Cavities

What is a cavity?

Anyone can get cavities (also known as caries), even if you take excellent care of your teeth. Cavities, also known as dental caries, are common in patients of all ages from children to teens and adults. A cavity is a hole in a tooth caused by decay from any number of causes, such as not brushing or flossing on a regular basis, drinking sugary drinks, drinking sport drinks, and snacking frequently. Decay starts when the plaque (the sticky film that forms on teeth) combines with sugars and starches found in many of the foods we eat on a daily basis. The chemical byproduct of this process is an acid that wears down tooth enamel. The cavity can continue growing deeper until it reaches the inner tooth pulp.

What do I do if I have a cavity? 
No worries!

It’s important to treat cavities before they get too deep because it can result in painful toothaches, tooth infection, the need for a root canal, or even tooth extraction. Regular dental checkups ensure that our dentists can spot cavities at the earliest stages and stop tooth decay before it spreads. Our North Central San Antonio family dentistry office is fully equipped to help you prevent, treat, and eradicate cavities.

How do dentists fix cavities?

Cavities that lay within the top of a tooth are easy to spot with the naked eye, but in order to properly diagnose cavities between your teeth, our dentists need to take X-rays. When you have dental cavities, the dentist removes any tooth decay and fills the area with a dental resin filling that matches your tooth shade. If there is already an existing filling or crack on a tooth that has a cavity in it, we may need to strengthen the tooth by covering it with a porcelain cap or crown, which protects the tooth from further damage. If, however, the decay is extensive and reaches the nerve, then a root canal and crown will be necessary. Please treat your cavities early to avoid unnecessary and costly procedures! The best way to do this is to make sure you schedule regular dental checkups for cavity prevention and detection.