Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis.
You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for, and the potential treatments that are available.
Abscess Tooth
Abscess Tooth. When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected or abscessed, root canal therapy is the only way to save an abscess tooth. A tooth can become an abscess as a result of deep decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to the tooth.
Related Treatments: root canal therapy, tooth extraction
Cavities
Cavities. A cavity is something you never want your dentist to say. If you are not brushing and flossing regularly or drinking and eating sugar-heavy foods, your risk for a cavity can be quite high. We’re here to help reverse the damage from a cavity or tooth decay.
Related Treatments: tooth fillings
Chipped Tooth
Chipped Tooth. A chipped or fractured tooth may not hurt initially if it is a minor chip, but it must be fixed by a dentist. A minor fracture or chip to your tooth may not cause any pain, but more severe chips and breaks may expose and damage the nerve within in your tooth.
Crooked Teeth
Crooked Teeth. Crooked teeth can be embarrassing, but they can also be more than just a cosmetic problem. For instance, they can make it difficult to chew properly, and they can lead to injury because they do not provide proper support for your jaw.
Gum Problems
Gum Problems. During every preventative exam and professional cleaning you have, our dentists will perform a thorough examination of your gingival health, your gum health. Keeping your teeth sparkly white isn’t enough to maintain a long-term, healthy smile. If your gums aren’t healthy, your oral health is suffering.
Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Halitosis. Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, is something many people suffer from. Generally originating from the gums or tongue, bad breath is caused by bacteria, or decaying food, and other debris that is left in the mouth.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis is common but largely preventable.
Sensitive to Cold
Sensitive Teeth. Sensitive teeth are typically the result of worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. Sometimes, however, tooth discomfort is caused by other factors, such as a cavity, chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease.
TMJ Disorders
TMJ Disorders. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is pain in the jaw joint that can be caused by a variety of medical problems. The TMJ connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in front of the ear.
Tooth Decay
Tooth Decay. Tooth decay is caused by a variety of things; in medical terms, cavities are called caries, which are caused by long-term destructive forces acting on tooth structures such as enamel and the tooth’s inner dentin material.
Toothache
Toothache. Toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve root of a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) infection, decay, injury, or loss of a tooth are the most common causes of toothache. Read about toothache pain, causes, treatments, and remedies.
Wisdom Teeth Problems
Wisdom Teeth. Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, wisdom teeth are misaligned and require removal.