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While it might not feel like it when you're holding your jaw in pain, not all cavities are identical.
Yagi Studio/Getty ImagesYour dentist has likely cautioned you about the dangers of consuming excessive sweets and poor dental hygiene. Ignoring your oral health can result in a mouth full of cavities. These tooth holes aren't just uncomfortable—without treatment, you could even lose your teeth.
Cavities develop when the bacteria naturally present in your mouth feed on residual sugars and starches from the foods you consume. As these bacteria digest, they generate acids. These acids, when mixed with saliva, food debris, and the bacteria, create a tough, sticky plaque that covers your teeth and erodes the enamel.
Dentists categorize cavities depending on which part of the tooth is affected. Cavities can form in the pits and grooves of your teeth or on their smooth surfaces. The former is more common because germs and food particles easily get stuck in the tiny cracks and crevices. Smooth surface cavities are less frequent since plaque must penetrate the enamel, but they tend to cover a larger area of the tooth.
In 1908, American dentist G.V. Black created a cavity classification system that remains widely used today. Black's system originally identified five classes of cavities, with a sixth class added later:
- Class I cavities are found in the pits and fissures of your teeth.
- Class II cavities affect the sides and chewing surfaces of your back teeth, including premolars and molars.
- Class III cavities occur on the sides of your front teeth, such as incisors and canines, which are used for biting and chewing.
- Class IV cavities are located on the sides of incisors and canines, involving the angle where the middle and far sides of the teeth meet (incisal angle).
- Class V cavities appear on the tooth surfaces closest to the face or tongue, avoiding pits or grooves.
- Class VI cavities are found on the edges of front teeth or the parts of back teeth that contact the jaw.
As noted earlier, smooth surface cavities are less common but can be more severe than groove cavities because they affect a broader area of the tooth. Generally, the larger the affected area, the greater the damage. Dentists determine treatment based on the extent of decay. For minor damage, the decayed portion is removed and replaced with a filling. For extensive decay, a crown made of gold or porcelain is used to restore the tooth.
