Our patients at Craig S. Donn, DDS in Cherry Hill and Camden County, NJ have lost teeth for a variety of reasons – by accident, blunt force, tooth decay, or old age – but one of the most common reasons that we’ve seen our patients come in for care has been due to tooth decay.
An Analysis of Tooth Decay
What is tooth decay? Also known as cavities, this disease is often associated with children, whose teeth are more prone to tooth decay in their young age. However, adults are just as prone to this disease with proper oral care.
Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria that reside in your mouth. As you consume food, saliva will wash away a majority of food particles and sugars, but any left behind will be eaten by the bacteria. As they eat the sugars, these bacteria dispense waste in the form of acids that can eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Over time, and without proper care, the erosion can continue through the layers of your tooth, causing cracks and chips and eventually reaching the sensitive pulp layer filled with nerves and blood vessels. This is where the shooting pain that patients often feel comes from.
While tooth decay of this caliber can often be caught early enough to be fixed with fillings and root canals, unfortunately there are cases where the damage is extensive. Whether it’s due to a fear of the dentist, or a lack of proper dental care, if the tooth is too damaged it may be recommended that the tooth be removed. When that happens, at Craig S. Donn, DDS we recommend dental implants to remedy the loss.
Where Dental Implants Come In
Dental implants are constructed from titanium parts and prosthetic porcelain crown. The titanium is biocompatible with the jawbone, allowing the implant to remain firmly in place like a true tooth root. The prosthetic tooth placed on top can be specially customized to match the shape and coloring of your natural teeth, creating one smooth smile.
Dental implants offer many benefits and can improve the oral health of the affected area, allowing the bone to regenerate and grow around a viable artificial tooth. This process is known as osseointegration and is the reason why dental implants have been so successful. Dental implants are also one of the most natural-appearing tooth replacement options available. Due to their placement and osseointegration, they can improve the strength of the jawbone and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting.
Common Causes of Tooth Decay
At Craig S. Donn, DDS, our goal is to make sure each of our patients are healthy and happy with their smile. We want our patients to become more aware of what progresses tooth decay besides the sugars and bacteria in your mouth. Some of the other common causes, other than a sugar and carbohydrate-heavy diet, are diabetes, a lack of fluoride or saliva, poor oral care, smoking, spit tobacco and secondhand smoking, or avoiding dental visits altogether. These causes can be remedied with small changes to your habits and diet. If unsure of what may be causing your tooth decay, don’t hesitate to consult with us to learn more about what you can change.
Mind the Warnings
If you are unsure if you have tooth decay, below we’ve listed some common symptoms that are associated with tooth decay and cavities. If you have extensive versions of the following symptoms, we recommend that you pay us a visit to check up on the progression of the decay.
Warning Signs:
- Toothache and sensitivity
- Sharp pains when consuming sweet, hot or cold foods
- Cracks and crevices in your teeth
- Discolorations and stains on the teeth
- Painful chewing or biting
Contact Us for Dental Implants
At Craig S. Donn, DDS in Cherry Hill and Camden County, NJ we want the best for our patients and for them to walk out of our office with brilliant smiles. If you are seeing the warning signs of tooth decay or are unsure about your symptoms, contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Donn. For extensive damage due to tooth decay, Dr. Donn is skilled in the application and maintenance of quality dental implants, to ensure that your smile remains in tact.