05/05/2026
Have you ever wondered what a cavity looks like beneath the surface of a tooth?
This tooth we restored is a great example of how much destruction a cavity can form inside a tooth, even without the tooth ever feeling sensitive.
The outside of our teeth (enamel) is extremely strong, but it's actually only a few millimeters thick. Once a cavity breaks through that thin, outer shell, it gets into the next layer of tooth - dentin.
Dentin is much softer, allowing a cavity to spread much more quickly.
Don't wait until a tooth feels sensitive to address a cavity. By that point, it's usually gone on for too long and gotten close to the nerve, which may require more complex treatments in order to restore it back to good health.
Pro tip - ask your dentist about protective sealants to help reduce the risk of developing cavities in high-risk teeth.
In the case shown here, a protective sealant would have likely prevented this tooth from needing this treatment. It would also have taken only a few minutes, needed no numbing, cost a fraction of what a filling does, and helped prevent future treatment, saving the patient time and money over the course of their lifetime.
