What is dental caries?
Tooth decay is the progressive destruction or excavation, more or less rapid and extensive hard tissue of the tooth left to its own devices, can lead to various complaints and complications and finally lead to loss of teeth affected. This disorder is so common, is caused by the action of acidic substances produced by bacteria that are part of the microbial flora of the mouth. It can attack any tooth may appear as early as three years.
Trends in caries
Tooth decay is a chronic progressive evolution once it has been digging the tooth surface, and never remits spontaneously, but it keeps moving in depth. At first, begins with the disintegration of a point from the toughest tooth enamel, where it forms a tiny hole. But over time, the cavity becomes increasingly large, through the tooth enamel and reaches the dentin, extending into the tissue and eventually reaches the pulp of the tooth and determines the infection. At this time, because the symptoms are very obvious and most serious complications begin.
The different steps of a cavity:
1 .- Top: The decay involves the enamel and no symptoms
2 .- The child has pain because it affects dentin caries
3 .- The child has trouble Cevera because the decay reaches the pulp and promotes their infection, the danger is that if it spreads beyond the root may produce a phlegmon.
4 .- Finally, the decay destroys the tooth’s crown and serious complication of infection can cause fictula.
How do we study a cavity?
The dental caries can easily be discovered by inspection of the teeth, but sometimes decide to practice X-rays to assess the extent of the cavity or diagnose complications in bone tissue surrounding the tooth root.
Radiography for caries
To make the radiograph, the dentist inserts a small plaque inside the patient’s mouth and then activate the X-ray machine, without involving the slightest discomfort.
The process of a cavity
Symptoms
* In the initial stage, when the cavity is limited to dental polish, does not cause discomfort. At the time of tooth decay reaches the dentin, is a sore point by pressing the affected tooth and eating food and drinking sweet, very cold or very hot.
* As the decay spreads through the dentine, pain becomes more frequent and intense.
* By causing inflammation and infection of the dental pulp, the pain becomes continuous and very intense due to direct irritation of the nerves, and may even reach the throat, ear and face.
* The destruction of the pulp usually cause bad breath (halitosis)
Complications
* Periapical dental abscess. Designate a pocket of infection in bone tissue surrounding the tooth root, is very painful and is sometimes accompanied by fever, malaise and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
* Dental phlegmon. Involves the extension of the abscess, inflammation and infection of soft tissues are among the affected root and gum. It appears as a red lump under the gum causing intense pain when pressed.
* Apical granuloma. Corresponds to the formation of a connective tissue capsule containing the spread
infection. It causes no symptoms, but it is a permanent source of infection
Consequences
* The cause painful discomfort in chewing difficulties, and especially in young children, can lead to eating disorders
* The extensive destruction of dental tissues involves the loss of a tooth, either because the tooth is broken
or because their extraction requires
* The loss of teeth (temporary or permanent) which causes problems of malalignment and malocclusion.
* The presence of a serious source of infection is a potential hazard, since the bacteria can invade the blood vessels. The loss of teeth and consequent defects in chewing favor the production of new cavities.
Causes of decay
Must look at several factors that predispose to caries dietary, bacterial and individuals. To prevent disease development are not enough isolated measures must act together against all of them with the most appropriate measures. Section of a decayed tooth view scanning electron microscope on the right side shows the normal dentin, which provides regular screening characteristic hardness, while the left side you can see the dentin fragmented and invaded by bacteria.
The danger of sweets
The decay is due to the corrosive effect of acids produced by bacteria that are part of the microbial flora of the mouth, to degrade the sugars from food. To prevent its development is recommended to limit consumption of sugar and sweet foods and sweets of all kinds, especially those with hard or elastic consistency and can more easily adhere to the teeth.
Tags: caries, Causes of decay, cavity, Dental Caries, process of cavity, Radiography for caries, Tooth decay, What is dental caries?
