Tooth Decay – An All Too Common Problem

Highlighting the causes of tooth decay and the steps that can be taken to restore an affected tooth

There are a number of reasons why someone might suffer from tooth decay. Generally speaking, the two main reasons are poor dental care and a high sugar diet. Combined together, this is a disaster just waiting to happen.

Despite better access to dental care and all the information and technologies we now have to hand, our teeth are probably not much healthier, if at all, than they were in the past.

This can be largely put down to a diet that is much too high in sugar. Look at almost any ready meal in a supermarket and almost all will have sugar as an added ingredient. Ready access to ‘sweet treats’ also means that our tooth enamel faces huge challenges on a daily basis.

One advantage that we do have now though, if our teeth do succumb to damage caused by decay, is that we have a range of treatments available at our Wickford dental clinic that can effectively restore the teeth, both functionally and aesthetically. We will take a look at these a little later on.

What causes tooth decay?

We have looked at some of the reasons above, but what actually happens to the tooth to cause cavities to form?

We all have multiple bacteria in our mouths; some of it good and some not so good. Some of these ‘bad’ bacteria feed on sugars and multiply and also produce acids that attack the tooth enamel leading to formation of small holes which we know as cavities. These are not always noticeable at first but will become larger over time. This is just one reason why you should make sure that you have a regular check up at the Cygnet Dental Practice so that issues such as this can be treated early on.

If the tooth is not treated in time, the bacteria will continue through the softer dentin part of the tooth and may even access the root canals, causing an infection there and the subsequent need for root canal therapy to save the tooth. You are also likely to suffer from a mild to severe toothache depending on the situation.

Tooth decay prevention

We won’t spend a lot of time on this as we have covered it previously, but suffice to say that apart from minimising your sugar intake, you should brush your teeth twice a day with nothing but water passing your lips after your night time brushing, use floss and have regular check up and hygienist appointments at our Wickford clinic approximately every six months.

Restoring a decayed tooth

Preventing cavities is one thing but what treatments are available for teeth that are already damaged?

The good news is that there are a number of treatments that we have available which can restore a decayed tooth back to a functional and attractive state. Let us take a look at a few of these now.

Fillings

Fillings are one of the most common ways that a cavity is treated, especially when smaller. This is a relatively straightforward process where the infected material is removed and the cavity filled with a dental filling. Traditionally, amalgam has been used for this purpose due to its strength but the drawback of its dark colour has led to the increasing use of tooth coloured fillings that can be produced to match the natural colour of your own teeth, making it more or less invisible to anyone who sees your smile.

Crowns

If the damage to the tooth is significant, it may be the case that a filling could lead to a much weaker tooth. For this, and sometimes aesthetic, reasons, a crown may be used instead. This is a tooth shaped ‘cap’ which is fitted onto a tooth that has been shaped and prepared once any infected material has been removed. This is attached using a strong dental adhesive and offers a strong and natural looking restoration.

Root canal treatment

When the root canals of a tooth have become infected, as mentioned earlier, there are only two options available; either a root canal procedure to save the tooth or to extract it. In most cases, the root canal procedure is the best option. This involves the removal of the infected material from the canals and, following cleaning, these are then filled with a special filling material called ‘gutta percha’, before a crown is attached to complete the treatment.

Extractions

This should always be a last resort but sometimes it is the only realistic option available. Once a tooth is removed, there are a number of solutions available at our Wickford dental practice to replace it. These include dentures, a bridge or implants. We will offer advice on what might work best for your own situation and discuss cost and payment plan options with you as well.

We hope that you can avoid tooth decay with improved care but if you do suffer with it, then there are options available and we are happy to help.  If you suspect you might have cavities forming, have a toothache or would just like to book in for a routine appointment with us, please call the Cygnet Dental Practice today on 01268 733078.