Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity, is a disease where bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure (enamel, dentin and cementum). These tissues progressively break down, producing dental cavities (holes in the teeth). Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli. If left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death.
The presentation of caries is highly variable, however the risk factors and stages of development are similar. Initially, it may appear as a small chalky area which may eventually develop into a large cavitation. Sometimes caries may be directly visible, however other methods of detection such as radiographs are used for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of destruction.
Tooth decay is caused by specific types of acid-producing bacteria which cause damage in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose. The mineral content of teeth is sensitive to increases in acidity from the production of lactic acid.
Specifically, a tooth (which is primarily mineral in content) is in a constant state of back-and-forth demineralization and remineralization between the tooth and surrounding saliva. When the pH at the surface of the tooth drops below 5.5, demineralization proceeds faster than remineralization (i.e. there is a net loss of mineral structure on the tooth’s surface). This results in the ensuing decay.
Depending on the extent of tooth destruction, various treatments can be used to restore teeth to proper form, function, and aesthetics, but there is no known method to regenerate large amounts of tooth structure. Instead, dental health organizations advocate preventive and prophylactic measures, such as regular oral hygiene and dietary modifications, to avoid dental caries.
All cavities occur where carbohydrate like sugar or starch is in the food left on teeth after every meal or snack and changed to acid demineralisation of tooth by plaque bacteria.
Today, caries remains one of the most common diseases throughout the world (almost 98% of population).
Sources:
Simple Steps to Dental Health
American Dental Association
Zubni plak je lepljiva materija koja sadrži bakterije, a nalazi se na površini zuba. Bakterije plaka vrše fermentaciju šecera pri čemu se stvara kiselina i smanjuje se pH u ustima. Nastala kiselina rastvara minerale iz gleđi i dolazi do demineralizacije.
Kiselina koja je nastala delovanjem bakterija može biti neutralizovana pljuvačkom. Neutralizacija uzrokuje porast pH vrednosti u ustima i ” povratak ” rastvorenog kalcijuma i fosfora nazad u gleđ i dolazi do remineralizacije. Karijes se u stvari razvija u periodu kada je proces demineralizacije jači od procesa remineralizacije.
Prema lokalizaciji u odnosu na blizinu pulpe (nerv i krvni sudovi) karijes može biti površinski koji zahvata gleđ, srednji koji zahvata pored gleđi i dentin i duboki koji se maksimalno približava pulpi.
U terapiji karijesa defekti zuba mogu se nadoknaditi konzervativno različitim vrstama ispuna, i to: amalgamskim ispunama, takozvanim sivim plombama i savremenim kompozitnim ispunima to jest belim plombama, koje pored funkcionalnog zadovoljavaju i estetski momenat.
Karijes je najčešće oboljenje današnjice – pogađa 98 % ljudske populacije.
Izvori:
Simple Steps to Dental Health
American Dental Association