What are the treatment options for deep cavities and related teeth damage?

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What are the treatment options for deep cavities and related teeth damage

Also referred to as caries or tooth decay, dental cavities are holes or tiny openings on the tooth enamel. Tooth decay happens to be one of the world’s most reported dental issues. It affects individuals from every age group.

Some of the other symptoms of this condition are sweet sensitivity, a rough spot on the tooth, and visible discoloration of specific patches on teeth.

Is it fine to ignore those tiny holes?

If left untreated, the tiny holes turn large and start eating the deeper layers of the tooth, causing severe pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

Put simply, the bacteria present in the mouth feed on sugar particles left behind after eating snacks or sugary stuff. With the help of saliva, they form a sticky layer on the tooth called plaque. The acids released by this plaque start eating the enamel and trigger decay. The destruction continues until the decay reaches the pulp.

What are the options to treat a cavity?

Are there any home remedies for cavity? The clear answer is, no! There are remedies for toothache caused by decay, but when it comes to treating a cavity, only a dentist can help.

The plague can develop in the space between teeth, around fillings, within cracks, or even near the gumline. Thus, at times, it remains ignored.

Several patients ignore the initial zinging for months. They start taking decay sincerely only after experiencing sensitivity and pain. Unfortunately, the pain indicates that the decay has already reached the tooth’s dentin layer or nerve. Thus, even those little holes or black/white spots should not be ignored.

The dental treatment for tooth decay depends on the level of damage caused by the infection. A minor hole can be taken care with the help of simple fillings. But if the disease has reached the tooth’s pulp, the patient needs an advanced root canal treatment.

Dental care experts conduct a close examination and recommend getting x-rays to check if the decay has reached the dentin. The affected tooth is cleaned, and in case of a small cavity, a tooth-colored filling made from resin material, silver, or other metals can do the trick. However, if the infection has reached the dentin or pulp and damaged the tooth structure, your dentist would recommend root canal (endodontic treatment) along with a new dental crown.

What’s a single sitting root canal treatment? How is it different than the usual procedure?

During the root canal procedure, the dentist removes the infected pulp, cleans the pulp chamber before filling it with materials (gutta-percha) and sealing the same with cement. Cleaning is done with advanced instruments, including lasers. The surgeon may administer local anaesthetic to ensure the patient feels comfortable.

If the tooth structure is damaged, the dentist may recommend placing a crown to cover the structure as a part of the procedure.

The usual treatment involves getting the measurements for the crown and sending them further to the lab. A temporary crown is fitted and is replaced as soon as the lab delivers the permanent one. But in case of single sitting treatment, the dental care expert uses advanced CEREC systems for scanning the affected tooth and creating a crown in CAD/CAM manufacturing units at the dental clinic. The top is manufactured within a few minutes and can be placed on the tooth immediately. The patient does not need to revisit the dental clinic.

Put simply; the usual procedure requires the patient to visit the dental office at least twice with a gap of one week or so. But if the dental clinic has advanced set up, the job can be completed in a single visit, within a few hours.

What should the patient do if the old root canal tooth hurts?

A root canal may last for several decades. However, if the patient fails to follow proper eating and oral hygiene habits, the operated tooth may not remain intact.

In case of problems in the tooth that has undergone a root canal, the patient starts experiencing pain while eating, drinking something hot or too cold. The tooth may develop a crack or even split while chewing hard food items. These symptoms should not be ignored as they indicate problems in the treated tooth, and it needs a proper check-up at the dental clinic. The dentist determines the causes of pain and may suggest non-surgical re-root canal treatment that involves opening the tooth and cleaning the pulp chamber again if required.

Should deep pits and fissures on molars be ignored?

Pits and fissures occur naturally on the occlusal surface of some teeth. They appear like deep lines. At times, food particles accumulated in these pits do cause decay and turn into a deep cavity. Thus, it is advisable to let the dentist examine and fill them if required.

Ways to avoid cavities and control toothache caused due to the infected tooth

Brushing twice every day along with flossing is the first line of defense against cavities. Add a little bit of stuff like cheese, milk products, and fresh vegetables, fruits in your diet to promote remineralization. The cavity-forming process is fueled due to sugary foods, thus, avoid the same. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash containing fluoride after snacking.

When it comes to home remedies for toothache caused by a cavity, the patient should consider rinsing the mouth with salt water. It helps in reducing the sticky layer formed around the hole.

Chewing lemon and rinsing the mouth with clean water can help. Experts also suggest opting for a clove of raw garlic and bone broth for controlling cavities related pain. But remember, these methods can only offer temporary relief, as the only option to deal with holes is opting for treatment at a dental clinic.

Are you searching for a clinic that offers affordable root canal treatment in Roswell GA? You should immediately fix an appointment at TruCare Dentistry. Dr. Toral Ardeshna helps patients with the best possible, single-sitting treatment options.

FAQs related to deep cavity

Here are some of the frequently asked questions related to cavity, have a look:

How do you heal a deep cavity naturally?

Deep cavities don’t heal naturally. With the help of professional treatments, weakened enamel can be repaired, and a cavity can be reversed in its earliest stages. Once a cavity starts growing and gets deeper, the only option that remains with a dentist is to treat it by applying a filling.

What does a deep cavity feel like?

Deep cavities can occur when the decay or damage gets down via the enamel deeper into the inner layer, also known as dentin. A person having a deep cavity may feel a toothache or pain while eating, drinking, or biting down, a strong sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet food/drinks, bad taste or bad breath in the mouth, or can even feel a hole or crack in the tooth with the help of tongue.

Can a deep cavity be filled?

Yes, a deep cavity can be filled. The dentist will first remove the decay inside the cavity to prevent further damage to the tooth. The dentist then places the filling into the decayed part to repair the damaged part of the tooth. The filling helps prevent the buildup of bacteria or plaque inside cavities, thus helps to prevent severe infections and further damage to the tooth. 

What happens if you ignore cavities?

If ignored or left untreated, cavities may lead to several other issues such as Tooth fractures (cracked tooth), nerve damage, dead tooth, and severe infection. Therefore, it is advisable to visit your dentist as soon as you experience pain or signs of cavities in your mouth to prevent the cavity from becoming worse.

How long until a cavity gets bad?

Cavities don’t just appear overnight. It can take a few months or even years before one realizes that they suffer from the cavity issue. A sharp zing in the tooth is generally the first sign of a cavity. A high sugar intake and poor oral care habits can worsen the cavity and damage the tooth faster.