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“It helps prevent the cavity causing bacteria from producing acid, which in turn reduces the risk of cavities,” she says. “The ingredient can be found in many products these days, like ...
Dental cavity, also known as tooth decay, [a] is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria. [6] The resulting cavities may be a number of different colors, from yellow to black. [ 1 ] Symptoms may include pain and difficulty eating.
Remineralization can contribute towards restoring strength and function within tooth structure. [3] Demineralization is the removal of minerals (mainly calcium) from any of the hard tissues: enamel, dentine, and cementum. [4] It begins at the surface, and may progress into either cavitation (tooth decay) or erosion (tooth wear).
Where the enamel (the hard outer surface of the tooth) has cavitated or even has a small breach due to tooth decay, the cavity can be enlarged with special hand instruments when necessary to enable access to the soft decayed tooth tissue. After removing as much decay as necessary, the cavity is cleaned with water, dried and filled with the HVGIC.
“This erosion can lead to tooth sensitivity, an increased risk of cavities and tooth discoloration due to the exposure of the underlying yellowish dentin.” (Dentin is the layer under the enamel.)
The main method of preventing tooth loss is prevention of oral diseases. Tooth loss can be due to tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay is caused by increased plaque retention. Bacteria can then invade the plaque and cause dental caries (cavities). If cavities persist untreated for an extended period of time, tooth breakdown occurs. [4]
Composites and amalgam are used mainly for direct restoration. Composites can be made of color matching the tooth, and the surface can be polished after the filling procedure has been completed. Amalgam fillings expand with age, possibly cracking the tooth and requiring repair and filling replacement, but chance of leakage of filling is less.
When it comes to repairing teeth affected by Early Childhood Caries, the extent of tooth decay will guide the choice of treatment. For moderate to severe decay, stainless steel crowns are a common option. These crowns are ready-made and can be tailored to fit over a child's primary molar. The crowns are then fixed in place to restore the tooth.