What Is Tooth Decay? How Is It Treated?
Oral and dental health is an issue that requires care and attention. Because the mouth area is an environment that is constantly exposed to foods and is open to bacteria formation. Bacteria formation also causes all kinds of mouth and dental problems, especially tooth decay. For this reason, sufficient information should be obtained about tooth decay and prevention of tooth decay, and necessary precautions should be taken.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is a dental problem that can affect individuals of all ages. Decays occurs as a result of the destruction of tooth enamel and the outer hard surface of the teeth. The most important reason is the neglect or incomplete application of oral and dental hygiene.
What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is examined in 4 stages. These stages are;
- A pale colored hole may occur on the surface of the tooth. The transformation of this hole into decay can be prevented by brushing the teeth with fluoride toothpaste and using regular dental floss.
- The hole has now turned into decay and has passed through the hard surface layer of the tooth.
- The decay has reached the softer layer of the tooth and will grow faster than the other stages.
- If the decay is not filled at this stage, it may cause bigger problems in the deeper parts of the tooth.
Failure to take the necessary precautions for a decayed tooth can lead to tooth loss. Therefore, if there are signs of decay, you should definitely consult a dentist.
What are the Symptoms of Decayed Teeth?
Symptoms of the presence of tooth decay are as follows:
- Toothache that occurs for no apparent reason
- Sensitization of teeth
- Visible holes or bruises in the teeth
- Brown, black or white spots on any surface of the tooth
- Bad breath
Causes of Decay of Teeth
Teeth can be decayed due to various reasons. The main causes of tooth decay are as follows:
- Plaques formed on teeth
- Consuming too much sugary and starchy foods
- Not doing regular or missing teeth cleaning
- Not using dental floss
- Consuming acidic beverages
- Not cleaning the teeth after consuming foods that harm the teeth.
Tooth Decay Treatment
Regular dental check-ups in tooth decay make the treatment process easier. For this reason, it is of great importance that you do not neglect the dental check-up in order to take precautions at an early time.
Decay treatment varies according to the size of the decay.
- If the cavities are just beginning and cavities have not yet occurred, fluoride treatment is applied. In this treatment, a higher amount of fluoride is used than the fluoride normally contained in toothpastes. Fluoride supplements are available in liquid, gel, foam or varnish form. The appropriate form is decided by your dentist. Fluoride treatment is a treatment that restores the health of the tooth when it is done before the decay is formed.
- In case of progression of decay, the decayed area is taken and the filling is made according to the mold of the tooth. Tooth filling can be used for many years without any problems if it is well cared for.
- If it is late in the treatment of the tooth with filling, crown veneers are made. These veneers, which have varieties such as porcelain and metal, replace the teeth.
- If the tooth decay has progressed too far and has reached the root of the tooth, it means that it has damaged the nerves. In this case, root canal treatment is applied. However, in order for this treatment to be applied, the tooth surface must still be usable. The purpose of root canal treatment is to remove the nerves and replace them with a filling. In this way, bruised and damaged nerves / roots are removed.
- The last treatment method is tooth extraction. This treatment method is used when there is no treatment that can be applied anymore. When the tooth is extracted, the remaining space can disrupt the structure of other teeth. For this reason, it is recommended to apply a dental implant or bridge for the remaining space.
