What is dental caries: the causes of the disease, symptoms and methods of caries treatment, photos of carious teeth

Caries is considered to be a dental disease in which hard tooth tissues are damaged, enamel and dentine are destroyed.Progression of the carious process leads to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the pulp, which in future is fraught with pulpitis, periodontitis or fistula on the gum.

Today, caries occupies a leading position among all known dental diseases.According to available data, carious disease covers about 90% of the adult population.

And the incidence of caries is higher in economically developed countries, which is explained by the total consumption of sugar-containing products.Since the beginning of the twentieth century, there has been a depressing trend of rising incidence in childhood.Since the age of five, 70% of children have caries of varying depths.

Features of the formation of caries

The formation of caries is due to the harmful effects of harmful microorganisms on tooth enamel.Being constantly present in the oral cavity, they process the remains of food stuck in the teeth.As a result of decomposition of carbohydrates, organic acids are formed.

An increase in the concentration of organic acids adversely affects calcium salts - they are eroded by an aggressive acid medium.The systematic dilution of calcium salts ultimately leads to the demineralization of the teeth.

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body.Its chemical composition is dominated by minerals, mainly hydroxyapatites.These mineral compounds show high susceptibility to acids, so the enamel begins to break down at pH 4.5.

Caries rarely appears on its own, for no apparent reason.More often the pathological state of the organism acts as a key pathogenetic link in the development of carious disease.Weakening of general and local immune functions, diseases of the digestive system and unbalanced diet provoke caries.

Modern medicine has approximately 400 theories of the onset of this dental pathology, but most of it focuses on the fact that non-compliance with the hygiene rules leads to the appearance of plaque on the enamel, which is the source of the disease.

A person who does not pay proper attention to regular and proper brushing of teeth, exposes his tooth enamel to the destructive effect of the plaque.The plaque increases along the whole perimeter of the teeth, especially in teeth that are hard to reach for the brush and areas where it is difficult for it to be eliminated by natural ways.

As you know, the food at the time of chewing is often stuck on the lateral surfaces of the teeth and in the grooves of the masticatory organs.Over time, a strong bonding of the plaque with the tooth surface is formed.

Active multiplies bacterial flora , the main share of which is streptococci.Dental plaque is gradually compacted due to the mineral salts contained in the salivary fluid.The formation of plaque and mineral salts was called dental plaque.

Causes of tooth decay

Dental plaque, as a habitat for bacteria, creates conditions for the production of lactic acid, which, in turn, is capable of demineralizing teeth.Demineralization is the first stage of carious disease.

Streptococcal microorganisms are involved in the formation of complex sugars, one of which, dextran.This polysaccharide is produced from sucrose, which is contained in large amounts in digestible carbohydrates, so the excess of sweet food in the human diet is directly related to the development of caries.

How cariesogenic bacteria will actively manifest themselves depends on the genetic characteristics of a person.Many people have a weak resistance to the causative agents of caries, and people with strong immunity, and in the absence of chronic pathologies, demonstrate good resistance to caries.

Persons with immunodeficiency conditions are at risk.In children who have suffered exudative diathesis and rickets , caries are diagnosed twice as often.Qualitative and quantitative violation of the composition of saliva creates the prerequisites for reducing its antibacterial properties, which several times increases the risk of carious lesions.

The somatic abnormalities and deficiency of nutrients accompanying the period of formation of dental structures significantly weaken the resistant response.Pathological diseases of enamel of hereditary nature , such as aplasia and hypoplasia, together with other extreme factors increase the likelihood of caries development.

In the genesis of carious disease, the human habitat plays an important role.So, living in industrial areas contaminated with industrial emissions, the protective function of the body is depleted, there are problems with teeth.

On how the state of the tooth-jaw system was in the period of laying, the further health of the teeth largely depends.If the teeth developed and erupted without visible complications, this significantly reduces the risk of caries.

Forms of caries and their brief description

Stage of a carious stain.Cretaceous stain is formed on the surface of the tooth and gives the damaged area a yellowish tinge.This is the initial stage of tooth decay, so the surface is still smooth.One should not miss the moment, needs to urgently appeal to the dentist , as further development of the disease will lead to a rise in the cost of medical procedures.

The early stage of caries differs painlessness of treatment, you just need to remove the stain.After this, the procedure of remineralization of enamel is carried out.To do this, special solutions are applied to the neck of the tooth, for example, calcium gluconate.The use of infiltration-impregnating method is widespread.

