Diagnosis and Prevention of Tooth Decay

When tooth decay is not treated in a timely fashion, the patient may suffer from several levels of pain. Initially, this usually reveals itself while eating, but, as the decay becomes more severe, the pain can become constant and intense. In additional to pain, oral infections can have consequences in other parts of the body. Fortunately, tooth decay is a very preventable disease that we can avoided in children and adults by enforcing the following guidelines.

In order to prevent tooth decay at any age we must:

  • Remove plaque through appropriate oral hygiene.
  • Limit the intake of sugars and refined carbohydrates together with correct hydration.
  • Apply topical fluoride regularly.
  • Apply sealants where needed.
  • Have dental checkup every 6 months.

For a timely diagnosis after the dental cleaning, the dentist will perform a thorough clinical and tactile examination, during which he will use additional aids such as illumination devices, special dyes, cavity detectors and radiographs.

tooth decay ilustration