Tooth pain is often a sign of cavities, which are caused when decay in a tooth attacks and penetrates tooth enamel. But unless you are seeing your dentist every six months for checkups, cavities often lie undetected until they reach the more sensitive layer of dentin below the enamel. This sensitivity arises because the dentin houses a network of tiny nerve endings.
At Dacula Family Dentistry, our dentist, Dr. Carey Norton, carefully checks for tooth decay (and gum disease) during your exams. Treating cavities when they are still small is also less invasive (and less expensive) than when the decay has spread, potentially requiring larger fillings, root canal therapy or even tooth extraction if the decay is too advanced.
Signs that you may have a cavity:
- A sharp or throbbing pain in a tooth.
- Pain when chewing or biting down.
- Pain or sensitivity when breathing in cold air through your mouth.
- Pain or are sensitivity to hot/cold foods and beverages.
- Sensitivity to sweet, sour, or sticky foods.
- Discovering that you have lost a filling.
- Fracturing or chipping a tooth.
- Seeing a dark spot on a tooth.
To treat a cavity, Dr. Carey Norton will remove the decay and fill the hole with a filling material. Any cracks or fractures in the tooth will be also be filled, including tiny holes.
Your dentist can stop the cavity from spreading during your a six-month dental checkup or visit with our Dacula Family Dentistry team in Dacula, Georgia. Please call us at 770-995-1600 today to schedule a visit our to ask us any questions you may have about your oral health.