Learn how Dangerous Cavities can Really Be with Our San Antonio Pediatric Dentist
When you’re
told that you have a cavity, all dental professionals will recommend that you
have it taken care of as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to busy schedules
between work, friends, and family, patients can find it difficult to find the
best time to visit our office again to take care of the cavity. According to
the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), 92% of
American adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have had cavities in their
permanent teeth. Even worse, around 26% of them have untreated dental decay!
Below, your San Antonio pediatric dentist dives into the different classes of cavities, how they damage your teeth, and how our professionals can improve your smile.
- Class
I: This class of tooth decay is visible to our dentist. They’re noticeable on
the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, like your molars and premolars, as
well as decay noted on the front or back surfaces of your front teeth.
- Class
II: These cavities, while they appear on your molars and premolars, are
typically between your teeth and aren’t visible to the human eye.
- Class
III: This class of decay occurs between your front teeth and are also not
visible without the help of x-rays.
- Class
IV: This type also occurs between your front teeth, but it involves the cutting
edges of your teeth.
- Class
V: These cavities appear on the surface, or behind, either your front or back
teeth, near the gum line.
- Class
VI: This decay is found on the top surfaces of your teeth, either on the edges
of your front teeth or on the cusp of your back teeth.
Now that you
know where these cavities can lie, and how they’re identified, it’s time for
you to know the levels of severity and what tooth decay can do to your smile.
To further understand, the outer layer of your tooth is made up of calcified enamel,
which protects the softer, inner portion that holds the nerves, blood vessels,
and connective tissue. When this area of your tooth is damaged, you’re at risk
for regular toothaches, dental sensitivity, and other issues.
The levels of severity for your tooth decay gives our San Antonio pediatric dentist a better idea of how to properly treat the cavity. Incipient, moderate, advanced, and severe cavities are all necessary to take care of, but the longer you wait, the more you’re at risk of completely losing the tooth. By maintaining routine visits to our office, you’ll be able to prevent serious complications to your smile and have our professionals assist you.
Following
these simple steps will help you avoid a lifetime of dental issues! While
cavities are common, they’re also the easiest preventable dental disease and
should be taken seriously. Use these helpful tips to avoid dental decay:
- Brush
your teeth twice a day – once in the morning, once at night – with fluoride
toothpaste, or another recommended toothpaste from our dentist
- Floss
at least once a day, preferably after a meal to get rid of any lingering,
stubborn food particles
- Change
up your diet to include more nutritional foods and drinks, removing sugary and
sweet things to lessen the damage done to your enamel
Looking for more helpful tips, or are you overdue for your routine dental cleaning? Give our San Antonio pediatric dentist a call today at 210-510-2862 and we’ll help pick the best date and time for your appointment.