Dental phobia is much more widespread than one might think and is often the cause of many unpleasant situations. There are patients, in fact, who avoid making an appointment because of the pain or anxiety that grips them, going to endure annoying toothaches rather than taking action to end the physical suffering.
One of the most neglected problems, from this point of view, is certainly that of tooth decay. Many patients, in order to avoid the dentist, resort to "do-it-yourself" systems, which clearly do not bring the same results as when relying on a specialist in the field.
At the Savasta practice , we offer you our dental experience and the availability of a team of experts, always ready to welcome you and take action to treat your cavity or any other dental problem.
Signs and symptoms
By itself, caries does not cause pain, so much so that when it is in its first stage it is completely asymptomatic. Over time, however, caries over-exposes the tooth enamel and pulp, which causes increasing and negative sensitivity of the tooth element.
One of the first signs indicating the onset of caries, which we should be able to detect, is the lowering of the gloss of the enamel, which gradually becomes duller.
However, this color change is not easily noticed by everyone, which is all the more reason to remind you how important it is to have regular checkups at the dentist.
When caries comes to affect the dentin, then the color change from white to black begins to become evident; this dark color is related to the stagnation of rotten material within the tooth sulcus.
The actual toothache, on the other hand, begins only at the point when the cariogenic process has pushed deep into the tooth pulp. If caries is neglected, the patient's clinical picture will tend to worsen, leading to a number of consequences, such as:
- Hypersensitivity to hot, cold, sweet or salty.
- Pain starting in the tooth and radiating into surrounding tissues.
- Bad breath.
Complications
Complications related to caries can include the gradual destruction of some portions of the dental crown, which can generate further complications.
Caries can degenerate, and the infection, if it goes on to damage the interdental contact points, can triggerinflammation of the interdental papilla, which is that portion of the gingiva sandwiched between two teeth. When caries affects the gingival margin, on the other hand, chronic gingivitis can occur.
Other serious complications include inflammation of the pulp, which can develop into abscess, cysts, pyorrhea, and so on. In these cases, proceeding with a simple filling may no longer be sufficient, and the dentist will therefore be forced to perform exportation of the infected pulp.
Caries care
As obvious as it may seem, the best way to treat a cavity is by preventing it. Prevention is often underestimated, and many patients are wont to neglect their oral hygiene. Taking care of one's mouth daily and carefully, on the other hand, can greatly reduce the occurrence of the problem.
When caries is already present, the quintessential method of treating it isfilling, which is that operative procedure, or restorative technique, that aims to fill the cavities created in the tooth.
Cavities can arise due to a pathological or traumatic event, but with filling, teeth can recover their original function and morphology
It is important to remember that tooth decay cannot heal spontaneously (because teeth do not possess regenerative capacity) and in fact, if left untreated, will only get worse.
The only possible solution is to go to a dentist who knows how to intervene. In the case of cavities that have given rise to pulpitis, i.e., an inflammatory process of the dental pulp, you cannot fill them, but must proceed with devitalization.
If, on the other hand, the caries degenerates into a dental cyst, apicoectomy or drainage of the lesion are the most appropriate surgical practices.
How to prevent tooth decay?
- Proper oral hygiene: clean teeth using toothbrush and toothpaste; do not forget to floss and mouthwash as well. Brush your teeth at least three times a day or, in any case, immediately after meals.
- Maintain a proper diet: which translates into reducing foods that are very sweet and therefore contain simple sugars, such as sucrose and glucose (because the proliferation of bacteria is promoted precisely by the accumulation of food debris between the teeth, even more so if they are sweet).
- Quit smoking: smoking is the enemy of teeth and the oral cavity. Smoking is directly linked to yellowing of teeth, bad breath and the occurrence of dental infections. For these reasons, it is recommended not to smoke, or at least to limit the number of daily cigarettes as much as possible.
- Carry out teeth cleaning: it is recommended to have a cleaning at the dentist at least every six months. Professional cleaning is beneficial because it allows the teeth to be thoroughly cleaned, even in areas that are not normally easy to reach with daily hygiene practices. In addition to preventing tooth decay and other gum diseases, this ensures that teeth are in an enviable state of health.
The professionals at the Savasta practice have been working in this field for years and can boast a very high number of procedures aimed at eliminating the problem of tooth decay for good. Trust your smile to professionalism and experience. Contact us for a consultation.
