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Cavities (dental caries)
A condition that arises as a result of tooth decay, or damage to a tooth. Tooth decay can affect both the outer coating of a tooth (called the enamel) and the inner layer (called the dentin).
Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this
39 year experience in Internal Medicine
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Baby 0-2 | Very common | ||||
Preteen 6-13 | Very common | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Very common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Very common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Very common |
Related questions
A 30-year old asked:
Describe the biology of dental caries, because I brush and floss well, and still got a cavity?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
How common is having a dental cavity?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
How painful is it to get a dental cavity filled?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old male asked:
How to know if dentist fraud and fill good teeth that don't have cavity? Is it possible to create hole on teeth using dental explorer?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 27-year old male asked:
Cam dental X-rays notice any cavity on teeth or specific areas? Can they notice cavitys on the top of teeth
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
Can a dental cavity ever heal itself?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
Is the color of a dental cavity always black or brown?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 42-year old asked:
How effective is a dental extraction for treating a cavity?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
How to remove dental wax from cavity?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old female asked:
How fast can a cavity form on a tooth, with great dental hygiene.
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
Can hydrogen peroxide break down or damage cavity fillings or dental cement?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old female asked:
How can you tell if you have a cavity on a x ray, and can dental x rays cause shadows on a tooth, if it is not done right?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old male asked:
Have had a cavity in wisdom tooth for over 5 years. No dental insurance, so left it. Could this cause other health problems to overall health?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old asked:
I thought i got a filling for a cavity. But it was just a dental sealant. What are sealants?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old female asked:
Hello, im in a bit of pain from a broken tooth/cavity and i have no dental ins at the momnt..can i use omnicef (cefdinir)?
5 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 22-year old female asked:
Just had an dental X-ray a month or so ago and teeth looked perfect. Now i'm noticing a little tiny brown spot at the base of my back molar. Cavity?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old female asked:
How common is it for a dentist to not be able to tell if a cavity exists or how big a cavity is because of dental fillings that were previously inserted into the tooth?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 29-year old asked:
How to you fix a dental cavity?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
Can a dental cavity make you feel sick and tired?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
Can you cure a dental cavity without filling it?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
Can an untreated dental cavity cause numbness on the right side of my head?
4 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 49-year old asked:
Could I use dental wax to cover up my cavity?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
How long does it take to fill a cavity at a dental clinic?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 25-year old male asked:
How does one know if they have a dental cavity or carry. Looked up wikipedia?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
Dental problem with gums, I guess. Molar along gum where enamel is missing is dark. Cavity or tea?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
I have really bad taste in my mouth following dental work two days ago. Had a cavity under a crown. Now have temporary crown. ?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
I have a cavity in my front right tooth. The left had a root canal. Will i need novocaine to fill and if so will is sting? I'm a huge dental phobic.
5 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old female asked:
Is it normal to see sinus cavity on dental xray? Had xray of tooth at dentist's and sinus cavity showed.They didn't say it was odd but forgot to ask.
4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
A female asked:
Why is the dental abscess getting worse during treatment? I have a tooth with a large cavity. It had a filling in it, but the filling got loose and before i had a chance to have it fixed i got a dental abscess.The filling was removed so the tooth could dr
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
I have a big cavity and i don't know what to do? No dental insurance.
5 doctor answers • 13 doctors weighed in
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