What is Incipient Caries?

It is a drastic bad feeling to know that you are having tooth decay or cavity. After diagnosed by the tooth decay, you can be relaxed if you have the option of incipient caries. Your dentist will tell you the details of a non-invasive strategy called incipient caries. In today’s times, there are numerous treatments of the cavity. To overcome the early decay and cavity, some simple and non-invasive treatments are here for you.

What Is an Incipient Lesion?

Plaque is the one major reason behind every dental disease. When you do not brush and floss your teeth properly, the plaque accumulated on your teeth. Due to the plaque and bacteria in the mouth, enamel demineralization takes place. When enamel decays and you feel white pigments on your teeth, it is usually called incipient lesion or caries. The area of the teeth becomes rough because of incipient caries. The enamel becomes chalky and rough, it is examined by your dentist but you also can realize the roughness and changed color of the enamel. It is cured by the dentist but sometimes it can heal itself. If incipient lesion started to heal itself, it will give a shiny and smooth look of enamel.

Treatment of Incipient Caries

According to the report of the American Association of Dental Consultants, through remineralization, we can stop tooth decay or incipient caries. The remineralization technique can reverse the tooth decay process at its initial stage. Dentist recommends that non-invasion techniques are very economical and best in the result also. Remineralization can preserve the structure and natural color of the tooth.

Incipient caries can be treated by the two main methods: topical fluoride treatment and sealant application. If incipient caries would be non-cavitated. These two are the best methods of remineralization to repair the enamel. Non-invasive techniques are best as they are easy, painless and cost-effective.

Fluoride treatment. 

Fluoride is the important mineral to make your teeth strong. This mineral combines with the calcium phosphate in the enamel. Fluoride also gives the white color to your teeth. Fluoride also fulfills the scarcity of minerals and it can halt the tooth decay process. Many toothpastes contain fluoride and it can fight against decay and cavity. If the toothpaste is not enough for your teeth then your dentist will recommend you an extra fluoride treatment. A phosphate fluoride gel or varnishes will apply on your enamel to heal incipient caries.

Sealants treatment. 

Sealant application is necessary to eliminate the bacteria from your gums and teeth. It is applied to the chewing surface of the molars. Sealants are also helpful in remineralization and it can prevent cavity and tooth decay.

Amorphous Calcium Phosphate. 

Amorphous calcium phosphate is essential for fluoride. It helps fluoride in repairing the enamel and it strengthens the abilities. Amorphous calcium phosphate is also mixed in the fluoride contained toothpaste, in gums, dental material, and dental cleaning substances.

Cheese. 

Cheese is enriched in calcium and phosphorous. So, cheese and other dairy products which contain calcium and phosphorus are good for teeth strengthening. Dairy products like cheese, milk, yogurt, and butter re-mineralize the enamel. All these products prevent the tooth from decaying and cavity. If you chew the cheese, it will eliminate all the bacteria from the gums and teeth. Chewing of cheese can make your teeth shiny and stronger.

Saliva. 

Saliva is a very important factor to eliminate the bacteria from the mouth. Saliva also contains the fluoride, calcium, and phosphorus. These three minerals are essential to repair the enamel, to wash away the bacteria, and to prevent the tooth decay. Saliva is also helpful in chewing the food and chewing can also make your teeth strong and bacteria free.

Oral Cancer Screening At Dental Offices

Cancer is the health condition we don’t really associate with dental visits. But you should know that no one can tell you about oral cancer in a better way as your own dentist.

Here, most of the people think that oral cancer occurs in people who are alcoholic or smokers. The truth is every normal person can have oral cancer. This disease basically develops due to the presence of HPV virus. Although HPV virus doesn’t cause cancer in majority of carriers, it remains as the biggest reason for oral cancer. According to American Cancer Society, 30,000 new cases of oral cancer emerge every year. Probably this is the reason that your dentist needs to be good at diagnosing oral cancer.

When you visit the dental office on regular basis, your dentist finds it easier to study your case and compare your statuses. Furthermore, dentists also tend to identify abnormality in the tissues. Such abnormality is analyzed to find out if it is precancerous, cancerous, or not harmful. It is worth mentioning that it may get too late by the time when patients would find out about cancer developing inside them. Hence, they need to undergo screening tests to get diagnosed if there are abnormalities observed.

Oral cancer screening is basically concerned with the analysis of areas which are:

• Abnormally grown
• Sored and unable to heal
• White or red discoloration
• Anatomically unilateral
• Fixed, nodular areas

Having that said, mouth is not the only area checked in this regard. Other areas such as head and neck are also checked in the dental office. Oral infection which can be cancerous doesn’t cause cancer only in the oral cavity but they can also result in cancer development in certain areas of head and neck. Hence, it needs to be ensured that your dentist is fully capable of screening these areas for effective diagnosis of cancer.

When dentists discover abnormal patches, they test those areas for a couple of weeks in order to find out if this is really the case of cancer. They can also conduct minor biopsy to extract some tissues from abnormal area for testing.

Having that said, it is pretty much important for the patients to contact their dentists if they, somehow, manage to discover any abnormality in their oral cavities, head or neck. Some people may be able to find out about the cancerous development in them in pretty early stages. Hence, they can approach their dentists or health physicians to quickly get the treatment started.