A cavity is a hole that develops and grows in your tooth’s
structure when it’s infected with bacteria. Cavities are also the most
widespread chronic disease among people in the United States, affecting over 90%
of adults over the age of 60. Grand Prairie dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith,
considers these numbers unacceptable, especially since cavities are highly
preventable. For patients who fail to prevent the formation of tooth decay and
cavities, Dr. Smith can restore the health and integrity of a decaying tooth,
depending on how severe the cavity has become.
Acid Erosion
When dental plaque is ignored, or gets lucky by dodging your
toothbrush and floss, it can calcify into tartar and become too stubborn for
your toothbrush to remove. As plaque and tartar remain, the bacteria within it
can consume sugar and other carbohydrates, then convert them into acid that
they excrete onto the surface of your tooth enamel. When exposed to acid, your
teeth are depleted of minerals, and the strong, protective layer surrounding
your teeth grows weak. Usually, fluoride treatments and improved dental hygiene
can reverse acid erosion before enamel is compromised or destroyed. Dr. Smith can spot the signs of excessive acid
erosion during your routine dental checkup and cleaning, and then prescribe
appropriate treatment to reduce the risk of cavities forming from poor hygiene.
Cavity Formation
Unfortunately, acid erosion often goes unnoticed, and patients
remain unaware of trouble until a cavity forms and their tooth begins to hurt. As
bacteria find their way around compromised tooth enamel, they can invade the
main body of your tooth, known as dentin. Softer and more vulnerable than
enamel, dentin surrounds the nerves and blood vessels of your tooth (pulp),
though it doesn’t offer the protection that enamel provides. Dr. Quinn can
treat most mild to moderate cavities by removing the infected tooth structure,
cleaning and sterilizing the cavity, and then filling it with an amalgam or
composite resin dental filling. If the cavity is
allowed to grow, the infection may reach the pulp and kill and nerves and blood
vessels, and root canal therapy may be necessary to save the tooth and stop the
spread of infection.
About Dr.
Quinn Smith:
Dr. Quinn Smith is a
well-respected and highly experienced dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a
patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he
offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re
a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next
appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting
us at (972) 262-5111.
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