Dental care Caries (Tooth Decay)

Dental caries (tooth decay) is really a major oral health problem in many industrialised countries, affecting 60-90% of schoolchildren and most adults.

The early manifestation Emergency dental services Brooklyn from the caries process is a little patch of demineralised (softened) enamel in the tooth surface, often hidden from sight within the fissures (grooves) of teeth or between the teeth.

Emergency dental services Brooklyn The destruction spreads to the softer, sensitive part from the tooth beneath the teeth enamel (dentine).

Emergency dental services Brooklyn The weakened enamel then collapses to create a cavity and the actual tooth is progressively ruined. Caries can also assault the roots of teeth as long as they become exposed by chewing gum recession. This is more prevalent in older adults.Emergency dental services Brooklyn

Dental caries is brought on by the action of acids about the enamel surface. The acid is created when sugars (mainly sucrose) within foods or drinks react with bacteria contained in the dental biofilm (plaque) about the tooth surface. The acid produced results in a loss of calcium and phosphate in the enamel; this process is known as demineralisation. Emergency dental services Brooklyn

Saliva acts to thin down and neutralise the acid which in turn causes demineralisation and is an essential natural defence against caries. Apart from buffering plaque acids as well as halting the demineralisation associated with enamel, saliva provides a reservoir of minerals next to the enamel from which it may remineralise and “heal” Emergency dental services Brooklyn when the acids have been neutralised. The enamel demineralises as well as remineralises many times throughout a day. It is actually when this balance is actually upset and demineralisation surpasses remineralisation that caries advances.

Emergency dental services Brooklyn When demineralisation occurs often and exceeds remineralisation more than many months, there is really a breakdown of the enamel surface resulting in a cavity. Cavities, even in children who don't yet have their long term teeth, can have serious and lasting complications for example pain, tooth abscess, teeth loss, broken teeth, eating problems and serious an infection.Emergency dental services Brooklyn