Caries prevention

Caries is a lesion of hard dental tissues with the formation of cavity defects. First the enamel is destroyed, then the dentin, pulp, periosteum and bone. It is the most common dental disease in the world and the main cause of tooth loss. Comprehensive prevention of dental caries increases the resistance of the enamel layer to various cariesogenic factors, prevents the destruction of tooth structures.

Causes of disease development

The leading cause of the carious process is the vital activity of oral bacteria. The normal microflora of the mouth is made up of many microorganisms. Among them there is a group of cariesogenic bacteria that negatively affect the enamel. In the absence of factors that weaken the body’s defense response, the number of opportunistic microorganisms does not exceed the norm and the disease does not develop. But if the bacteria become too much, the organic acid that they produce begins to gradually dissolve areas of the enamel layer. Primary prevention of caries is aimed at eliminating the causes and conditions that contribute to its occurrence.

The following factors contribute to the development of carious process:

• disorders of mineral metabolism in the body;
• changes in the composition of saliva (increased viscosity);
• abnormal bite;
• crowding of teeth;
• poor oral hygiene;
• adherence to sweet, sticky, viscous foods;
• cracked, chipped enamel;
• heredity;
• deficiency of fluoride, calcium, phosphorus in drinking water, food;
• reduced immunity.

The causes of dental caries are different, but the main mechanism of development is the same – lack or absence of oral hygiene. Primary prevention of dental diseases begins with regular removal of bacterial plaque, which creates a favorable environment for the reproduction of cariesogenic microorganisms. It differs from secondary prevention, which consists in the treatment of the disease and its complications.

How to avoid the appearance of caries?

Depending on the depth of the lesion of hard tissues, there are 3 stages of caries – initial (spot stage), middle, deep. The rate of destruction of dental structures is different. In adults, the disease is predominantly sluggish, chronic in nature. Children are more often diagnosed with an acute form of the disease with rapid destruction of dental structures. Inattention to the condition of the teeth leads to the progression of the disease. Carious lesion from the stage of a spot very quickly passes to the middle form, when the dentin is destroyed, a visually noticeable defect is formed – a carious cavity.

How to avoid caries? With this will help simple methods of primary prevention, the most relevant when there is no visible damage to the dental tissues.

Types of prevention

Preventive measures are divided into primary and secondary. Primary prevention of dental caries is the measures taken to prevent the disease, eliminate all provoking factors and causes of its development. It can be endogenous (general) and exogenous (local). The purpose of the secondary set of preventive measures is to diagnose the disease at an early stage, preventing relapse.

Exogenous methods

Exogenous prevention of caries development includes methods that increase the resistance of the enamel layer to various cariesogenic factors:

• Thorough oral hygiene – teeth are qualitatively cleaned in the morning and evening, for care use personally selected brushes, gels, pastes, rinses, floss, irrigator.
• Fluoridation – the use of pastes, gels, solutions containing fluoride, calcium, phosphorus. Applications, physiotherapy procedures with remineralizing, fluoride compounds. Toothpaste for caries prevention, in addition to hygienic cleaning, provides additional mineralization of enamel, increasing its protection, reducing the risk of disease.
• Regular professional examinations – even if there are no visible signs of carious lesions, it is necessary to undergo a dental examination twice a year. This will help to detect the problem at an early stage, quickly eliminate it without resorting to complex treatment or drastic measures.
• Professional hygiene – removal of dental deposits (plaque, calculus) in the dental office.
• Sealing of fissures with polymer compositions.

Molars and premolars of both jaws are more susceptible to carious lesions, with a predominant localization of the focus on the chewing surface (in fissures, blind holes, folds). Obturation (sealing) of fissures and other anatomical recesses of the tooth with adhesive materials creates a physical barrier that prevents the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, organic acids that destroy dental structures in the retention areas of enamel. The method is aimed at preventing caries of temporary and permanent teeth. The procedure is painless, the effect lasts 3-5 years.

Endogenous methods

Endogenous prevention of dental caries in adults is medication (drug) and non-medication:

• Non-drug measures involve correction of nutrition, a healthy lifestyle. Dental health is harmed by smoking, constant consumption of sweets, baked goods, alcohol. It is recommended to give up bad habits, and sweets, simple carbohydrates to replace berries, fruits. The diet should be balanced in the content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, essential minerals, trace elements.
• Medication prophylaxis includes taking fluoride preparations, vitamin complexes, food supplements in age dosages. Medications for the prevention of dental caries dentist selects individually, based on the condition of the teeth, general health.

Comprehensive prevention of dental caries is a rational diet, careful hygiene, regular check-ups with a dentist. Even if a person diligently brushes his teeth, but abuses smoking or can not do without sweets for a day, he creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of cariesogenic bacteria. Dental health should be monitored in a complex. Is it possible to cure tooth decay with toothpaste? No! But it is necessary to use it to prevent the disease.

Professional hygiene

Modern methods of preventing tooth decay involve office hygienic cleaning twice a year. Professional hygiene is aimed at removing bacterial plaque, mineralized formations (plaques, stones) from the supragingival and subgingival part of the tooth. Hygienic cleaning includes the following steps:

1. Removal of hard and soft deposits by AIR-FLOW or ultrasonic scaler.
2. Polishing the surface of the teeth with abrasive paste.
3. Protection of enamel with fluoride varnish.

Hygienic procedures are painless, carried out quickly. Another plus – the dentist gets the opportunity to accurately assess the condition of the oral cavity, to detect pathology at the initial stage. Each of the stages can be carried out as an independent procedure. But it is the full hygienic complex will provide effective prevention of diseases of the teeth, gums.

Methods of treatment of caries in the stage of stain

The appearance of a matte-white smooth stain on the enamel is the first sign of the carious process. Such a stain means that the enamel in this place is demineralized, more susceptible to destruction. Qualified therapy includes the following actions:

• professional hygiene;
• remineralizing therapy, which uses preparations for the prevention of caries, containing fluoride and calcium;
• regular dental check-ups.

One of the latest innovations in treatment without a drill is the Icon technology. A special infiltrate is applied to the affected area of enamel, after pretreatment. The material penetrates deeply into the enamel structure, filling the defect. Excess material is removed, the treated area is polymerized with a UV lamp. The defect is sealed, the carious process is stopped.

If the stain has reached the stage of pigmentation, a cavity defect appears on the enamel, the affected tooth will require preparation with subsequent filling. The dentist selects the method of treatment according to the clinical picture.

What to do to prevent tooth decay?

The most effective way to prevent dental diseases is systematic examination by a dentist. It is possible to detect the problem independently when the carious cavity becomes visible or the tooth has become sensitive to temperature, mechanical or chemical irritants. The disease at the stain stage can only be diagnosed by a doctor.

While preventing early stage decay is possible with remineralization therapy or Icon technology, it is difficult to eliminate the lesion with minimal loss of natural tooth tissue in medium or deep decay.

Adults are recommended to visit the dentist at least 2 times a year, children – every 3-4 months, because the enamel of children’s teeth is thinner, so it deteriorates rapidly.

Specialists of the RUTT clinic in Moscow are successfully engaged in caries prevention using modern methods and approaches. High-quality professional hygiene, detailed recommendations on home care – all this will help to preserve the health of teeth and gums, avoid traumatic procedures to restore the dentition.