What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay, commonly referred to as dental caries, is a pathological condition characterized by the destruction of the enamel layer on the outer surface of the tooth, along with the dentin tissue and sometimes the hard tissue covering the root. It is typically the biological consequence of an acidic environment created by the breakdown of foods (especially those containing sugar) by bacteria in our mouths. This acidic environment dissolves minerals on the outer surface of our teeth, leading to material loss and initiating decay. Tooth decay results in small cavities forming in the teeth due to volume loss. If left untreated, these cavities can expand, causing severe pain and negatively impacting daily life.
What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay?
Initially, different colored spots appear on the teeth’s surface. In the next stage, the decay becomes more pronounced, taking on a cavity-like appearance. Over time, it progresses into decay of the hard surface layer. If untreated, decay can both expand and deepen, reaching the tooth’s soft layer. At this stage, decay accelerates rapidly. If decay reaches the tooth’s root and is left untreated, it can result in the need for tooth extraction.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Individuals experiencing tooth decay often inquire about its causes. Among the most well-known reasons for tooth decay is the lack of regular oral hygiene. Additionally, excessive consumption of sugary, carbohydrate-rich, and acidic foods increases susceptibility to decay. The reasons for tooth decay include:
- Excessive consumption of carbonated drinks
- Neglect of oral hygiene
- Dental calculus and tartar buildup
- Dry mouth and acid reflux
- Eating disorders (such as anorexia)
- Inadequate fluoride intake
What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Decay?
Symptoms and risks vary at each stage of tooth decay. Small cavities may not exhibit any symptoms, but as decay progresses, sensitivity to hot and cold foods develops along with the consumption of sugary foods. Tooth decay typically manifests with sensitivity and pain. Left untreated, decay deepens, reaching the tooth root and causing dental infections. Infections lead to severe pain, fever, and swelling of the face. At the advanced stage, root canal treatment may be necessary, or else the tooth may need to be extracted.
Key Symptoms of Decay Include:
Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
Sensitivity to hot/cold or throbbing pain
Pain that begins or intensifies when consuming hot, cold, or sugary foods
Visible color changes, stains, and cavities on the tooth’s visible surface
Pain when applying pressure while chewing or biting
What Are the Types of Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is generally classified into dentin decay and enamel decay. Enamel decay refers to damage limited to the outermost surface of the tooth, whereas dentin decay involves damage that reaches the dentin layer. Dentin decay is further categorized based on the location of the decay surface, including occlusal decay, mesial-occlusal decay, distal occlusal decay, cervical decay, and root decay.
When tooth decay progresses to reach the pulp, it is termed pulpitis. This condition is characterized by severe pain and sensitivity.
How is Tooth Decay Diagnosed?
Tooth decay can be identified by changes in color, such as brown or black spots on the tooth’s surface, along with symptoms like sensitivity, pain, and bad breath. Decay in unseen areas (such as between teeth or on the biting surfaces of molars) can be detected during routine dental check-ups.
Decay can be clearly visualized in dental X-rays. After determining the depth of decay and which layers are affected, a treatment plan is devised.
In cases of shallow decay, the decayed area is usually cleaned and filled with a filling material to seal the cavity. Deeper decay may require root canal treatment. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent the decay from spreading further.
Treatment Methods for Tooth Decay
Various methods and techniques can be employed in treating tooth decay. After listening to all your symptoms, such as sensitivity, pain, or discomfort, your dentist will conduct an oral examination to determine the extent of the decay and formulate a treatment plan accordingly.
Fillings for Tooth Decay
Your dentist will first remove the decayed portion of your tooth and then fill the resulting cavity with composite or amalgam material. This method is commonly used for simple and early-stage decay.
Root Canal Treatment for Tooth Decay
If the decay has reached the pulp chamber where the nerves are located, causing severe pain, root canal treatment may be necessary to save the tooth. The procedure involves removing the infected nerves, sterilizing the interior of the tooth, and filling all the voids with a filling material after clearing out the infection.
Crown Treatment
Crowns are often preferred for teeth severely damaged by decay. In such cases, the dentist may opt to place a custom-made porcelain crown over the tooth to prolong its lifespan. However, it’s essential to completely eliminate the decay before starting the treatment.
How is Tooth Decay Treated?
Tooth decay is largely preventable but is still common in both children and adults.
Over time, bacteria accumulate in the mouth. These bacteria combine with food and cause the formation of acids in the mouth. When we don’t pay enough attention to oral hygiene, the tooth enamel is damaged, ultimately leading to tooth decay. In summary, the acids accumulated in the mouth erode the hard enamel layer covering the tooth’s surface, resulting in decay and the formation of holes in the teeth.
Especially with prolonged and frequent contact of carbohydrate-containing sugars, starches, etc., sugary beverages like sodas, and sticky foods like cakes, wafers, and chocolates, tooth decay occurs.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay?
First and foremost, it’s essential to limit the consumption of sugary foods and snacks between meals. By doing so, the buildup of plaque on the teeth will produce fewer acids.
