If half of the cavity is empty, should the tooth be extracted?

Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
Updated on February 22, 2025
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Whether a tooth that is half decayed should be extracted depends on the condition of the patient's tooth root. It is recommended that the patient first undergo a dental X-ray to ascertain whether the tooth root is intact. If the tooth root is relatively sound, generally, extraction is not necessary. The decayed material in the tooth can be removed, followed by a pulp capping procedure, and then filling. Due to the severity of the decay, it is advisable to wear a porcelain crown for protection. If the decay has affected the dental pulp causing pulpitis, root canal treatment should be performed before filling the tooth and protecting it with a porcelain crown. However, if the tooth root is severely damaged, considering tooth extraction might be necessary.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
46sec home-news-image

If half of the cavity is empty, should the tooth be extracted?

Whether a tooth that is half decayed should be extracted depends on the condition of the patient's tooth root. It is recommended that the patient first undergo a dental X-ray to ascertain whether the tooth root is intact. If the tooth root is relatively sound, generally, extraction is not necessary. The decayed material in the tooth can be removed, followed by a pulp capping procedure, and then filling. Due to the severity of the decay, it is advisable to wear a porcelain crown for protection. If the decay has affected the dental pulp causing pulpitis, root canal treatment should be performed before filling the tooth and protecting it with a porcelain crown. However, if the tooth root is severely damaged, considering tooth extraction might be necessary.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
48sec home-news-image

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 Cui
Dentistry
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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.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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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.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
59sec home-news-image

Do cavities have worms in them?

Cavities do not contain worms; they are caused by bacterial infections and are a type of infectious disease. Cavities are also known as dental caries, and many people mistakenly believe they are caused by worms chewing on the teeth, but this is not the case. Cavities occur when bacterial infections attack the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to destructive dental diseases. It is also a chronic infectious disease. Cavities are caused by bacterial factors, meaning bacteria are the initial factor in their development. Bacteria can use glucose to produce lactic acid, causing demineralization of the teeth and thus forming cavities. If one brushes their teeth and rinses their mouth immediately after eating to control dental plaque, the development of cavities can be controlled or slowed. If not controlled in time, cavities may further lead to pulpitis.