Facts About Cavities
When you visit our office for a routine hygiene examination and cleaning, we check your teeth for specific problems that can affect your oral health. Of course, we thoroughly clean your teeth, but we are looking to see if there is a buildup of plaque and bacteria that would indicate your teeth aren’t getting as clean as they should be. We also look for signs of decay, also known as cavities. Many people are aware of the term “cavity”, but do you really understand what it means and how it is caused? Read on to learn more about cavities and what can happen if they are not treated.
What are Cavities?
Everyone knows that they do not want to discover that they have a cavity when they visit our office for a routine hygiene examination and cleaning. When you visit our office for an examination, we are looking for specific problems, such as dental decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. A cavity is a form of dental decay. It is caused when there is a buildup of plaque and bacteria that has turned into acid that begins to eat away at the surface of the tooth.
What Happens if a Cavity Goes Untreated?
Dental problems, such as dental decay, do not heal on their own. They will continue to progress until a treatment is received or until you experience a severe complication that will force you to receive treatment. When we first notice a cavity, we will recommend a filling to restore your oral health. If you do not get the treatment in a timely fashion, the cavity will continue to grow and move from the tooth enamel, which is the outer part of the tooth, to the pulp, which is found inside the tooth. A treatment for a filling can lead to the need for a dental crown, a root canal, or even a tooth extraction if the tooth root is too damaged to be repaired.
If you need an oral hygiene examination or we recommend a filling or other treatment that you need to schedule, be sure to contact our office, which is located in Bowie, MD. We want to help you have optimal oral health! See you soon!
