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FAQ > Dental Caries And
Gum Disease
Dental plaque is a sticky
almost invisible film of bacteria or germs that is constantly forming
on your teeth and gums. If it is not brushed off after you eat, it
combines with sugars present in food particles to produce acids which
attack and harm your teeth. Plaque is the main cause of tooth decay and
gum disease.
- Plaque turns food particles stuck between the teeth into acid which attacks the tooth enamel. With repeated acid attacks,the enamel wears away and a cavity is formed.
- Once a cavity forms, the decay spreads to the next layer- the dentine. But, if the cavity is filled by the dentist, the decay can be stopped.
- If the cavity is not treated at the dentine stage, the decay spreads deeper into the pulp and can be very painful.
- In the last stage, the decay spreads to the root and causes an abscess, accompanied by severe pain. At this stage only root canal treatment can save the tooth. In some cases, the tooth may have to be extracted.
Gum disease, technically known as
periodontal disease, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.
Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when
the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly
forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.
In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
Four basic signs will alert you to periodontal disease are:
- Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing or any other time.
- Puffiness and swollen and bright red gums.
- Recession- Gums that have receded away from the teeth, sometimes exposing the roots.
- Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing.
Healthy gums closely grip the sides of the teeth anchoring them firmly in place, with the help of bone.
Unremoved plaque produces acids and bacterial irritants. It also hardens into calculus, commonly called tartar which presses around the gum line. As the gum becomes inflamed, it may bleed. This condition is known as gingivitis.
If untreated, the infection spreads to the bone supporting the tooth. Pus is formed, the bone begins to erode, and eventually the tooth may be lost. The condition is called Periodontitis or Pyorrhea.
Unremoved plaque produces acids and bacterial irritants. It also hardens into calculus, commonly called tartar which presses around the gum line. As the gum becomes inflamed, it may bleed. This condition is known as gingivitis.
If untreated, the infection spreads to the bone supporting the tooth. Pus is formed, the bone begins to erode, and eventually the tooth may be lost. The condition is called Periodontitis or Pyorrhea.
Root canal patients usually suffer tooth pain that is caused by an
infected tooth and severe pulp damaged that is usually caused by an
untreated cavity. If you have any tooth pain you should visit
your dentist for a consultation.
If a tooth’s pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels,
becomes infected or damaged because of decay or injury, root canal
treatment is often the only way to save your tooth and repair the
damage. Endodontic treatment cleans out the infected pulp chamber and
repairs the damage.
Any of the following symptoms or combination of these indicate the need
for endodontic intervention:
- Spontaneous pain or throbbing pain during or after chewing
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods or liquids.
- Severe decay or an injury (which can lead to an abscess or infection).
Root canal treatment begins by your dentist numbing the area around the
tooth to be treated. A hole is then drilled to the pulp area
through the top or back of the tooth, and the canal is measured with an
x-ray or electronic imaging to determine how much filling material will
be necessary. The diseased pulp is removed, and the empty
canal is cleaned out and filled.
After the procedure is completed, a temporary filling or cap is placed over the tooth. After a few weeks, if the tooth shows no signs of infection, the temporary filling is removed and the tooth is capped with a permanent crown.
After the procedure is completed, a temporary filling or cap is placed over the tooth. After a few weeks, if the tooth shows no signs of infection, the temporary filling is removed and the tooth is capped with a permanent crown.
Yes, after the root canal procedure the tooth becomes nonvital or dead
as the pulp or nerve of the tooth is removed . This in turn causes the
tooth to discolor making it unaesthetic and more brittle which means it
is now more prone to fracture easily. This can lead to more
complications, and so it is always better to cap the tooth to restore
its shape & contour and to enhance esthetics and to prevent it
from fracturing.
