What is dental caries

 

 What is dental caries, Dental caries is one of the oldest types of infection and the incidence of dental caries has increased after many industries and increased wealth, especially with the availability of sugar, and in the recent period the spread of culture and oral hygiene practices and the presence of fluoride in water has reduced dental caries, but it is still prevalent in some societies.

What is dental caries

Dental caries (also known as tooth decay or dental cavities) is a chronic and preventable disease that is caused by multiple factors but the main cause is the imbalance of oral flora due to the presence of fermentable carbohydrates on the surface of the teeth over time,This leads to the removal of calcium from the enamel, the decomposition of dental hard tissues, and as a result the formation of a dental cavity.

What are the causes of dental caries

Dental caries is a result of the interaction of cariogenic oral flora with fermentable dietary carbohydrates on the tooth surface over time.

What are the modifying factors of dental caries

1. primary modifying factors

• Tooth anatomy

• Saliva

• Biofilm pH

• Use of fluoride

• Diet specifics

• Oral hygiene

• Immune system

• Genetic factor

2. secondary modifying factors

• Socioeconomic status

• Education

• Life style

• Environment

• Occupation

• Age

What are the stages of dental caries

Dental plaque is important to the tooth decay process. Plaque is a colorless, sticky film that covers the surfaces of your teeth. It’s made up of bacteria, food particles, and saliva.

If your teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, plaque can begin to build up. It can also harden over time, forming something called tartar. The presence of tartar can help to further protect bacteria, making them more difficult to remove.

In general, There are five stages of dental caries:

Stage1: Initial demineralization

The outer layer of the teeth consists of a tissue called enamel, and the enamel is considered the hardest tissue in the body and is made of minerals.

However, if the enamel is exposed to the acids produced by plaque bacteria, it will begin to lose these minerals.
When this happens, you will notice the appearance of white spots on the teeth and this area is the initial sign of tooth decay.

Stage 2: Enamel decay

If the decay process continues, the enamel will weaken and you may notice that the white spots have become darker to brown
When the enamel breaks down, small holes can form in the teeth, in which case the cavities need to be filled by the dentist.

Stage 3: Dentin decay

Dentin is the tissue that lies under the enamel, and it is softer than enamel, so it is affected by acid from bacteria faster than enamel and thus dental caries occur in the dentin at a faster rate.

Dentin also contains tubes that lead to the nerves of the tooth.So when dentin is affected by caries, you may start feeling sensitive, especially when eating cold or hot foods or drinks.

Stage 4: Pulp damage

The pulp is the innermost layer of your tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels that help to keep the tooth healthy. The nerves present in the pulp also provide sensation to the tooth.

When damage to the pulp happens, it may become irritated and start to swell. Because the surrounding tissues in the tooth can’t expand to accommodate this swelling, pressure may be placed on the nerves. This can lead to pain.

Stage 5: Abscess

As tooth decay continues and progresses to the pulp, bacteria can invade and cause infection. Repeated inflammation in the tooth leads to the formation of an abscess at the bottom of the tooth, which causes severe pain and may spread to other places.

Dental caries is a bad disease that can lead to tooth loss in the event of lack of attention and we will address other topics related to tooth decay in other posts.