Dental Conditions

Dental Caries

Having a cavity is the most common oral health condition in the Australian population. Almost 50% of children have decay in one or more deciduous (baby) teeth and 1 in 3 adults have untreated cavities.

Caries Occur in Almost 50% of Baby Teeth

1 in 3 Adults have Untreated Caries

Small cavities require minimal treatment when they are found early. Moderate to large cavities will need a filling or more extensive treatment to stop the infection from spreading into the pulp. Once the infection is in the pulp (nerve, blood vessel of tooth), a filling alone is not enough to prevent further damage.

Those who regularly visit their dental professional are half as likely to have decay than those who only came when there was a problem.

What is Dental Caries?

Dental caries (decay, cavities) is an infection of the tooth caused by plaque and bacteria.

Cavities can appear on any surface of the tooth and is usually difficult to find without the right equipment and knowledge. The sooner the caries is found, the easier and more cost effective it will be to manage.

Our experienced team can assess your teeth for the presence and extent of caries and discuss the most appropriate treatment plan with you

What causes Dental Caries?

Dental cavities do not appear overnight. They gradually develop when the teeth are repeatedly exposed to plaque and other factors that weaken the tooth surface. This is like an apple that may look fine from the outside but when you cut it open there are worms rotting the fruit from the inside.

Demineralisation (weakening) of the teeth occur when the mouth is acidic. The plaque in our mouth uses the sugar in our food and drink to create this. Food or drink that is normally more acidic like soft drinks, bubble tea, or flavoured cereal do the same damage. Stickier foods like dried fruit or honey give the plaque more time to process the sugar. The same applies when we consume these sugary foods more frequently, even in small portions.

Sugary Snacks

Morning SIckness can Damage Teeth

Sometimes the acid can come from our stomach into our mouth like during reflux or when pregnant women experience morning sickness.

Lack of saliva increases the risk of dental caries as it washes away some of the sugar and plaque that are attached to our teeth. Teeth that are already weak or are difficult to clean properly can also contribute to more decay.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Dental caries can be present without any symptoms or pain.

Regular appointments with a dental clinician to check for any signs is best to prevent them from causing further problems.

Swollen, Sore, Bleeding Gums

Plaque trapped in cavities near the gumline can make the gums swell and bleed easily

Food Trapping in the same Spot

Cavities create an unnatural gap in teeth where food and bacteria are attracted to. If food is always getting caught with certain teeth dental caries may be present

Bad Breath

Foul smelling bacteria and food become trapped and rot in the cavities

Sensitivity

To hot, cold or sweet food and drink. Becomes more intense as the cavity gets larger

Aching when Eating

As the cavity becomes larger, the remaining tooth structure is thinner leaving the tooth pulp exposed. The pulp acts like a nerve lets us know if the tooth is distressed

Aching Overnight

This is a sign the cavity is very close to or has reached the pulp and needs to be treated immediately. An infected pulp is more complicated and costly to treat

Colour Change

Small sections of the tooth may look whiter at first, then become brown or black as they grow

At 7 Day Dentists we can determine if these signs and symptoms are caused by dental caries. Our affordable treatment options can help to manage this efficiently to before they cause more damage to the teeth

How do we achieve healthy and stable teeth ?

Before Treatment

Our dental providers use a combination of radiographs (x-rays), pulp vitality techniques and years of clinical experience to identify the cavity size. We usually recommend a thorough clean a week or two beforehand to remove any plaque, calculus or stains that may interfere with the placement of the filling. Bleeding and swollen gums can also hinder the success of the filling.

For Small Dental Cavities

Regular checks with our professionals are great for monitoring small cavities

Smaller cavities are the easiest to manage. With good home care and regularly dental checks they can often stop growing and avoid any need for treatment. Here at 7 Day Dentists we can apply concentrated fluoride treatments to remineralise (harden) the affected tooth surface making it more difficult for plaque to re-enter.

For Larger Dental Cavities

When a filling is required to stop the bacteria moving further, we ensure your visit is as relaxing as possible with our combination local anaesthetic technique. We take care to only remove the decayed part of the tooth and preserve the maximal amount of original tooth structure. Our tooth coloured filling materials will blend in with your tooth whilst providing the strength it needs to eat with comfort. Where required our clinicians will provide an extra layer to protect the pulp and enhance its resistance to future infection.

You'll be smiling with the results achieved at 7 Day Dentists

For Extensive Dental Cavities Infecting the Pulp

Toothaches usually indicate an infected pulp

When the bacteria from the cavity reaches the pulp a conventional filling method is not enough and can make the infection worse. This stage usually causes daily pain that lasts for hours and is more intense at night. It is best to book in to see one of our clinicians as soon as possible before the infection spreads to the jaw bone. In the meantime you can see our other page Root Canal Treatment for more information.

Prevention

Brushing correctly twice a day and cleaning between teeth at least once daily is the best way to stop new cavities. Limiting how much and how often we consume sugary and acidic foods will slow down the damage from plaque. Drinking water after every meal and snack to wash away the sugar and food debris will help too. Water is also great for our body to stay hydrated to produce plaque fighting saliva in our mouth.

Keep plaque away with good brushing and interdental cleaning