Do early-stage cavities need to be treated?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on January 02, 2025
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Cavities refer to the chronic, progressive destructive disease of the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of plaque bacteria. For early-stage carious white spots, fluorides, fluoride toothpaste, or topical fluoride application can be used to halt the progression of cavities at that stage and prevent further development. Inactive caries can be effectively prevented and treated by brushing and rinsing. If not taken seriously, the cavity will continue to develop deeper, which can be classified into superficial, moderate, and deep caries. After the occurrence of cavities, patients may experience pain from thermal stimuli and pain from food impaction. When the stimuli are removed, the pain disappears. Cavities need treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to pulpitis, periapical periodontitis, and even result in tooth loss. Thus, early-stage caries should be adequately attended to, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment of cavities.

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Will tooth decay recur after a filling?

Cavities are a type of chronic, progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Normally, a cavity should not recur after being filled, but each dental filling material has a certain degree of microleakage. If glass ionomer materials are used, the microleakage is somewhat larger, and after filling, there might be tiny gaps between the edge of the filling material and the tooth, where bacteria can continue to infect, also known as secondary caries, necessitating timely refilling of the tooth. If resin-based materials are used, the microleakage is relatively smaller, and the likelihood of recurrence after the filling is smaller.

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Is a cavity the same as tooth decay?

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are a chronic progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Once a tooth is affected by a cavity, it is necessary to fill the tooth as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bacteria will further infect the tooth, causing inflammation of the dental nerve. Inflammation results in significant pain, including sensitivity to hot and cold, pain intensified by temperature changes, and even symptoms of nighttime pain. The most typical symptom of pulpitis is nighttime pain, which can wake someone from sleep. Therefore, once cavities occur, it is crucial to remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill it promptly to prevent potential tooth loss.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
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Cavities that do not hurt still require root canal treatment.

Cavities that do not hurt may or may not require root canal treatment, depending on the extent of the decay. If the cavity has not reached the dental nerves, there will not be noticeable pain. In such cases, since the decay is relatively superficial, direct filling, or dental restoration can be performed without the need for root canal treatment. If the cavity is severe and has reached the dental nerves, causing the nerves to become necrotic and purulent, there will be no pain due to the loss of sensory function from nerve death. In these situations, root canal treatment is needed. This involves removing the infected dental nerves, followed by medicinal treatment of the root canal, and after the inflammation is controlled, filling of the root canal is performed. In other words, a painless cavity might actually be caused by necrosis and pus formation in the dental nerves, requiring root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What will happen if tooth decay is not treated?

If dental caries are not treated, they may further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis, causing severe pain. When apical periodontitis occurs, it may sometimes lead to a space infection, which is facial swelling. If the inflammation is not controlled in time, it may also cause osteomyelitis of the jawbone. Therefore, dental caries need to be treated as early as possible. Dental caries are caused by bacterial infections that lead to the decay of the hard tissues of the teeth; in the early stages of decay, using a drill to stop the development of the disease—namely, timely filling—can effectively control the further progression of dental caries. If dental caries further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, it can lead to pain while eating or sleeping, sometimes waking from sleep due to pain, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.

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What causes cavities in children?

There are many causes of dental cavities in children, with bacterial infection being a common one. During childhood, if teeth are not brushed promptly after eating, the amount of bacteria in the mouth increases. These bacteria then break down food, producing glucose or lactic acid, which leads to demineralization on the surface of the teeth, eventually causing cavities over time. Additionally, it might be related to the sleep patterns during childhood, as children have longer sleep durations. During sleep, the brain inhibits saliva production, which reduces its effectiveness in washing away food residue on the teeth, thereby making cavities more likely to develop. Furthermore, children's preference for sweets also contributes to the high incidence of cavities.