The Role of Your Dentist in Managing and Treating Cavities

At some point, almost everyone will get a cavity in a tooth. Most people experience their first cavity as a child, in large part because children are just learning how to take proper care of their oral health. However, adults get cavities, too. How do you know if you have a cavity? How does a dentist treat cavities? And can you prevent cavities? Let’s dive in and learn more about how Dr. Larry Dougherty and the team at Rolling Oaks Dental manage and treat cavities. 

1. Cavity Symptoms

Usually, a dentist has to diagnose a cavity. This is because most cavities lurk beneath the surface of a tooth and aren’t necessarily visible to the eye. Also, it’s difficult to see cavities in the upper teeth or molars without special equipment. Dr. Dougherty will thoroughly examine your teeth and use X-rays to identify cavities that are invisible to the naked eye. However, you can be alert to some of these symptoms that may suggest you have a cavity.

• Rough, broken, or chipped teeth
• Dark spots on the surface of a tooth
• Food becoming wedged in certain areas of your mouth
• Dental floss shredding or getting stuck between teeth
• Sensitivity to sweet, cold, or hot foods and beverages
• Pain when biting or chewing on a certain tooth

2. Types of Cavities

There are three types of cavities.

• Smooth surface cavities: These are not as serious a concern, but if left untreated, they can develop into more advanced problems. 
• Fissure and pit cavities: These types of cavities occur on the chewing surface of teeth. Teeth further back in the mouth are particularly susceptible to pit and fissure cavities. 
• Root cavities: A root cavity occurs near the root of the tooth. Older patients commonly experience root cavities because of deep gum pockets or gum erosion. 

3. Your Dentist’s Role In Managing and Treating Cavities

The cavity treatment you need will depend on the type of cavity you have. Smooth surface cavities can often be treated using fluoride treatment, but more severe cases will probably require a filling. 

Pit and pressure cavities are also treated with fluoride or dental sealants. If these cavities are moderate, they will need to be filled or even have a root canal and crown.

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A root cavity is located closer to the tooth’s root. Many root cavities can be repaired with a filling, but more severe cases will require a root canal or even extraction and tooth replacement.  

4. Staying on Top of Your Oral Health

The key to cavity detection, treatment, and management is regular visits to the dentist. Dr. Dougherty recommends patients come to the office twice a year for regular checkups and more often if an issue arises. Your oral care will also play a significant role in staying on top of cavities and oral health. You can help prevent cavities by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing before bed. 

Your Dentist for Cavities in Garden Ridge, TX

Contact Dr. Larry Dougherty and the team at Rolling Oaks Dental in Garden Ridge, Texas, to learn more about how we can manage and treat your cavities. Call us at [phone] or request an appointment online today. Everything looks great, except remove this one line from the wisdom tooth extraction section. Everything else looks great thank you.

They can crowd your other teeth, creating orthodontic problems and crooked teeth.