General dentistry – preventative treatment
During preventative treatment the main focus of our patient care is on dental decay. Through preventative treatment we prevent decay and treat cavities that have already developed. Even very small children suffer form tooth decay. This is such a common disease that there are very few patients who have never experienced tooth decay. Decay is mainly caused by bacteria developing in dental plaque, from poor oral hygiene or from poor diet.
The problem of tooth decay is extremely important. Untreated decay may even lead to tooth loss and the beginning of other more serious diseases.
The first stage of tooth decay is called initial tooth decay. At this point it is relatively easy to deal with the disease and in such cases the treatment is usually pain free. Unnoticed tooth decay can transform into superficial tooth decay. At this stage the disease penetrates the enamel and the external layer of dentine. The Next stage, intermediate decay, affects further parts of the enamel and dentine. At this stage the level of tooth decay reaches a point where the patient usually feels pain which increases further when the tooth is in contact with hot and cold food. At this stage the treatment is more complicated and requires extra preparation of the defective area and a larger loss of the natural tooth. If at this stage the patent neglects and ignores the symptoms it may cause disease of the pulp at the center of the tooth. Root canal treatment may be necessary and in some cases it is necessary to remove the tooth altogether.
Hence regular visits to the dentist and appropriate prevention are so important. These measures help to limit the development of disease and when it occurs, dynamic preventative action will minimise the need for further intervention.
Prevention is of course the best antidote. It helps to eliminate or reduce dental problems to a minimum. Extremely important in this fight against dental decay are:
- brushing teeth correctly
- rinsing the mouth using liquids containing fluorine
- using dental floss and water irrigators
- a proper diet
- regular removal of plaque and tartar by the dentist
Symptom such as tooth discoloration, spots on a tooth or pain should be a sign to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Often patients are afraid of pain and this prevents them from booking an appointment. However thanks to modern anesthetic methods used by Dentin dental clinic Wrocław, treatment is shorter and more comfortable for the patient.