Dental decay or cavities affect most people irrespective of age, sex or social background. The following dental information pages answers many of your questions that you have on Dental decay, dental cavities, fillings and dental restorations.

Can a permanently filled tooth get damaged?

Yes fillings can get damaged or can fracture. Most filling materials do not bond with the structure of the tooth. Hence a small micro gap may exist between the tooth and the filling. These micro-gaps tend to transport food and microorganisms into the deeper regions of the tooth below the filling and thus once again initiate dental decay deep inside. Thus extra care should be taken to maintain hygiene around restorations.

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Can a filled or restored tooth get decay?

Yes, a filled tooth is more susceptible to dental decay than a normal tooth. Hence, better care in the form of brushing and flossing and routine checkup can enhance the long-term success of the restoration.

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Can you fill a cavity without drilling the tooth?

A drill is used to clean and remove all the infected (decayed) areas of tooth and create a box like cavity. This ensures that the filling material can be easily stuffed into the cavity and stays inside. Today's high speed drills do not cause much vibration and run at very high speed unlike the slow speed drills of yester years and thus are more comfortable for the patient.

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Do deep cavities require any additional treatment?

Cavities that are too close to the pulp require medicated restoration for a period of time which will allow the pulp to recover from attack of germs and toxins and helps to form a protective barrier around the affected area. Once this is formed the tooth can receive a routine filling

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What is erosion of teeth?

It is loss of tooth structure due to action of some chemicals. It is commonly seen in people who have gastric problems or consume excess of citrated drinks.

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What is abrasion of teeth?

It is wearing of teeth due to mechanical causes such as due to brushing of the teeth with a hard brush, grinding of teeth, needle biting, etc.

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Why do teeth become sensitive?

A normal tooth has outer enamel that protects from external stimuli like heat, cold, sour food, etc. Once the enamel is lost due to erosion, abrasion or decay the inner sensitive dentin gets exposed. The dentin has nerve endings that transmit sensations and therefore cause sensitivity.

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How is sensitivity treated?

In initial stages, protective desensitization tooth pastes that are commercially available are useful. They have to be applied for a long period of time to get adequate relief. If erosion/abrasion/cavity is noticed they have to be filled and in severe cases, protection with metal caps may be necessary.