going to the dentist with less anxiety

Do You Need To Know More About Tooth Decay?

21 February 2014

Jordan Arnold

Getting a cavity filled is one of the most important things you can do to protect your teeth from decay and other extensive problems. A dentist in Colorado Springs can repair cavities of all sizes with his restorative treatments called fillings. In order to have a better understanding of how your provider treats tooth decay, you must first learn how it develops in your mouth. What Is Tooth Decay and How Does It Form? Most cavities or tooth decay forms from not brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal. Your mouth naturally contains a plethora of bacteria, which is generally kept under control with good flossing and brushing habits. Saliva keeps the surfaces of your gums, inner cheeks, teeth, and tongue moist and supple. These things work together to prevent microorganisms like bacteria from getting out of control. However, leaving food on your teeth can increase the activity of oral bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. Streptococci mutans will use these substances to make the ideal environment to proliferate, live and hide. Bacteria blend with the carbohydrates produced by food until they form a slimy residue called plaque. Plaque generally appears colorless, but if you floss between your teeth, a yellowish-white substance will appear on the thread. This same residue contains enamel-eating lactic acid, which is the reason cavities form. The acid penetrates each layer below the enamel until it reaches the nerves. This is how most toothaches begin. Can You Notice Tooth Decay at Home? Before you even visit your dentist, you may notice a cavity on your own. Noticeable cavities form on the surfaces of the enamel, instead of inside them or on the tips of roots. Cavities are visibly seen, if they up on the: Bite Surfaces The decay appears as dark, irregularly formed lines on the bite surfaces of molars and premolars, which are the deep indentations on the tops of teeth. You can also feel bite surface cavities, if you run your tongue along these indentations. The surface may have a rough texture to it because of the decay. Smooth Surfaces These types of cavities show up as small black or brown specks on the smooth surfaces of teeth, such as on the anterior part of incisors and canines. This type of tooth decay is not easily felt by the tongue, unless it is extensive or large. Due to its location, smooth surface decay can be more unsightly than bite surface decay. What Is the Most Popular Filling Material and Why? Fillings are used in traditional dental treatments for smooth and bite surface cavities. They come in a variety of colors and materials that the provider can use based on your personal preferences. This includes a material known as composite resin, which is better suited for front and back tooth restorations. Composite resin is a popular white filling utilized by cosmetic and restorative dentists like yours. The dentist typically mixes the material until it looks similar to the color of your natural teeth shade. He can do this easily because composite resin is made of strong type of silica called silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is generally found in vegetables, fruits and other beneficial foods. Because of this, you may have small traces of it present in your body already. Your repaired tooth may stay healthier longer than it would with some other type of filling material, such as amalgam. In addition, composite resin is useful in adding height to worn down teeth crowns, and those affected by chips and minor fractures. Silicon reinforces the physical shape of a damaged tooth, so that it suffers fewer problems in the future. For more on dentists in Colorado Springs, CO, check out Frederick G Guerra DMD.

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus_mutans
• http://www.thespringsmoderndentistry.com/fillings
• http://www.newhealthguide.org/Silicon-Dioxide.html

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