{"id":20715,"date":"2022-06-13T16:19:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T10:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/?p=20715"},"modified":"2025-11-27T16:01:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T10:31:18","slug":"5-stages-in-tooth-decay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/5-stages-in-tooth-decay\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Stages in Tooth Decay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among adults and children. According to the World Health Organization, dental caries (cavities) is the most common non-contagious disease. In fact, the majority of adults have experienced some degree of tooth cavity in their lives. There\u2019s no way to completely prevent it from occurring, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. To help you understand how dental caries develop and what actions you should take if you think you\u2019re at risk. Here is a breakdown of the five stages <\/a>of tooth decay and how you can treat each one differently to prevent further damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Call Now<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Get In Touch<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is tooth decay or cavity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tooth decay is a process in which bacteria break down the teeth’s surface and create acid that damages enamel of your teeth. If the enamel is damaged, tooth decay can progress to the dentin (the next layer under the enamel), which can eventually lead to loss of teeth<\/a>. The first sign of dental cavity is usually discolouration of the tooth surface. If left untreated, a decay can progress from surface damage to loss of tooth structure and lead to serious health problems, including tissue and bone loss, mobile teeth, and systemic infections.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"tooth<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stages of Dental Caries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tooth decay typically starts with the formation of plaque, a sticky film composed of bacteria, sugars, and minerals. Plaque can form on teeth in as little as 20 minutes. When left alone, plaque can harden into tartar and cause dental cavities. Plaque can be removed with proper brushing and flossing, while tartar must be removed by a dentist<\/a>. If plaque and tartar aren\u2019t removed, they can cause tooth decay by releasing harmful acids that break down tooth enamel, leading to tooth cavity. If left untreated, it can progress through five stages: <\/p>\n\n\n\n