WHAT IS TOOTH DECAY! KNOW HERE
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay may appear to be something that is frowned up on . It is always perceived as an unplanned event. It is also the reason why a dentist appointment seems so fearful. However over 50 to 70 % of people suffer from tooth decay. And not all tooth decays are painful. In majority of the population tooth decay is affected only upto the enamel. That is the initial stage before it matures into a painful lesion . the initial stage of tooth decay can be treated with no pain , minimum discomfort and lesser operational time.
What happens if the decayed tooth is left untreated?
Many times patients avoid going to the dentist when the lesion is painless ; mainly to avoid pain feared during the dental procedure . However if left untreated tooth decay only spreads throughout the entire tooth leading to painful pulp inflammation further leading to swelling in the jaw and face ; which will ultimately require visiting your dentist. Needless to say it is always better to visit your dentist before your tooth decay escalates into a more painful condition.
How do you know when you have a cavity?
Generally a patient complains of food lodgement, pain while chewing or simply discoloration of teeth. However several patients experience no symptoms during the initial stage of dental cavity. It is often discovered as an accidental finding during routine dental check up. Hence it is always advisable to undergo a routine dental check up every 6 months.
How does one get a cavity? And How can we avoid it?
There are naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth. They are not necessarily harmful. However when we eat sticky food, it gets stuck in the tooth. And the bacteria uses the carbohydrates that is stuck to the tooth and releases acid that demineralises the tooth. This is what we call dental cavity.
We can avoid getting cavity by simply maintaining good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day , using dental floss to clean in between the teeth, and visit a dentist every 6 months for teeth cleaning procedure.
Tooth coloured restorations
Early stages of tooth decay is treated by replacing the affected area of the tooth with a restoration. Earlier restorations were done by Silver amalgam fillings. But now a days we have tooth coloured restorations that give you the perfect anantomy, tooth shade and function of a natural tooth. Dental composite is commonly used in today’s practice .
Advantages Of Composite over Silver Amalgam filling
Composites are bonded to the tooth with the help of chemical bond, however a silver amalgam restoration is retained by mechanical retention; hence a composite restoration is least likely to come off. Since composite is chemically bond to the tooth surface it does not need bulk to retain thus it requires minimum tooth preparations as compared to silver amalgam filling. Composites provide excellent esthetics as compared to unsightly silver amalgam filling.
