“Are all holes in teeth cavities?”
I am a 21 year old male. I want to know if all holes in teeth are cavities?
3 Answers
If you have a hole in your tooth you should have a dentist look at it to determine if it needs a filling
Yes.
Hello,
Not all holes in teeth are cavities. Some holes are supposed to be there, some are cavities (most common), and some are fractured teeth. It is important to know how long the hole has been there. Is it something that you just noticed or has it been there as long as you can remember? If you just noticed, what changed to cause you to notice it? Did you eat something that when into a hole and stained it? What area of the tooth is it on? The biting surface of the tooth generally has pits in it naturally. Those are very tiny holes that a toothbrush bristle cannot get into to clean. So, if you ate something like chocolate, those pits will have a dark color to them making it look more like a small hole. That being said, there are plenty of times where a hole is a cavity. Bacteria get into the enamel through a microscopic hole and they cause a hole underneath the enamel. Then one day, the enamel on top will break away cause it has nothing supporting it and you will see a hole. It is sometimes hard for professionals to decided if it is a cavity or not. You can get a couple free consultations and then make a decision.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Not all holes in teeth are cavities. Some holes are supposed to be there, some are cavities (most common), and some are fractured teeth. It is important to know how long the hole has been there. Is it something that you just noticed or has it been there as long as you can remember? If you just noticed, what changed to cause you to notice it? Did you eat something that when into a hole and stained it? What area of the tooth is it on? The biting surface of the tooth generally has pits in it naturally. Those are very tiny holes that a toothbrush bristle cannot get into to clean. So, if you ate something like chocolate, those pits will have a dark color to them making it look more like a small hole. That being said, there are plenty of times where a hole is a cavity. Bacteria get into the enamel through a microscopic hole and they cause a hole underneath the enamel. Then one day, the enamel on top will break away cause it has nothing supporting it and you will see a hole. It is sometimes hard for professionals to decided if it is a cavity or not. You can get a couple free consultations and then make a decision.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
