What are Cavities?
Cavities are dental holes that affect the enamel and the dentin of the tooth. The enamel and the dentin are two layers of the tooth which is the white outer layer and the inner yellow layer respectively. They protect the tooth’s pulp where the nerves and the blood vessels reside. Almost 90% of the population is affected by dental cavities. Minor cavities are unnoticeable and may not cause pain. Large cavities accumulate food, and may affect the pulp of the tooth and bring bacterial toxins. This may bring pain to the patient.
Bacteria, a cause of cavities in the mouth, collects sugar, which transforms into acid plaque. This is different than periodontal plaque which causes gum disease. Acid plaque softens the layer of the enamel and the dentin which dissolves the saliva causing holes or cavities in the tooth. It is necessary to visit your dentist to fill the tooth to prevent further erosion of the tooth and pulp damage which may lead to infection, pulp death and tooth abscess. Pulp damage requires tooth extraction or a root canal to remove and replace the pulp. Children are more susceptible to cavities because baby teeth are porous and immature. It takes 7 years for the chalky, porous enamel to be changed to a dense, mature, shiny and hard enamel.
Cavities are preventable through proper nutrition, less snacks in between meals, good dental hygiene, use of topical sealants, and dental fluorides. In filling dental cavities, the dentist will clean first your teeth using hand instruments or rotary instruments known as handpieces. After cleaning, it will be filled with amalgam silver, composite material or porcelain to repair the tooth. The cheapest and commonly used filling is the dental amalgam or the silver filling.
Most people think that cavities happen in children only, but what they do not know is that with aging comes cavities also. Pregnant women are also prone to cavities due to the sweet foods they usually eat. Visiting your dentist will help you know if you have cavities.
Don’t Be Afraid of Dental Caps and Fillings
Dental fillings and dental crowns are used to help preserve your teeth. The teeth have natural crevices and grooves that can act as a food trap. Even if we do brush our teeth regularly, we can not always thoroughly remove the trapped food debris. This food debris will be fermented by microorganisms producing acids that will destroy the surface of the tooth. This is how cavities start, which when left unchecked, will spread to the dentin and pulp of the tooth. If the dentin is involved, some discomfort, like sensitivity to sweet food and cold air, will be felt by the patient. As the destruction of tooth tissue continues to the dental pulp, the pain becomes more severe.
The dentist will normally give local anesthesia before removing dental cavities, so don’t be afraid of getting caps and fillings. A topical anesthesia is used to prevent pain from the prick of the needle. After the anesthetic is injected, you won’t feel pain as the dentist starts treatment.
The dentist will usually do an oral examination before suggesting any treatment. Dental cavities that are not so deep and wide can be cleaned and filled. The dentist will give suggestions on what fillings are best for you. You will be able to choose from amalgam and composite. Gold fillings are also used, but it is not common. If a cavity is deep, a base material is placed before the dental filling to protect the pulp.
Extensive cavities, when cleaned, could cause the remaining tooth to be weak in structure. To protect and preserve the tooth, dental jacket crowns or caps are needed. The remaining tooth structure is prepared and built up. An impression is taken, and is then sent to the dental laboratory for processing. Once the dental crowns are ready, it will be cemented to the tooth. Dental jacket crowns are also used after root canal treatment to protect the tooth. Crowns are used for aesthetic reasons, such as when tooth staining cannot be removed by bleaching. These are some of the uses of dental fillings and dental jacket crowns.
Don’t be afraid of caps and fillings. Instead, with the help of dental anesthesia, you should see them as a painless solution to common dental problems.