Tooth cavities

At our dental clinic we understand the severity of dental pain and provide emergency relief.

How to prevent teeth from getting cavities?

Dental caries or tooth decay is prevented primarily by keeping teeth clean and not allowing food residues to be stagnant in the mouth. Brushing daily is essential for prevention of dental caries. Flossing in between teeth is also essential to clean in between teeth where your brush is unable to reach. It is also a good habits to rinse your mouth every time you have a snack.

Regular dental check-ups are important to identify any developing caries. Getting early caries filled by dentist is the easiest way to prevent progression of tooth decay.

What is tooth decay?

When food residues stay in the mouth for long time, bacteria start to grow on it. These bacteria produce acids which dissolve your teeth enamel and dentine. Tooth decay, also known as cavities or caries, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria.

Dental caries affecting different parts of a tooth.

What happens if I leave dental cavity without filling?

After tooth enamel and dentine is dissolved, bacteria lodge in the cavity formed and continue burrowing further into your tooth. Once the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth it leads to infection of the tooth root canal. If left untreated it leads to tooth abscess, weakening of teeth and finally loss of tooth.

Pit and fissure caries

Animation showing caries progression into deeper layers of tooth.

Smooth surface caries

What is root canal treatment or RCT?

Once the infection reaches the pulp of the tooth is cannot be filled regularly, and requires root canal treatment. Root canal is a hollow canal within teeth that contains the tooth pulp (or otherwise nerves and blood vessels). Through the root canal the bacteria can spread to the supporting bone and causing root infection and abscess.

Root canal treatment is the cleaning and disinfection of the infected pulp of a tooth so that spread of bacteria can be stopped and remaining tooth restored.

What follows RCT?

After RCT is completed your teeth structure is restored by a procedure called core build up. Sometimes the remaining structure of teeth is too weak to withstand on its own. In those situations a post inside the teeth gives additional strength to the core restoration. Finally all posterior teeth need to crowned so that they can safely be used for chewing again.