Caries treatment and prevention in Rome

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Caries treatment and prevention

Dental preservation and aesthetics

What are caries?

Caries is a process of destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth (enamel and dentine) caused by bacteria. This process extends deep from the surface with progressive demineralisation and subsequent dissolution of the tooth. Caries must be distinguished from other degenerative tooth diseases that do not occur on an infectious basis such as erosion, abrasion, wear and decalcification, which are also characterised by the same phenomenon of progressive demineralisation. Various statistics report an incidence of around 90% of the population. The young age group is definitely the most affected. Under normal conditions, among the individual teeth, the first molars, second molars, premolars, upper central incisors, lateral incisors and canines appear more subject to the tooth decay process in descending order. Longilineal subjects, compared to brachytypes, would be affected 40% of the time.

What are the causes?

Caries has a number of causes, all of which must be present to trigger the process:

1.  The host organism, with its teeth;

2. Bacteria;
3. The substrate for micro-organisms (e.g. sugar).

The harmful adhesion of bacteria on teeth does not occur unless the enamel has first acquired an organic coating ('acquired film'), on which the bacteria, through the precipitation of salivary proteins, form dental plaque or 'bacterial plaque'. Depending on the location of the walls, they easily fracture under masticatory load. Caries spreads closer and closer to the tooth pulp, which starts to become inflamed (pulpitis) and this leads to the appearance of painful symptoms. This is evoked by temperature changes, sweet or salty food and compression of food on the tooth. Generally, the pain disappears by suspending the stimulus. The intensity of the pain is directly proportional to the depth of the caries. If no therapeutic action is taken, dentine caries advances and approaches the pulp chamber, leading to pulpitis. 

Pulpitis is therefore a typical inflammatory phenomenon caused by the release of toxins by bacteria in the vicinity of the pulp. At the moment of direct communication between the carious cavity and pulp chamber, a process of necrosis occurs. Toxic substances derived from the necrotic pulp tissue, together with bacterial toxins, can escape from the apical foramen of the tooth root even coming into contact with bone tissue. The organism reacts by forming a barrier to the advancement of the toxins by forming an apical granuloma, which is initially asymptomatic and therefore only detectable radiographically. If the bacterial load increases further or the body's defensive capabilities diminish, a periapical abscess will form, which is very painful and will result in the typical swelling of the face.

What to do

See your dentist for six-monthly check-ups. Depending on your caries receptivity (i.e. your individual tendency to decay your teeth) as assessed by the specialist, you will be able to use the most suitable oral hygiene products to protect your teeth and prevent the onset of caries.

Contact the dentist's office in the centre of Rome and schedule a visit.


Need a consultation with a dentist in Rome or a free quotation? Contact us now!

Need a consultation with a dentist in Rome or a free quotation? Contact us now!

If you did not find the answer you were looking for or you need a consultation with our dentists or a free orthodontic estimate in Rome, do not hesitate to contact us. 

You can call us directly at the following numbers or send us an email using the contact form.

Our dental offices are located in Rome, at Via Napoli 65 and Via Benetti 8.
Via Napoli office Via Benetti office

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