Cavities are holes in the teeth which are caused by tooth decay. Cavities need to be attended too or they will turn into bigger issues down the line. It is possible not to know that you have a cavity until the decay in the tooth has reached the dentin. Unfortunately, once decay has penetrated the tooth enamel to attack the softer dentin below, you will feel sensitivity or pain because of the small nerve endings which comprise the dentin.
Seeing your dentist, Dr. Alan L. Nix, every six months for checkups and cleanings stops cavities from gaining traction in your smile because they can be detected before they reach the dentin. Treating the affected tooth when the cavity is small keeps it from expanding or requiring more intensive intervention down the line such as a root canal or tooth extraction.
If you notice any of the following, you may have a cavity:
-You have a tooth that hurts, resulting in sharp or throbbing pain.
-You feel pain when you chew or bite down.
-You have pain when a tooth in your smile comes into contact with hot or cold temperatures.
-You have pain in a tooth when you eat sweet, sour, or sticky foods.
-You have lost a filling from a tooth.
-A tooth is chipped or fractured.
-You have a dark spot on a tooth.
To repair a cavity, your dentist will install a filling to keep the decay from spreading any further. All cracks or fractures will be filled with a dental filling, even small holes.
Don’t let cavities get a foothold in your smile. Be sure to maintain your six-month checkups with our team at the dental office of Alan L. Nix DDS. We look forward to helping you stay cavity-free in Terrell, Texas. Please call us at 972-563-7633 today!