How Do Dentists Find Cavities?

Nearly 100% of Americans will have at least one cavity before reaching adulthood. This common sign of infection can be removed and treated as quickly as it appears, as long as patients seek professional dental care right away. But how are your local experts so good at locating cavities right away? How do dentists find cavities in the first place?

How Do Dentists Find Cavities?

From x-rays to full tooth inspections, our helpers at My Anaheim Dentist know how to quickly locate and get rid of cavities in the mouth. Keep reading to learn more about cavities, how they are identified, and how they are treated.

Cavities, Explained

What exactly are cavities and how do they form in the first place? There is a reason cavities are so common. They can start to form as a result of bacterial buildup that comes from the food and drinks you consume. Food particles from sugar and other substances create bacteria that can sit on the surface of the teeth and turn into plaque. This is a hard, sticky substance that wears away at the enamel in your mouth and makes it easier for an infection to form.

When this infection spreads, it starts to kill off parts of your teeth. These dead parts of your teeth will show dark brown and black spots that only grow bigger if left untreated. This is why it is so important to visit your dentist, as you may not even realize that you have a growing cavity in your mouth.

How to Identify Cavities

When you schedule your regular dental visit with your local professional, how can you trust that they will be able to quickly find and eliminate your cavities? Thankfully, there are many tools and techniques available to professionals that can help the cavity removal process be as efficient and pain-free as possible.

X-Rays

One of the first things your dentist will have you do upon your visit is to sit while experts take some dental x-rays of your mouth. X-ray technology takes a snapshot of your teeth in a way that lets the dentist see both the inside and outside of your tooth. Putting your teeth under fluorescent light can help dentists identify dark spots and blotches that may be growing on certain parts of your teeth.

Dental Probe

Though not as effective as x-rays, dental probes can also be used to identify external cavities. These tools have a mirror on the end so your dentist can view your tooth at all angles. Most cavities are easy to spot no matter what kind of tool the dentist uses.

Laser Detection

Your dentist may use an advanced device known as a laser cavity detection device to identify smaller cavities. Some can form on the inside of the tooth, making it hard to spot right away. This new technology can scan your teeth and identify cavities in a matter of seconds.

Finding the Symptoms of Cavities

In order for you – and your dentist – to identify the signs and symptoms of cavities, it’s important to understand the warning signs of cavity symptoms before they become too severe. You may have a cavity if you are feeling the following:

Constant toothache
Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
Brown or black stains on the surface of your teeth
Pain when biting down
Spontaneous pain with no apparent cause

If your tooth has been bothering you a lot, it’s possible that you are dealing with a cavity. Get in touch with our dental experts in Anaheim today for a quick and effective treatment solution.

Get Rid of Cavities Today!

Cavities are some of the most common dental health issues, and because of that, our dental experts have perfected the best methods for quickly identifying and filling those cavities. Get in touch with our pros at the office of My Anaheim Dentist to learn more about cavities and how you can stop them from growing.

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