This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Doctor of Dentistry - Jaw - Face - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Tooth decay is a common disease, easy to get, not only in children but can be encountered at any age. Dental caries is the stage after tooth enamel decay. Tooth decay causes sensitivity, discomfort, but it also causes life-threatening complications if not treated properly. Therefore, when the tooth has decayed dentin, it is necessary to have an appropriate treatment method.
1. Learn about tooth decay
The structure of the tooth from the outside to the inside includes the following layers: the outermost is hard tissue with enamel called enamel, then comes the dentin layer, the innermost layer is soft tissue called pulp.
Tooth decay is a phenomenon that destroys the structure of the tooth, creating a cavity on the surface that gradually destroys the internal structure of the tooth, causing pain, soreness, and discomfort for the patient.
The cause of tooth decay is due to foods with a lot of sugar, after eating sweets without oral hygiene. Sugary foods in the mouth will form acid along with bacteria in the oral cavity that will destroy the structure of the teeth.
Tooth decay includes 2 stages: enamel caries and dentin caries:
Enamel caries stage: appears in the pits, grooves of the chewing surface or around the edge of the old fillings. Manifestations are white spots on the surface of teeth, no cavities, no pain, sensitivity or discomfort. This stage can be difficult to detect. Tumor worm: The next stage of yeast worm if not treated when yeast worm is present. The clinical manifestation of dentin caries is seeing cavities, tooth tissue is discolored brown or black. There may be sensitivity, pain when there is a stimulus such as hot, cold or eating sweets.
2. Complications of dentin caries
If dentin caries is not properly treated, tooth decay will go deep into the pulp causing acute pulpitis accompanied by severe pain, sharp pain on the temples, causing patients to lose appetite and lose sleep. Cavity of the dentin causes the pulp to be infected for a long time, which can lead to necrosis, causing complications in the tissue around the stalk, causing inflammation around the stalk, sharp pain, swelling of the gums, cheeks, and jaw angle. Dental caries can lead to infection spreading to surrounding tissues, causing abscesses, periapical cysts, and osteomyelitis of the jaw. For molars on the roots of the teeth close to the maxillary sinuses, it can cause sinusitis. Dental caries will be dangerous when the level of infection spreads, leading to diffuse inflammation, blood infection or spreading to the mediastinum... dangerous to life.
3. How to treat dentin caries?
Treatment methods depend on the degree and stage of dentin caries including:
In case of shallow dentin caries: this stage can be welded, filling materials such as GIC, Composite. However, after welding, it is still necessary to monitor if the tooth is still painful or sensitive and needs to be repaired. In case of deep dentin caries: It is possible to seal the pulp or seal it with highly biological materials such as Ca(OH)2, MTA... and follow up from 1 week to 6 months if the tooth does not hurt and can be removed. remove the solder on top and solder permanently. Endodontic treatment (root canal treatment): Applied for cases of tooth decay progressing to pulpitis. Including removing damaged pulp, shaping, cleaning the canal, then sealing the canal system to prevent bacterial invasion and preserving the remaining tooth tissue.
Porcelain veneers, inlays/onlays, veneers, etc., in case of severe decay, large cavities, many chipped or broken teeth, or when the tooth has undergone root canal treatment and the filling of the teeth is often not guaranteed in terms of chewing and aesthetic functions. For cosmetic teeth, it is necessary to cover the teeth to cover the entire crown. Tooth extraction: applied to cases where the tooth decay is too large and the above treatments cannot help keep that tooth, the teeth must be extracted. And replace with a denture with dental implants or bridges to ensure chewing function as well as aesthetics.
4. How to prevent tooth decay?
To prevent tooth decay, you need to adhere to the following principles:
Limit sugary foods, sweets, and don't suck on candy while sleeping. If you eat sweets, you need to clean your teeth immediately after eating. Oral hygiene: clean your teeth immediately after eating, brush your teeth properly to ensure that all plaque is removed from your teeth, use dental floss properly, use mouthwash daily, take tartar periodically.
Increase the anti-cavity agent (reasonable fluoride) such as using a fluoride toothpaste, rinsing with 0.2% fluoride water once a week. When enamel decay has been detected, it should be treated early by filling the grooves on the chewing surface, sealing the deep holes. Teeth need to be examined periodically to detect tooth decay and treat it in time. Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, a system of modern equipment and technology, endodontic machines, foot length meters. teeth, controlling the root canal filling under the alveolar X-ray helps endodontic treatment achieve the highest results. The hospital provides comprehensive and professional medical examination, consultation and treatment services, with a civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.
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