Can cavities be detected in an X-ray?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on February 08, 2025
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In clinical practice, not all cavities require X-rays, nor can all cavities be detected through X-rays. The purpose of taking X-rays is to understand the depth of the cavity and the distance between the cavity and the dental nerve. Some cavities occur on the surfaces between teeth which cannot be seen with the naked eye; in these cases, X-rays can provide a clear diagnosis. However, early-stage cavities only involve changes in the enamel, showing as chalky changes or small black dots and lines on the tooth surface. For these superficial changes, X-rays will not show any abnormalities. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene by brushing teeth morning and evening, and rinsing after meals to detect and treat cavities early, to prevent other complications.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 17sec home-news-image

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
1min 5sec home-news-image

Cavities that do not hurt still require root canal treatment.

Cavities that do not hurt may or may not require root canal treatment, depending on the extent of the decay. If the cavity has not reached the dental nerves, there will not be noticeable pain. In such cases, since the decay is relatively superficial, direct filling, or dental restoration can be performed without the need for root canal treatment. If the cavity is severe and has reached the dental nerves, causing the nerves to become necrotic and purulent, there will be no pain due to the loss of sensory function from nerve death. In these situations, root canal treatment is needed. This involves removing the infected dental nerves, followed by medicinal treatment of the root canal, and after the inflammation is controlled, filling of the root canal is performed. In other words, a painless cavity might actually be caused by necrosis and pus formation in the dental nerves, requiring root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
53sec home-news-image

Can tooth decay be cured?

Cavities are a type of destructive dental hard tissue disease caused by bacterial infections and are also a chronic progressive infectious disease. Cavities can only improve through early and effective intervention and treatment; otherwise, the condition may develop further, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis. Severe cases can also cause systemic symptoms such as space infections, and some may lead to bacteremia or sepsis. In the early stages of development, cavities have no clinical symptoms. At this stage, filling the cavity is painless. If the decay progresses to reach or approach the dental nerve, filling the cavity can then cause widespread pain. If it reaches the dental nerve, it cannot be directly filled in one go; it requires dental treatment for improvement.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How to deal with toothache from cavities?

Cavity toothache occurs when bacteria infect the hard tissue of the tooth, approaching or reaching the dental nerve, causing a pain response from the nerve, which is also a self-protective reaction. Initial treatment for cavity toothache involves using a drill to remove the decayed hard tissue of the tooth. If the decay is completely removed and the dental nerve is not exposed, this condition can be directly treated by filling or using a pulp-capping agent to protect the nerve before filling. If, after removing the decay, the dental nerve is exposed or reached, the situation cannot be resolved with a direct and immediate filling. Instead, nerve-killing procedures are necessary, which involve root canal treatment of the tooth.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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How to Prevent and Care for Dental Caries

Cavities have a high incidence rate, especially during childhood. If oral care is neglected, dental decay can occur, thus the prevention of cavities is very important. The main cause of cavities is dental plaque, which necessitates good oral hygiene. It is essential to develop the habit of brushing teeth daily with the correct technique. It is important to start teaching children to brush their teeth after they turn three, striving to brush once in the morning and once at night, rinse after meals, and particularly brush before bedtime. It is also advisable to reduce the consumption of sugary foods. Currently, the best prevention method is to apply a dental sealant, which is a protective coating on the teeth to shield them from bacterial erosion. If decay occurs, it is crucial to seek immediate treatment at a hospital to repair the damaged dental tissue and restore health.