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Tooth decay happens when acids from bacteria in plaque wear away the enamel of your teeth. This process involves different stages, and dentists have tailored treatments for each to stop it from getting worse. Let's explore these five stages of tooth decay and see how dentists in San Antonio tackle them with the right treatments.

The 5 Stages of Tooth Decay

Stage 1: White Spots

In the beginning phase of tooth decay, you might notice white spots on your tooth surface. These spots show where minerals like calcium and phosphate have been lost from the enamel because of acid exposure. Luckily, at this point, the decay can still be turned around with good oral hygiene and fluoride treatments.

Treatment: Your dentist might suggest using fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash to strengthen the enamel and stop the decay from spreading. Plus, sticking to regular brushing and flossing habits can go a long way in preventing more damage.

Stage 2: Enamel Decay

As tooth decay keeps going, the enamel gets weaker, which can create a hole or cavity in your tooth. By this point, the decay has gone through the enamel and is getting close to the dentin layer underneath. If left alone, the cavity will just get deeper.

Treatment: Dentists usually take out the decayed part of the tooth and fill the cavity with materials like composite resin, amalgam, or ceramic. This fixes up the tooth, making it strong again and stopping more decay from happening.

Stage 3: Dentin Decay

If tooth decay isn't taken care of, it can move into the dentin, the softer layer under the enamel. Dentin decay happens faster than enamel decay because dentin is more porous, which can make your tooth more sensitive and painful.

Treatment: Dentists will take out the decayed dentin and fill the cavity, just like in stage 2. But if the decay has gone too deep, they might need to do extra things like putting a dental crown on to make the tooth stronger and stop more damage.

Stage 4: Pulp Damage

By this point, decay has made its way to the innermost part of your tooth called the pulp. This area has nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When the pulp gets inflamed or infected, it can cause serious pain and even form an abscess.

Treatment: Dentists in San Antonio usually do a root canal to take out the infected pulp, clean the root canal, and seal it to keep it from getting infected again. Sometimes, they'll also put a dental crown on the tooth afterward to make it strong and working well.

Stage 5: Abscess Formation

In the last stage of tooth decay, if infections aren't taken care of, they can create an abscess, which is a pocket of pus at the root of the tooth. Abscesses can bring on severe pain, swelling, and even infections throughout your body if they're not treated.

Treatment: Dentists might need to drain the abscess to ease the pain and give you antibiotics to clear out the infection. In really serious situations, they might have to pull out the tooth that's causing all the trouble to stop things from getting worse.

Rely on Your Dentist in San Antonio for Expert Dental Care

Ready to tackle tooth decay head-on? La Cantera Dental Group offers tailored treatments for each stage of decay, from fluoride treatments to root canals. Trust our experienced team to preserve your smile. Schedule your appointment today!