The Importance of Treating Cavities

Many of us either know someone who has had a cavity, or we have had cavities ourselves. Some may not know what a cavity is and why it’s so important to get it treated at a dentist’s office. This post will look at what cavities are, how they form, and the importance of getting them treated by a dentist as soon as possible.

What Exactly is a Cavity?

Part of understanding why you need to get a cavity treated is understanding what a cavity is in the first place.

In the beginning, a cavity starts as damage to the tooth’s outer surface. This damage can be caused by several factors such as acidity from food and drink, grinding of teeth, and other external forces.

The tooth’s enamel is the protective barrier that protects the internal part of the tooth, the nerves, and the roots. Once the damage has become severe enough, holes in the enamel begin to form. The term cavity comes from the fact that the tooth develops actual holes.

The holes that form a cavity can lead to further damage and decay and leave the inner parts of the tooth exposed.

Why Treatment is Important?

Once a cavity forms, it needs to be immediately treated at a dentist’s office. The main reason a cavity requires treatment is that if left alone, the tooth can become further damaged and exposed to bacteria and infection. Not only will this make it necessary to extract the tooth, but it could also lead to damage to other teeth and even severe health complications.

Most often, cavity treatment involves an inspection of the tooth to see the extent of the damage. Once the tooth shape has been assessed, our dentist will likely begin by cleaning the tooth, including the cavity area, to remove all debris and contaminants. Once the tooth is cleaned, the standard treatment for a cavity is to fill the space with a substance that hardens and becomes resistant to further decay. The actual type of filling will vary by the dentist.

Getting proper care can save not only your tooth but your entire mouth from potential damage.