CARIES

Dental caries can also be called tooth decay. In pathological state dental caries is the most frequent disorders that endures to the individual. It happens due to demineralization and destruction of the tough tissues of tooth ( enamel, dentine and cementum ) because of particular kinds of cariogenic microorganisms. Carb kinds of food gather in the tooth area, subsequently bacteria is colonized in the food dust and fermenting of the carb kinds of food. These causes acid generation, which acid causes destruction of the hard tissue of teeth.
Dental caries is an powerful microbiological disorder that results in localized dissolution and destruction of calcified tissue of the tooth. Included in these are:

  Crevices, pits or grooves in the back teeth
  Between teeth
  Around dental fillings or bridgework
  Near the gum line

Some of the plaque microorganisms change sugar and carbs (starches) in the meals we eat into acids. The acids dissolve minerals in the hard enamel that covers the tooth's crown (the portion it is possible to see). The enamel erodes or develops pits. They may be too little to see in the beginning. But they get bigger over time.
Acid can also seep through pores in the enamel. That is how rot starts in the softer dentin layer, the primary body of the tooth. As the dentin reduces, the enamel over it can fall, forming a cavity.
If the cavity isn't repaired, bacteria will enter the tooth's interior layer. This includes the delicate pulp and delicate nerve fibers.
Tooth roots exposed by receding gum can also grow rot. The root outside layer, cementum, isn't as thick as enamel. Acids from plaque bacteria can dissolve it quickly.
No one actually understands what causes the pain folks get with cavities that haven't entered the pulp. Hypotheses comprise:

  Redness from bacteria
  Exposure of the root surface
  Imbalance of fluid amounts in tiny openings called tubules inside the dentin




Symptoms
Early caries may not have any symptoms. Later, when the decay has eaten through the enamel, the teeth may be sensitive to sweet, hot or cold foods or drinks.

Diagnosis
A dentist will look for caries at each office visit. This will be part of the exam, whether it is a routine visit or an appointment made because of pain. The dentist will look at the teeth and may probe them with a tool called an explorer to look for pits or areas of damage. The problem with these methods is that they often do not catch cavities when they are just forming. Occasionally, if too much force is used, an explorer can puncture the enamel. This could allow the cavity-causing bacteria to spread to healthy teeth.
Newer devices also have been developed to detect tooth decay. They are useful in some situations, and they do not spread decay. The one most commonly used in dental offices is a liquid dye or stain. Your dentist brushes the nontoxic dye over your teeth, then rinses it off with water. It rinses away cleanly from healthy areas but sticks to the decayed areas.
Some dentists also use high-tech devices such as lasers to detect cavities. Under many conditions, these devices can detect very early tooth decay, which can actually be reversed.
Lastly, more advanced caries can be seen on X-rays. They are taken on a set schedule, or to find out the cause of symptoms such as pain.



Expected Duration
Caries may be curable, or not, depending on when it is found. White spots may indicate early caries that has not yet eroded through the enamel. Early caries may be reversed if acid damage is stopped and the tooth is given a chance to repair the damage naturally.
Caries that has destroyed enamel cannot be reversed. Most caries will continue to get worse and go deeper. With time, the tooth may decay down to the root. How long this takes will vary from person to person. Caries can erode to a painful level within months or years.



Prevention
One way you can prevent cavities is by reducing the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth. The best way to do this is by brushing and flossing  daily. You also can use antibacterial mouth rinses to reduce the levels of bacteria that cause cavities.
You can reduce the amount of tooth-damaging acid in your mouth by eating sugary or starchy foods less often during the day. Your mouth will remain acidic for several hours after eating. Therefore, you are more likely to prevent caries if you avoid between-meal snacks.
Chewing gum that contains xylitol helps to decrease bacterial growth. The bacteria cannot use the xylitol as a food source, like sugar. Other products also can reduce the acid level in your mouth. Ask your dentist about them.
Another way to reduce your risk of cavities is through the use of fluoride, which strengthens teeth. A dentist can evaluate your risk of caries and then suggest appropriate fluoride treatments. Fluoride in water strengthens teeth from within, as they develop, and also on the outside. Dentists also can paint fluoride varnish on children's primary teeth to protect them from decay.
In adults, molars can be protected with sealant In children, both baby molars and permanent molars can be sealed. Dentists also can use sealants on molars that have early signs of tooth decay, as long as the decay has not broken through the enamel.



Treatment
Caries is a process. In its early stages, tooth decay can be stopped. It can even be reversed. Fluorides and other prevention methods also help a tooth in early stages of decay to repair itself (remineralize). White spots are the last stage of early caries.
Once caries gets worse and there is a break in the enamel, only the dentist can repair the tooth. Then the standard treatment for a cavity is to fill the tooth. If a drill is used, the dentist will numb the area. If a laser is used, a numbing shot is not usually required. The decayed material in the cavity is removed and the cavity is filled.

Many fillings are made of dental amalgam or composite resine. Amalgam is a silver-gray material made from silver, mercury, copper or other metals. Composite resin offers a better appearance because it is tooth-colored. Newer resins are very durable.
Amalgams are used in molars and premolars because the metal is not seen in the back of the mouth. Composite and ceramic materials are used for all teeth.
If a cavity is large, the remaining tooth may not be able to support enough filling material to repair it. In this case, the dentist will remove the decay and cover the tooth with a ceramic inlay, onlay or artificial crown. These may be made in the office or in a lab.
Sometimes the part of the tooth you can see remains relatively intact, but there is decay in the pulp inside the tooth. In this case, the tooth will need root canal treatment. A general dentist or an endodontist will be able to remove the tooth's pulp and replace it with an inert material. In most cases, the tooth will need a crown.



When To Call a Professional
The early stages of decay are usually painless. Only regular professional examinations and X-rays can detect early trouble. If you develop sensitivity to chewing or to hot, cold or sweet foods or drinks, contact your dentist.



Prognosis
If caries is not treated, it likely will cause the tooth to decay significantly. Eventually, uncontrolled decay may destroy the tooth.
Having caries increases your risk of more caries for several reasons:

• Caries is caused by bacteria. The more decay you have, the more bacteria exist in your mouth.
• The same oral care and dietary habits that led to the decay of your teeth will cause more decay.
• Bacteria tend to stick to fillings and other restorations more than to smooth teeth, so those areas will be more likely to have new caries.
• Cracks or gaps in the fillings may allow bacteria and food to enter the tooth, leading to decay from beneath the filling.