When taking medication, be sure to drink plenty of water, as some medications can reduce saliva production, which can be dangerous for tooth decay.
Using toothpaste and mouthwash (rinse) containing fluoride can support the strengthening and hardening of the tooth surface.
Visit your dentist every six months for cleanings and early detection of tooth decay.
How is Tooth Decay Treated?
Tooth decay does not heal on its own and progresses if left untreated. Therefore, it’s crucial to visit your dentist as soon as you suspect decay. Based on the condition of the decay, your dentist may recommend one of the following treatments: filling, fluoride treatment, or root canal therapy.
If the decay hasn’t reached the tooth pulp, it will be treated as follows:
The enamel and dentin structures of the tooth are very hard. To clean the decay, these structures need to be removed. Using specialized devices called burs, with diamond-tipped or tungsten steel rotating tools attached to high-speed motors, the decay is cleaned. Although there is no sensation of vibration during rotation, some people may feel pain, which is due to the sensitive nature of the dentin surface, for which local anesthesia is applied to prevent it.
The tooth is then filled without feeling any pain. During filling, not only is the decay removed, but some adjustments are also made around the decay.
Even after treatment, an infection can occur again a few years later because bacteria accumulate under the tooth filling. The decay will continue to spread, causing pain. Therefore, even if it has been previously treated, if your tooth hurts, be sure to see your dentist.
How Does Tooth Decay Heal?
Teeth are bones located in the oral cavity that assist in digestion. Regular oral hygiene and sensitivity are required to maintain tooth and gum health and prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When oral care is insufficient, bacteria plaque can form in the mouth and on the tooth surfaces. If bacteria plaque is not continuously cleaned with regular tooth brushing, it can create an acidic environment, causing the erosion of tooth enamel and damage to the dentin layer.
Tooth decay visible on the chewing surfaces and front surfaces of the teeth can be seen with the naked eye. However, decay occurring between teeth, in the posterior areas, and in the upper jaw teeth may not be noticed until it progresses to cause pain in individuals who do not undergo regular dental examinations. To prevent such situations and to detect and treat tooth decay in the early stages, routine dental check-ups should be scheduled at least every six months.
Tooth decay refers to permanent damage in the form of small openings or cavities in the hard surfaces of the teeth. The acidic environment causing this damage is formed by bacteria in the mouth producing acid from food residues containing sugar. Therefore, frequent consumption of sugary and acidic foods increases the likelihood of tooth decay.
Tooth decay is much more common among children, but with age, factors that can cause tooth decay may also arise. During the transition from adulthood to old age, gum recession occurs, and exposed parts of the teeth increase.
Additionally, the root portions of the teeth are covered with a softer layer called cementum than the lower parts. This layer is much easier to erode with acid and turn into decay. Root decay accounts for a significant portion of tooth decay in individuals aged 50 and older. Furthermore, tooth decay is much more common in adults and the elderly who did not have access to fluoride toothpaste during childhood and adolescence.
How is Tooth Decay Treated?
Timely diagnosis and treatment of tooth decay are of paramount importance. Left untreated, tooth decay can lead to serious complications such as constant toothache, inflammation, tooth fracture, difficulty eating and chewing, and even progression to sepsis by reaching the bloodstream. Therefore, dental appointments should not be postponed.
In cases where the beginning of tooth decay is detected early and the decay is in a very early stage, enamel repair can be achieved with fluoride treatment. In cases where this is not possible, the most commonly preferred method for treating tooth decay is dental fillings. In this relatively short procedure, the decayed portion of the tooth is completely removed and filled with filling material.
In more severe cases, after the process of cleaning the tooth decay, a material called a crown or dental crown is placed on the remaining part to treat the tooth.
Dental crowns can be made of porcelain or steel. If the decay deepens to reach the nerves, root canal treatment is performed. In this treatment, a canal is opened in the tooth, and the decayed parts, along with the nerves and blood vessels, are removed.
If there is an infection, interventions are made accordingly, and then the remaining space is filled with filling material. Depending on the condition of the decay, a dental crown may also be placed on the tooth that underwent root canal treatment. For teeth that are completely decayed, the only solution is extraction of the tooth and placement of a prosthesis.
To alleviate the toothaches felt during the treatment process, pain relievers recommended by the dentist can be used. Additionally, avoiding consumption of very hot and very cold foods and continuing oral hygiene practices are effective in dealing with pain. After treatment, to prevent the formation of new decay, it is necessary to avoid consuming sugary and acidic foods, brush teeth at least twice a day, and use dental floss once a day. Also, limiting snacks between meals, using fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to healthy nutrition, and especially ensuring adequate calcium intake are crucial for preventing tooth decay.
If you suspect you have tooth decay and wonder how to treat tooth decay, it is essential to see a dentist without delay, undergo an examination, and proceed with the necessary treatments. This way, you can prevent the decay from progressing and avoid tooth loss. Even if you don’t have any decay, undergoing routine dental check-ups every six months can help detect any potential oral and dental diseases at an early stage, ensuring healthy teeth.
