Is there a difference between tooth decay and a cavity? does tooth decay precede a cavity, or are they considered the same thing?

Dr. : Dr. Zweig is correct. Decay and cavity are just dummied down terms to the disease called dental caries. It happens when the acids produced by the bacteria which lives in our mouths eat away at our tooth structure and functionally dissolve it.

To : To make it simple, decay is the destructive process that causes a cavity. Above explanations are correct!.

Dental : Dental caries is the actual proper name for what is generally called tooth decay or a cavity. They are all the same thing in the english vernacular. The preparation that the dentist does to remove the caries and prepare the tooth for the restorative material is sometimes called a cavity preparation.