Secondary caries / Recurrent caries

SECONDARY CARIES 

Secondary caries, otherwise known as recurrent caries (cavities) is tooth decay occurring underneath/surrounding existing dental restorations such as dental fillings, crowns or onlays. 

CAUSES :-

               These recurrent cavities can be a result of poor oral hygiene habits, or can be caused by a microscopic access or hole in the dental restoration, allowing acids and bacteria to creep in. And unfortunately, these microscopic pathways cannot be cleaned using standard oral hygiene practices because they are so tiny and inaccessible.The cariogenic bacteria in the saliva will grow when the environment of micro cracks is appropriate, thereby producing secondary caries.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS :

1.Blackish discolouration of tooth around the filling 

              Amalgam(silver) filling                              Secondary caries

             

         Composite (tooth coloured) filling                 Secondary caries  

              

   

2.Sensitivity                                                                   3.Pain

                                                                                   

              

4.Broken filling/tooth fragment                                5.Food lodgement

                 

TREATMENT:

1.RE-RESTORATION (Re-filling):- 

Once a secondary cavity has been detected via radiographic (X-ray) evidence, or with a dental explorer (probe), laser or visual examination, then it’s crucial to proceed with treatment before the problem progresses even further.

The secondary tooth decay must be removed and the current failed filling or restoration must be replaced.

2.ROOT CANAL TREATMENT :-

       Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent re-infection of the tooth and save the natural tooth. When one undergoes a root canal, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

PREVENTION:-

1.Simply brushing twice daily (for two full minutes), as well as flossing once daily will help to keep your smile sufficiently clean, reducing your risk of secondary (and regular) tooth decay.

2. Regular check up with your dentist twice a year, or when required. 

3.This visit will involve a thorough cleaning (scaling) from the hygienist to remove plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, as well as a check-up/examination by the dentist to ensure that your current filling(s)/restorations and everything else are in great shape.

  

                      

      Rootz Dental Care and Implant Center, 

                                            No:2/2, First Floor, Sakthi Nagar,

                                            Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thuraipakkam,

                                            Chennai - 600 097,

                                            Phone :- 9786688755,044-49504825

                                                     Email :- rootzdentalcare@gmail.com

KNOW ABOUT STAGES OF DECAY

               STAGES OF DENTAL CARIES

                 From when we are very young, we are told to brush our teeth twice a day, control our sugar intake and floss regularly  otherwise, we will get cavities. But what is a cavity? And is the drill-and-fill method the only way of treating dental caries?

          Actually decay or dental caries is a consequence of bacterial activity on the surfaces of our teeth. Our mouth is home to millions of bacterial species, both “good” and “bad”. A particularly sugary diet feeds the bacteria that produce acid, and this in turn promotes dental caries.

                Cavities are common in children and adults alike and can compromise your oral health. Treatment should begin before a painful visit to your dentist is needed. 

Dental caries is caused by several factors, including but not limited to:

• Repeated intake of sweet sticky foods especially in between meal times.
• Inadequate removal of plaque – not brushing or flossing efficiently.
• Decreased defence factors such as inadequate saliva (dry mouth).
• Old fillings with leaky margins.

          All of these factors will initiate the process of dental caries, which occurs in several stages.

Stage 1: White spots

The first stage of tooth decay shows itself as yellowish or chalky white spots on the surface of your tooth. This is due to the loss of calcium. At this stage, the decay is treated with  the application of fluoride and minerals present in the saliva.

Stage 2: Enamel deterioration

             At this stage, the enamel of your tooth starts to break down. 

This happens underneath the surface layer. At this stage, early intervention with topical fluoride or specialised products can restore minerals back into the tooth structure and thus prevent the lesion from getting any further. 

This is termed remineralisation, or arresting of dental caries.

Stage 3: Dentin decay

           If the cavity is left untreated, the decay will progress beyond the enamel and starts to impact the dentin, or core of your tooth,this is where the pain begins.
The dentin layer of teeth contains a direct link to the nerve of the tooth and now the tooth may become sensitive to cold or sweetness. 

         Unfortunately, once dental caries is in the dentin zone, remineralisation is not possible and a filling will be required.

Stage 4: Pulp infection

                When the pulp, or tooth nerve, becomes infected due to the presence of bacteria caused by the decay, pus begins to form and the blood vessels and nerves in the pulp to die.

At this stage, root canal therapy is often the only treatment.

Stage 5: Abscess formation

      During this final stage, the infection reaches the root tip of the tooth and the bones surrounding the tooth can also become infected. At this stage, pain is severe, you may have visible swelling in your cheek and antibiotics may be prescribed to fight the infection. Root canal therapy or tooth removal is the treatment when infection has progressed to this stage.

Don’t let it come to this!

It is relatively easy to prevent severe tooth infection. Preventative care starts with regular brushing and flossing. Twice yearly visits to the dentist are also important as:

•     Professional cleanings will enhance the work you do at home
•     Your dentist or hygienist can often catch cavities at stage 1 or 2.

CONCLUSION:

Along with good oral hygiene and diet, it is important for us to have regular checkups and upto date X-rays. In this way we are able to catch any cavities in the early stages, where remineralisation is still possible. In this age of minimal-intervention dentistry, prevention of dental caries is a priority.

“Beautiful teeth are a benefit everyone can enjoy”

Rootz Dental Care and implant center has specialists with proven expertise in Aesthetic and Restorative dentistry.This offering from Rootz is primarily to benefit patients from OMR, Thoraipakkam, Perungudi, Neelankarai, Palavakkam, Injambakkam etc .For more information regarding treatments contact us today.

Rootz Dental Care and Implant Center, 

No:2/2, First Floor, Sakthi Nagar,
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thuraipakkam,
Chennai - 600 097,
Phone :- 9786688755 

Email :- rootzdentalcare@gmail.com

Web:- www.rootzdentalcare.in