Article "Caries"
![]() |
 | | | |
Caries is a process of tooth's solid tissue destruction. This process starts from demineralization - alternation of mineral structure of the tooth.
The bulk of the tooth consists of dentine, a solid tissue two thirds of which are made of mineral material. External part of the tooth (that can be seen) is called the corona, and the part deepened in the jaw is called the root. Inside of the tooth a region of pulp with nerves and vessels is situated. This region converges towards the lower part of the root forming a root canal and opens up towards the upper part of the root. Through this part of the tooth nerves and vessels go into the pulp.
Tooth corona is covered by enamel - solid tissue that has no cells; it consists of a small quantity of albumen and 96% of mineral material. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body; it resists unbelievable temperatures and forces.
The root of the tooth is covered with cement but not with enamel. Cement is the tissue analogous in structure with bones. The tooth holds on a jaw by means of periodontium - a link of the tooth that connects the cement of the root of the tooth and sides of alveolar socket. Periodontium has nerves and vessels, it is very sensitive. Thanks to periodontium we can feel every small particle of food between our teeth. A tooth lives due to the blood supported pulp that gives the tooth everything it needs. There are small canals inside of the tooth that support transportation of special liquid that keeps the structure of enamel and dentine stable. The composition of saliva is also very important to the enamel. Thus a tooth can take care of itself rather efficiently. It can restore some parts of damaged tissues itself as well, but this ability is confined.
So how enamel can be damaged?
There are a lot of theories concerning this problem. The most popular and probable is the dental plaque hypothesis. The essence of this hypothesis is rather simple: on some part of a tooth forms a region of dental deposit in the form of a plaque that consists of small particles of food and bacteria that secrete very sticky substances. That's why this plaque is densely glued to enamel.
Bacteria secrete organic acids that destroy a part of enamel situated under a plaque. In this part of the tooth acids affect enamel intensively for a long period of time. You shouldn't confuse this process with acid forming process after ingestion, about which advertisement informs us. Acid forming process after ingestion is weak and brief. It can't affect enamel and acid-base balance in a mouth restores wonderfully by itself, without any chewing gum, due to alkalizing saliva secretion. And in a case of dental plaque, acid affects enamel intensively and for a long period of time, as it concentrates directly under the plaque and no chewing gum can reach this place.
How can we prevent dental plaque?
First of all it is necessary to brush your teeth thoroughly. Dental thread is also rather helpful for cleaning between the teeth. Regular oral rinsing with special products containing anti bacterial substances is also recommended. Usually such products contain mineral additions that help to restore the enamel. As it is impossible to notice the plaque, it is extremely important to use all these methods regularly.
A tooth can destroy a dental plaque itself, but this happens rarely. If this plaque remains on the tooth and a help of dentist didn't come yet, bacteria penetrate into friable demineralized enamel and destroy it. This period of caries is called a surface caries. Enamel is destroyed; dentine is to be affected next. During this period different aggressive substances can get into a pulp. Toothaches from sourly, salty, sweet, hot and cold appear.
From this time it is impossible to recover the tooth as it was. So there should be no doubt about the necessity of coming to a doctor. It's important to remove the defect and to fill the tooth. In case when a man believes that toothache is not enough to visit his dentist, the process of destruction continues, surface caries becomes a medium and then a deep one. Eating of sourly, salty, sweet, cold and hot meal becomes very painful. Treatment is the same: defect removing and filling. If nothing has been done, complications of caries appear. Usually they are: pulpitis and periodontitis. Pulpitis is accompanied by constant unbearable pain that stops only after a total destruction of a pulp. Pain during chewing and pressure on a tooth is typical for periodontitis.
When pulp is affected, simple filling is not enough. It's necessary to clean up the cavity and root canal from inflamed pulp. To do so, the pulp should be killed by arsenic or cyanides. After that, pulp cavity is filled by special filling material and the tooth becomes totally dead. But usually this tooth serves a man for a long period of time.
It is also necessary to know, that caries is rather slow. It takes several years for a total destruction of the tooth. During this period of time you should just find several hours for a visit to the dentist.
| | | | |
|
|
Best Sellers
|
