Health Topic

Tooth Disorders

There are a variety of problems associated with tooth disorders such as cavities and infections. Uncover the related symptoms, such as a toothache.

Reviewed Reviewed by a registered pharmacistGeneral information

Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Tooth Disorders

Your teeth are made of a hard, bonelike material. There are four parts:

  • Enamel, your tooth's hard surface
  • Dentin, the hard yellow part under the enamel
  • Cementum, the hard tissue that covers the root and keeps your teeth in place
  • Pulp, the soft connective tissue in the center of your tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels.

You need your teeth for many activities that you may take for granted. These include eating, speaking and even smiling.

There are many different problems that can affect your teeth, including:

  • Tooth decay - damage to a tooth's surface, which can lead to cavities
  • Abscess - a pocket of pus, caused by a tooth infection
  • Impacted tooth - a tooth that did not erupt (break through the gum) when it should have. It is usually wisdom teeth that are impacted, but it can sometimes happen to other teeth.
  • Misaligned teeth (malocclusion)
  • Tooth injuries such as broken or chipped teeth

The causes of tooth disorders varies, depending on the problem. Sometimes the cause is not taking good care of your teeth. In other cases, you may have been born with the problem or the cause is an accident.

The symptoms can vary, depending on the problem. Some of the more common symptoms include:

  • Abnormal color or shape of the tooth
  • Tooth pain
  • Worn-down teeth

Your dentist will ask about your symptoms, look at your teeth, and probe them with dental instruments. In some cases, you may need dental x-rays.

The treatment will depend on the problem. Some common treatments are:

  • Fillings for cavities
  • Root canals for cavities or infections that affect the pulp (inside of the tooth)
  • Extractions (pulling teeth) for teeth that are impacted and causing problems or are too damaged to be fixed. You may also have a tooth or teeth pulled because of overcrowding in your mouth.

The main thing that you can do to prevent tooth disorders is to take good care of your teeth:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Clean between your teeth every day with floss or another type of between-the-teeth cleaner
  • Limit sugary snacks and drinks
  • Don't smoke or chew tobacco
  • See your dentist or oral health professional regularly

It sits within Mouth and Teeth.

The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Research on Tooth Disorders

4,415 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.

What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.

Research currently under way

Research already completed

Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

Start Here

Diagnosis and Tests

Treatments and Therapies

Related Issues

Genetics

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Tooth Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Tooth Disorders, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.