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Tooth decay on root surfaces

Tooth decay on the root surface of teeth may also be called root cavities, root decay, or root caries. It is a potentially detrimental oral health problem that needs immediate treatment to prevent severe dental damage. In this blog, you can learn more about what root decay is, why it happens, how it’s connected to gum disease and soft tissue recession, and what treatments are available to repair your teeth and soft tissue. If you’re concerned you have decay on your tooth’s root surface, contact your dentist in Greenbelt, MD as soon as possible to begin repairs.

While many people are fortunate enough to have tough tooth enamel that is seemingly cavity resistant, few people have cavity resistant root surfaces. The root surface does not have a hard, protective enamel covering that is as thick and durable as the crown of the tooth. When gums recede below the enamel line or pull away from the tooth, the root surface is exposed. This unprotected tooth structure is much thinner and more vulnerable to tooth decay. Root caries can only occur if the root of the tooth is exposed through gum tissue recession or loss of attachment between the gum tissue and the tooth roots. The spaces between teeth and gum tissue are called the periodontal pockets, and healthy pockets are shallow and sit close to the tooth.

There are many reasons you may experience root caries or gum tissue recession. Some of the most common include:

Poor oral hygiene – not brushing teeth and flossing teeth daily.Aggressive brushing – brushing teeth too vigorously or using a hard bristled toothbrush.

Age – as people age, their gums typically recede exposing root surfaces.Periodontal disease – also known as gum disease, this oral health concern increases the depth of periodontal pockets and leads to soft tissue recession, giving plaque and bacteria access to tooth roots.

Genetics – periodontal disease, age-related gum recession, and weak tooth enamel often run in families.

Diabetes – can weaken the immune system and increase soft tissue inflammation, leading to more severe and difficult to treat gum disease and soft tissue recession.

Crooked teeth – misaligned teeth are more difficult to clean thoroughly and can increase your risk for gum disease.

Tobacco use – smoking cigarettes or cigars, dipping, using chewing tobacco, or any kind of tobacco use can damage teeth, weaken enamel, cause try mouth, and increase risk for gum disease.

Medications – many over the counter and prescription medications are known to cause dry mouth, which increases risk for all types of oral health concerns, including gum disease and caries.

Trauma – injury to gums or teeth can allow bacteria to accumulate within cracks in the tooth, causing them to grow larger and spread below the gum line.

The appropriate treatment of receding gums and root caries depends on the reason for soft tissue recession and the extent and severity of the tooth decay. Some of the most common treatments recommended for decay in tooth roots and gum recession include:

Periodontal Therapy – if the gum recession is caused by periodontal disease, the patient will need periodontal treatment from a dental hygienist, which usually starts with scaling and root planning. Plaque and tartar are removed from the surfaces of the tooth’s root. Periodontal treatment can help gum tissues heal and reattach to the tooth surface.

Surgical Grafting – If gum recession is advanced, a gum graft where the gum tissue has receded may be indicated. Grafts may help protect the root surface from sensitivity and further decay.

Dental Restoration – If tooth decay or root caries are present, the patient will need to have the decay removed and replaced with a filling or dental crown. At McCarl Dental Group, we have not used amalgam fillings for more than 25 years. Instead, we use tooth-colored, composite filling material to fill a cavity after removing tooth decay. Dental fillings should not be visible when you smile or talk. We also provide dental crowns crafted from porcelain and other tooth-colored materials.

Antibiotics – we may use oral and/or topical antibiotics to treat infection in the gum tissue and tooth abscess. Antibiotic treatment may also be an essential part of the periodontal therapy process to reduce the amount of oral bacteria that produce acidic plaque that can cause damage to soft tissue as well as weakening or decaying the enamel.

Root Canal Therapy – when decay on tooth roots reaches the interior of the tooth (the pulp), where the tooth’s nerve is housed, we may need to perform a root canal to remove the damaged dental pulp and save the tooth from extraction.

Tooth Extraction & Replacement – if a tooth can’t be repaired, due to extensive damage from root caries, we may need to recommend dental extraction and tooth replacement. We’ll always do our utmost to save your natural teeth, but we offer a variety of tooth replacement solutions to ensure your smile is complete and functions perfectly.

In some cases, tooth extraction is necessary. 

(10/06/2020)
by McCarl Dental Group

More Information: https://www.mccarldental.com/blog/tooth-decay-root-surface/

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