Johnstown Tooth Decay Dentist

At Premier Dental of Johnstown, our dental team is well equipped to care for teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay. We have several treatment options that can repair or replace the damaged tooth and restore your natural chewing function, minus the pain and ache associated with tooth decay. The sooner you schedule a visit at our office in Johnstown, Ohio, the sooner we can get you back to feeling normal.

What Causes Severe Tooth Decay?

The cause of severe tooth decay or rot is the same thing that causes cavities: bacteria in dental plaque.  We eat sugar that feeds the bacteria, which produce acid that softens and weakens tooth enamel.  When cavities develop into large holes on multiple teeth, there may be some underlying factors that contribute to the problem.  

We commonly see severe tooth decay in Johnstown patients who neglected to schedule regular dental appointments.  Without preventive dental care, the disease process can run unchecked.  When a lack of oral healthcare combines with a high-sugar diet and poor oral hygiene, it is not uncommon for severe, widespread decay to develop.  

Widespread tooth decay is also common among people who use illicit drugs, like methamphetamines.  These drugs lead to both severe dry mouth and a lack of both professional and home care.  For this reason, you might hear rampant decay called “meth mouth”.

Many of our patients suffer from dry mouth as the result of taking multiple prescription medications.  If someone with a dry mouth does not receive consistent dental care, he or she is at risk for rapid progression of decay. 

People undergoing cancer treatment, using chemotherapy and/or radiation, also have a higher risk for developing rapidly growing tooth decay.

Do Rotten Teeth Have to Be Pulled?

In most cases, yes.  

At Premier Dental of Johnstown, Emily Crook's dental treatment philosophy focuses on options that first save existing teeth, but also give the patient the best long-term success.  In most cases of tooth decay, by the time we see a tooth with severe decay, it is too late, which is why tooth extraction is often the best approach. You could spend a lot of money to save a tooth that would still have a poor overall prognosis in the long term.  We'll go over treatment plans, costs, and potential outcomes that will get your mouth feeling healthy again.

What are the Treatment Options for Severe Tooth Decay?

If severe tooth decay leaves you with multiple missing teeth, you have several options to replace them. With dental implants, we can even replace them in a way that does not require removal (like traditional dentures).  Patients who are prone to rapidly progressing decay should consider dental implants as the most viable option to replace the missing teeth. This is because implants are impervious to decay. They cannot rot away, as teeth do.

Treating Tooth Decay in Johnstown

Don't let a tooth or teeth affected by tooth decay go untreated. Dr. Emily Crook and our expert staff in Johnstown can provide a thorough exam and review the treatment options with you. If the damaged tooth is fixable, Dr. Crook will provide a treatment plan, but in the event that a tooth extraction is needed, we also offer several restorative dental procedures in Johnstown, Ohio that will help you fill in gaps left by missing or extracted teeth and provide a more natural feeling structure of your mouth. Contact our dental office in Johnstown today to get started with an initial consultation.

We Love New Patients in Johnstown

If you've been avoiding the dentist because of tooth pain, our $89 New Patient Special is designed to get you back in the dental chair. This special offers Johnstown dental patients a comprehensive exam, X-Rays, and a professional teeth cleaning. If Dr. Crook and the Johnstown dental team discovers tooth decay, we will provide a care plan and schedule a follow up to relieve the pain you are experiencing from teeth damaged by decay.

We are a full-service dental practice, located in downtown Johnstown, near the intersection of SR 37 and SR62. Our facility features plenty of parking, including handicap accessible spots with easy access to the entrance. Our dental practice in Johnstown provides expert dental services as part of our general dentistry, serving patients in Johnstown, New Albany, Mt. Vernon, and the surrounding areas in Licking County.

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