COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS

Your teeth are supposed to last you a lifetime. You get your first set by the time you’re four, and your second set starts coming in just a couple years after that. Those permanent, adult teeth then have to serve you for seven, eight, nine decades or more, depending on how long you live. That’s a tall order for a small amount of enamel, and, unfortunately, the demands often result in significant damage to your teeth and many common dental problems.

The most common source of dental problems is oral bacteria. These parasitic organisms live in your mouth and feed off your food, secreting acid that attacks your dental enamel. This can result in tooth decay, resulting in softening, thinning, and pitting of enamel, what dentists call caries and laypeople call cavities. The most common solution to cavities is the use of tooth-colored fillings, which can be made of either a plastic-ceramic composite or a durable, highly aesthetic ceramic.

If cavities progress to the point that they break into the living part at the center of the tooth, bacteria can infect the interior of the tooth. Abscessed teeth are less common than a cavity, but many people suffer from them. Correcting them requires a root canal procedure. All the infected material is removed from the tooth. The tooth is filled and covered with a dental crown.

Another common dental problem is gum disease. Gum disease is when your gums are being attacked by bacteria. Bacterial attack at the junction between your gums and teeth can cause separation between the two, creating a pocket that protects bacteria from saliva, tooth brushing, and mouth rinses. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss.

If you are suffering from any of these common dental problems, a dentist can help. For recommended treatments, please contact Chapnick Dental in Barrie, Ontario and schedule an appointment.