You take a sip of your ice cold drink and you feel a sudden sharp pain in one of your teeth. A few days later, your tooth is throbbing and it hurts to chew. At this point, you probably suspect you have a dental cavity.
If you do, you’re not alone. Tooth decay is hands down the most common dental problem our Mission Viejo and San Clemente general dentists see at our practice. In fact, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research found that 92% of adults ages 20 to 64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth.
The good news is, decay is preventable, and when caught early, it can be simple to treat. The team here at Shoreline Dental Studio will be covering everything you need to know about tooth decay from what causes it to how to tell if you have a cavity.
According to the American Dental Association, tooth decay “is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your teeth.” Are tooth decay and cavities the same thing? No, but cavities are the result of tooth decay. Tooth decay, or dental caries, is the bacterial disease process that damages a tooth. As tooth decay progresses, a hole can form in the enamel. This hole is a cavity.
How does tooth decay happen? It starts with plaque. Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that constantly forms on your teeth as the bacteria in your mouth mix with saliva, acids, and food particles. The plaque bacteria then feed on sugars and starches from the things you eat and drink, and when they do, they release acids that attack enamel.
These acid attacks leach minerals from your tooth enamel, a process known as demineralization. Then, the minerals in your saliva, as well as fluoride, help to deposit minerals back into the enamel (remineralization). When demineralization wins the battle against remineralization, tooth decay occurs and, eventually, cavities can develop. Because plaque is so sticky, if it’s not brushed and flossed away, it keeps acids in constant contact with your enamel, speeding up the process of tooth decay.
While, ultimately, it’s plaque accumulation and acid attacks that cause tooth decay, there are a number of things that can increase your risk of cavities, including:
Early tooth decay that occurs on the outer enamel layer doesn’t usually cause pain. As it progresses and you get decay in the dentin or tooth roots, you will likely have telltale cavity symptoms, such as:
While these symptoms are an indication that something is going on in your mouth, the only way to know for certain whether or not you have a cavity, is to visit your dentist. When a patient comes to us with symptoms like tooth pain in Mission Viejo or San Clemente, a team member takes digital x-rays. Then, Dr. Ritzau, Dr. Livingston, or Dr. Saad performs an exam and assesses the x-rays to accurately diagnose tooth decay.
The earlier you seek treatment for tooth decay, the easier and more affordable treatment will be. An untreated cavity will continue to get larger and weaken the tooth. The tooth is then at risk of breaking or fracturing. Treating a very large cavity will also require removing more tooth structure or, sometimes, an extraction.
Severe, untreated cavities may cause infection as well. When a tooth is infected, a pocket of pus, called an abscess, can develop that leads to severe pain, facial swelling, and fever. The infection is considered a dental emergency, because it can spread to other areas of the body.
Yes, you can reverse very early tooth decay. Once tooth decay creates a cavity, however, the damage is permanent and will need to be repaired. To reverse early tooth decay, we may use fluoride or another treatment to remineralize the tooth. Replacing the lost minerals will strengthen the weakened enamel and prevent a cavity from forming.
It’s important to note that when tooth decay is in a stage where it’s still reversible, it doesn’t usually have symptoms. It’s during regular dental exams and cleanings that your dentist is able to catch the first signs of a problem. This highlights the importance of having an exam and cleaning once every six months, or as often as your dentist recommends.
The treatment used will depend on how severe your tooth decay is. Common cavity treatments include:
When your permanent restoration is ready, you’ll come back to the office. Dr. Ritzau, Dr. Livingston, or Dr. Saad will remove your temporary and have you try the permanent crown. Once they’re happy with the fit and appearance, they’ll bond it in place. Lastly, they’ll make any minor adjustments to your bite and give the crown a final polish for the most natural look.
While we pride ourselves on providing painless, gentle care and a relaxing experience (hello, comfort menu), the truth is, prevention is always better than treatment. Preventing cavities will help you maintain excellent oral health and, in turn, overall health. Not to mention, it will also save you time and money.
Here are 7 things you can do to prevent tooth decay:
A dental exam is just as important. A team member will take digital x-rays and, once a year, a three-dimensional digital dental health scan. The diagnostic records combined with a thorough exam allow the dentist to address any issues like tooth decay in their earliest stages, sometimes while it’s still reversible.
Another important aspect of getting routine dental care is that our dental team can give you personalized recommendations to follow. They might recommend a specific tool, toothpaste, or rinse that will bolster your cavity prevention efforts.
If you have tooth pain or signs of tooth decay, schedule an appointment with a Mission Viejo or San Clemente general dentist at Shoreline Dental Studio today! Our expert dentists will get to the bottom of the problem and deliver gentle, personalized treatment to restore your smile.
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