The five stages of tooth decay
Did you know there are five distinct stages of tooth decay? And that in the first stage of decay, you can actually take steps to reverse the progression of the disease? Indeed, it’s true. In the first stage of decay, regardless of age, there are a number of different ways to help re-mineralize a tooth. Your regular toothpaste and even the local water supply, which has very low concentrations of fluoride, can help stop a cavity from penetrating through the enamel and progressing. Even the saliva in your mouth and the foods you eat help to re-mineralize a tooth in jeopardy. Your dentists at Salt Creek Family Dental in Hinsdale, IL can absolutely help you to re-mineralize that tooth. We can apply fluoride to your white spots via in-office fluoride treatments or send you home with prescription strength products that you can apply yourself. But that’s just the first stage! What about the rest? Understanding how a cavity progresses can assist you in preventing each successive stage from occurring in your children. There’s always a lot going on in that little mouth!
Stage One:
White Spots (demineralization) In stage one, the tooth begins to show signs of strain from the attack of sugars and acids, and white spots will begin to materialize just below the surface of the enamel. These white spots are representative of the demineralization of the tooth and can be easy to miss because they’re likely to occur on your child’s molars where food has more tendency to build up. These big groovy teeth are also harder to properly clean. A dental exam, of course, is designed to catch such cavities! This is why 6 month checkups and exams are highly recommended. As mentioned previously, at this stage, the cavity can be repaired without the need to excavate the tooth. At Salt Creek Family Dental, our experienced Dentists and Hygienists in Hinsdale, IL conduct thorough exams to ensure these can be treated before progressing to the next stage.
Stage Two:
Enamel Decay Stage two marks the beginning of the end for the surface enamel that is being attacked. Initially, the tooth erodes from the underside outward, so the outer enamel will still be intact for the first half of this second stage. However, decay is lurking underneath and once the cavity breaks through the surface of the enamel, there is no turning back. Your tooth is now in stage three and your child will need to have the cavity corrected with a filling.
Stage Three:
Dentin Decay If the enamel remains intact on the outside of the tooth but the cavity in your child’s mouth progresses beyond stage two without you knowing, the tooth might possibly show dark discoloration through the enamel. The tooth may also start to have cracks and fractures lines in it. At this level, the cavity begins to eat away at the dentin (the second level of tooth material that lies beneath the enamel) at a much faster rate than decay through enamel. It is important to catch this stage and remedy with a filling as soon as possible as it will stop the onslaught of bacteria assaulting the tooth. We need to prevent the cavity from reaching the tooth’s most critical component: the pulp.
Stage Four:
Involvement of The Pulp Once the cavity reaches the pulp, it’s going to hurt. A lot. So if you’ve unfortunately missed all the signs up to this point, a screaming child or moaning teenager will certainly let you know there is a big problem. Stage four is serious, and a root canal is the only option of treatment at this stage, save for a complete extraction. During a root canal, the diseased/necrotic pulp tissue that once housed the nerve and vital blood supply is removed. The canal is disinfected and sealed. At Salt Creek Family Dental, we can sometimes perform root canals but if the tooth is more complex we may need to refer you to a root canal specialist that has more advanced equipment to handle your tooth. There are many great specialists in the Hinsdale area that we have great confidence in that can get you out pain and start the process of restoring your tooth.
Stage Five:
Tooth necrosis / Abscess Formation In the fifth and final stage of a cavity, the infection has reached the tip of the root and exited the tip of the tooth’s structure. This in turn infects the surrounding tissues and possibly the bone structure. Swelling would be commonplace and pain severe. In children (as well as adults) an abscess can be fatal if not dealt with immediately. Root canal or extraction would be the order of the day should decay reach this stage. Call our office at once at (630)323-0060 or email us at office@saltcreekfamilydental.com if you notice any swelling or severe pain. We are here to help!
As you can see, cavities don’t happen overnight. In the early stages, regular visits can stall and reverse the progression of these dastardly little devils, so it really does pay to visit the dentist at pre-selected intervals. Prevention is key and can save you from future pain, both in your mouth and in your wallet! We can help you keep your kids far, far from stage five their whole lives so schedule an appointment today and we will start you on your journey to exceptional oral health!