Surface caries .For this stage, the softening of the damaged tooth enamel is characteristic.It is effortlessly removed by means of an excavator.Patients rarely complain of pain.Pain may appear from falling into the carious hole of sweet or sour food.

Visual inspection allows to detect defects in enamel of rounded forms.When the process is chronized, the edges of the defect are sloping, with an acute current of the edge hanging.Chemical irritants and cold food also causes pain syndrome.

Average tooth decay .At this stage, penetration of caries into the deep layers of the enamel is observed.Damage to the enamel-dentine tissue begins.The tooth lesion becomes more pronounced.The aching tooth causes paroxysmal pain.The dentist removes the affected part of the tooth, treats it with antibacterial solutions and sets a permanent seal.

Deep caries .Deep damage to the dentinal layer occurs.The morphofunctional feature of dentine and pulp explains their reactive and dystrophic changes.Inflammation or necrosis can develop if the affected areas are irritated with a drill and medications.

1. Cervical.The name is due to the fact that the spots appear on the neck of the gingiva, next to the gum.There is an increased sensitivity of the tooth.
2. Bottle.Such caries is found only on the milk teeth.Treat it with remineralization therapy and thorough oral hygiene.
3. .It affects the tissues adjacent to the tooth root.There is pain and hypersensitivity.
4. Fissured.Location in the center of the tooth.At the same time, the cervical and basal zone is not affected.

Clinical observation made it possible to establish that the technique and tactics of caries treatment is determined depending on the severity and speed of carious destruction.In this regard, there is classification of forms of caries on the severity of the process:

• Compensated.Chronic caries.Degenerative processes proceed slowly.Carious cavities are lined with hard pigmented dentin.
• Subcompensated.Caries is of medium intensity, without pronounced symptoms.
• Decompensated.The acute course of caries.The disease develops rapidly, there are many carious cavities that fill with soft dentin.A major danger is the systemic defeat of the chewing elements, when almost all teeth in the neck region are affected.

Methods for diagnosing caries

1. Visualization method.The dentist performs a visual inspection and identifies the carious areas.
2. X-ray method.With the help of an X-ray, hidden forms of caries can be identified.Effective for the detection of carious cavities, which are invisible to the unaided eye.X-rays are not used to diagnose early stages of caries.
3. Transillumination method.It consists of translucent bright light streams of the roots of the teeth.In bright light carious zones will be highlighted in dark color.The method allows to detect small cracks in the tooth enamel.
4. Method of laser diagnostics.The laser beam reflects from the carious cavities, producing a sound signal.The device allows you to consider caries in the early stages and in the most inaccessible places - roots, contiguous parts of the enamel.
5. Electrodontometric method.The principle of operation is based on the ability of the pulp to react to weak currents.The affected and healthy tooth enamel reacts differently to the electrical effect, which enables the doctor to diagnose any form of caries without errors.

Treatment of dental caries and its prevention

An effective diagnosis of caries is important at the earliest stage.The time for which the carious stain has time to develop to a deep cavity takes about a year.That is why it is so important to visit the dental office at least once every six months.

Tactics of treatment will depend on the neglect of caries.Before the beginning of medical manipulations, dental plaque is removed, the surface of the teeth is dried and is treated with antiseptics, for example, chlorhexidine.

Restorative application, normalizing the mineral composition of the enamel, is used in the stains.Small areas affected by cariogenic bacteria are often ground, and then remineralized and is covered with a protective mix of .

The superficial, medium and deep form of caries involves the removal of the affected tissue.After that, the formed cavities are cleaned and the filling composition is inserted there.A severely damaged tooth can sometimes not be saved - it is advisable to remove pulp and nerve .

In order not to feel all the unpleasant consequences of caries, it is not enough to use a high-quality fluorine-containing paste or antibacterial rinse.In order to avoid the development of caries, the is required as a whole complex of measures. :

• Limit the amount of carbohydrates consumed, especially sweets and chocolate, sweet carbonated drinks.
• Include solid foods, firm vegetables and fruits in your diet.
• Brush teeth and rinse the mouth after eating.For everyday rinse, solutions based on chlorhexidine are suitable.
• Observe the rules for cleaning teeth enamel.
• Use xylitol chewing gum after eating.
• To undergo annual preventive examination.
• Monitor the state of immunity and treat the diseases that appeared in time.