Dental Decay
All adults must have their teeth regularly inspected to discover any of the early warning signs so we can apply treatment before you run the risk of rotting teeth that need to be extracted.
What is Tooth Decay?
The leading cause of tooth decay is diet-related issues. While it is commonly known that sugary foods and drinks can lead to dental decay, starchy foods like potato chips are another leading culprit. Bacteria feed on these sugars and starches and produces acid which attacks your teeth, causing them to decay and develop damaging holes.
You can develop a hole in your tooth when you have tooth decay that starts as a white or dark spot. In the short term, your body’s saliva is your natural defence against tooth decay while it is in its early stages. People who produce less saliva are more prone to caries.
Practising strong oral habits and developing healthy eating and drinking habits is the best way to avoid tooth decay. Brush twice a day using toothpaste containing fluoride and drink plenty of tap water which also contains fluoride. Avoid sugary foods and drinks along with excess starches like potato chips.
Visiting your dentist regularly (every six to 12 months) is essential as well so that early signs can be detected and treated. You might not even need a filling.
We provide other dental treatments too – Invisalign treatment, children’s dental care, implant dentistry, teeth whitening and regular dental check ups . Browse our website or ring a bell for more information.
Treatment For Tooth Decay
- Fluoride treatments: Often, fluoride treatments can reverse a cavity in the early stages when a cavity has just begun. In contrast to tap water, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and even toothpaste, professional fluoridation contains much more fluoride. Typically, fluoride treatments are liquids, gels, foam or varnish that are applied to the teeth by brushing or placed in mouth guards.
- Fillings: When decay has progressed beyond the earliest stage, fillings, also known as restorations, are the main treatment options. Materials used for fillings vary, such as tooth-coloured composite resins, porcelain or a combination of dental amalgam and several other materials.
- Crowns: A crown - a custom-fitting covering that replaces the entire natural crown - may be necessary if your teeth have extensive decay or are weak. Your dentist will drill away all the decayed tissue as well as enough of the remaining tooth to ensure that your crown will fit well. The material for a crown can be gold, high-strength porcelain, resin, porcelain fused with metal, or any other material.
- Root canals: In some cases, you may need a root canal when decay reaches your tooth's inner material (pulp). The goal of this treatment is to save and repair a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of extracting it. To remove the affected pulp, a hole is made in the tooth shell. To clear the infection, medications may be injected into the canal. A filling is then placed to replace the pulp.
- Tooth extractions: Tooth decay can become so severe that it cannot be repaired and must be extracted. After you have had a tooth pulled, other teeth may move into the gap. To replace the missing tooth, you may want to consider a bridge or an implant.
Frequently asked questions
Mild tooth decay will begin with some minor sensitivity in your tooth and will quickly escalate to extreme pain when chewing, a relentless toothache and throbbing pain that will render you unable to work, sleep or do much of anything. This pain is not going to go away on its own. The infection can spread into your head and neck which will result in hospitalisation in worst-case scenarios.
In the event of deep decay, the nerve within the tooth is contaminated, resulting in a severely compromised tooth. It is necessary to remove the tooth or undergo root canal therapy to fully eliminate the pain if it reaches this point. That is why it is vital to treat dental decay as early as possible.
