Cavity Dental Filling
What is a cavity?
A cavity, also known as dental caries or tooth decay, is a common dental condition characterized by the gradual breakdown of the hard tissues of the tooth—enamel, dentin, and sometimes even the pulp—caused by the activity of bacteria in the mouth. Cavities are essentially small holes or openings that form on the tooth surface as a result of this decay process.
How does a cavity form?
Plaque Formation: Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth, particularly after consuming sugary or starchy foods. These bacteria consume the sugars from your diet and produce acids as byproducts.
Acid Production: The acids produced by bacteria in plaque attack the outer layer of your teeth, which is the enamel. Enamel is the hard protective covering of the tooth. Over time, these acids can weaken and erode the enamel.
Demineralization: The acid attack leads to the loss of essential minerals, primarily calcium and phosphate, from the enamel. This process is called demineralization. The weakened enamel becomes more porous and susceptible to further decay.
Cavity Formation: If demineralization continues, the enamel begins to break down, creating a small hole or cavity in the tooth’s surface. At this point, the decay has penetrated the hard enamel and may progress more rapidly.
Advancement: If left untreated, the decay can progress deeper into the tooth, reaching the softer dentin layer underneath the enamel. From there, the decay can advance even further, potentially reaching the tooth’s pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels.
Cavities can lead to various symptoms, including tooth sensitivity, pain when biting or chewing, and visible discoloration or holes in the teeth. It’s important to address cavities as soon as possible, as they can worsen over time and potentially lead to tooth infection, abscesses, and tooth loss if not treated.
Treatment for cavities typically involves removing the decayed portion of the tooth and filling the resulting cavity with dental materials like amalgam (silver-colored) or composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings. In more severe cases, when the decay has affected a significant portion of the tooth, more extensive treatments like dental crowns or root canals might be necessary.
Preventing cavities involves maintaining good oral hygiene practices, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings. Additionally, reducing sugary and acidic food and drink intake and using fluoride-containing dental products can help strengthen enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.
How do we treat your cavities?
At Virginia Dental Care, we use the most up-to-date methods and tools to take care of all your dental needs. The type of treatment depends on how bad the decay is. Tooth cavity treatment include:
1. Fluoride
Early detection of decay allows fluoride treatments to restore tooth enamel. Remineralization is the name of this process. You could require fluoride treatments at the dental office, prescription mouthwash, and toothpaste.
2. Fillings
When a hole develops in a tooth, our dentist will carefully detect the depth of it. Then he will fill it after drilling out the rotten material. Dental fillings can be constructed of gold, composite resin, or silver amalgam.
3. Root Canal
If the bacteria from the cavity have entered the nerve canal, a Root Canal Procedure may need to be performed in which the infected nerve is removed to allow for pain relief.
4. Tooth Extraction
Our doctor may pull the tooth if a root canal is not an option. A dental implant could be required to replace a lost permanent tooth. With implants, your appearance and bite won't change due to teeth shifting.