But right now, it's physically impossible. Once a tooth has a physical cavity (opening or hole) inside it, there's no feasible way to help the enamel grow back on its own. Instead, the cavity will gradually worsen, due to bacterial infection within the tooth structure. Nowadays, when any part of a tooth dies, it cannot return to life.
Once a patient has experienced tooth decay or decay, they can't trust their tooth to grow back (literally, “fill in the gaps”). While tooth enamel is actually translucent, teeth start to look yellower as they wear out, because the yellow dentin underneath begins to be seen through it. The team is preparing to begin clinical trials of a pill containing a genetically modified peptide, or chain of amino acids, together with phosphorus and calcium ions, which are the building blocks of tooth enamel. When you drink them consistently throughout the day, these liquids coat your teeth and can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Researchers in China have used a direct application of triethylamine to regenerate enamel and enamel-like substances. If you're at high risk of tooth decay or enamel erosion, you can't ask your dentist to help you regenerate your tooth enamel, but you can take steps to remineralize your teeth. If you want to reconstruct what was lost, you'll need to resort to treatments such as partial or full dental restorations. Scientists discovered that tideglusib, a drug commonly used to treat neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and autism, can be used to stimulate stem cell differentiation in tooth pulp.
Cavities are caused by a combination of acids and bacteria that eat away at your enamel, causing holes in your teeth. Eventually, the acid and plaque reach the soft dental pulp – the inside of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.
When tooth decay reaches this level, it can’t repair itself. It’s usually filled using a cement composite that replaces natural dentin.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is a problem that can happen to anyone of any age. It can cause pain, infection and even tooth loss.
Bacteria in your mouth use sugars and starches from foods and drinks to make an acid that attacks the enamel (the hard, white outer layer) of your teeth. The acids remove minerals from the enamel, weakening it and causing cavities.
The bacteria then move into the next layer of your teeth, called dentin, which is softer than enamel and less resistant to acid. This exposes the nerves to the acid and causes sensitivity.
In severe cases, if the decay spreads to the inner material of your tooth (pulp), you may need a root canal. This treatment replaces the damaged pulp with a filling or a crown, depending on how badly the damage is.
Tooth Decay Prevention
If you have dental cavities, the dentist will need to drill out the decayed tissue and fill the hole with a material such as composite resin (a tooth-colored material), silver amalgam or gold.
In most cases, cavities are reversible with regular dental care and checkups. However, in severe cases, the tooth may require a filling or extraction.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing your teeth properly, flossing regularly and using mouthwash. It is also important to reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks you consume.
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that form a sticky layer of plaque on your teeth. The plaque creates acids that wear away at the enamel of your teeth.
Tooth Decay Treatment
Keeping up with your oral hygiene routine, getting adequate fluoride and limiting sugary foods and drinks can help you avoid tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in dental plaque break down the sugars that you eat into acids, which wear away your teeth’s enamel.
Early-stage tooth decay can often be reversed, especially if it’s in the enamel and hasn’t spread to dentin yet. However, if it’s deeper in your tooth’s structure, you may need more treatment to restore it.
In this stage, the acid produced by plaque can erode the softer inner layer of your tooth (the dentin). If it’s not treated, decay will advance and can affect the inside of your tooth (pulp) where nerves and blood vessels are located.
If the cavity has reached the pulp, your dentist will likely need to perform a root canal to remove the affected tissue and clean inside the tooth. Then, the damaged area of your tooth will be filled with a filling or crown to restore it.
Tooth Restorations
While tooth decay is a very serious problem, the good news is that it can be corrected. Researchers are working hard to make this happen.
Tooth restorations are procedures that repair damaged teeth and improve the appearance of a patient’s smile. They can also be used to replace missing teeth.
A dental crown is a permanent restoration that covers a tooth’s entire surface. They are commonly used to repair large cavities or broken teeth.
They can be made from composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain. They are a great alternative to silver and composite fillings.
Amalgam is a metal that is bonded to the tooth. It’s very durable and is radiopaque for differentiating it from tooth tissues on radiographs.
Procedures such as tooth decay fillings, dental crowns, and solutions for tooth loss, such as dentures and bridges, can be expensive. Scientists first hope to be able to regrow the roots of severely damaged teeth to the point where they can place a dental crown on a new growth. However, researchers hope that the technology needed to regrow teeth will be cost-effective enough to help the masses. Tooth regeneration may be on the way to a nearby dentist in the future, but for now, it's up to you and your dental professionals to keep your teeth strong, healthy, and united.
The latest results show more evidence of clinical viability and bring us one step closer to natural dental repair. Virtually anyone can make an eerily accurate imitation of the sound of a dentist's drill at different speeds while preparing a dental cavity for filling. However, those who fear dentists may be comforted to know that the process will be a one-time thing, with no need to replace a filling or remove teeth in the future. Fortunately, there are still ways to repair tooth enamel that is weak, before it is physically destroyed.
When that external protection is broken, infecting bacteria build up and cause cavities that go deeper and deeper into the tooth and cause damage to its inner layers.
