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Tooth
Decay begins when the protein of your saliva combines with the sugars and
carbohydrates of food particles left on and between your teeth. This combination
creates bacteria-laden plaque, from which acid is produced that eats away
at the hard enamel shell around your tooth. Left unchecked, a hole will be
created in the enamel and a cavity will rapidly form in the softer dentin
which lies under the enamel. If the cavity is caught in time, usually a Filling
will correct the problem. Larger cavities may require an Inlay
or Onlay, or a Crown. However, if nothing is
done and the decay spreads, the sensitive pulp (nerve) may become involved,
often causing an Abscess, and Root
Canal Therapy or Extraction may be required.
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No
cavity on x-ray.
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Months
later, cavities that start between the teeth can't be seen by visual
examination, but they can be detected on an x-ray.
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This cavity was detected and filled before the patient felt any discomfort, and before the nerve became infected or the tooth became abscessed.
There is another cavity shown in the X-ray on the right. Can you find it? It's difficult for the untrained eye to spot. If you think you know where it is, send an e-mail to webmaster@riversidedocs.com and we will tell you if you're right! (Hint: It's not the left edge of the top left tooth. That's just the edge of the frame around the X-ray).
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© Copyright 2003- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Riverside Dental Care. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.
