Who Gets Cavities?

By Sina Reangber, DDS

Many people think cavities only affect children, but changes that occur with aging make cavities an adult problem, too. Recession of the gums (a pulling away of gum tissue from the teeth), often associated with an increased incidence of gingivitis, also known as gum disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque.

Sugary food cravings in pregnant women can also make teeth more vulnerable to developing cavities.

Decay around the edges of old fillings is also common in older adults. Because many older adults lacked the benefits of fluoride and modern preventive dental care when they were growing up, they often have a number of dental fillings. Over the years, these fillings may weaken and can fracture, allowing bacteria to accumulate in the tiny crevices causing tooth decay.

This is one of the reasons you need to go for your six-month check up. Your dentist can discover cavities during your regular dental check-up. A cavity s indicated if the tooth surface feels soft when probed by your dentist with a dental instrument.

X-rays can also show cavities before they become visible to the eye. In advanced stages of tooth decay, you might experience a toothache, especially after consuming sweet, hot, or cold foods or drinks. Other signs of tooth decay are visible pits or holes in the teeth.

Cavities are treated in a number of different ways depending on the extent of tooth decay. If decay is not extensive, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed by drilling and replaced with a filling made of silver alloy, gold, porcelain, or a composite resin. Restorative materials used in fillings are considered safe.

If the decay is extensive and there is limited tooth structure remaining, a crown, also known as a cap, will be used. If a crown is needed, the decayed or weakened area of the tooth is removed and repaired and the crown is fitted over the remainder of the tooth, giving it the strength to support chewing forces. Crowns are made from gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal.

If you are having dental pain, it's time to see the dentist. If you haven't been to the dentist for a while, then now is the time to go it can save you a lot of pain, time and money in the long run.