist like Dr. Michael Scholes twice year. This simple outpatient appointment is designed to clean and polish your teeth while also detecting any developing oral health problems.
It starts with a professional dental cleaning and polishing treatment performed by one of Scholes Family Dental’s dental hygienists. Dr. Michael Scholes will then examine your mouth for any signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems.
Should he find an area of concern he will help you understand your treatment options. In the case of a newly developed cavity, he might recommend treating it with a simple dental filling. Â
This process starts with him numbing the tooth before removing all traces decayed tooth enamel. Then he will fill the prepared area with metallic amalgam or composite resin. The tooth’s location and the dental fillings visibility will influence the type of material he recommends for the dental filling.
Metallic amalgam dental fillings are durable and dark in color. This type of material is more common for repairing a cavity on a back tooth. A dental filling made from composite resin can be color matched to the surrounding tooth enamel. This makes it a good choice for treating an area that will appear when you smile.
If you live in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, area and you suspect a cavity has developed on one of your teeth, you should call 208-667-1578 to have it examined at Scholes Family Dental.