Do you know the needles dentists poke your teeth to see if you have cavities? When they poke your tooth, what tells them you have a cavity.
2007-06-07 12:03:11 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous 1 in Health ➔ Dental
A cavity is a decalcification of tooth structure caused by certain microorganisms. This decalcification may have a white color at the beginning and then it may be a yellowish-brown stain on your tooth. A dental explorer (the needle you mention) is slided on the tooth surface and if it gets stuck on the tooth then it indicates there is a cavity. There are many types of cavities. This is not the only way to know if you have cavities or not but it helps the dentist to know where to look for cavities. I didn't want to make this long so I hope this answers your question.
2007-06-07 12:55:11 · answer #1 · answered by R2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JENNY,
DENTISTS USE AN INSTRUMENT CALLED AN EXPLORER TO PROBE EACH TOOTH TO FIND A STICKY SOFT SPOT INDICATING A CAVITY.
TEETH THAT ARE VERY HARD WHEN EXPLORED DO NOT HAVE A CAVITY. TOGETHER WITH X-RAYS OF THE TOOTH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH CAN BE GIVEN.
2007-06-07 19:54:26 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To see if the tooth is soft? good question...
2007-06-07 19:12:08 · answer #3 · answered by island 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can tell by looking. They just like to mess with your mind.
2007-06-07 19:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