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Dental caries
Can cavities be seen with the naked eye?
Some cavities are visible to the naked eye, while others are not. Clinically, some cavities can be observed with the naked eye. Such cavities usually have damage that extends beyond the enamel, with obvious cavities and incomplete tooth structures visible. For example, cavities on the biting surfaces of molar teeth and on the adjacent surfaces of front teeth that are moderate to severe can be seen with the naked eye. However, not all cavities can be observed with the naked eye. When the decay is confined within the enamel without obvious cavity formation, it cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it can be diagnosed by taking dental X-rays. Clinically, there are also some cavities on adjacent surfaces where the decay starts from hidden parts of the tooth; some of these might show ink-soaked-like dark brown discoloration on the biting surfaces, but they too require dental X-rays for diagnosis.
What will happen if a cavity is filled without being cleaned properly?
If tooth decay is not completely cleaned out before filling, bacteria can continue to develop and multiply within the tooth, leading to more severe decay and potentially causing diseases such as pulpitis or periapical periodontitis. It is recommended that patients with cavities should undergo treatment based on the severity of the decay. Mild cavities usually only cause minor changes in tooth color; this can be gently abraded and then treated with fluoride materials. If the cavity is more severe, the decayed material inside the cavity should be completely removed, and then light-cured resin material can be used for filling. Deeper cavities may also require a protective pulp base.
If a cavity doesn't hurt, is it better not to treat it?
Cavities are primarily caused by poor oral hygiene and the effects of bacteria in the mouth, among other factors, leading to chronic progressive destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth. Generally, the progression is slow, initially appearing as yellowish-brown spots or defects on the tooth surface without causing any pain symptoms, making the treatment fairly straightforward—simply removing the decay and filling it can often be completed in one session. However, many cavities are not treated during this optimal period and progress to the dentin, causing sensitivity to hot and cold and leading to toothache. If not treated promptly, the cavity will enlarge, and in severe cases, lead to pulp infection, causing spontaneous pain, episodic pain, and pain from temperature stimuli. At this stage, the treatment becomes more complex and painful, requiring root canal therapy, typically needing three to four follow-up visits, and thus, costing more than a simple one-time treatment. If the condition is not controlled, it may develop into apical periodontitis or apical abscess, leading to space infections. The treatment then becomes even more complicated and painful, requiring incision and drainage, along with systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. If the tooth is severely damaged, the remaining roots and crowns can become a focal point for bacterial infection, potentially inducing other diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and treat cavities early—the smaller the cavity, the better the treatment outcome, also saving time and money.
Is tooth decay a contagious disease?
Cavities occur due to a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the teeth, which erodes the teeth over time, causing damage to the enamel and dentin. This results in the appearance of black spots, black patches, and cavities. However, cavities are not contagious because there are always a large number of bacteria in the mouth due to eating and other reasons, so it is important to develop good brushing habits and the correct technique. Although brushing can remove some dental plaque, its effect is limited. It is best to undergo dental and gum cleaning treatments to significantly improve the removal of dental plaque and eliminate the harm of cavities to the human body.
Will tooth decay affect other teeth?
When a patient suffers from tooth decay, generally not taking measures to treat it may cause other teeth to also develop cavities. Some patients with long-term cavities may have one or more teeth affected, and even some patients might have entire teeth significantly decayed. Therefore, when cavities occur, certain measures must be taken for treatment. Depending on the condition of the cavity, a specific treatment plan should be formulated, whether it's a dental filling or tooth extraction. Thus, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene in their daily lives, brushing their teeth morning and evening. After meals, it's important to promptly remove food residues from the mouth and develop proper habits for brushing and eating. If a cavity develops, the patient should treat it early to prevent it from affecting other teeth.
How to treat a tooth that is half decayed?
When a patient has a cavity that has already damaged the dental tissues, causing severe damage to the dental tissues, the general advice for the patient is to go directly to a regular dental hospital for treatment. The best approach is generally to extract the tooth; extraction is the best option, but it should be done when the body is in good condition to remove the damaged tooth. Additionally, patients should pay attention to oral hygiene and can take some anti-inflammatory drugs orally to effectively control inflammation. Furthermore, during tooth extraction, it is crucial to pay attention to local hygiene, be mindful of food residue inside the mouth, eat and drink before the extraction, keep a relaxed mood, and follow the doctor's advice after extraction. Generally, do not eat for two hours after the surgery, do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth within a day, avoid touching the wound, and manage your diet reasonably.
What will happen if tooth decay is not treated?
If dental caries are not treated, they may further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis, causing severe pain. When apical periodontitis occurs, it may sometimes lead to a space infection, which is facial swelling. If the inflammation is not controlled in time, it may also cause osteomyelitis of the jawbone. Therefore, dental caries need to be treated as early as possible. Dental caries are caused by bacterial infections that lead to the decay of the hard tissues of the teeth; in the early stages of decay, using a drill to stop the development of the disease—namely, timely filling—can effectively control the further progression of dental caries. If dental caries further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, it can lead to pain while eating or sleeping, sometimes waking from sleep due to pain, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.
Does tooth decay easily cause bad breath?
Cavities can easily cause bad breath. If there are cavities, food will remain in the holes of the cavities, get stuck, and ultimately compress the gums, and it will be difficult to clean. Foods are prone to ferment and produce acids causing bad odors, and the gums can also become inflamed, and even suppurate, which also produces bad smells. Therefore, if you have cavities, you should go to a regular hospital's dental department and receive targeted treatment under the guidance of a dentist. It is essential to develop good oral hygiene habits, brush your teeth in the morning and evening using the internationally recognized Bass brushing technique, rinse your mouth after meals, learn to use dental floss to remove food residues in tooth gaps, and treat cavities promptly to prevent them from deepening and causing more severe consequences.
Do children's cavities need treatment?
Whether children's dental caries need treatment may require taking X-rays of the teeth, or it can be judged based on the child's age. If a child around seven or eight years old has decay in the front teeth, these teeth can soon be replaced, and treatment may not be necessary. However, if the molars at the back, which are replaced at around twelve or thirteen years of age, are decayed, then it is necessary to treat these early by removing the decay and filling the teeth. Otherwise, bacteria may further infect the dental nerves, causing pain. If children's dental caries are not timely treated, it can also affect chewing. During childhood, the jawbone undergoes significant development. If the chewing function is impaired, it can affect the development of the jawbone, hence early treatment of children's dental caries is essential.
The difference between dental caries and tooth decay.
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are essentially the same thing. Cavities are a disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth, resulting in black holes on the tooth surface. If the cavity is deep, reaching or approaching the dental nerve, external stimuli from hot, cold, sweet, or sour sources can cause tooth pain. The term "tooth decay," commonly referred to as "worm teeth" by the public, fundamentally describes the same condition as cavities, not caused by any sort of worm but by bacterial pathogens. Thus, there is no difference between cavities and tooth decay; both are infectious diseases of the hard tissues of the teeth.