Clinical Findings Treatment
The diagnosis of caries is usually made by a visual-tactile oral examination using adental explorer supplemented by radiographs. Radiographs are used to visualize caries on the surfaces between teeth that cannot be reached with the dental explorer. The earliest sing of caries is a white spot lesion-a white. Chalky. Decalcified area along the gingival margn or on approximated tooth surfaces. Frank carious lesions are light to dark brown spots or cavities of varying size on a tooth. A lighter shade of brown indicates more rampant decay. Whereas arrested caries are almost black in color. In the early stages of decay. The tooth may be sensitive to temperature changes or sweets. At this point.the tooth can be repaired by removing the carious tooth structure and filling the defect with a restorative material. As decay progresses deeper into the pulp pain increases as more of thestill-vital pulp becomes necrotic. Once the entire pulp is necrotic and nonvital. A choice must be made between root canal therapy (pulpectomy) or removal of the tooth. In the presence of cellulitis or facial space abscess. Extraction with antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice.
Because cavitation is a late stage of the disease. Filling cavities does nothing to address the underlying pathologic process. Unlike other infections. Dental caries cannot be treated by a simple course of antibiotics. The disease can only be cured through treatment of the pervasive oral infection. A sustained reduction in the number of cariogenic bacteria,vand the creation of a favorable oral environment. To achieve this,a patient’s (and ideally a family’s) diet must be restored to eliminate sources of reinfection and plaque buildup and reduce the number of bacteria. Rrgular dental visits mus be maintained to monitor and reinforce good oral health practices.the concept of prevention through timelyparent education, early diagnosis,and prompt intervention offers greater efficiency, better health outcomes, and lower costs than repeated restoration of diseased teeth.
Caries Prevention
To prevent dental caries, it is necessary to remove plaque and its resident cariogenic bacteriar on a regular basis.