Tooth decay. X-ray of a section through the jaw of a 29-year-old patient showing a decayed molar tooth (lower centre-left). Tooth decay (cavities, or

---

Tooth decay. X-ray of a section through the jaw of a 29-year-old patient showing a decayed molar tooth (lower centre-left). Tooth decay (cavities, or caries) are caused by acid produced by bacteria as they ferment food debris accumulated on the tooth surface, resulting in demineralisation and destruction of the hard tooth tissues.

---

Size: 3854px × 3269px
Photo credit: © ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, -ray, -rays, 29, 29-year-, 29-years-, abnormal, adult, background, black, body, cary, cavity, colored, coloured, condition, damage, damaged, decay, demineralisation, demineralised, dental, dentistry, destruction, diagnostic, disorder, face, false-colored, false-coloured, head, healthcare, human, imaging, jaw, medical, medicine, molar, mouth, people, person, profile, radiography, radiological, radiology, section, sectioned, teeth, tooth, unhealthy, xray, young