Healthy Mouth Healthy Body
Adults Under 40

Cavities

Cavities

Tooth decay is the process that results in a cavity (dental caries). It occurs when bacteria in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth. If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.

The combination of bacteria and food causes tooth decay. A clear, sticky substance called plaque that contains bacteria is always forming on your teeth and gums. As the bacteria feed on the sugars in the food you eat, they make acids. The acids attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

Three types of cavity:

  • Smooth surface cavities, which appear on the sides of your teeth
  • Pit and Fissure cavities, which appear on the bumpy surface on the top of your tooth that is used for chewing
  • Root cavities, which appear over the roots of your teeth, below the gum line.

Tooth decay usually does not cause symptoms until you have a cavity or an infected tooth. When this occurs, a toothache is the most common symptom.

The symptoms of a dental cavity will depend on the type of cavity and the severity of decay. When a cavity first develops, it’s likely that you won’t even know it’s there.

When a cavity gets larger, you may experience:

  • Toothache
  • Sensitivity to heat, cold, and sweets
  • Pain when biting down
  • Visible holes or black spots on teeth

Treatment for tooth decay depends on how bad it is. You may be able to reverse slight tooth decay by using fluoride. To fix cavities caused by mild tooth decay, your dentist will fill the cavities with another substance (fillings). For more severe tooth decay, you may need a crown or root canal. In extreme cases, your dentist may have to remove the tooth.

Regular dental exams (about every six months) can help catch any problems early on. Finding a dental cavity before it starts causing you pain can help you avoid extensive damage and possible tooth loss. If you start feeling pain see your dentist as soon as possible.

Fillings

You need a filling when tooth decay has caused a hole (cavity) to form on a tooth surface. A filling is a material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after he or she removes any tooth decay.

Fillings can be made from many types of material. Talk to your dentist about which type would be best for you.

  • Amalgam is the easiest material for a dentist to use. It is the fastest and least costly choice. Amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, or other metals.
  • Composite resins are tooth-colored fillings. Your dentist may use them on your front teeth, where appearance is important. White composite fillings are a model alternative to the old Grey amalgam fillings. Generally speaking these fillings look far more aesthetically pleasing and blend in with the natural teeth around them. One minor problem with white fillings is that they could have a tendency to wear at a higher rate than the surrounding teeth, this means that it is possible that the filling could wear away. The good news however, is that white composite fillings are extremely easy to add onto if this happens .Composite white fillings are much more popular alternative to amalgam fillings and are increasingly becoming the dental filling of choice in most practices.
  • Glass Ionomers are tooth-colored materials that dentists often use for small cavities or cavities between teeth. Some ionomers release small amounts of fluoride, which may help you if you often get cavities.
  • Gold is costly and is harder for your dentist to work with. This makes the procedure take longer and cost more.
  • Ceramics are costly tooth-colored fillings. They require special equipment and may require dental lab support. You may need several appointments.The proper dental term for these is porcelain inlays however they perform the same function as a filling. Although porcelain sounds as though it is not very strong, this is actually far from the truth. The porcelain inlays that are used in dentistry are in fact made of an extremely high-strength feldspar quartz mixture which, when laminated or bonded onto the tooth, is extremely strong.

A filling repairs the tooth and stops tooth decay. Over a long period of time, you may need to replace a worn-out filling.

Your filled tooth may be sensitive to heat and cold for days to weeks after you get the filling. Talk to your dentist about toothpastes that may help you with this discomfort. Tell your dentist if your teeth are too sensitive after you get a filling, because you can usually treat this problem.

There is almost no risk involved in having a cavity filled.

If you have certain heart problems, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics before a dental procedure. Some procedures can cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. The antibiotics lower your risk of getting an infection in your heart called endocarditis.

Some dentists now use a laser system to remove tooth decay and prepare the tooth for filling.

Once a tooth is filled it does not become immune to decay,hence it is important to continue with regular brushing,flossing and using a good mouthwash to prevent further decay.

Root Canal

Root canal treatment is one of the most dreaded procedures in dentistry.This is because of a whole range of myths associated with it about being a painful procedure.

Sometimes a cavity is just too deep to be fixed with a filling and may require a root canal. Root canal procedures are used to treat problems of the tooth's soft core, otherwise known as dental pulp. The pulp contains the blood vessels and the nerves of the tooth, which run like a thread down into the root. The pulp tissue can die when it’s infected or injured. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. During a root canal treatment, the dentist removes the pulp, and the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Your dentist may then place a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger and protect it.

Why Does the Pulp Need to Be Removed?

When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber.The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth.

In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:

  • Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head
  • Bone loss around the tip of the root
  • Drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth with drainage into the gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin.

What Damages a Tooth's Nerve and Pulp.

A tooth's nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.

Signs you may need a root canal include:

  • Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure.
  • Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed).
  • Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth.
  • Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums.
  • A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums.
  • Sometimes no symptoms are present.

The time to visit your dentist is NOW.