Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases of human teeth and it is very likely that you have already encountered it yourself.

 

 

HOW DOES TOOTH CARIES OCCUR?

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There are bacterias in the dental plaque, which change food residues, especially sugars, into organic acids. If we have an acidic environment with insufficient oral hygiene for a long time, it affects the hard dental tissues and causes their so-called demineralization – the loss of mineral substances from the dental tissues, especially calcium and phosphates.

As the first symptom of this process, we see a change in the optical properties of the enamel - the so-called white spot. If the patient regularly participates in preventive check-ups, tooth decay can be detected and treated in time.

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CAN DEMINERALISATION BE PREVENTED?
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YES, this process is reversible and can turn into so-called remineralization. The most important thing is to omit sugars (carbohydrates) from the diet and carefully clean plaque and tartar from the teeth. The calcium and phosphates found in saliva can trigger remineralization, the opposite process of depositing minerals back into the enamel.

In addition, we can help remineralization, for example, in the form of special toothpastes or tablets.

HOW CAN THE PRESENCE OF TOOTH CARIES BE DETECTED?
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Probes and mirrors are very important for searching for tooth decay. Nevertheless, there are less visible places where caries can occur more often than on the surfaces and edges of the tooth. For this reason, we use X-rays that we take during the initial and preventive check-up.

When a dentist discovers tooth decay, he must remove all the decayed tissue. If part of the infected tooth is not removed and the tooth is sealed, the decay will spread further and there is a risk of root canal treatment.

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WHAT IS THE NEXT PROCEDURE FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTENSIVE CARIES?
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The restored (healed) dental cavity must be filled by the doctor. In our dental practice, we make photocomposite white fillings, they are aesthetically and functionally excellent and, above all, harmless to human health (compared to amalgam). These fillings retain their color, are hard and indistinguishable from the surrounding tooth.