How to treat a cavity that has decayed to the root of the tooth?

Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

Updated on September 04, 2024

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For a tooth decayed to the root, it is first necessary to take an X-ray of the tooth. If the X-ray shows that the root still has some salvage value, the tooth can be preserved through root canal treatment after controlling the inflammation. If the decay has reached the tip of the root and the root has no salvage value, the tooth needs to be extracted soon after controlling the inflammation. After the tooth is extracted, it is necessary to get a dental prosthesis as soon as possible depending on the condition of the tooth. If the prosthesis is not done in time, the tooth above may elongate, and the teeth on either side may tilt towards the gap, potentially leading to the loss of space over time.

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Written by Fang Xiao

Dentistry

1min 10sec

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Will cavities improve after changing teeth?

Cavities in baby teeth can heal when they are replaced by permanent teeth, but cavities in baby teeth still need to be treated. Because the decay can deepen, leading to premature loss of the tooth, which can affect the development of the permanent teeth. Severe cavities can lead to abnormal development of the permanent teeth, and even after the child's teeth are replaced, the new teeth may not be in good condition. For example, if the root of a baby tooth becomes inflamed and the inflammation is not treated and cleared, the alveolar bone around the tooth root can also become inflamed. Below the alveolar bone is the germ of the new tooth, and prolonged inflammatory stimulation can affect the germ of the permanent tooth. Additionally, premature loss of baby teeth can lead to the loss of adjacency between teeth, which can affect the growth and development of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat cavities in baby teeth early, and ideally perform pit and fissure sealants before cavities form.

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Written by Fang Xiao

Dentistry

1min 17sec

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If the cavity doesn't hurt, does that mean it hasn't reached the nerve?

It is necessary to make judgments based on the patient's symptoms and examination results. Dental caries refers to the chronic, progressive, destructive disease occurring in the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of various factors such as plaque bacteria. Whether dental caries is painless or has reached the nerve, the simplest clinical method is to judge based on the patient's symptoms, asking whether the patient experiences pain. In the early stages, there are only changes in the color and texture of the tooth, which do not cause pain. In the later stages of the disease, due to necrosis of the dental pulp, pain may not occur. At this time, diagnosis can be assisted by dental films; an X-ray can show the low-density shadow produced by the caries, and whether this low-density area significantly erodes into the dental pulp, which is also an auxiliary diagnostic method. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

48sec

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Can a decayed tooth be extracted?

Whether a tooth with caries can be extracted depends on the extent of the decay. If the decay is shallow, it can be treated with a one-time filling. If the decay is deep, reaching the nerve, nerve-killing treatment is required, followed by anti-inflammation measures and, after inflammation control, root canal filling. In other words, teeth should be preserved through root canal treatment whenever possible and not extracted. If the caries has reached the deep layers of the tooth dentin, or is at risk of causing a perforation, such conditions are considered non-salvageable and the tooth should be promptly extracted. After extraction, timely dental prosthetics should be placed.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

57sec

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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.

home-news-image

Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

48sec

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How to treat a cavity that has decayed to the root of the tooth?

For a tooth decayed to the root, it is first necessary to take an X-ray of the tooth. If the X-ray shows that the root still has some salvage value, the tooth can be preserved through root canal treatment after controlling the inflammation. If the decay has reached the tip of the root and the root has no salvage value, the tooth needs to be extracted soon after controlling the inflammation. After the tooth is extracted, it is necessary to get a dental prosthesis as soon as possible depending on the condition of the tooth. If the prosthesis is not done in time, the tooth above may elongate, and the teeth on either side may tilt towards the gap, potentially leading to the loss of space over time.