In modern society, the trend has become a healthy lifestyle and health care. And an important part of this is rightly considered dental health. A beautiful and healthy smile is the key to success and attractiveness. In the article we will talk about tooth problems, the most unpleasant and dangerous cervical caries, how to save teeth, about methods of treatment and prevention of dental health.
A bit of anatomical knowledge
Human teeth are bone formations whose main function is the mechanical processing of food. The growth and development of teeth is determined by genetics, there should be 32. Dentists divided all the teeth into 2 upper and 2 lower quarters of the jaws. Each tooth has its own serial number. Dairy and root, incisors, canines and chewing - they all have a common structure.
In the structure of the teeth, 3 parts are distinguished:
- Crown. The only visible part of the tooth that is enameled is the strongest tissue of our body, which consists of inorganic substances (96%), an organic matrix (1%) and water (3%). Under the enamel is the main part - dentin, which consists of inorganic minerals (72%) and organic substances (28%). It is dentin that gives the primary color to our teeth.
- Neck. The place where the enamel ends and the root part of the tooth begins, where the dentin is protected by a thin layer of cement. It is here that the cement of the tooth comes to the surface. Damage to dentin at a given location (cervical caries) becomes the most dangerous for tooth integrity.
- Root. It is located in the alveoli of the gums. There are blood vessels and nerve endings.
What is caries
The carious process is the softening (demineralization) of enamel and dentin as a result of the activity of bacteria. These microorganisms decompose food debris to form lactic acid. And already she washes minerals from enamel and dentin of our teeth. But bacteria alone are not enough. With normal microflora in the oral cavity, bacteria do not multiply. And as a result, caries does not develop. The following factors lead to violations of normal bacteriosis in the oral cavity:
- Leftover food between teeth and in gum pockets.
- Some diseases of the digestive system (such as pancreatitis or gastritis) that change the acid-base balance of saliva.
- Calcium deficiency states in the body. For example, with an unbalanced diet, pregnancy and lactation, radiation or radiation.
Pathology Classifications
According to the depth of damage to tooth tissues, caries happens:
- Superficial (spots on enamel). In this case, only the enamel is destroyed. At this stage, caries is manifested by temperature and mechanical sensitivity.
- Average. The lesion affects the dentin, a carious cavity is formed. The tooth changes color, and the sensitivity of the tooth increases. Often there are sharp pains.
- Deep. The lesion affects the entire dentin down to the pulp. Symptoms - acute pain when eating, with temperature changes. If the infection enters the pulp, an inflammatory process develops - pulpitis.
According to the localization of the carious process, there are:
- Fissure caries. The chewing surface is affected.
- Cervical caries of teeth (parietal, cervical). The lesion is located on the border of the crown and neck. The most insidious type of caries, since it is practically not visible at the initial stages of development, and the patient comes to the dentist when the caries has passed into the middle or deep stage.
- Interdental (approximate). The sides of the tooth are affected.
- Atypical. It develops on the outside of the tooth.
According to the etiology of development, caries can be primary (occurred in this place for the first time), secondary (recurrence under a filling or crown) and multiple (caries on several teeth at once, most often due to untimely treatment).
General indications and contraindications for treatment
It is necessary to begin treatment when the color or pigmentation of the enamel changes, a darkening of the cervical area appears, or the neck of the tooth is exposed, when the enamel splits, and the appearance of carious cavities. In parallel, a painful reaction to hot and cold, sweet and salty appears.
Contraindications to the treatment of caries (cervical, fissure and interdental):
- Pregnancy in the first and third trimesters.
- Acute respiratory viral infections.
- Herpes in the acute stage.
- Acute periodontal disease with severe bleeding gums.
Why it should be treated
In the initial stages, caries does not bring much concern to its owner. But if you pull to the last, you can encounter very unpleasant consequences, namely:
- The inflammatory process once started, will spread. Inflammation of the pulp (pulpitis) or the inside of the jaw where the tooth is located (periodontitis) are much more painful and require longer treatment problems.
- In the absence of treatment, the body constantly has a focus of inflammation. This can cause cardiovascular, articular and other problems.
- Inflammatory processes affect the immune status of the body, and its decrease leads to the likelihood of allergies. After all, an allergy is an inadequate response of the immune system to external stimuli.
- Complete destruction and tooth loss. And the aesthetic problem is not a problem at all. Disturbances in chewing food may well lead to interruptions in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Losing an aesthetic smile can be a problem for people with certain activities. But in any case, this does not add self-confidence, which at the current pace of life is simply necessary. And besides, a smile always adorns a person.
Cervical caries. Causes of occurrence
The main reason for the development of this type of caries, dentists consider insufficient oral hygiene, as a result of which enamel and dentin are demineralized and softened. Of course, one cannot discount genetic predisposition and some chronic diseases.
Among the main causes of cervical caries, dentists distinguish:
- Demineralization of enamel. The product of the vital activity of bacteria - lactic acid - accumulates at the base of the tooth and leads to thinning and softening of enamel, and then dentin.
- Vitamins. The lack of vitamins directly affects the condition of the gums and leads to the appearance of gum pockets. The neck of the tooth is exposed, bacteria accumulate in your pocket, and dentin damage is growing rapidly.
- Cretaceous spots. The initial stage of cervical caries, when the enamel is just beginning to undergo softening. At this stage, caries on the neck of the tooth is practically invisible, and only a dentist can diagnose it.
