Cavities or dental caries are one of the routine oral problems faced by millions no matter whether you belong to an adult group or kids. In Atlanta, dentists see and treat all different types of cavities daily. Understanding how cavities are classified can help a patient to know more about their oral health in Atlanta dentistry and what treatments may be involved.
What Are Cavities?
Cavities are damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that eventually become tiny openings or holes. These are due to factors like bacteria in the mouth, snacking often or sipping sugary drinks, and not cleaning their teeth after eating. If not treated, cavities can cause extreme pain, infection, and tooth loss.
Cavities have been classified as:
Cavities are categorized by the area in which they form within a tooth, the surface type on which they occur, and how far decay has progressed. Above are the three primary categorizations of cavities.
1. Class I cavities
Class I cavities are those located in the chewing surfaces of molar and bicuspid teeth. These cavities form in the deep grooves called pits and fissures of your teeth making it easy to catch food particles with bacteria. These areas are more difficult to clean by brushing and thus, they decay easily.
Etiology: Insufficient oral hygiene, regular eating of sugar and starch-rich food products, and the characterization of teeth chewing surfaces can lead to initiation of cavities.
2. Proximal Cavities—Class II cavities
Class II cavities appear among the proximal surface of the back teeth, or those that are in between two adjacent teeth. Virtually all of these regions can be cleaned with a toothbrush and may therefore not receive an adequate cleaning from the vast majority of people. This means they get a lot of plaque and bacteria buildup, which wears their teeth down causing decay.
Causes: Lack of flossing, a diet high in sugars or carbohydrates, and not brushing correctly can lead to the formation of Class II cavities.
3. Class III and IV fillings: Proximal Anterior Cavities
These are near the proximal surfaces of front teeth (incisors and canines). Class IV cavities involve adjacent faces, proportional to contacts plus the biting border on the incisor as well. Although they are not as frequent as back-tooth cavities. Causes are similar to Class II cavities, poor oral hygiene level, and a diet rich in foods as high sugar-containing beverages.
4. Gingival Class V Cavities
Class V cavities are also known as root caries and they happen in the gingival third of a tooth which is near to the line of gums. Front and back teeth these cavities may affect. Plaque builds up along the gum line, for this reason, it could/make life at every front difficult
Reasons: Incorrectly brushing methods and refraining from sweet or acidic foods and beverages which can directly cause Class V cavitization around the gum line.
5. Cavities of the Cusp Tips (Class VI)
Usually, Class VI cavities are discovered on the cusp tips of back teeth or mesial/ distal annular lines in front teeth. Typically, these cavities are not common and usually occur from long-excessive wear or tooth grinding (bruxism) with a lack of enamel.
For a lot of people, knowing how severe or simple their cavity is can be that little bit more motivation to maintain good oral habits and seek attention when necessary from the dentist. Different types of cavities require different treatments, and catching them early is critical to avoid further harm to your fragile teeth. If you think you have a cavity or want more information on preventing cavities, your Atlanta dentist can provide the answers.
