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A Close Look At Cavities

Summary & Participants

Even the bravest among us grow fearful when the dentist says "cavity" through that paper mask. In this program, our experts offer you some thoughts about how to keep your mouth cavity-free and treatment options for the occasional cavity.

Medically Reviewed On: June 19, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas. Now even the bravest among us grow fearful when the dentist says, "Cavity" as in "You have a cavity." Right away we think of needles, drills and, of course, maybe a little bit or a lot of pain. But there are ways to prevent cavities from forming. For those of you who are unlucky enough to have gotten an occasional cavity, there are a number of treatment options.

Here to shed some light on the prevention and treatment of cavities are two experts. To my left is Dr. Graziano Giglio. He's the Associate Clinical Professor at the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at New York University. And Graz, as I will be calling him, is also in private practice in New York specializing in aesthetics and implants.

Next to Dr. Giglio is Dr. Paul Kamen. He is the Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry at Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. Paul is also in private practice in Manhattan. He specializes in periodontics and implants. Gentlemen, thank you for joining me on the webcast.

Paul, let me start with you. How do cavities form? What are cavities?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: Cavities are actually a demineralization of the tooth surface. They're caused by plaque, the bacteria of the plaque, which if you eat sweet foods the bacteria create acids. The acids actually leach out the enamel of the tooth structure and begin to invade the tooth causing destruction of some of the softer parts of the tooth and eventually decay of the tooth.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Graz, where do most cavities form?

GRAZIANO GIGLIO, DDS: Most of them form inside pits and fissures on top of teeth. The nooks and crannies of the tooth. There are other types of cavities that occur between teeth. We can prevent those by flossing. The contact point between one tooth and the other.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: So it's like partially in one and partially in another.

GRAZIANO GIGLIO, DDS: It actually is caused by getting a piece of food stuck there and the food is there for a long period of time. Plaque accumulates around it. The bacteria make acid which then demineralizes -- most likely -- both teeth. So you're not just getting one. When a dentist tells you get a cavity between the teeth, it's not usually on one tooth. It's on the adjacent tooth also which is awful.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Paul, very briefly because we're going to be assuming the worst that people already have a cavity out there. Very briefly on prevention. How can you prevent cavities? What's the best way to do that?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: The best way of preventing cavities are the old fashioned words to brush and floss every day.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Once a day? Twice a day?

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