Bloomington dental practice offers cavity prevention, detection, and treatment services, including fillers

Cavities, also called dental caries, are often associated with young children, however, they can affect individuals at any age. In fact, many senior citizens are susceptible to cavities because certain medications can dry out the mouth and create an ideal environment for the bacteria that cause decay. It is estimated that 28 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 5 have some decay in their primary teeth, and that 85 percent of all adults have tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control referred to dental caries as an epidemic in the United States.

While cavities are sometimes visible to a patient’s eye, or may have symptoms such as pain, toothache, or sensitivity to heat or cold, cavities are often undetected without a professional dental examination. The best ways to prevent cavities are by following a consistent and effective oral hygiene routine and scheduling once or twice a year visits with the dentist. At Eastland Dental Center in Bloomington, IL, our doctors, Mike Milligan, DMD and Marisa Milligan, DMD believe that prevention is the best medicine for optimal life-long oral health. Our professional team provides comprehensive screening, evaluation, and cleaning for our patients.

Prevention

In addition to routine dental checkups and appropriate hygiene, prevention of cavities can be strengthened with our CariFree line of products and rinses

Detection

We have invested in technologies to detect even the smallest cavities to help our patients achieve the best results. The KaVo DIAGNOdent laser system has a more than 90 percent success rate in detecting even the smallest or most hidden cavities.

Our Schick digital x-ray technology captures clear images that a patient and doctor can easily view together when discussing treatment and it reduces the radiation associated with conventional film by up to 80 percent.

Treatment

If a cavity is diagnosed, our team offers natural-looking, white filling material as an alternative to visible gold or silver fillings. White filling material is mixed with a bonding agent and has several advantages over conventional fillings, including:

• More strength and stability
• More aesthetically pleasing
• Color and shade-matched to blend in with the patient’s natural teeth

Eastland Dental Center serves patients from Bloomington, Normal, and nearby IL communities. Appointments may be scheduled by calling (309) 663-4711.