A Weybridge dentist talks about the symptoms of dental cavities

Dental cavities are caused by the wearing down of the enamel of the tooth, this is a natural process of eating, but the matter is exasperated by bacteria that produces acid and wears away the enamel much quicker, says a Weybridge dentist. The symptoms are a soreness in the tooth (toothache) and an infection of the gums; this is caused by the bad bacteria in the mouth seeping into the cracks that are prevalent in most cavities. Gum and teeth infections can be a simple infection, or it can develop into a more complex problem. An abscess is probably one of the worst things that can come out of a cracked cavity, and the symptom of that is an excruciating pain, swelling and a few sleepless night. The treatment for dental cavities can be a simple filling or a more complicated root canal treatment. A filling would involve a dentist drilling out any enamel that is likely to crumble and cause problems under a filling. The filling is a mix of metals that are antibacterial, and will fill the cavity whilst also sealing in the chamber of the tooth to prevent further infections. This is then topped off with a porcelain crown to make the tooth harder and better wearing. The other method is a root canal, this involves drilling out all the inside of the tooth, then scraping out the bacteria that has got into the cavity chamber. Again the hole is filled with an antibacterial material and sealed off with a porcelain crown. It then needs the patient to start a regime of good and disciplined oral hygiene; this includes flossing which prevents further tartar building up on the tooth root, making it weaken, which results in the loss of the tooth prematurely. Prevention is always preferable to a cure, just ask any dentist.