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For caries of bone, see Osteolysis. Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, cavities, or caries, is a breakdown of teeth due to activities of bacteria. The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty with eating.
STRUCTURE OF A TOOTH: (longitudinal section). Any of the hard, bony conical structures of the upper and lower jaws used for chewing. A tooth consists of a crown portion above the gum, a root portion embedded in a socket (alveolus) of the jaw bone, and a neck or cervical constricted region between the crown and root.