Cavities are caused by specific types of bacteria that produce tooth enamel and dentin destroying acid. As bacteria builds up it creates plaque, usually in the pits and cracks on the back teeth, between teeth and near the gum line.
When sugar and starch in food comes in to contact with the plaque it turns into acids. These acids then slowly dissolve the enamel on the visible part of our teeth creating the pits that are known as cavities or tooth decay. The acid can also move into the pores of the enamel and create cavities in the tooth’s inner layer.
In the early stages cavities don’t have any symptoms but as they progress the most common symptoms are pain or sensitivity when the teeth come in to contact with hot, cold and sweet foods.
If you visit the dentist regularly we may be able to detect the formation of cavities early and reverse the decay by using fluoride treatments or cleaning away the plaque and harmful bacteria.
If the cavities have grown to the point where they are a threat to the life of the tooth they need to be treated with fillings. Our fillings procedure uses local anaesthetic to numb the area before Dr Anna removes all the decayed tissue. We then pour in the white filling material before using a light beam to set the filling. The filling is shaped to give you the perfect bite and create a good seal around the cavity.
In severe cases, a pin may be required to hold the filling place and save the tooth from having to be extracted.
Cavities must be treated. Leaving them untreated can create a range of serious and potentially irreversible problems. Just some of these include tooth loss, bone loss, infected root canals and gum disease.
Your oral health routine will have a huge bearing on how many cavities you need to have treated. If you have any questions, reach out to our dentists in Camberwell.
