Causes of Caries
The word “caries” is translated as “corruption”. A common disease in which softens and destroys dental hard tissue with the formation of cavities. The prevalence of caries in our population reaches 95%.
Start caries usually goes unnoticed, since there are no almost no symptoms. Sometimes it can be seen on the surface of the tooth melovidioe or yellowish spot – a sign of change in enamel, the hardest tissue of the tooth. It is a signal of enamel demineralization (dissolution of crystals acids mouth). Occasionally in the affected area can be increased sensitivity to sweet, sour, salty.
Most tooth decay is in trudnoochischaemyh surface of the tooth – the chewing surfaces (a fissure) on the contact surfaces between the teeth. Dental caries in the stage of the spot is difficult to diagnose for several reasons: because of its location (these surfaces are very difficult to view it) and the lack of objective patient’s complaints.
In the occurrence of a carious lesion teeth are particularly important factors of internal environment (the state of the protective systems of the body, digestive system, nutrition and others). Dental caries is regarded as a manifestation of systemic disease organism from tissue damage teeth, so the more correct to call it “carious disease.”
The causes of tooth decay is not completely understood. Theoretically, it is believed that as a result of non-compliance with oral hygiene the enamel appears soft plaque in places where it is not removed during chewing (lateral surface of the teeth, deepening the chewing surfaces). This plaque is closely associated with the surface of the tooth and serves as a place of concentration of various bacteria and fungi, among which half are streptococci. The inclusion of plaque mineral salts contributes to its compactness. This education is called dental plaque. Nesting in the plaque bacteria produce lactic acid, which can cause demineralization of enamel, which gives rise to the caries process. In the structure of plaque is and dextran – a polysaccharide formed by streptococci from sucrose. Apparently, so use a large amount of sugar contributes to tooth decay.
Stability of teeth to caries is related to the general immunity and with existing illnesses. Found that in people with weakened immune caries develop more actively. In children suffering from exudative diathesis, rickets, tooth decay occurs in the 1.5 – 2 times more often.
Plays an important role and composition of saliva. Found that in people prone to tooth decay, saliva is more viscous and it changed the ratio of mineral salts.
Just found that predisposes to the development of caries unhealthy diet: consumption of large quantities of sugar, sweet baked goods, lack of food vitamins, calcium and phosphorus, the lack in the diet of raw fruits and vegetables (when chewing occurs spontaneously cleaning teeth).
There are four forms of caries disease, each of which essentially reflects the degree of destruction of hard tooth tissues: carious spot, surface caries, middle and deep.
On the surface softened enamel caries, as a rule, a doctor can detect only by using a special dental instruments.
During this period appears soreness in the tooth by sweet, sour, when cleaning with a toothbrush. Treatment of this form of tooth decay – filling cavities or composite compomers. In some cases, sealing may be replaced by a remineralizing therapy.
With an average caries deepening the cavity leads to the defeat of dentin. Treatment – treatment of the cavity with subsequent filling.
With deep caries dentin softened, pain occurs when hit in the cavity of decay of food, from cold and hot water. After removing the stimulus pain in the tooth once held. In this case, is struck by the enamel and dentin majority. The method of treatment depends on the condition of the pulp – filling or conservative treatment.
If time does not see a doctor and do not stop the deepening of the caries process, the bacteria involved in the destruction of enamel and dentin and penetrate into the flesh of the tooth – the pulp, and it arises inflammation – the pulp. In turn, untreated pulpitis leads to further complications – inflammation of the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth (periodontitis).
Tooth decay leads to digestive problems and is a risk factor for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Dental caries of primary teeth usually found in children aged 2-3 years, but in some cases it may also occur in children under 2 years. Most of the pathological process affects the milk incisors of the upper jaw and the chewing surface of molars. Factors contributing to the development of caries in children, are violations of the structure of tooth tissues (malformations) that have occurred to the child in utero, and maternal disease – rheumatism, hypertension, infectious viral diseases, endocrine diseases, toxicosis, etc. An important role played by mothers who smoke, abuse medicinal substances during pregnancy.
Violations of the teeth may develop in children on artificial feeding, suffered hemolytic disease or infection in the first years of life.
In the later period of caries of primary teeth can be formed due to excessive consumption of carbohydrates, poor oral hygiene, inadequate intake of minerals and trace elements, particularly fluorine.
At a depth of lesions tooth caries of primary teeth, as well as permanent is initial, superficial, middle and deep.
Prevention of dental diseases in children should begin as early as during fetal development. During pregnancy, the woman’s body undergoes changes, and when it is an unhealthy diet possible violations of the structure of a child, including bookmarks teeth and their mineralization. In this case, the enamel of temporary and permanent teeth of the child defectively formed, and therefore subject to rapid decay. Therefore, prevention of caries should begin during pregnancy, picking up a balanced diet for the expectant mother.
Treatment should be primarily aimed at improving the general condition of the child and dental treatment (re-mineralization or fillings). We recommend a long stay in the fresh air in the winter – irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Should be the appointment of vitamins A, B, C and D, sodium fluoride preparations. Children with varying degrees of caries need to be watched dentist. This will help identify the initial forms of caries and prevent complications.
After removal of all carious defects recommended interventions aimed at improving resistance to carious tooth tissue factor (oral hygiene using toothbrush and flossing, fluoride mouth rinse solutions, covering the teeth ftorlakom 2 times a year).