Patients often wonder whether or not they can get cavities on their front teeth. Dental caries, or cavities, can occur in any part of the mouth, on any surface of the teeth. They can spread through the enamel (the hard outer surface of the tooth), into the dentin (the middle of the tooth), and all the way into the pulp (the nerve of the tooth). In general, most people are more diligent about brushing their front teeth since they can see plaque or food building upon them, but cavities can appear there for various reasons.

Why would I get cavities on my front teeth?

Cavities occur on the front teeth for the same reasons as anywhere else in the mouth, through a combination of diet, oral hygiene, and genetic or environmental risk factors. High sugar diets and diets high in carbohydrates can cause more acid production by oral bacteria, leading to a more weakened tooth structure and more cavities. Patients who are not brushing twice a day or flossing once a day see an increased risk of tooth decay. Dry mouth is another reason patients can see cavities spring up practically out of nowhere throughout the mouth. For front teeth, in particular, cavities along the gum line or around orthodontic brackets or attachments are areas especially vulnerable to decay.

How do I prevent cavities on my front teeth?

Regular brushing and flossing and using fluoride toothpaste will help prevent cavities anywhere in the mouth. After snacking or drinking a sugary beverage, Sipping water can help rinse away some of the acids and prevent enamel breakdown. Fluoride mouth rinses, available over the counter or by prescription, can also benefit patients with high caries risk or who are in orthodontic treatment. As always, your dentist is the best person to ask any of your questions when it comes to your specific risk factors for cavities, and staying on top of routine dental cleanings and exams is the best way to keep the drill away!

The great news is that you can significantly reduce your and your child’s risk of tooth decay with some simple steps:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss (also known as interdental cleaning) once a day.
• Eat a balanced diet, limiting foods and drinks with added sugars.
• See your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

By making an oral health care routine, you can maintain a healthy smile throughout your life. Avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks, and clean and floss your teeth twice a day to maintain a healthy mouth.

How Do You Fix Cavities on the Front Teeth?

It works a little differently with cavities in front teeth. Because they’re in the front, your incisors are easy to see. That means we can’t just drill a hole and fill it with a metal filling. We want your smile to look natural, which means we need to repair your tooth and still have it look like a whole tooth. It can be a tricky process.

Fillings

The first step is to drill out the cavity. We need to do this carefully because the tooth is much thinner than the back teeth, and we don’t want to crack or chip the tooth. After careful drilling, we can fill the cavity, but we don’t do it with a metal filling. Instead, we may use a composite resin or porcelain filling. The advantage is we can color the resin or porcelain material to match the color of your tooth. That will make the filling much harder to see.

Veneers

Leaving a cavity too long can cause too much damage to the tooth. In that case, we may need to do more to the tooth to restore its look. That’s where our cosmetic dentistry services come in!

One option we can provide is a porcelain veneer to restore the look of the tooth. We can match the veneer to the surrounding teeth so it looks natural. To add a veneer, we’ll first take care of the cavity so it doesn’t continue to grow. Then we’ll remove some of the enamel from the front of the tooth and install the veneer with a strong dental bonding agent. Your tooth will look as good as new!

Crowns

What happens if the cavity causes you to lose a corner of the tooth? We can hide that missing section with a crown. Unlike veneers, crowns cover the entire tooth instead of just sitting on the front surface of the tooth. Like veneers, crowns can be matched in color to the surrounding teeth, making it look like a natural part of your smile.

Root Canal

If the cavity is left too long, it can burrow its way into the pulp. From there, the bacteria can infect the pulp or destroy it. Either way, a root canal may be needed to save the tooth. We dig out what’s left of the pulp and living tissue and replace it with a special filling. Then we close the hole with resin or porcelain to mimic the look of the tooth.