April 26, 2025

Dental conservation treatment – how to prevent and treat tooth decay?

Healthy teeth affect not only the aesthetics of the smile, but also the proper functioning of the entire organism, among other things, they protect against the development of inflammatory conditions that can affect the immune system or blood circulation. One of the main diseases developing in the oral cavity is caries, which can even lead to tooth extraction. Conservative treatment aims to limit the development of decay and restore affected teeth. In the following article, we will discuss what dental caries is and how to treat teeth in the early stages of this disease. You are welcome to attend.

Caries – what is worth knowing?

Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease that leads to the demineralisation and breakdown of the hard tissues of the tooth. It is caused by acids produced by bacteria present in dental plaque. The main factor contributing to its development is poor oral hygiene. Food residues, especially those containing sugars, create favourable conditions for the proliferation of carious microorganisms.

Other causes include an inadequate diet, poor in minerals and an excess of highly processed foods. Equally important are too infrequent dental check-ups and a lack of professional hygiene treatments. Genetic factors, the composition of saliva, malocclusion and long-term use of certain medications are also important.

In the initial phase, caries is asymptomatic. The first visible sign may be white or dark spots on the surface of the enamel. As the disease progresses, hypersensitivity to cold, warm or sweet foods appears. In the advanced stage, there is pain and damage to the dentin and pulp. If not treated conservatively, caries leads to inflammation, which may result in the need for root canal treatment or tooth extraction.

Stages of caries treatment

Conservative caries treatment consists of removing the affected tooth tissue and restoring the tooth structure with restorative material. This process follows a specific regimen that preserves the maximum amount of healthy tissue.

The first stage is diagnostics. The dentist assesses the extent of the carious lesions using, a diagnostic probe and X-rays taken at our practice. On this basis, he or she decides on the extent of the necessary treatment.

Next, the cavity is mechanically cleaned. Using a bur, demineralised tissue is removed. The aim of this stage is to completely eliminate bacteria and to protect the healthy part of the tooth from further caries development.

Once the tooth has been cleaned, it is necessary to place a filling. The dentist selects a suitable composite material that reproduces the shape and function of the tooth. Before its application, the tooth surface is prepared by etching and application of a bonding system. The composite is then applied in layers and cured using a polymerisation lamp.

Finally, the dentist checks the fit of the filling to the bite and polishes it. The treatment concludes with an assessment of the tightness of the restoration and a possible correction.

Caries prevention – what to remember?

In order to prevent caries treatment or to minimise its effects, it is a good idea to use prevention. Below we discuss how you can prevent the development of this disease.

• Daily oral hygiene

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing should take a minimum of two minutes and cover all tooth surfaces. In addition, it is a good idea to use dental floss or an irrigator to clean the interdental spaces.

• Regular check-ups at the Perfect Smile office

A visit to our dentist should take place once every six months. This allows the doctors to quickly detect carious changes.

• Professional hygienization

We also encourage patients to perform regular hygienization in our office. Scaling, sandblasting and fluoridation help to remove plaque and strengthen the enamel. These treatments should be performed regularly, as recommended by your doctor.

Summary

Dental caries is a serious bacterial infectious disease that develops within the teeth and mouth. Conservative treatment involves the removal of infected tooth tissue and restoration with restorative material. In this way, the patient can avoid endodontics or even tooth extraction. Untreated caries spreads quickly, causing pain and even inflammation and abscess. To prevent its development, it is advisable to regularly brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, make appointments to see your dentist and perform hygienization.