Deep Dental Decay: Filling, Root Canal, or Extraction?

Despite our best efforts to diligently brush and floss our teeth, most of us will get cavities. But what happens when it’s a severe cavity that results in deep decay?

Cavities happen. Even though you’re careful about not eating too many sweets, brushing and flossing every day, and getting to the dentist every six months for your routine checkup and professional cleaning, you’ll probably develop a cavity from time to time.

But what happens when your cavity is deep and severe? Don’t panic, says our board-certified dentist Thomas Eaton, DDS. There are many treatment options for deep dental decay.

Tooth anatomy

The best way to better understand how decay and cavities affect your teeth is first to do a quick primer on tooth anatomy.

Dental enamel is that super-hard, outermost layer of a tooth. There are awo major things to know about dental enamel – it’s mostly composed of a mineral that’s the hardest material in the human body, and it's not living tissue.

Dental enamel’s substantial strength makes it the perfect, but not bulletproof, protector for the three inner layers of your teeth – dentin, cementum, and dental pulp.

Cementum is a connective bone-like tissue found at a tooth's root. It stabilizes your teeth by attaching to fibers, anchoring them in the jawbone. Like enamel, cementum also protects the next layer, called dentin.

Dentin is composed of tiny canals that can trigger tooth sensitivity. If you ever experienced tooth sensitivity to cold or hot beverages or foods, it was because of a breach to this layer.

Dental pulp is the innermost layer of a tooth where nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels live.

5 stages of tooth decay

Five stages of tooth decay ultimately determine whether you have a cavity that requires a straightforward filling procedure or deep dental decay requiring that requires endodontic treatment, such asnal or an extraction.

Stage 1: Demineralization of the enamel

Telltale signs of this stage are small, chalky-white spots on your tooth, which show a mineral breakdown of the tooth enamel.

Stage 2: Decay of the tooth enamel

Without treatment, tooth decay gets worse, and ultimate and ultimatelth enamel, creating a hole that’s a cavity. The previously white spots may now appear light brown.

Stage 3: Decay of the dentin layer

When decay reaches this dental layer, plaque and bacteria speed up the formation of cavities. You may also notice teeth sensitivity, and the light brown spots may turn to a darker brown.

Stage 4: Damage to the tooth’s pulp

If decay is left untreated, at this stage, you’re likely to develop a toothache and inflammation of the gums around your decayed tooth. The dark brown spots may turn black.

Stage 5: Development of an abscess

The telltale signs of this stage are a deep cavity or an abscessed tooth, neck or face swelling, and intense radiating pain. If left untreated, this stage is dangerous since the infection can spread to other areas of the body.

Restorative dentistry saves natural teeth

Nearly every service we provide is geared towards keeping your natural teeth healthy or restoring them when there’s a problem. With dental decay, time is of the essence. The quicker you get treatment, the better the chances are for saving your tooth. That’s where restorative dentistry comes in.

Filling a cavity

In the early stages of dA dental filling resolves the issue in the early stages of decay. If your procedure requires a dental crown, Dr. Eaton removes the decay and preps the tooth for the crown by shaving a tiny layer of enamel during the first appointment of the tooth and sends the data to a dental laboratory, which fabricates your custom crown. Dr. Eaton completes this appointment by installing a temporary crown. At your final appointment, Dr. Eaton places the permanent crown.

Performing a root canal

During a root canal procedure, Dr. Eaton removes the infected or damaged pulp from the tooth. He cleans and disinfects the area and ensures that the pulp chamber is dry and free of any lingering toxins.

He completes the procedure by filling the space with dental material and sealing paste. Sometimes, Dr. Eaton installs a crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.

Extracting a tooth

If severe decay, gum disease, or an infection is unchecked, and your tooth can’t be saved, an extraction is needed.

While removing a tooth may seem counterintuitive to saving teeth, they play an important role iit plays an important role in keeping other teeth (and your whole body) healthy. Extracting a severely infected tooth helps prevent bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body and protects, or are you concerned about your oral health? Call 209-274-2429 or request an appointment online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eaton today.

Do you have a toothache, or are you concerned about your oral health? Call 209-274-2429 or request an appointment online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eaton today.