Sana Rahman Sana Rahman Asked 6 months ago

How do dentists check for cavities?

I have a routine dental check-up next month. I was just wondering, besides just looking, what all methods do dentists use to properly check for cavities? Do they use some special tools or X-rays?

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Smita Kulkarni Smita Kulkarni Joined May 2026 5 months ago
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They check with a small mirror and a sharp metal probe to see if there are soft spots, ho na. Sometimes if the cavity is hidden between teeth, they take a quick digital X-ray to be absolutely sure. It is very simple and doesn't hurt at all.

Suresh Prabhu Suresh Prabhu Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

In our younger days we only went when there was severe pain, but now technology is very advanced. They just look with a bright light and use painless dental explorers. Regular checkups every six months can catch these issues before they cause any trouble.

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Kunal Kamra Kunal Kamra Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

They basically poke around your mouth with a tiny metal hook while you try to answer their questions with your mouth wide open! Jokes aside, they also use X-rays to spot the sneaky cavities hiding under the surface.

Aditya Sen Aditya Sen Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

I ignored a tiny dark speck on my back tooth for a year, thinking it was just a stain, and ended up needing a painful root canal. Dentists have special tools and X-rays to spot these early. Don't wait like I did, go get it checked immediately.

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Maninder Singh Maninder Singh Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

For us diabetics, dental health is very critical as high sugar can lead to rapid decay. The dentist does a thorough physical exam and checks the gum line for any soft spots or hidden decay. Getting a checkup twice a year is highly recommended to avoid infections.

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