Preventive dentistry – is the most important branch of dentistry. Properly chosen methods of prevention and timely application – is a guarantee of the health of your teeth and the beauty of your smile.
The most common and most important part of the preventive dentistry is prevention of caries.
What is Caries
Tooth disease, which occurs when the destruction of enamel and dentin, resulting, on the surface thereof is formed damage – a “hole”. The term caries means “rot”. Dentists distinguish two stages of tooth decay: early – stage carious spots (white pigmented), and late – stage of defect formation of dental hard tissues (superficial, medium and deep caries). Tooth decay leads to anatomical, functional and aesthetic defects tooth.
Reason
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria life abundantly contained in the soft plaque. Plaque, in turn, is formed with the consumption of “soft” thermally processed foods rich in carbohydrates. And this is just the very food that is the main diet of modern man. So, on the enamel appears soft plaque, in those places where it is not removed during chewing (the side surfaces of the teeth, deepening the chewing surfaces), this plaque is closely associated with the surface of the tooth and is home to a variety of bacteria and fungi. If plaque is not removed promptly, the bacteria begin to proliferate. The more they become, the more they produce acids that actually leaches calcium from fluoride and dental enamel. Gradually softened enamel and bacteria penetrate deeper and deeper into the tooth, damaging it.
Do all people have cavities?
Most people have resistance to decay is weak, in others it is quite high. Stability of dental caries associated with the state of protective systems, comorbidities. Found that in people with weakened immune systems develop more active caries. Plays an important role and the composition and properties of saliva. Found that individuals exposed to saliva, tooth decay is more viscous and it changed the ratio of mineral salts.
In the development of dental caries are important external factors (nutrition, dental hygiene), heredity, and the state of the organism as a whole (immune, digestive system, etc.). Besides poor cleaning teeth from plaque cause tooth decay can become unhealthy diet (lack of protein, vitamins, mineral salts, fluorine), excessive use of sweet and stress.
Why caries occur at all?
Soft plaque is formed almost immediately during the meal. It contains tiny food residues, and consists mainly of carbohydrates. If the tooth is cleaned, soft plaque hardens and quite firmly entrenched on the tooth. It settled in bacteria are able to process carbohydrates into acids. Tooth enamel is formed under the influence of acid becomes soft. This is the first stage of caries – carious spot. Yet the process of tooth damage can be stopped.
In the second stage of caries process is exacerbated. Damage comes to dentin – is the main tissue of the tooth, enamelled.Dentin is less resistant to caries than enamel, so tooth decay accelerates and grows in breadth and depth. This is the average caries . If at this stage not to treat tooth decay, destruction will lead to the formation of dentin cavity – “hole.” There deep caries .
Recognize caries quite simple. Signs of tooth decay:
- on the teeth (usually on the chewing surface) appear dark spots;
- tooth surface becomes rough;
- while eating teeth start whining, respond to sweet and sour, hot and cold;
- may appear halitosis;
- toothpick or even language can be felt in the tooth cavity.
Tooth decay can so strong and deep tooth damage that would be affected by its delicate part – pulp, which are the nerves and blood vessels. Patients who suffer from acute pain, just those unfortunates who have moved to the caries pulpitis .