Stages of Tooth Decay​

Tooth Decay is one of the most common dental issues and one of the main reasons to see a dentist. It happens when the enamel which is the protective layer of the tooth becomes damaged due to acids from food or made by bacteria. As you may know, tooth decay has different stages and the earliest is the easiest to treat. The stages of tooth decay progress from minor enamel damage to severe cavities if left untreated. If you catch early stage tooth decay, you can often avoid the need for fillings or more extensive dental treatments by improving your oral hygiene.

Read this comprehensive article about the stages of tooth decay if you want to learn more about this dental issue and treat it in time. This blog post was written by Dr. Jahanmehr, a professional dentist in Orangeville. If you’re searching for a dentist near me, Dr. Meysam Jahanmehr at U Smile Dental Clinic, located at 328 Broadway, Orangeville, provides affordable, high-quality care. Call us today at (647) 492-9149.

For comprehensive dental service trust U smile Dental Clinic, offering affordable and effective care for all your dental needs.

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is damage to the tooth from its enamel to the inner parts, such as dentin. The cause of damage is acidic components, which can cause enamel erosion and damage to the tooth. This acid can come from acidic food or bacteria. When there are food residues on your teeth, especially sweet and sugary food, bacteria use the food and release acid as a secondary product. This acid can cause enamel erosion and damage the enamel, which is the outer layer of teeth. Enamel is so hard and adamant, but frequent exposure to acid can damage this protective part of teeth. After the enamel gets damaged, acid and bacteria can cause problems in the tooth’s inner layer, namely dentin and dental pulp. When the decay becomes severe, even the dental pulp will be infected, and you will need a root canal treatment.

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Tooth Decay and Cavities: How Do They Form?

First, let us explain the difference between tooth decay and a tooth cavity. Tooth decay and tooth cavity are quite similar to each other, and it is usual to name every decay as a tooth cavity. To be precise, tooth decay is damage to the surface of the tooth that can be mild (and just enamel damage) or severe. Teeth decay happens when acids, which are mostly made from bacteria, destroy your tooth by demineralizing the enamel. These acids will be on your teeth and affect them for a long time without proper dental hygiene and the formation of bacteria plaques. When the decay becomes more severe, a cavity will be formed. So, a tooth cavity is an almost severe tooth decay to the extent that a hole is formed in the tooth.

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Tooth decay has several stages, and the earlier you see a dentist, the easier the treatment will be. Here are five stages of how tooth decays and cavities form:

Tooth’s Initial Demineralization

As you have read before, enamel is the outer layer of a tooth and has a protective role because of its hardness. The enamel is made mostly of calcium and phosphorus, which form a bond that makes the enamel highly durable and hard. The acid that is mostly made by bacteria can affect the enamel in a way that it loses these minerals. This loss of minerals appears on a tooth as white spots. If you have this symptom and white spots on your teeth, it means the earliest stage of tooth decay.

Dental Enamel Decay

Although enamel is highly resistant and is the hardest tissue in a human’s body, it can be severely damaged after exposure to acids and demineralization. So, after enamel demineralization, enamel will be destroyed and decayed. Enamel decay symptoms are brown and dark spots on the teeth. This is when the tooth cavities begin to form.

Dentin Decay

Dentin is a part of your teeth that is on the inner side of the enamel. When the enamel is healthy, it can protect the dentin and work as a shield. But when the enamel is damaged and decayed, the dentin will be exposed to bacteria and acid. Dentin is more prone to damage by acids as it is not as strong as enamel. The symptom of dentin decay is tooth sensitivity to hot and cold because dentin has some tubes that are connected to the tooth’s nerves.

Dental Pulp Damage and Infection

The dental pulp is the inner and the most protected part of a tooth. It contains many important structures like blood vessels and tooth nerves. After enamel and dentin decay, the dental pulp becomes exposed, and it may get infected. Dental pulp infections cause tooth pain and tooth sensitivity, and you need a root canal treatment at this stage.

Formation of the Abscess

Increased infection and inflammation in the dental pulp can lead to dental abscesses. Tooth abscesses are pockets of puss that are formed due to bacterial infections. This is the most severe stage of tooth decay, and it requires emergency dental treatment. Tooth abscess symptoms are severe tooth pain, swelling, and fever.

In Which Stage of Tooth Decay Should I Visit a Dentist?

If you are experiencing the symptoms of tooth decay, you should visit the dentist, no matter which tooth decay stage you are at. The early stages of tooth decay are often painless and the issue can be solved more quickly and simply. Moreover, the teeth can remain healthier with early care and treatment. When the tooth decay worsens, you have to visit a dentist as soon as possible. You may experience severe symptoms like pain, swelling, tooth sensitivity, and even fever. At this stage, you may need a root canal or abscess management with antibiotics, which is a more complicated, costly, and time-consuming treatment. So, we recommend you see a doctor when you see the early symptoms like white spots, dark brownish spots, or tooth sensitivity.

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The Treatment of Tooth Decay in Different Stages

The treatment of tooth decay differs depending on the stage. In the early stages of tooth decay, the treatment is simpler, resulting in healthier teeth. Here are tooth decay treatments in different stages:

• Enamel Demineralization: In this stage, you may see white spots on your tooth. Remineralization is the treatment of this stage of tooth decay to bring back the strength of the enamel by making the mineral bonds again. Mineralization consists of fluoride treatment to make the enamel strong and healthy.
• Enamel Decay: If you don’t visit a dentist at the demineralization stage of tooth decay, the enamel will be damaged and decayed. At this stage, you may need a dental filling. The dentist will remove the decayed enamel and fill the tooth with filling materials like composite veneer.
• Dentin Decay: Dentin decay happens after enamel decay if you leave the decayed tooth untreated. At this stage, you may experience tooth sensitivity and visit a dentist for tooth decay treatment. Dentin decay can be treated with dental filling to a dental crown in more severe cases.
• Dental Pulp Infection: dental pulp infection is quite an advanced stage in which you may have tooth sensitivity and tooth pain. This is when you need a root canal treatment. A root canal consists of removing the dental pulp, cleaning the inside of the tooth, and filling it with dental filling or putting dental crowns.
• Abscess Formation: Abscess formation is the final stage of tooth decay, in which you will have severe pain, swelling of the face, and even fever. You need urgent treatment of dental abscesses to prevent the spread of infection. The treatment involves draining the abscess and a root canal. In some cases, a tooth extraction may be needed.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, tooth decay happens due to acids that are mostly made by bacteria. Acids can demineralize the enamel and weaken it, leading to enamel decay. After enamel decay, the dentin will be exposed to bacteria and acid and become decayed. If left untreated, the dental pulp can become infected, and even abscesses may be formed. At these final stages of tooth decay, you need a more complicated treatment like root canal and abscess management. So, we recommend visiting a dentist as soon as possible after you see the early symptoms of tooth decay.

You can book an appointment with our highly skilled and experienced dentists at U Smile Family Dentistry in Orangeville to treat your decayed tooth.

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FAQs About Stages of Tooth Decay

What happens after enamel damage and decay?

Enamel is the protective part of the tooth, so after the enamel decay, other parts of the tooth will be exposed to acid and bacteria, and the tooth decay becomes more severe. You may also experience symptoms like tooth sensitivity and pain.

Will the enamel grow back after tooth decay?

If your enamel becomes completely damaged and decayed, it won’t grow back. But at the demineralization stage, fluoride treatment can strengthen your enamel once again.

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