Are there different types of tooth decay that lead to cavities?

Decay is classified by where it occurs on the tooth surface. Pit and fissure decay is decay that occurs in the grooves on the top of the back teeth. Good oral hygiene and sealing the grooves in the back teeth can help prevent this type of decay. Smooth surface decay is decay that occurs on the smooth surfaces of the teeth- front, back, and sides. Flossing really helps to clean the sides of the teeth. Finally, root decay occurs on the roots of the teeth. When gums recede, the roots of the teeth become exposed. The root is not covered with enamel, which is the hard layer of the tooth. Good oral hygiene and using flourides can help reduce root decay. If you suspect that you have decay, see your dentist.

Cavities attack the teeth in two main ways. The first is through the pits and fissures, which are grooves that are visible on the top biting surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars). The pits and fissures are thin areas of enamel that contain recesses that can trap food and plaque to form a cavity. The cavity starts from a small point of attack, and spreads widely to invade the underlying dentin.

The second route of acid attack is from a smooth surface, which is between, or on the front or back of teeth. In a smooth surface cavity, the acid must travel through the entire thickness of the enamel. The area of attack is generally wide, and comes to point or converges as it enters the deeper layers of the tooth.

Yes, there are three types of cavities: smooth surface, pit and fissure, and root. A smooth surface cavity is a cavity that is decaying the surface enamel. This cavity decays the tooth at the slowest pace and its damage is the easiest to reverse. A pit and fissure cavity develops on the chewing surface and in the grooves of your back molars. Its decay is much faster than a smooth surface cavity because most people cannot properly clean these areas. A root decay cavity is the most serious type of cavity, which develops on the cementum, the surface covering of the root. Root cavities usually develop as a result of gum recession. Root decay is the hardest to treat because the decay is so deep in the tooth that treatments are more serious.