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One of the most common struggles that patients have with their teeth is cavities. These nasty imperfections can create unwanted symptoms, such as tooth sensitivity, and can lead to major dental health issues if not addressed in a timely fashion. Fortunately, learning more about cavities and their identifying symptoms can assist you in seeking treatment early on.
What is a Cavity?
In short, cavities are holes that develop in the hard surface area of the teeth. As they grow, their damage extends larger and larger until the entire tooth structure is compromised. Cavities can develop due to a number of negative factors. Some of the most common include poor oral hygiene and excessive sugar consumption.
When you consume too much sugar or don’t properly remove sugar from the teeth, your natural mouth bacteria will turn it into acid. This acid will attack the hard surfaces of the teeth, which will eventually lead to the holes we refer to as cavities.
How Can You Tell if You Have a Cavity?
Being able to identify when you develop a cavity is crucial to seeking quick treatment for it. Some of the most common symptoms that you’ll likely experience when you have one or more cavities include the following:
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Discomfort When Biting Down
- Spontaneous Toothache
- Dark Spots on the Teeth
- Visible Holes in the Teeth
In most cases, dental patients will first start to notice sensitivity in a tooth that was previously fine. Upon further inspection, they may notice dark spots or visible holes forming in the problem tooth. If you experience any of these issues, it’s necessary to seek professional help from a dentist to get your cavity treated before it compromises more of the tooth.
How is a Cavity Treated?
The appropriate treatment for a cavity will highly depend on the severity of it and how much of the tooth’s structure has been damaged. Some common treatments include dental fillings, root canals, and dental crowns. Your dental professional will be able to prescribe the best course of treatment for your cavity.
The most commonly used treatment is a dental filling. This easy procedure involves removing the decaying material in the tooth and filling it with a composite resin. This treatment option is ideal for treating newly developed cavities that haven’t damaged a large amount of the tooth’s structure.
If the decaying from the cavity has reached the inner structure of the tooth, known as the pulp, a root canal will be performed. This procedure is meant to remove the infected pulp and save the structure of the overall tooth. Once the infection is removed, the open pulp area will be filled in with a resin material.
Lastly, a dental crown is used when a cavity has been left going for so long that it has destroyed a large portion of the tooth. The crown is used to restore both the structure and function of the tooth for the patient.
Maintaining great dental health starts with understanding some of the most common issues that can happen, like cavities. With good dental health habits, such as flossing and brushing, alongside regular dental examinations, you can do your best to minimize your likelihood of getting a cavity.
