Dental Caries Treatment

What are Dental Caries

Dental caries is a multifactorial, infectious disease in the teeth caused by bacteria. If not treated early on, this can cause tooth cavity, or worse, tooth loss.

Dental caries is so rampant that it was hailed as the most prevalent disease worldwide. According to NJ Kassebaum, et. al., untreated caries in permanent teeth were the most prevalent condition in the world, affecting 2.4 billion people.

Meanwhile untreated caries in primary teeth was the 10th-most prevalent condition, affecting 621 million children in the entire world.

Despite these conditions, dental caries is curable. Here are the different dental caries treatment that might be prescribed to you:

•Fluoride Varnish/Fluoride Gel
•Restorative Fillings
•Root Canal Treatment
•Dental Crowns
•Dental Veneers
•Tooth Extraction

Can dental caries be cured?

The good news is, dental caries is curable if it is treated early on. With proper oral hygiene and visiting your trusted dentist twice a year, white lesions in your teeth which are the initial signs of caries formation can be detected.

At this point, your dentist might only give a reminder on how to brush your teeth properly, avoid food that is high in sugar, and apply a fluoride varnish to prevent the lesion from developing into cavities.

How are dental caries removed?

If you can already see black spots on your teeth, it might possibly mean that the dental caries have already penetrated the first layer of your teeth (which is called the enamel), and that you already need some restorative treatment for it.

Restorative treatment for carious lesions is the process of removing carious tooth structures (enamel and dentin) until only sound tooth structure remains. Here are the steps that your dentist will do to remove your dental caries:

1. Take a periapical or bitewing radiograph of the tooth involved.

1. With the use of a high-speed handpiece, carious enamel and dentin will be removed.

1. The removed tooth structure will be scooped out using a spoon excavator.

1. A hatchet will then be used to prep the tooth.
2. The restorative materials will be applied (etchant, primer, restorative material).

1. The restoration is polished to mimic the smoothness of a natural tooth.

How do you treat dental caries naturally?

The best natural treatment for dental caries is proper oral hygiene. Even if your tooth has already went demineralization, appropriate dentrifice, avoidance of sweet and sticky food, and most of all, reinforcement of proper oral hygiene at least twice a day will help you keep the dentist away.

What are dental caries symptoms?

1. White lesions/discoloration on the tooth surface.
2. Tooth Ache/ Tooth Sensitivity
3. Cavities on the tooth surface
4. Pain

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is best to consult your dentist immediately to keep your smile healthy!

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