What are cavities?

Also known as: tooth decay, caries.

A cavity, caries, or tooth decay, is the damage that occurs to tooth enamel over time that is one of the most common and preventable chronic conditions seen in children. About 20 percent of 5-11 year olds have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Cavities are particularly prevalent in children and adolescents from lower socioeconomic households.

---

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM