One of the two most common dental problems is dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity. The other common problem is gum disease.
Decay is a disease where bacteria cling to the teeth with a “toffee” like coat and then they secrete acids which progressively break down the tooth, producing dental caries.
Treating your teeth with cavities will make them last longer. If left untreated, the disease spreads in the same tooth and to adjacent teeth and can lead to pain, tooth loss and infection.
Sometimes caries may be directly visible, however for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of destruction, x-rays are needed.
To heal a tooth with decay we need to remove the bacteria present and replace the missing area with a “filling”. There are different materials to fill the tooth, but the most common are silver (amalgam), white (resin), porcelain, or gold. These materials are layered in the cavity in order to restore the previous shape and function of the tooth. The materials differ in properties and indications, so together we can choose which will suite better the condition of your tooth.
Tooth with staining in the fissures. (image A) The brown stain is produced by the bacteria who migrate and penetrate the outer layer of the tooth. Gradually working their way through, they reach the inner softer layer where they cause much destruction.(Image B)