Modern methods of treating cervical caries
More recently, the treatment of cervical caries, like any other, scared patients with the use of a drill and pain. Modern dentistry has techniques and tools that will treat the patient without pain, effectively and comfortably.
Of course, everything will depend on the degree of damage, but in the initial stages of cervical caries, you can do without a frightening drill. In this case, the following methods are used:
- Microinvasive infiltration - caries at the spot stage is eliminated by chemical-mechanical treatment. So remove the initial cervical caries of the front teeth after wearing braces.
- Remineralization and exposure of bacteria to ozone. It is used without anesthesia.
- Air abrasive method. Its essence is that cervical caries is guided by air flow with abrasive additives. As a result, only the affected tissues are knocked out, and healthy damage is not inflicted.
- Laser Therapy Its peculiarity is that tissues are not exposed to heat. Recommended for pregnant women, children and patients with high sensitivity to vibration.
Conservative treatment
For the superficial stage of cervical caries, dentists use conservative therapy, the steps of which are as follows:
- First enamel is cleaned. It is freed from plaque and tartar.
- Then, for 2-3 sessions, the dentist applies special preparations, which include fluoride.
- The patient already at home continues to take the prescribed medications and follows the recommendations for oral care.
Remineralizing therapy is carried out with drugs that contain fluoride and calcium. Paste from cervical caries should be prescribed by a doctor in strictly prescribed dosages.
When without a drill in any way
If the lesion affected dentin, then completely different treatment methods are already needed. Cervical caries requires a highly qualified dentist because of the location of the lesion near the gums. The stages of treatment for middle and deep parasitic caries are as follows:
- It all starts again with the cleaning of enamel from stones and plaque.
- Matching the color of the composite closest to the natural color of the patient’s teeth.
- Anesthesia and preparation of the lesion.
- Carious cavity filling.
- Giving aesthetic appearance and grinding of the tooth.
Modern filling materials
For the treatment of cervical caries, several types of filling material are used, which the dentist selects individually for each patient. In addition to price, they differ in composition and properties.
When reconstructing cervical caries, fillings can be made of glass ionomer cement, organically modified ceramics, or light cured composites. Properly selected material and treatment methods make it possible to fully restore the functional and aesthetic function of the teeth.
Is it possible to do without a dentist?
It is believed that caries at home cannot be cured. But in some circumstances, such treatment of cervical caries is likely and gives positive results. And the main condition is the initial stage of the development of pathology, when the enamel is not yet damaged, and only a myelin spot is formed. The use of remineralizing pastes or gels may delay a visit to the dentist. With self-treatment, it is important to consider some features:
- The uniqueness of each individual case. In this case, the properties of enamel, the localization of the lesion, the age of the patient and the quality of compliance with hygiene rules are of importance. All this must be considered when choosing a remedy for the treatment of cervical caries.
- The choice of drug. The modern pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of tools to combat this problem. But the determination of the correct concentration is still better to entrust to a specialist. After all, increased concentrations of fluoride can lead to the exact opposite result.
- Diagnostic problems. Cervical caries at the spot stage is often confused with plaque or enamel hypoplasia. If a visit to the dental office is not possible, you can use folk remedies for some time, but without proper diagnosis, you should not resort to chemical exposure. Therefore, it is better to contact a dental clinic.
What does traditional medicine advise
Among the recipes of traditional medicine, there are many tools to relieve pain or strengthen tooth enamel, but there are no recipes from developed caries. To relieve pain, infusions of herbs are used - oregano, knotweed, sage, lemon balm, mallow, blackberry leaves and blueberries. You can rinse your mouth with decoctions of wormwood, violets, valerian. Decoctions from oak bark, aspen, angelica and calamus roots are also used. Widely used to strengthen enamel and relieve pain tincture of propolis
The effect of the use of folk remedies will not last long, but will help to cope with pain. The reverse side of these methods is that they can relieve pain and mask the symptoms. As a result, there is the possibility of complications in the form of pulpitis or tooth loss. Therefore, the right choice of the patient is still a visit to the dentist. And the sooner the better.
Cervical caries prophylaxis
The recommendations of dentists on the prevention of this pathology are simple and understandable:
- Food restriction for foods that are high in carbohydrates. It is bacteria that processes glucose, and the byproduct of such glycolysis is lactic acid.
- Consume carbohydrates correctly. No one says that you can’t eat chocolate, sweets and rolls. Just do not eat them at night, and after taking sugars in food, it is better to clean or rinse your mouth.
- Chewing of coarse fiber food helps to clean enamel. So eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, herbs and grains.
- Hygiene is the key to healthy teeth. In the morning we brush our teeth more for others, but at night we brush our teeth for our health.
- The right brushing technique. Oddly enough, but most brush their teeth incorrectly. This is a whole science, which is worth a separate article.
- Dental floss - effectively fights precisely with cervical caries. With its help, food debris is removed in the interdental space and in the gum area.
What should be on your shelf
If you are responsible for your teeth, you should have:
- Toothpaste containing up to 1.5 thousand pm fluoride.
- Dental floss soaked in fluorides (fluorinated floss).
- Rinsers for teeth.
However, the selection of these drugs should take into account the individual condition of the oral cavity (fillings, lack of teeth), age, fluoride content in drinking water and many other factors. Remember: an excess of fluoride affects the condition of the teeth as badly as its lack.
Therefore, the main prevention of caries - this is regular visits to the dentist, preventive, consultative or therapeutic - it does not matter. Find your doctor whom you can trust, and your teeth will thank you with a radiant smile and enviable health.