Cavities
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are erosions of the tooth surface that can lead to significant damage to tooth structure. They are primarily caused by bacteria in the mouth that ferment sugars and starches from food, forming acids that attack tooth enamel. Factors such as the quality of saliva, the shape of teeth, and diet play crucial roles in cavity formation, which often begins as discolorations or rough spots on the enamel. Symptoms may include tooth sensitivity to temperature changes and persistent aching, particularly as cavities grow larger.
If left untreated, cavities can progress, potentially leading to severe tooth decay, abscesses, or the need for extraction. Treatments typically involve dental fillings made from various materials, crowns for extensive damage, or endodontic therapy like root canals when the nerve is affected. To prevent cavities, maintaining good oral hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups, along with a diet low in refined sugars, is essential. Understanding the causes and treatments for cavities can help individuals take proactive steps to maintain their dental health.
Subject Terms
Cavities
ALSO KNOWN AS: Dental caries
ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Gums, teeth
DEFINITION: Cavities are erosions of the surface of teeth that can excavate the tooth surface and damage tooth structure.
CAUSES: Bacteria, diet (refined sugars or starches), dental plaque, amount and acidity of saliva, quality of tooth enamel, and shape of tooth, leading to destruction of tooth crown; may begin as stains, discolorations, rough spots, or white opaque areas of enamel
SYMPTOMS: Tooth sensitivity to heat or cold, deep aching
DURATION: Chronic
TREATMENTS: Fillings made of amalgam, resins, or plastics; artificial crowns
Causes and Symptoms
The oral cavity is filled with a variety of bacteria, some of which can ferment foods, especially complex and simple sugars, into acids. A mixture of oral bacteria, organic acids, food debris, and saliva combine to form a sticky, creamy-colored substance called plaque. Plaque forms on all teeth, but some are more susceptible to buildup than others. A failure to remove plaque causes it to mineralize into tartar. The combination of plaque and irritates the gums, which results in gingivitis and can ultimately cause an infection of the ligaments and that support the (periodontitis). The acids in plaque also dissolve the enamel surface of the tooth, generating a hole that is known as a cavity. Untreated, tooth decay can hollow out a tooth and destroy the nerves and blood vessels inside, resulting in a tooth abscess.
The earliest sign of a cavity is a chalky, white spot on the surface of a tooth, which indicates demineralization of the tooth enamel. At this point, the process is reversible, but the white spot can turn brown and develop into a breach in the enamel. Once the cavity forms, the affected tooth structure cannot be regenerated. Large cavities can cause toothache, particularly after consuming cold, hot, or sweet foods or drinks, but most cavities are typically painless until they grow large enough to affect the nerves. Dental X-rays can detect cavities even before they are visible to the naked eye, and cavities usually cause soft spots that are sticky when the tooth is pressed with a probe.
Treatment and Therapy
Treatment of dental cavities often requires drilling the tooth to remove the and eroded by the invasion of acid-producing bacteria. Once the affected hard tissues have been removed, a dental filling made from dental amalgam, composite resin, porcelain, or gold is placed into the tooth to restore its structural integrity. For large cavities that have eroded so much of the tooth structure that restorative material cannot be placed within it, a cap called a crown, made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal, is fitted over what remains of the tooth. Sometimes, the damage is great enough to continually stress the nerve in the tooth, leading the nerve to die and decay. Endodontic therapy is then employed. An endodontic file hollows the center of the tooth, forming a “root canal,” and removes the nerve tissue. The tissue often appears as thin wispy fibers. Endodontic therapy also involves filling the canal with gutta percha, a rubber-like substance. If the decay is too great for the tooth to be treated and saved, the tooth must be extracted.
A treatment called resin infiltration enables dentists to treat cavities between teeth without drilling. A plastic perforated sheet is slid between the teeth with the cavities. The tooth is filled by pushing a liquid resin infiltrant through the perforated sheet. A dental curing light is applied to the tooth to cure the resin, which completes the painless treatment.
Conscientious personal dental consists of daily brushing and flossing, regular dental examinations at least twice a year, and diet modification that reduces the intake of simple sugars. This personal dental hygiene can reduce the risk of cavities and keep teeth and gums healthy.
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