【Oral Science Knowledge】Treatment of dental caries

In terms of oral hygiene, dental caries has long been a concern for everyone. Dental caries not only damages the appearance and health of the oral cavity, but may also cause tooth loss and even overall health challenges. Therefore, this article hopes to provide you with some knowledge about dental caries.

1. About dental caries

Caries is a common disease in the oral cavity. Its formation mechanism is mainly due to the influence of bacteria on sugar and starch foods in the mouth, which in turn produces acidic substances, which will erode the outside of the teeth and cause damage to tooth tissue. The main factors that cause this problem include plaque formation, poor oral hygiene behavior, intake of high-sugar and high-starch foods, and dryness of the mouth. The types of caries are mainly as follows: ① Based on the affected tooth area, it can be divided into non-caries type teeth and caries type teeth. Teeth that do not show symptoms of caries damage in the mouth are called non-caries teeth, while those teeth with caries are affected, such as the appearance of cavities or other caries phenomena.

②Based on the size and coverage of the cavities, they can be classified into mild and deep cavities. Shallow cavities refer to cavities that only touch the surface of the enamel, but deep cavities can penetrate deep into the enamel and even touch the essential structure of the tooth.

③From the perspective of the degree of caries, we can classify it into basic caries, intermediate caries and advanced caries. In the surface area of ​​enamel, primary caries has gradually invaded; intermediate caries has penetrated deeper into the enamel, and advanced caries has further eroded into the dentin.

2. Caries manifestations and their effects

Dental caries mainly causes symptoms such as tooth sensitivity, pain and decay. The sensitivity of teeth comes from the damage of tooth enamel, which causes the teeth to have strong reactions to various stimuli such as temperature, heat, sweetness, acidity, etc. The pain of teeth comes from the invasion of caries into dentin or nerve tissue, resulting in different degrees of pain. Dental caries causes black or brown cracks to appear on teeth. In severe cases, this damage may cause damage to teeth or complete loss of teeth. Dental caries not only affects everyone's oral health, but may also have negative effects on the function of teeth, the appearance of the oral cavity and the overall health of the patient.

3. Methods of preventing dental caries

Developing basic oral hygiene habits, including regular teeth cleaning and flossing, as well as the use of mouthwash, can keep your mouth clean and prevent excessive bacterial growth, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of developing caries.

In order to adjust eating habits, it is recommended to reduce the intake of high-sugar, high-starch foods, and sweets and acidic foods should also be limited. This can help slow down the acidic substances produced by bacteria and reduce tooth corrosion.

Choosing and using appropriate dental cleaning tools includes: choosing a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss that suits the individual, and ensuring that they are used and cleaned correctly, which can effectively remove residual food and plaque, thereby preventing the occurrence of caries.

4. Medical treatment of dental caries

①Filling therapy: This treatment strategy is a common tooth decay treatment plan, and its main goal is to repair tooth decay holes and restore the damaged teeth to their shape and function. Common filling materials used for tooth decay holes include metal alloys, resin composites, and ceramics. Doctors will choose the most suitable filling material based on the actual needs of the patient. The filling treatment process covers the steps of cleaning the cavity, selecting and filling materials, and filling and adjusting the fillings, aiming to repair the cavity and maintain the health of the teeth.

②Root canal therapy: This therapy is aimed at situations where the dental pulp or root canal is infected or damaged and cannot be restored by filling therapy. The specific implementation scenarios and steps of root canal therapy involve cleaning, processing, filling and sealing of the root canal. Its core purpose is to completely eliminate the infection and maintain oral health. Postoperative care measures involve avoiding chewing hard objects, maintaining the cleanliness of the human cavity, and conducting regular follow-up examinations to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment and prevent the occurrence of infection events.

5. Possible side effects of dental caries treatment and matters that need attention

① Filling materials cause allergic effects: Some patients may be allergic to certain elements, such as metal alloys or resin composites. When deciding on filling materials, doctors should have a thorough understanding of the patient's allergy history and choose the appropriate material. If necessary, allergy testing should also be carried out.

②After root canal treatment, although the purpose of treatment is to remove the infection source and keep the root canal closed, the risk of infection still exists. Patients should pay close attention to possible clinical symptoms after surgery, including persistent pain and swelling and pus discharge, and need to seek medical treatment immediately.

③ In terms of oral maintenance after tooth extraction: patients are responsible for strictly following the doctor's recommendations, regularly cleaning and rinsing their mouths, and avoiding using a straw to drink water and using too much force to rinse their mouths, in order to prevent adverse effects on wound healing. Understanding and paying attention to these complications and precautions will help patients deal with various problems and challenges that may be encountered more effectively and healthily when treating caries, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of treatment and the overall health of the oral cavity.

Finally, I hope this article can bring you some new knowledge, and at the same time, help you pay attention to oral health and stay away from the trouble of tooth decay.

Author: Kuang Guoliang, Tangshan Fengrun Central Hospital