Most of us have experienced this. A sip of ice water sends a quick jolt through one of your back teeth. It fades in seconds, so you shrug it off. A week later, it happened again. Moments like these are some of the first clues that a cavity has started to form, and they are easy to brush aside. The CDC reports that one in five adults between the ages of 20 and 64 has at least one untreated cavity.
Catching a cavity early changes what type of treatment you are able to get. A small cavity can usually be repaired with a simple, tooth-colored filling. One left alone keeps spreading deeper into the tooth, where the repair becomes larger and more involved.
If you’re searching for anticavity treatment in Mountain View that helps stop decay in its earliest stage, read on to learn about the signs people commonly miss when cavities are starting to form, what happens when you get a filling, and how to protect your teeth afterward.
What Are the Early Signs of a Cavity?
Cavities form when bacteria in plaque feed on the sugars you eat and release acids that wear away tooth enamel. At first, you may not feel a thing. But as the tooth decay moves deeper into the softer layers of the tooth, the signs become harder to ignore.
Common signs of a cavity include:
- Sensitivity to cold drinks, hot foods, or sweets
- Sharp pain when you bite down or chew
- A visible hole, pit, or dark spot on a tooth
- Chalky white spots on the enamel
- Food that keeps getting stuck in the same place
- A rough edge or chip you can feel with your tongue
Tooth sensitivity can have other possible causes, including gum recession and worn enamel. Our guide to tooth sensitivity causes and treatments explains how to tell them apart. Any sign that lasts longer than a few days deserves a closer look from your dentist.
Can a Cavity Heal on Its Own?
Once decay breaks through the enamel and creates a hole, the tooth cannot rebuild itself. In fact, the damage tends to grow over time.
The earliest stage of decay works a little differently. Before a hole forms, weakened enamel can sometimes regain lost minerals, and fluoride helps drive that repair. A professional fluoride varnish applied during a routine visit strengthens soft spots in the enamel and can keep early decay from becoming a full cavity. This kind of anticavity treatment works best alongside daily brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.
Our patients commonly ask, "How long can I wait before getting a dental filling?” The answer depends on the size and depth of the cavity, but sooner is almost always easier. Tooth decay that reaches the nerve inside the tooth can lead to an infection, a root canal, or a crown instead of a simple filling.
What Happens During a Composite Filling?
Composite fillings use a tooth-colored resin matched to the shade of your natural teeth. They contain no mercury and blend in on both front and back teeth. Because the material bonds directly to the tooth, your dentist can usually keep more of your healthy tooth structure than a traditional metal filling allows.
Here's what to expect during your visit:
- Exam and X-rays: Your dentist checks the tooth and takes any needed X-rays to see how far the decay has spread.
- Numbing: A local anesthetic numbs the area so you stay comfortable.
- Decay removal: Your dentist gently removes the decay and cleans the space.
- Layering: The composite goes on in thin layers, each one shaped to fit your bite.
- Curing and polishing: A special light hardens the material, and a final polish leaves the surface smooth.
Your lip and cheek may stay numb for a few hours afterward, so wait until the feeling returns before you eat.
How Can You Prevent New Cavities After a Filling?
A composite filling can last many years with good care. And the same habits that protect your filling also protect the teeth around it.
To lower your risk of new cavities:
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss once a day to clean between your teeth
- Cut back on sugary snacks and drinks, especially ones you sip or nibble on throughout the day
- Drink water after meals
- Keep up with a cleaning and exam every six months
Kids benefit from these habits too, and fluoride varnish during their checkups adds extra protection to young teeth.
Need a Dental Filling Before the End of the Year?
If you have dental insurance, the last few months of the year are a good time to check your remaining benefits. Many plans reset their annual maximum on January 1st, and unused benefits typically do not roll over. Treating a small cavity now puts coverage you've already paid for to work.
Looking for the Best Dental Fillings in Mountain View?
Paying attention to small changes in your teeth can spare you from bigger repairs later. A quick filling and consistent anticavity treatment in Mountain View can keep your natural teeth healthy and strong.
Our team is led by Dr. Lagemann and Dr. Sarah Murray, a husband-and-wife team. Dr. Lagemann earned his dental degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry and received the San Francisco Dental Society's Ethics and Professionalism Award upon graduating.
Dr. Murray earned her dental degree from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and spent her first year in practice volunteering at a nonprofit dental clinic in San Francisco. Together, we place mercury-free composite fillings in carefully shaped layers, offer dental sedation for patients who feel nervous, and use CEREC technology to make same-day crowns when a tooth needs more support than a filling can provide.
Those looking for the best dental fillings in Mountain View can find us at 2500 Hospital Drive, Building 6, near the corner of Hospital Drive and South Drive, just off Grant Road by El Camino Hospital. We’re a short drive for families coming from Los Altos and Sunnyvale.
Ready to get ahead of a cavity before it grows?
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