Basics on Cavities & How to Fix Them!
A cavity is formed when a hole appears on a tooth as it decays. It is most commonly caused by bacteria in the mouth in case of frequent snacking on sweets and/or not brushing when need to. At its beginning stage, there may be no pain or symptoms, but as they progress closer to the nerves, there can be more discomfort and the pain can become more severe.
There are various ways to treat cavities depending on how much they developed. These ways include...
1) Fillings
This is for the earliest stage of decay, in which fillings, made of several different materials, are used to seal the cavity. It can be used to restore teeth structures and to prevent further damages.
2) Root Canals
A root canal is for when a cavity reaches the pulp of a tooth. It treats the patient by removing the infected pulp, cleansing it, then filling it. The bacteria inside the root canal is killed in the process.
3) Tooth Extractions
As it can be seen by the name, a tooth extraction is a procedure in which the tooth is extracted or pulled out.
4) Apicoectomy
This is a procedure to remove the end of the root of the tooth while the top is left in place. It is also called the 'root-end resection' because it works on the tip of the root.
Dental Abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus, and naturally, a dental abscess is when an abscess occurs in the teeth or the gums holding them. The pulp of the tooth is commonly infected, all the way down to the gums, and usually looks like a red, swollen pimple. Root canals can be used to treat it by draining the reaction, but the tooth may have to extracted in some cases.
Dental Cyst
A dental cyst is closed off cavity filled with air or fluid, commonly formed at the tip of a tooth's root or the soft tissues of the mouth. As the cyst is inflamed and its size grows, the tooth structure can collapse due to the high pressure. One way to treat this can be through apicoectomy.
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