Symptoms & Treatment

There may not be any symptoms initially, but untreated cavities can cause toothache, infection, and tooth loss. The signs and symptoms of cavities vary by their location and extent.

Caries Infection Symptoms

TOOTHACHE

Can be spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause; it can be mild to sharp pain when biting down, eating or drinking.

TOOTH SENSITIVITY

Can be sudden, sharp flash of pain when teeth are exposed to air, cold, sweet, acidic, or hot foods.

TOOTH STAINING AND HOLES

Can be brown, black, or white staining on any surface of a tooth, or visible holes or pits on teeth.

Caries Infection Treatments

FLUORIDE TREATMENT

Professional fluoride treatments containing higher concentration of fluoride than fluoride found in tap water, toothpaste, and mouth rinses, may help restore the tooth’s enamel and reverse very early stage cavities.

FILLINGS

Fillings are also called restorations. They are the main treatment option for dental cavities. Filling material can be tooth-colored composite resins, porcelain or dental amalgam.

CROWNS

Crowns are used to treat extensive tooth decay or weakened teeth. They are a custom-fitted covering to replace the tooth’s entire natural crown. Crown material may be of gold, high strength porcelain, resin, or porcelain fused to metal or other materials.

ROOT CANALS

Root canals are used to treat tooth decay that has reached the inner material of the tooth (pulp). The root canal procedure removes the decayed pulp by replacing it with a filling, which can be used to repair a severely damaged tooth instead of tooth removal.

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

In the worst scenario of tooth decay, tooth extraction are needed when a tooth cannot be restored. A bridge or a dental implant is used to replace the missing tooth.