The Truth About Cavities

Let's face it, no one likes cavities, and no one likes to deal with them.

Have you ever had a dentist find a cavity and place a large filling, and wondered why the filling is so large if the cavity has only been there for a small amount of time? Well, the truth is the cavity has probably been there longer than you think. It just wasn't detectable by X-ray, and was not visible to the dentist.

Did you know that there are new technology in laser scanners that find cavities years earlier? The small cavity can be removed and repaired with a small invisible bonded filling. The laser scanner can detect previously undetected decay, and once identified, allow us to remove any problem areas leaving you with a healthy smile.

Cavities are caused by a bacterial infection known as "caries". The infection is treatable, and preventable. Dr. Mayes uses the CariFree ™ program, which was developed to help patients become cavity free by assessing the risks for dental disease and diagnosing the presence of bacterial caries.

Dr. Mayes loves helping patients prevent cavities using this system that has proven to be extremely effective. When you visit us at Preston Dental Center, you will receive a "caries risk assessment," and we will evaluate whether you have factors present that put you at risk for decay.

We want you to be cavity free!

Read more on white dental fillings and dental care in Cary NC.

White dental fillings

For many years, the silver-mercury amalgam was a common filling material used by dentists and many practices still use it. While they represent a reasonable restoration, amalgams have certain shortcomings. Metal doesn't bond well to teeth, so decay can and does eventually leak into the tooth.

However the main reason patients choose the white fillings has to do with the way they look. Most people just don’t want an ugly black plug in their teeth. Nowadays, these state-of-the-art restorations are a natural-looking white, contain no metals, and can actually strengthen teeth. They also bond very tightly with the healthy part of the tooth so there is much less chance of decay in the future.

Read more on white fillings in Cary NC