Dental Decay and Progression
1. INTIAL DECAY
Enamel get infected and begins to breakdown.
Can be managed by conservative and minimally invasive procedures.
2. CAVITY FORMATION
Infection reaches dentin and begins cause symptoms like mild pain and sensitivity.
At this stage restorations are needed.
3. CONSEQUENCES
If left untreated, infection reaches pulp; which may react in one of two ways, either severe pain or silent death of the pulp.
An RCT followed by a Crown will save the tooth.
4. COMPLICATIONS
Infection may spread to other parts of the mouth or body and will need RCT or extraction, followed by a Crown or an implant respectively.
Dental Decay Management - Conventional
Decay
Drilling
Filling
Introducing SDF (Sliver Diamine Fluoride)
Mode of Action
The silver acts as an antimicrobial agent against caries; fluoride prevents further demineralization.
Benefits
Pain free application (No needles or drilling)
Immediate relief from dentinal hypersensitivity
Hardens softened dentin ➔ acid & abrasion resistance
Kills pathogenic organisms
Safe for use in children 3 & over
Indications
Anxious dental patients
Avoid GA / Sedation
To buy time to manage cavities that cannot be treated in 1 visit
Difficult to treat caries
High caries risk patients
SDF Use
Tooth Decay
Clean and Dry the tooth (teeth).
SDF
Apply on clean and dry teeth
Healed
Visible & hidden lesions are stained.
Sound dentin or enamel not stained.
2 treatments, 2-4 weeks apart are ideal; may result in a 74% - 96% reduction.
Filling
White filling blocks the stain and blends with tooth.
Remember:
It is still important to reduce sugar intake and brush 2x/day
Depending on the extent of the tooth decay, other treatments include fluoride varnish, and/or a filling may be required.
In very limited cases, there is a risk that the procedure may not stop the decay; therefore, success cannot be guarantee.