In an April 2007 press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the headline trumpets, "Oral Health Improving for Most Americans, But Tooth Decay Among Preschool Children on the Rise." This report of the results of a five-year, national survey represents the most up-to-date information on the incidence of cavities also known as dental caries and tooth decay.
The report highlights disparities between racial groups. For example, while 31 percent of Mexican-American children, ages 6 to 11, had experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth, compared with only 19 percent of non-Hispanic caucasian children. Economics plays an important role in the incidence of caries. The rate of untreated decay among children ages 6 to 11 from families with income below federal poverty lines is three times the rate of children of families with higher incomes.
Tooth decay is the result of a bacterial infection. Bacteria coat the teeth in a layer called plaque. When exposed to sugar, the bacteria release acid. The acid softens dental enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, and the dentin, the inner layer of teeth that is slightly less hard. The softened tooth structure is tooth decay.
Decay begins as small, soft spots on teeth. The spots may have dark stain, or they may be yellow or orange. The surface of the teeth may appear chalky white. When the decay becomes large enough, the tooth may break or become painful. Dental infection results when the bacteria in the decay invades the dental pulp, the soft inside part of the tooth that includes nerves and blood vessels.
Three factors control the prevalence of decay: the presence of bacterial plaque, the presence of sugar and the individual's resistance to decay. Improve just one of these factors and dental caries becomes less likely. Without sugar, bacteria cannot cause teeth to decay. Without bacteria, no amount of sugar will cause decay. Improve resistance to decay with fluoride, a dietary supplement that hardens teeth, or improve plaque removal, by brushing and flossing better, and the rate of tooth decay lessens.
Dentists treat caries by removing it. In the simplest case, the dentist will use a drill, laser or air abrasion machine (sand blaster) to remove the decay. Then, the dentist fills the cavity.
Deeper decay that damages more of the tooth may require restoration with a crown or a cap that covers the entire tooth. Treatment may include removal of infected pulp (root canal). In the worst case, there is so much decay that the tooth is not repairable. Then, removing the tooth becomes the only option.
Sometimes, the dentist catches decay at a very early stage on an x-ray image. Careful brushing and flossing and judicious use of fluoride can reverse the damage.
Author: Dr. David Leader
© 2008 Associated Content