Defining tooth decay

Tooth Decay – often called cavities or caries – is the process during which different bacteria and acids attack the Tooth and cause damage to its layers. Caries can clearly be considered one of the most common health problems worldwide. In this article you will read about folowing:

• Defining tooth decay
• Causes and symptoms of tooth decay – the role of the enamel and the dentin
• Stages and treatment of tooth decay
• Decay in the dentin
• Serious cases of tooth decay

Causes and symptoms of tooth decay – the role of the enamel and the dentin

The enamel is a solid and resistant material that constitutes the outer layer of our teeth. It is primarily responsible for the protection of the tooth; the layer ensures protection against external forces such as hot liquid or cold air, but different bacteria and acids that get into our oral cavity while eating are also amongst these impacts.
The enamel consists mainly of mineral acids, and the devastating effect of the bacteria causes a serious breakdown in these minerals. As a result, the dentin that the enamel is supposed to protect, becomes affected as well. The dentin is the second layer of our tooth which defines its colour. Bacteria spreading over the enamel and thus affecting the dentin may lead to toothache and tooth sensitivity.
The more devastating the effects of the bacteria are, the more advanced stage of decay the patients are dealing with. During the first stage, the enamel might be able to protect the dentin by absorbing the infection, which causes a breakdown in its minerals. At this stage the patients may not experience a toothache and there is no significant deformation in the teeth, even though white spots may appear on the surface of the enamel.
In case the enamel fails to prevent the bacteria from spreading towards the inside of the tooth, we are dealing with a further stage of decay which usually involves toothache or tooth sensitivity. As a result of the damage caused by the caries a hole is formed in the tooth.
In the most serious cases it is not only the dentin that is damaged by the caries. The bacteria and acids may even reach the nerves located in the pulp space – the innermost area in our teeth. The result might be great pain or even tooth loss, and serious complications can also arise in the long term.

Stages and treatment of tooth decay

Given that the decay has not reached the further stages and has only affected the enamel, the process can be reversed to a certain extent. Dentists usually recommend the use of specific toothpaste or different gels; these contain higher quantities of fluoride that helps restore the minerals in the enamel. Patients who have first-stage tooth decay ought to pay particular attention to washing their teeth thoroughly and regularly.

Decay in the dentin

Should the caries spread over the border of the enamel and damage the dentin, resulting in a hole on the surface, the treatment mentioned above will not be sufficient; a dental filling might be required. The problem is a common one; patients often visit their dentists to have their damaged tooth filled. During the process, the doctor fills the hole with a special material. Amalgam, for instance, was used for a long time for dental fillings, and even though it is still applied by certain clinics, other, more aesthetic fillings made of plastic or porcelain might be the more preferred solutions. Dental fillings, of course, not only consist of the filling of the hole in the damaged tooth; cleaning and disinfecting the affected area, for instance, also constitutes a vital part of the process.

Serious cases of tooth decay

In the case of more advanced stages of tooth decay, the affected tooth can be in great danger. In such cases, the decay spreads further into the inner part of the tooth and affects the nerves in the pulp, possibly causing inflammation, high fever or the swelling of the patient’s mouth. The applicable procedure in this case is root canal treatment. During the process, the expert removes the damaged nerve tissues from the tooth and inserts a filling so that the tooth can function as normal again. Root canal treatment – also called endodontic therapy – is a very complex procedure; depending on the level of damage in the tooth, inserting a dental crown might also be necessary. Dental crowns, as the name suggests, are applied on the top of the tooth, covering the whole surface, and can prove crucial in tackling aesthetic and functional problems.
There are also occasions when the condition of a tooth that has previously been treated deteriorates, and the treatment methods listed above do not suffice. If such a case occurs, dentists may have to remove the affected tooth completely. Although tooth extraction can solve the problem of tooth decay when the other methods cannot, an extracted tooth results in difficulties with chewing, and it is considered a serious aesthetic problem as well.

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