Cavities are also known as tooth decay or dental caries. A cavity occurs when the harder and outer layer of the tooth called the tooth enamel gets destroyed. It has been seen through research that almost 100% of the adults and 50-60% of the school children have cavities. This goes without saying that cavity treatment happens to be one of the most common treatments that dentists perform on a daily basis.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about cavities and how dentists treat them.
Is it possible for a decayed tooth to heal by itself?
A cavity is nothing but an infection that will never ever heal by itself. There is only one thing to do when you have cavity and that is to seek the help of your dentist. The professional will help to do away with the bacteria at the earliest and protect the teeth before it is too late. If you wait too long before starting with the treatment then the risk rises for the infection to spread into the pulp and damage more tooth structure.
If that is the case then the nerve of the tooth has to be removed followed by a root canal treatment for building the tooth with a crown or a filling. In case, the tooth has been damaged to a great extent then you have to remove the tooth.
How does a dentist treat cavity?
The main principle for cleaning bacteria is usually with a burr. Anaesthesia should be applied when there is a risk of pain during the procedure. Prior to that, sometimes anaesthetic gel is also used to numb the gum prior to numbing with the needle. It takes a few minutes before the tooth gets numb.
Anaesthetic shots take a few minutes to be administered in a way that there is no discomfort. Anaesthesia is used by dentists to put the patient in comfort that. This not only makes it easier for the patient but it also simplifies the task for the dentist to carry out the treatment.
The burr is used to clean the bacteria and when the cavity is completely clean, the filling is done. In the past, amalgam fillings were used but today composite white filling materials are used. Fillings are usually self-curing or hardened by itself or cured with light. It is adjusted to the right height so that you can bite properly.
If none of the tooth hurts then does it mean that you are cavity-free?
Usually there is no relationship between cavity size and that of pain. Without any symptoms too, there can still be cavities. Smaller damage to the teeth like the initial carries that still haven’t developed to cavities can offer discomfort and sensitivity. But we can have other issues with our teeth than that of cavities. Grinding the tooth, extensive tooth brushing and abrasive food can damage the teeth.
The above are some of the commonly asked questions about cavities to the best dentist in Bushwick. These will help you to clear your doubts and give you a clearer picture about dental cavities and how to deal with them.
