Everything You Need To Know About Cavities
Posted on: 25 May 2016
It's important for you to do what you can to maintain healthy teeth. Not only will this help you to keep your great-looking smile, but it also helps prevent health problems that can come from dental issues. One of the best things you can do to take your dental care seriously is to learn all about cavities. This article will explain cavities to you and educate you on how they happen and the complications that can come with them.
How do cavities happen?
Cavities are caused when the outer layer of your tooth, known as the enamel, is compromised and a hole develops in your tooth. This hole is otherwise known as a cavity. Cavities start out small and they grow larger as time goes on and they are ignored. You can have a cavity and not even know it. This is why it's so important for you to make it to your regular dental exams.
How can a cavity be prevented?
The course of action taken to treat a cavity will depend on the size of it, the location and anything else also going on with your teeth. The most common treatment generally used for cavities is to have them filled. However, if they are larger, then the best course of treatment may be to have a crown put on the tooth, to have a root canal or to even have the tooth pulled if the cavity is very serious. If you have a tooth pulled, then a dental implant is one way to replace it with a permanent replacement.
What complications can arise from an untreated tooth?
If you don't have your cavity taken care of, then there are several things that can happen. One thing you want to consider is that it won't go away, but instead continue to get worse and worse. Remember, the treatment can get more invasive the worse it gets. Not only can this mean more pain, but more of an expense as well.
Tooth sensitivity can also come with a cavity, and this can make it difficult for you to drink hot and cold drinks. The tooth can also hurt, leading to some severe toothaches. Also, you will be at risk of developing an infection in your tooth. If it does get infected, it will need to be treated with antibiotics. Otherwise, the infection can spread and make you very ill.
For more information, check out websites like http://www.charlottesvilledentistry.com/.
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