What if I am planning to breast feed? Some dentists think that you shouldn’t have an amalgam filling while you are breast-feeding. If you are unsure what your treatment would involve discuss all the options with your dentist. Do I need to see my dentist during pregnancy? Yes. Due to hormone changes during pregnancy, some [...]

To find tooth decay early, some dentists are using newer technologies, in addition to visual exams and X-rays. The devices claim to be able to detect the beginnings of decay, when the tooth begins to soften, before it turns into a cavity. As with almost any new technology, the devices are expensive. Are they worth [...]

Sometimes it’s all too obvious that you have tooth decay: You’re in pain or you can see a dark spot on your tooth. But in other cases, you may not even know there’s a problem until you see your dentist. That’s because your dentist often can find early changes in your teeth that happen before [...]

What are Cavities? “Cavities” is another way of saying tooth decay. Tooth decay is heavily influenced by lifestyle, what we eat, how well we take care of our teeth, the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste. Heredity also plays a role in how susceptible your teeth may be to decay. While cavities are [...]

Dental decay (cavities) happens when the germs in your mouth eat the sugar you take in to form acids that accumulate on your teeth. The acids literally dissolve the teeth, making the holes we call cavities. As the holes get bigger, they trap more germs, so the cavities continue to grow to the point where [...]

When a tooth develops a cavity, the dentist puts in a filling. That is very important to stop severe damage, pain and infection and even tooth loss.   Everyone knows that.  But what most people do not think about is what happens next. Most people think that once a dentist puts in a filling that is [...]

What is a dental crown? Dental crowns are an ideal way to rebuild teeth which have been broken, cracked or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. Crowning teeth can also restore natural tooth height where teeth may have become worn down over time, possibly by grinding. After preparation, the crown fits [...]

Dental caries is the medical term for tooth decay or cavities. It is caused by acid erosion of tooth enamel. Many different types of bacteria normally live in the human mouth. They accumulate (along with saliva, food particles and other natural substances) on the surface of the teeth in a sticky film called plaque. Plaque [...]

What’s in Your Mouth? To understand what happens when your teeth decay, it’s helpful to know what’s in your mouth naturally. Here are a few of the elements: * Saliva — Your mouth and teeth are constantly bathed in saliva. Although we never give much thought to our spit, this simple fluid is remarkable for [...]