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The destruction of enamel — which is the hard, outer layer of your teeth — happens during a process called tooth decay. A tooth cavity is a problem that can affect children, teens, and adults. If caught early enough, it can be an easy, relatively inexpensive issue to treat. But regardless of how early it’s caught, tooth decay treatment always begins with a visit to your Brooklyn family dentist.
Early tooth decay starts with the presence of sticky bacteria, called plaque, that regularly forms on your teeth. When sugars are introduced to the dental plaque, the bacteria inside release an acid that attacks your enamel. The sticky nature of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth, which then breaks down your enamel over time, creating the potential for cavities or dental caries.
Tooth decay symptoms vary depending on the severity and location. In fact, when a cavity is just beginning, it’s possible that you won’t notice any pain at all. But as the infection grows and results in a cavity, you may develop symptoms such as:
Even with these cavity symptoms, there’s still the possibility that you won’t be aware of a cavity beginning to form. Only routine dental checkups and cleanings with your Brooklyn dentist can prevent and reverse tooth decay.
Dental plaque is a clear, sticky film that coats your teeth. It starts when you eat a lot of sugars and starches. It builds when you don’t clean your teeth properly. The acid in plaque eats away at the minerals in the protective enamel on your teeth. The constant erosion causes tiny holes in the enamel — the first step toward cavities.
After the first layer of enamel is worn away, it gives the plaque access to the second layer of your teeth, which is softer and less resistant to acids. As teeth decay continues, the acid and bacteria keep eating through your rotten teeth, moving next to the inner material of your teeth called the pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels. The pulp becomes irritated and infected from the bacteria and swells, causing the nerves to become painful.
It’s possible to diagnose decaying teeth early during your routine dental examinations. Your dentist looks for any signs of tooth decay and plaque formation. Visit your general dentist in Brooklyn for a thorough examination and potential tooth decay treatment. Other ways your dentist can diagnose decaying teeth include:
Of all these methods, x-rays are the most useful in detecting and identifying the different types of tooth decay. This includes the problems that often go undetected under the surface. Once cavities begin to manifest and eat away at your rotten teeth, it becomes more difficult to reverse tooth decay.
There are no ways to cure tooth decay but there are things you can do to prevent tooth decay. Follow our tips to avoid getting a hole in a tooth:
There are different stages of tooth decay and three types of cavities that can occur in your mouth. No matter the severity, however, your general dentist in Brooklyn has some form of tooth decay treatment available. The types of cavities caused by decaying teeth include:
Smooth surface cavities can show up on the sides of your teeth and look like a food particle is stuck between them. Pit and fissure cavities are the easiest to spot and can appear as an immovable blemish anywhere on the tooth. Root cavities are the most painful, and although they are impossible to spot by appearance alone, the toothaches caused by these cavities draw more than enough attention.
For the early tooth decay stages, your dentist may recommend you to change the amount of sugar in your diet and may apply a fluoride treatment to strengthen weakened enamel and prevent further decay. If you have a cavity, more drastic steps must be taken to cure tooth decay, such as:
In any scenario where the tooth’s pulp has been infected or damaged, a root canal or removal of the tooth may be required. Make an appointment with the best dentist Alex Khabensky, DDS today to cure tooth decay before it becomes a really big deal.
Do you have any questions about Tooth Decay Treatment (Cure & Reverse Cavities) in Brooklyn? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the best rated family dentists Khabensky DDS of Family Cosmetic & Implants Dentistry of Brooklyn? Please contact our dental clinic for a consultation with the dentists Alex and Igor Khabensky DDS.
