What to do if there is a hole in the tooth

Eat fried chicken, drink beer, eat spicy crayfish, etc., hot, cold, sour, sweet substances, as long as we want to eat, we can't help but stuff them into our mouths. The consequence of this is not only discomfort in our digestive system, especially the stomach, but our oral hygiene will also be greatly threatened. The most common problem is tooth decay. What should you do if there is a hole in your tooth?

Consider tooth decay. Caries is caused by sugary foods (especially sucrose) entering the mouth and fermenting to produce acid through the action of cariogenic bacteria in the dental plaque. These acids (mainly lactic acid) invade from the weak areas of the pressure surface structure and dissolve and destroy the inorganic matter in the teeth. Dental caries are usually treated with filling therapy, which means removing the carious tissue, cleaning and disinfecting it, filling it with amalgam or composite filling resin materials, and restoring the shape of the tooth defect to prevent it from further developing. Filling therapy is most effective for patients with shallow caries, while for patients with moderate and deep caries, filling is usually performed after the carious tissue is removed and a layer of pulp protector is added to the bottom of the cavity or pulp treatment is performed.

Caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is a bacterial disease, so it can cause secondary pulpitis and apical periodontitis, and even cause inflammation of the alveolar bone and jawbone. If not treated promptly, the lesions will continue to develop, forming cavities, and eventually the crown of the tooth will be completely destroyed and disappear. Untreated cavities will not heal on their own and will eventually lead to tooth loss.

Dental caries is a progressive lesion of the hard tissue of teeth caused by the combined effects of multiple factors in the oral cavity. It is characterized by demineralization of inorganic matter and decomposition of organic matter. As the disease progresses, it evolves from color change to the formation of substantial lesions. It is characterized by high incidence and wide distribution. It is a common oral disease and one of the most common diseases in humans. The World Health Organization has listed it as one of the three major preventable diseases in humans, along with cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Clinically, dental caries can be seen to have changes in color, shape, and quality, with quality changes being the main ones. Color and shape changes are the result of quality changes. As the disease progresses, the lesions enter the dentin from the enamel, and the tissue is constantly destroyed and disintegrated, gradually forming dental cavities. Clinically, dental caries are often divided into three stages: shallow, moderate, and deep, according to the degree of caries. Their respective manifestations are as follows:

1. Shallow caries

Also known as enamel caries, caries is limited to the enamel. In the early stage, it appears as chalky patches caused by demineralization on the smooth surface, which later become yellow-brown due to coloring. The pits and fissures appear diffuse and ink-soaked. Generally, there are no obvious cavities, only a rough feeling when probing. In the later stage, shallow holes limited to the enamel may appear, with no subjective symptoms and no response to probing.

2. Medium caries

Caries has reached the superficial layer of dentin. Clinical examination shows obvious cavities. There may be tenderness on probing. There may be pain response to external stimuli (such as cold, heat, sweet, sour and food embedded in the teeth). The pain disappears immediately when the stimulus is removed. There is no spontaneous pain.

3. Deep caries

Caries has reached the deep layer of dentin, generally manifesting as large and deep cavities, or small entrances with more extensive damage in the deep layers. The reaction to external stimuli is more severe than that of moderate caries, but after the source of stimulation is removed, the pain can still be relieved immediately, and there is no spontaneous pain.

4. Caries

It appears as a black translucent area on the X-ray film. For those that are difficult to diagnose (such as interproximal caries), X-rays can be used to assist in diagnosis.

examine:

If it is difficult to determine the location of caries, a dental X-ray can be taken, where a black shadow can be seen. If conditions permit, optical fiber transillumination, electrical impedance, ultrasound, elastic mold separation, staining and other technologies can be used to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of early diagnosis of dental caries.

Differential diagnosis:

Dental caries should be differentiated from dental hypersensitivity.

Dental hypersensitivity mainly manifests as irritation pain, which can be caused by brushing teeth, eating hard objects, sour, sweet, cold, hot and other stimuli. It is especially sensitive to mechanical stimulation. The most reliable diagnostic method is to slide a sharp probe across the tooth surface to find one or several sensitive areas. A mechanical stimulator has been reported abroad that uses a screw to adjust the pressure of a stainless steel needle to test the sensitivity of teeth. There are also tests using an electronically controlled thermometer. However, to date, the sensitivity of teeth can only be expressed by the patient's subjective feeling.

prevention:

1. Brush your teeth in the morning and evening and develop a good habit of rinsing your mouth after meals;

2. Eat less acidic and stimulating food and do not eat snacks before going to bed;

3. Eat less foods high in sugar, such as sugar, chocolate, biscuits, etc.;

4. Do not eat too much hard food to avoid tooth wear;

5. Take part in physical exercise regularly and have regular oral examinations. Generally, people over 12 years old should have an oral examination once a year.

6. In your daily diet, you should consume more nutritious foods rich in calcium, inorganic salts, etc., and eat high-fiber and rough foods as much as possible.