Cavity or Something Else

I got a cavity filled a couple months ago and had to go back multiple time to get it sanded down right because it was causing pain. I also had sensitivity in another area and before I went to the dentist I looked at the tooth and in the crevasse was a black spot. I ask the dentist to look he said he didn't see anything but to be safe he did an x ray and said nothing was there. I switched to sensidine tooth paste and the pain went away but the black spot is still there. I guess I'm kind of wondering what the chances of having a cavity there is? and could it be something else?

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Answer: Cavity or something else

By Sarah h
Dental Professional

Usually a tooth that has a cavity appears darker in color. It could be that there is stain in the deep grooves on the occlusal (chewing) surface of your tooth. It may not be active caries, but could become a carious lesion in the future. If your dentist has a diagnodent, a laser that detects caries where the instrument cannot fit, the reading will let him/her know the depth of the lesion and if there is demineralization or not. You can also ask if the dentist can remove the dark spot and place a dental sealant to protect the tooth. A sealant is a protective coating that will stop debris from staining the surface of your tooth and prevent caries.

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