What Does a Shadow on Your Tooth Mean?

What Does a Shadow on Your Tooth Mean?

Mar 01, 2022

Have you looked at your tooth in a mirror and noticed that it has a dark hue? It is quite disheartening to know that your tooth might not be okay. It might mean that your oral health will deteriorate, and let’s not even talk about how this affects your dental aesthetics.

If you notice that your tooth seems to have a shadow, there is a high probability that the tooth is infected. Therefore, you might need to seek tooth decay treatment our dentist in Rancho Bernardo offers.

Tooth caries or decay is one of the most prevalent issues that plague most people globally. Our dentist encounters patients with tooth decay every other day. So, if you have tooth decay, take heart; you are not alone.

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How Tooth Decay Develops

Tooth decay never happens overnight but is a process that can occur over some time, even years. The reason is that the tooth is covered or protected by a hard white tissue known as enamel. When the enamel is structurally compromised, it exposes the inner parts of the tooth that are susceptible to infection and damage.

Tooth decay starts when there is plaque formation. This is a sticky and clear substance that coats the teeth. In most cases, it forms when you consume lots of sugar and starches and you are not cleaning your teeth as you should.

Bacteria jump at the sugars and start feeding, forming plaque. Plaque is made of saliva, bacteria, and food debris. If you miss caring for your teeth, the plaque will continue to harden above or under the gum line to form a substance known as tartar or calculus. Brushing alone will not clean your teeth when it gets to this stage. You might need to get your teeth cleaned by our dentist.

Plaque contains acids produced by bacteria that remove the minerals from the enamel. You might notice that your teeth have white spots. The acids will cause small holes in the enamel, marking the first stage of cavities.

Once part of the enamel is worn away, the acid and bacteria will reach the dentin right beneath the enamel. This layer has tubules that communicate with the nerves that cause tooth sensitivity.

If you don’t visit our dentist to get tooth decay treatment near you, then the destruction continues. The bacteria and acid will continue to wreak havoc as they make their way into the inner part of the tooth, known as dental pulp. This is a sensitive area since it contains blood vessels and nerves.

The pulp will become inflamed, swollen, and irritated because of bacteria. It is because the swelling has nowhere to go, so it presses on the nerves and will cause immense pain. The infection can spread to the roots and the bone.

A pus pocket might form at the root at this stage, known as an abscess. It is now a dental emergency when you get to this stage, and you need immediate dental care. If you notice severe pain radiating into the jaw, swelling of the gums, face, and lymph nodes, and fever, know that the pulp is infected.

How Can the Center for Oral Health Help?

If you visit our dentist regularly, tooth decay will be caught in its initial stages before it progresses. If decay is caught early, the treatment will not be extensive. Some of the treatments available are:

  • Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are an excellent treatment option when tooth decay has progressed beyond the initial stages. They repair teeth that have cavities and restore them to their normal function. They are made from various materials, including resin, porcelain, and metal.

  • Fluoride Treatment

This is also a good treatment used to restore teeth with minimal tooth decay. Fluoride helps fight off tooth decay.

  • Dental Crowns

A crown is normally recommended whenever the decay is extensive. Our dentist will have to remove the decayed part of your tooth, clean the area, and then curve out the remainder of the tooth to create room for the new crown.

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  • Root Canal Treatment

Our dentist performs a root canal procedure when the infection has reached the pulp. The whole idea is to remove the infected pulp and save the tooth.

If you have tooth decay, you can visit us at the Center for Oral Health, and we would love to help enhance your oral health.