When Can Getting a Cavity Be an Opportunity to Improve Your Smile?

By L Andrew Mutch | Published on August 18, 2011 | 0 Comments

Cavities are a dental problem that should, and oftentimes can, be avoided through diligent brushing and flossing routines. However, the majority of people in the U.S. today will get one or more cavities in their lifetime. When this happens, Dr. L. Andrew Mutch DDS recommends thinking of the problem as a blessing in disguise.

The Alhambra, CA, dentist goes on to explain that the fillings and crowns that dentists use to repair cavities are a form of restorative dentistry, and some of the techniques that are used when preparing teeth for fillings and crowns can actually lead to prettier, straighter, and whiter smiles.

If a patient who walks into Dr. Mutch’s practice in Alhambra, CA, tells the dentist that he is not happy with the appearance of his smile, then the opportunity may present itself to fix some of those perceived flaws at the same time as a new filling or crown is going on.

To explain how this works, Dr. Mutch uses the example of a patient who may not be happy with the look up his upper front teeth. If this patient were to have a couple of large cavities in that same general area, or if he had several large teeth that were having recurrent issues with decay, then the aesthetic issues that the patient was complaining about could be fixed at the same time his new crowns were being fitted.

Common issues that a dentist in Alhambra, CA, could fix with dental crowns would be slight crowding, uneven spacing, and discoloration problems. If a dentist is already crowning half of a patient’s front teeth to eliminate instances of decay, then he may as well fix the patient’s aesthetic complaints at the same time. This would be a clear case where getting a cavity would actually be an opportunity for the patient to improve his smile.

Restorative dentistry techniques have come a long way in the last decade, and most of the aesthetic complaints that people have now can be fixed with some type of restorative treatment. When dental crowns are not the right option for everyone, porcelain veneers can also be used to dramatically change the look of a person’s smile in very little time.

Although veneers would not be right for someone who had issues with cavities or decay, the Alhambra, CA, dentist may recommend them as a treatment for a patient who had fractured the inside edge of his tooth due to a nasty fall, for example. Veneers are not recommended for teeth that are very broken down, but they are best for people who want to cosmetically change the shade, contour, or length of their existing teeth without undergoing whitening or orthodontic treatments.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

What People Are Saying.