What We Should Know About Caries And Its Stages

28 September 2023

What Is Caries?

Caries is the most common non-communicable disease in the modern world. According to research conducted in 2017, about 95% of the world's population complains of a severe or mild form of caries.

Caries is a pathological process that develops after tooth extraction. During caries, the soft tissues of the tooth are demineralized. There is a very large number of microorganisms in the human mouth, which multiply very quickly. The cause of caries is precisely the microorganisms on the hard tissues of the tooth. Bacteria that live in the mouth are: streptococci, lactobacilli and actinomycetes. As a rule, they are "inherited" from the mother at birth, passed to the child during breastfeeding and cannot be removed. A few hours after brushing the teeth, the number of bacteria can increase to a million. Streptococci process the carbohydrates that come from food and instead release acids that damage the teeth. This process is especially affected by sucrose, which is contained in refined sugar and, therefore, in any product containing sugar. Caries begins when favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria are created in the mouth.

Four Stages Of Caries

According to the pathomorphological changes, there are five types of carious processes in clinical practice. these are:

• Caries in the stain stage - when the tooth is not deeply damaged and a very white stain, different from the enamel, is observed on its surface.
• Enamel caries - when the outer coating of the tooth is already damaged and there are dark spots on it.
• Medium caries stage - at this time, the size and color of the spots are quite noticeable, the patient's tooth is damaged, it causes high sensitivity to cold, hot or even sweet food. At this time, swelling of the soft tissues around the tooth may occur.
•  Deep caries - the last stage of caries. There are cases when, despite treatment, it is impossible to save the nerve. 

Key Factors To Know About Caries

Nutrition - nutrition plays a big role in the formation of caries. Numerous clinical and experimental studies have established that taking a large amount of sweets and keeping them in the mouth increases the risk of developing caries.

Transmitted diseases - tooth enamel is characterized by high mineralization. Transmitted diseases that cause qualitative and quantitative changes in the composition of saliva indirectly affect the demineralization process and, accordingly, destroy the enamel tissue and cause caries.

The importance of microorganisms - without the contact of microorganisms and carbohydrates with the tooth enamel, the development of caries is impossible. The abundance of bacteria is one of the direct causes of caries.

Exposure to external factors - it is known that after radiation therapy, especially in the head and neck area, after 6-8 months, signs of tooth damage appear in the form of white spots, and then carious cavities are formed.

Dental plaque - this is a kind of mass of bacteria that tightly adheres to the surface of the tooth and under certain conditions creates a favorable environment for demineralization of the enamel in a certain area. Acidity is increased in this area and enamel slowly wears away. Dental plaque is a clear, soft, sticky mass composed almost entirely of bacteria and their byproducts.

The protective value of saliva - we must remember that through saliva, the body controls the microorganisms in the mouth. The normal flora of the oral cavity has a protective function against many pathological microorganisms from the outside. Therefore, any change in the healthy composition of saliva (on the background of certain diseases developed in the body) can become a prerequisite for the development of caries.

The team of experienced doctors of "Blits Dental - Kakhaber Kharebava Dental Clinic" (Vera, Kuchishvili Kvacha N11) provides qualified consultation to patients. In any clinic, they will accurately assess your medical case and plan a complex course of treatment tailored to your needs. The many years of experience of our team members is a guarantee of maintaining your oral health and charming smile. To register for a consultation and get detailed information about the terms of dental installments, contact us at the number: (+995) 322 22 15 16