The thing about tooth decay is that it isn’t always the same for everyone who needs treatment for it. Sometimes, dealing with the tooth infection (and the cavity that’s resulted from it) can be as simple as filling the cavity. At other times, it could involve removing all of the tissues from the tooth’s inner pulp and root canal due to all of them being infected by the decay. When it comes to dealing with your specific tooth decay, the first step is to determine how serious the condition is, or how at-risk you are of developing it if you haven’t yet.

The earliest stage of a tooth decaying

For people who notice that something is wrong in the earliest stages of tooth decay, treatment for it is often simpler than they may expect. Tooth decay describes the process of an infection eroding your tooth structure, and it starts when oral bacteria are able to overwhelm and compromise the tooth. This starts at the tooth’s surface, where plaque and tartar develop, and where oral bacteria produce acids to attack the tooth’s enamel. Once an infection sets in the tooth’s main structure, the decay will progress, causing a cavity to form and grow larger.

When your tooth gets a cavity in its crown

Stopping tooth decay before it causes a significant cavity to form is the best way to deal with it conservatively. However, for many people, the cavity formation is the telltale sign that their tooth is decaying, and dealing with it requires filling the cavity as well as stopping the progression of the tooth’s decay. In mild to moderate cases of decay, the process of cleaning the infection from within the cavity and filling the space with a biocompatible filling is often enough to fully restore the tooth’s health and integrity. For optimal results, most modern fillings are crafted from tooth-colored composite resin that provides highly lifelike and discreet cosmetic results.

The stage where infection reaches your root canal

The development of severe tooth decay involves the spread of the tooth’s infection into the pulp chamber at its center. This chamber is connected to the tooth’s root, and the tissues that are housed inside of it travel through the root’s canal to the bone structure in your dental ridge. When the infection reaches these tissues, it indicates a much more severe stage of the tooth decay, and treating it will require removing the infection through root canal therapy.

Deal with your tooth decay before it gets worse

Whether your tooth has a mild cavity or is severely decayed on the inside, it’s important to deal with the decay as soon as possible. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling MMC Dental in Houston, TX, today at (713) 926-8896.