At a Denver dentist, we believe in a holistic approach to dental medicine, which means a large amount of our focus is on preventing problems from every happening. Naturally when you come in with a specific issue, we will want to deal with that and make sure that you are taken care of. Much of the time we prefer if your visits are more routine because we have learned that it is easier for you if we can prevent problems rather than having to treat them. This requires a level of collaboration between us so that you can have a degree of knowledge about how some dental problems occur, how to prevent them, and how to best care for your teeth.
We have also learned that for many people their source of information on oral health comes from the Internet. Googling something has become the way many of our patients find information. While this has definite advantages, like patients who understand aspects of what we do, there are also disadvantages. The information you get online may not be from a dentist and may be presented in a way that is convoluted and confusing. For that reason, we have this blog, to provide you with information so that you can get your knowledge directly from our Denver dentist office. We hope that you will use what you learn here as a conversation starter in our clinic. At the end of the day, dentistry is a medical science, and there is no better way to learn about your dental issues than face to face with a dentist who knows your history.
As a Denver dentist we see our share of rare conditions, however, for the vast majority of the time, most people come in for pretty routine issues. Checkups, cleanings, and cavities make up the bulk of what we deal with on a day to day basis. Cavities, in fact, make up the second most common occurring medical problem that people have across the country. The only thing that causes people to miss more work or school is the common cold. A cavity is essentially a buildup of bacterial acids that bore a small hole in your tooth. Every mouth contains bacteria, typically several strains. This bacteria is natural and harmless. Unfortunately, it also tends to colonize on the teeth, which is where an accumulation of bacteria becomes plaque. Plaque is that thin yellowish film you see on your teeth when they are dirty The challenge is that bacteria, especially when it is built up in plaque form, tends to feed on sugary and starchy foods. When it does this, the bacteria release acid onto the tooth. For a while, this has no impact because the tooth can repair the damaged enamel, but after a while the minerals in the enamel starts to wear out, and a small white spot will appear. Eventually, the enamel will get soft, and then a tiny hole will appear which we call a cavity. We can treat the cavity and return you to excellent oral health in our dental office.
To learn more about this or other conditions, read our blog and visit our office today.