Cavity Dental Filling
What is Cavity or tooth decay?
Dental cavities, which frequently form in the tooth’s hard outer surface or in enamel cavities, are areas irreversibly destroyed. Caries, another name for cavities, is dental decay.
The term caries goes back to the Latin word “caries,” which means something like “rottenness” or “rotting.” This refers to the destructive disease of a tooth caused by microorganisms. Caries are contagious and associated with severe pain for those affected. A tooth cavity can happen to everyone who has teeth. Young kids, teenagers, and elderly people are the most likely to develop them.
types of Cavities
Tooth decay or cavities is a bacterial disease of the teeth. The three different types of tooth decay are related to the specific area of the tooth that is typically harmed by the disease.
- On the sides of the teeth, there are smooth surface cavities.
- There are pitting cavities and fissures at the tooth’s tip on uneven surfaces.
- Root cavities form below the gum line and above the dental root.
People over the age of 60 with receding gums are more prone to developing tooth decay on the tooth’s neck. This is because unprotected tooth necks can be attacked particularly easily by caries bacteria.The following can occur as the cavity gets bigger:
- Toothache
- When bitten, there is discomfort.
- Intolerance to cold, heat, and sweetness
- Noticeable cracks or stains on the teeth
You can identify any issues early with routine dental exams every six months. Finding a cavity in a tooth before it starts to hurt will help you avoid more serious problems, including possible tooth loss. Visit our dentist at Virginia Dental Care as soon as you notice any pain in your mouth.
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
A root canal is used to relieve discomfort brought on by root deterioration. Our endodontists specialize in treating dental root issues. During a root canal procedure, we take out the pulp, which has painful nerve endings.
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.
How do Cavities form?
Tooth decay is the root of caries. Enamel, the tooth’s hard exterior, can sustain deterioration over time. In contrast, plaque is a sticky film created by bacteria, food particles, and natural acids. Over time, the acid in plaque starts to dissolve into your enamel. Your dentin starts to suffer damage as soon as the acid starts eating through your enamel. Another softer and more vulnerable tooth layer is dentin.
If tooth decay is left untreated, the pulp or inside of the tooth may be impacted. Your teeth’s pulp shields nerves and blood vessels. The pulp may become damaged if the degradation spreads there. A damaged nerve causes discomfort, irritability, and swelling. When tooth decay is very bad, pus can build up around the tooth as your immune system tries to fight it. Bacteria are the reason for the buildup of manure.
Symptoms of Cavities
White to brown discoloration of the teeth is the first sign of tooth decay that should be treated. Minerals from the tooth enamel are released, which triggers the onset of early caries.If the tooth is yellow or brown, enamel caries are already present, and bacteria so badly attack the surface that a hole is formed. Dentists speak of dentine caries when the hole reaches the tooth bone (dentin). In addition, the teeth become sensitive to pain when it is cold, sweet or hot.The final stage is called deep dental caries. The destruction of the tooth has penetrated the pulp of the tooth. This causes severe, persistent pain, parts of the tooth can break off, or an abscess can develop at the root.
How are dental cavities detected?
The best way to catch cavities early, when your dentist can still preserve a lot of the tooth, is to have twice-yearly dental examinations. To examine your teeth, our dentist will use a variety of tools. Dentists will feel softer when probing a tooth if it has a cavity. We also take dental X-rays for proper detection. Before the degradation becomes apparent, X-rays reveal cavities.
Our dentist usually recommends a crown if caries so destroys the tooth’s natural crown that it can no longer be restored with a simple tooth filling or an inlay. The artificial tooth crown supplements the missing parts of the remaining tooth and largely reproduces the tooth’s original shape. Count on us for all your dental needs.
Difficulties in the dental cavity treatment
If not addressed, a dental cavity can result in several issues, such as:
- Persistent tooth pain
- An infection from a dental abscess can spread to other parts of the body and cause problems that could be fatal.
- The creation of pus or infection surrounding the impacted tooth.
- More risk for tooth fracture
- Having trouble chewing food
You risk damaging your teeth permanently if you choose not to see a doctor. At this point, the dentist’s sole option for treating the cavity dental filling is to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant or bridge.
What should you do to prevent Cavities?
- Use fluoride toothpaste. A fluoride is an effective tool in the battle against caries since it can halt and even cure tooth decay.
- At least twice a day, in the morning and at night, you should brush your teeth. Wash your teeth after eating.
- Brush your teeth daily to eliminate food residue and stop plaque from forming.
- Visit the dentist frequently.
- Ask your dentist if dental sealing would be advantageous for you. Dental sealant is a plastic substance painted on the chewing surface of the back teeth. To stop tooth decay, the substance covers ridges and crevices.
- Reduce the number of times you snack and eat sticky, sweet meals. A nearly continual supply of dental decay can be brought on by snacking. Your enamel might also be harmed by sugar and fizzy meals and beverages.
- Rinse your mouth with an unsweetened drink before making a snack to get rid of bacteria and food particles.