Cavities

A cavity is when bacteria gets inside your tooth and starts rotting and eating it away. It is actually an infection in your tooth, and we know this infection can spread toxins into your body. Cavities can cause systemic issues if that decay & infection is getting into your body. Your complete health is important to us, which is why we’re not all about “drilling and filling” and just managing your cavities.

We look at all of your risks and work to get you fully healthy. Some questions we’ll ask are: Why do you get cavities? What is the pH of your mouth? What is your genetic background? What does your nutrition and dietary intake look like?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help us address underlying causes of cavities so you can get back to complete health.

Tooth decay usually occurs in children and young adults, but can affect anyone. It is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people. Bacteria is normally present in the mouth and changes food into acids. The combination of bacteria, acids, food debris, and saliva form plaque. If plaque is not removed by proper flossing and brushing, the decay process begins. As the acids in the plaque begin to weaken and dissolve the enamel, holes in the teeth are created. This is what we call cavities. Cavities are usually painless until they grow closer to the nerve or center of the tooth. If left untreated, that decay will destroy your tooth’s enamel, then the internal structure of the tooth. This can result in a lot of pain and require a root canal or extraction to treat.

Decay is diagnosed in a number of ways, including:

• Digital Radiography
• Oral Examination
• Transillumination
• Laser Cavity Detection (Diagnodent)

Atlanta Dental Spa is committed to keeping your teeth and your body healthy. We use the latest technology which allows us to detect decay in the earliest stages, saving and preserving precious enamel. Along with our dental instruments and digital x-rays, we use the Diagnodent, which is a laser that can detect softening in the enamel when it is still very small. When decay is detected, our doctors use only the best materials to restore your teeth to health.