Cavities and Decay

The problem
Tooth decay begins when the protein of your saliva combines with the sugars and carbohydrates of food particles left on and between your teeth. This combination creates plaque, which eats away at the hard enamel shell around your tooth. Left unchecked, a hole will be created in the enamel and a cavity will rapidly form in the softer dentin which lies under the enamel.

Solutions
If the cavity is caught in time, usually a filling will correct the problem. Larger cavities may require an inlay or onlay, or a crown. However, if nothing is done and the decay spreads, the sensitive pulp (nerve) may become involved, often causing an abscess, and root canal therapy or extraction may be required.

To detect cavities, your dentist will often use x-rays.