Cavity Treatment & Prevention

At Gateway Dental Care, we can help you avoid pain and tooth loss with cavity treatment and prevention in Pleasanton, CA. Dr. Kitagawa can help you repair decay and keep future cavities at bay. 

Nobody Wants A Cavity

We only get one set of adult teeth in our lifetimes. That’s why it’s so important to take good care of our teeth. Sometimes we receive the bad news that we have a cavity in one of our teeth that needs filling. Treating a cavity might seem like a painful procedure, but it is actually a relatively quick procedure with little discomfort.

Comfortable Treatment

Cavities need fillings in order to prevent the tooth from getting worse or causing pain. In order to fill the cavity, some patients may need a quick shot of anesthetic in the gums around the affected tooth.

Once the anesthetic has numbed the area, we clean the area of saliva and put some cotton balls around the area to keep it dry during the procedure. Dr. Kitagawa will then drill away the infected portions of the tooth to prevent further decay from being trapped within the filling.

If you feel any pain, more anesthetic will be provided. Finally, the tooth is filled with porcelain, metal or resin to seal off the cavity. The filling will then be hardened by a quick exposure to a curing light. After that, you are free to go.

Cavity Prevention

Treating cavities has gotten easier and much less painful over the years but  it’s always best to prevent cavities before they ever develop. One of most important ways to prevent cavities is by brushing your teeth well on a regular basis. Use toothpaste with fluoride to improve the strength of you teeth.

Flossing is also essential to preventing cavities. Bacteria and food particles can easily get stuck between the teeth. Cavities can form just as easily in between teeth as they can on the top of your teeth.

In addition to brushing and flossing, mouthwash can also help with preventing cavities. Mouthwash not only washes leftover food particles from your mouth but it  kills lingering bacteria. Chewing sugarless gum can also get out stubborn plaque and food from your teeth. Avoid gum with sugar because it can cause more tooth decay.

Cavity Treatment In Pleasanton

If you’re looking for cavity treatment near Pleasanton, CA, schedule an appointment with Gateway Dental Care. We can provide you with the best cavity treatment in Pleasanton to keep your teeth healthy and strong.