Dental caries – How are the cavities restored?
A. Teeth are comprised of two hard layers surrounding a soft core. The first hard layer is the visible white layer called enamel. The underlying hard layer is called dentin and is yellow. The soft core is known as the dental pulp and is made up of blood vessels and nerve bundles. The holes caused by the caries process can be limited to the outer enamel layer. They may also include the underlying dentin layer or extend into the dental pulp. The treatment of the cavity depends on its depth. Unlike permanent teeth, primary or baby teeth have thin outer hard layers making it easier for the cavity to extend into the tooth’s pulp. Cavities that are limited to the hard layers are cleaned and filled with special dental materials. When a cavity extends into the dental pulp, removal of the diseased pulp will be necessary to preserve the tooth. This procedure is called a “pulpotomy” or a “baby root canal” in primary teeth. A special medicament is placed in the pulp area and the tooth is then idea
