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It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of cavities as soon as they appear. This way, you can get a head start on treating them and prevent them from becoming larger and more painful over time. If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, you may have a cavity:  Experiencing tooth sensitivity or a toothache. You might also feel mild-to-sharp pain when eating cold, sweet or hot foods. You may feel pain when you bite down. You may notice dark colored pits or holes on your teeth. Teeth may break or chip and expose a dark inner surface. Bad breath or taste in your mouth, especially after meals. Some cavities (especially those at the back of the mouth or between teeth) will be invisible to the naked eye and may not cause any pain. These types of cavities can only be identified through x-rays, ultrasound or fluorescent lighting - which is why it is important to see your dentist regularly. . It is recommended that you visit your dentist approximately twice a year to get check-ups on your oral health. However, if you suspect you might have a cavity don't wait around for your bi-annual appointment, make a date with your dentist immediately. During your appointment:  Explain your symptoms and any signs of tooth decay you've noticed. This will help the dentist to locate the cavity. Undergo an examination. The dentist will then conduct an examination to confirm that you have a cavity. He/she will often use a sharp metal object to feel for soft spots on the surface of the teeth which indicate the presence of cavities. X-rays will also be required to confirm the depth of the cavity and to decide if a root canal is needed. Fluoride treatments are used in the early stages of cavities, as fluoride can help teeth to restore themselves by remineralizing the tooth surface.  The treatment consists of a gel varnish, liquid solution or foam fluoride which is used to coat the teeth and strengthen the tooth's enamel. When you undergo fluoride treatment, the dentist applies the fluoride in one of two ways: he/she will either apply the fluoride directly onto your teeth or places it into a tray that fits over your teeth. The treatment takes approximately three minutes to complete.  Be very careful not to swallow any of the fluoride during the treatment. Fillings, which are also known as restoration treatments, are used when the tooth decay develops further into the enamel and becomes permanent.  The dentist removes the cavities using a drill, or the dentist may use a laser instead of a drill. Then the dentist fills the holes using tooth-colored resin material, porcelain or silver amalgam material. Silver amalgam material may contain quantities of mercury, which some people object to based on fears over possible health risks. If this is a concern for you, consult with your dentist about the material he plans to use in your fillings. Depending on the extent of the decay, fillings may take up to two appointments to complete. Custom-fitted tooth coverings called crowns are another way to treat cavities. They are only necessary when the tooth decay has become particularly extensive. The crowns are made of tooth-like material attached to metal and dentists can also opt for provisional or permanent crowns, depending on the material used. A provisionary crown is made in the same appointment and it cannot be used for more than three months. Crowns are important for aesthetic reasons, gum line, and functionality.  With crowns, your dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth using a drill and takes a mold of your teeth. The final model (cast) is then used to recreate the exact shape and bite of your natural tooth using a tooth-like substance such as porcelain, zirconium or even gold to make a personalized crown to replace your decayed tooth. Once the crowns are ready, the dentist uses cement to apply them to your teeth. Crowns also take more than one appointment. A root canal may be the only option when cavities have penetrated deep into the tooth's pulp, and the inside of the tooth is decayed, infected or dead.  During a root canal, the dentist will make an incision near the top of the tooth, then remove the decaying pulp from the chambers and canals inside the tooth. The tooth will then be refilled with a rubber-like material and sealing paste. Sometimes a tooth that has undergone a root canal will also need to be covered with a crown to prevent the tooth from re-fracturing. This may be done at the same time as the root canal, or several months later.  If the tooth has a small amount of substance left, your dentist will choose a metal or fiber post to create the core build up that supports the crown. If the tooth cannot be saved, have it extracted. The only option for cavities that have affected the entire tooth is an extraction.  Your teeth are extracted if they are badly damaged and cannot be saved using any of the other methods. Once a tooth is extracted it can leave a gap. While this is undesirable for aesthetic reasons, it may also cause other teeth to move around inside the mouth, which can cause a whole new set of problems. Therefore, you should consider getting a bridge or dental implant to fill the gap and replace your missing tooth.
Understand the signs and symptoms of cavities. Visit a dentist Get a fluoride treatment. Get a filling. Get a crown. Undergo a root canal. Consider having the tooth extracted.