Front tooth cavityFront tooth cavity
Cavities in front teeth often start where two teeth touch, so by the time they show from the outside, they have already spread widely inside. At Wonjin Dental Clinic, we first check how deep the cavity is. Whether it has reached the nerve changes which treatments are possible.
On this page
First, we look at the cause
Two cases can look the same and still need different treatment if the cause is different. If you fix only the shape and leave the cause, the same problem usually comes back in the same place.
I have a cavity in a front tooth. Why does it not hurt?
Enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) has no nerves. While a cavity stays in this layer it does not hurt, so few people notice it.
Cavities in front teeth often start on the surfaces where two teeth touch. A toothbrush has trouble reaching there, and it cannot be seen from the outside, so these cavities are usually found first on an X-ray. No pain does not mean there is no cavity. It means the cavity is still in the outer layer.
This is when
It does not hurt. The space between the teeth looks dark, or looks white and cloudy.
Then
This is the stage where the least tooth needs to be removed. Treated now, it is done in one visit and the tooth stays almost as it is.
What we look at first
The hole looked small, but I was told it turned out large during treatment. Why?
Once a cavity passes the outer layer into the dentin, it spreads sideways. The opening stays small while the inside becomes wide.
The dentin under the enamel is much softer. From this layer on, a cavity moves quickly and spreads sideways under the hard outer layer. Dentin has fine tubes that lead to the nerve, so sensitivity starts at this stage.
This is when
Cold things make it sensitive, and sweet things sometimes cause a sharp twinge. You can feel a rough spot with your tongue.
Then
We remove the decay and fill the tooth. The color of a front tooth is on full display, so matching the color and translucency of the filling material is half the treatment.
What we look at first
If it throbs even when I am doing nothing, is it too late?
It is past the stage where a filling is enough. It is a sign that the cavity has reached the nerve.
When bacteria get into the nerve, inflammation starts inside the tooth. The nerve is enclosed in hard tooth, so when it swells it has nowhere to go, and that is why the pain is strong. It is also why it hurts more at night. If left alone, the inflammation spreads to the bone at the root tip.
This is when
It throbs even when you are doing nothing, and it is worse at night. Hot things hurt. Sometimes the pain suddenly goes away. That does not mean it healed. It means the nerve has died, which is a worse sign.
Then
We treat the inside of the tooth first. A tooth without its nerve breaks easily, so a filling alone will not last long. It needs a crown to support it against biting forces.
What we look at first
Can something that looks dark not be a cavity?
Yes. A notch at the neck of a tooth or a dark line between teeth is often not a cavity, and then the treatment is completely different.
A V-shaped notch at the neck of a tooth near the gum is usually worn away by hard brushing or biting forces. A dark line between teeth can also be stain. Neither has decayed tissue to remove, so treating it as a cavity and drilling means drilling healthy tooth.
This is when
The notch is at the neck of the tooth near the gum, and its surface is smooth. Or there is only color, and nothing catches when you touch it with your tongue.
Then
Before drilling, we first find out what it is. If it is wear or stain, correcting the habit that causes it comes first, and the notch is covered when needed.
What we look at first