What is Dental caries
Dental Caries is a progressive bacterial breakdown of teeth exposed to the carbohydrate and bacterial plaque.
Classification of dental caries
- Enamel caries
- Dentine caries
- Root surface caries
Causes of dental caries
It develops over time in the presence of certain interacting variables including:
- Carbohydrate diet
- Viridans streptococci bacteria
- Susceptible tooth surface
Pathogenesis
Enamel caries progress in the following stages:
- Incipient caries
- Early (sub-microscopic) lesion
- Phase of non-bacterial enamel crystal destruction
- Cavity formation
- Bacterial invasion of enamel
Symptoms and clinical features of dental caries
- Cavity formation in affected tooth
- It starts as a white spot
- Pain On exposure of the cavity to thermal changes or food particles
Complications of dental caries
- Pulpitis
- If dental caries is not treated, it can cause apical periodontitis and dentoalveolar abscess
Investigations
- Periapical radiographs
- Bitewing radiographs
- Electric pulp testers
- Thermal test
Treatment for dental caries
Non-drug treatment
Depending on the stage of the lesion:
- Excision of lesion followed by:
- Amalgam filling, Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) composite and Atraumatic Restorative Technique (ART) for enamel caries
- Amalgam filling, GIC for dentine caries
- Root Canal Therapy, pulp capping pulpotomy, pulpectomy for pulpal involvement
Drug treatment
Analgesics pre-operatively
Paracetamol: 1 g 4 – 6 hourly orally to a
maximum of 4 g daily
Prevention of dental caries
- Give oral health education to all especially those at risk
- Do regular scaling and polishing
- Systemic and topical fluoride application
- Fissure sealants.
- Routine dental check-ups