Don't Neglect Your Oral Health: Understanding and Treating Cavities
If you're worried about cavity treatment,
The reason to protect your oral health isn't just for the function of your teeth. Teeth are closely related to pronunciation, facial structure maintenance, and overall health, in addition to their role in chewing food. Damage to permanent teeth doesn't just cause discomfort; it can also affect other bodily organs. For example, impaired chewing function can strain digestion, and inflammation can spread to other areas, leading to disease. Therefore, it's important to regularly visit a dental clinic for check-ups and take early action when cavities or gum disease occur. It's also essential to develop habits to prevent problems before they arise. Brushing your teeth properly after meals and using floss, interdental brushes, or mouthwash can be helpful. Above all, regular scaling is fundamental.
When brushing your teeth,
You need to thoroughly remove dental plaque.
Dental plaque combines with bacteria and turns into hard tartar, which is the main cause of cavities and periodontal disease. Tartar that has hardened and stuck to the gums is difficult to remove with brushing, so it must be managed with scaling. Bleeding or slight pain may occur during scaling, but this is not because the gums are weak, but because the tartar that has accumulated for a long time is hard. At first, these symptoms may be mistaken for gum disease, but they are actually a normal reaction. On the contrary, if you neglect it because you are afraid of pain, the tartar will stick more firmly, leading to greater pain and bleeding later on. Therefore, it is recommended to have scaling at least once a year, and it is even better to manage it every 3 or 6 months depending on the condition of your gums.
Even so,
Cavities often occur.
Cavities start in the enamel, and are almost indistinguishable to the naked eye in the early stages, with little to no pain. Therefore, many people are likely to overlook them. For example, if you frequently consume coffee or sugary foods and are careless because you have no pain, damage will slowly progress in the meantime. For this reason, regular check-ups are important. With professional equipment, even small lesions that are not visible to the eye can be detected early. Early cavities can be easily removed or restored with fluoride application alone. It's fortunate that natural teeth can be preserved as much as possible during treatment. However, if the cavity spreads to the dentin, discomfort such as sensitivity or pain will appear.
At this stage, many people visit the dentist because they are sensitive to cold or hot foods when eating, and the pain is severe. If you receive treatment at this time, you can remove the decayed area and preserve healthy teeth. If the damaged area is not large, it can be finished with resin or inlay, but if the damage is deep, it must be covered with a crown. Inlays and crowns not only help restore shape but also restore function. They are also aesthetically pleasing because they are made to look similar to natural teeth. On the other hand, if you postpone this treatment, bacteria may penetrate the damaged area or food may get stuck, increasing the possibility of inflammation recurring.
If cavities are left untreated for a long time,
It eventually leads to pulpitis.
Pulpitis is a disease in which the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth become inflamed. At this stage, the pain becomes much stronger, and a throbbing sensation persists even without stimulation. The intensity of pain varies from person to person, so some people may feel that "this is tolerable," while others may be in so much pain that they cannot sleep at night. Therefore, even if the symptoms are ambiguous, it is important to get a check-up instead of judging for yourself. Accurate treatment is possible only when the depth of inflammation and the degree of nerve damage are accurately determined.
If pulpitis becomes severe and it is difficult to preserve the natural tooth, extraction must be considered. In this case, treatment is needed to remove the damaged tooth and replace it with an implant. An implant is an artificially made tooth with a structure that combines a fixture, abutment, and abutment. Because it is firmly fixed, it has high chewing power and durability. In fact, if managed well, it can be used for more than 10 years and can restore more than 90% of the function of natural teeth. There is almost no shaking, and it can give a natural feeling when eating. That's why many people choose it as a more practical alternative to dentures. However, implant placement requires precise skills, so it is important to choose a dental clinic that has both experience and equipment.
When performing an implant, the oral structure is first precisely photographed with digital equipment. Based on this data, the placement location and depth are calculated to create a plan. If this process is not followed, the implant may not be properly fixed to the jawbone, or the chewing pressure may not be evenly distributed, causing discomfort. Therefore, 'planting accurately' is much more important than simply 'planting quickly.' In fact, skilled medical staff predict problems in advance through simulations and create a plan tailored to each individual. Only through such careful procedures can it be used stably even after treatment.
Of course, the best way is
Not to lose your teeth.
If you brush and scale regularly and treat even small cavities early, it is rare for them to lead to extraction. However, if damage has already occurred, it is advisable to receive appropriate treatment as soon as possible. It is fortunate if the damaged area can be restored and chewing function can be restored, but if not, it is necessary to restore function through implants.
Because each person's oral structure and tooth condition are different, the treatment method may be different even for the same area. For example, some people needed bone grafts, while others were able to have implants placed immediately. Therefore, when considering alternative treatments, it is important to first accurately diagnose your current oral condition.
In the end, cavities are not simply a 'small hole'
It was not a disease that ended with that.
If left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the nerves, leading to extraction or implants. Therefore, prevention and early treatment are more important than anything else. Correct brushing habits, regular check-ups, and the habit of receiving prompt treatment when needed are the most certain ways to maintain healthy teeth.
If you feel uncomfortable now, it is best to visit a dental clinic and get an accurate check-up before it is too late. The earlier the early diagnosis, the smaller the scope of treatment and the higher the probability of preserving natural teeth. Today's small practice is the first step in protecting your lifelong dental health.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/poipeople/224058919732
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