Dental FAQs

The development of cavities is usually in those hard to see and reach places in your mouth. These are the areas that usually floss can only reach. Cavities are formed when the bacteria in your mouth attaches to food particles and forms plaque. The acid produced by plaque begins to eat away at the tooth if it is left long enough. First the enamel is attacked then the dentin is next, which is where the tooth’s nerve fibers are located. Once the decay makes its way to the dentin a filling is needed to stop the cavities progress. If it is left untouched it will eventually reach the nerve and a root canal is then needed to repair the tooth.

For most people, a complete radiographic survey should be done every 3 years and a “check up” or “recall” set every 6 to 12 months. A complete set of x-rays is estimated to expose you to the same amount of radiation you get on a flight from San Francisco to Seattle.

Doctors use x-rays as an aid in diagnosing problems. Without x-rays, “seeing” the problem will be difficult if not impossible.