Therapy
This therapy involves the treatment of caries and its complications—pulpitis, periodontitis, gangrene—as well as the reconstruction of severely damaged teeth. We use state-of-the-art techniques, methods, and materials from leading companies.
Treatment of Caries
Tooth Caries
Tooth decay is the most common dental disease, affecting nearly 98% of people. Interestingly, anthropologists have found, through the study of ancient remains, that early humans suffered far less from cavities than we do today. This can be logically explained by the higher quality of life in the past. One of the main factors contributing to weakened teeth is the consumption of processed foods. Caries is caused by bacteria residing in dental plaque, which can break down sugars into organic acids. These acids gradually weaken the enamel and eventually penetrate the soft, unprotected dentin, where the process progresses much faster. Many patients often “wait” for a small cavity to grow into a larger one before visiting the clinic, believing that limited carious lesions cannot be treated. This is completely incorrect—the earlier caries is detected, the less dental tissue will be lost.
The susceptibility of teeth to caries depends on several key factors:
- Genetic – The structure of teeth is inherited genetically, which also influences their resistance to caries.
– Tooth age – Newly erupted permanent teeth have lower mineralization, which continues for up to 10 years after eruption. These teeth are more prone to caries, making preventive care during childhood, adolescence, and teenage years extremely important.
– Oral hygiene – Regular brushing (morning after breakfast and evening before bed), the use of dental floss, mouthwash, and chewing gum helps keep teeth clean and reduces the risk of caries.
– Diet and prevention – Consuming plenty of fluids, avoiding acidic foods, carbonated drinks, and excessive sugary snacks significantly lowers the risk of caries.
Pulpitis
Pulpitis is the inflammation of the dental pulp, usually associated with toothache. The patient typically experiences constant, spontaneous, and diffuse pain that intensifies at night. The primary cause of pulpitis is untreated dental caries that has reached the tooth’s nerve. Other causes may include mechanical trauma, thermal or chemical shock, advanced chronic periodontitis, excessive grinding of vital teeth, and more. Early-stage pulpitis can be reversible, but it is most often an irreversible process leading to necrosis of the dental pulp. It is treated through root canal therapy, also known as endodontic treatment. If pulpitis is left untreated, infection from the root canals can affect the surrounding tissues, leading to various complications such as necrosis, periodontitis, abscess, or cyst formation. Pulp necrosis is an irreversible condition. With additional infection, the necrotic pulp can progress to gangrene. Several forms of pulpitis exist based on its onset and progression:
– Acute serous partial pulpitis– Acute serous total pulpitis;
– Acute purulent partial pulpitis;
– Acute purulent total pulpitis;
– Gangrenous pulpitis;
– Chronic ulcerative pulpitis
– Chronic granulomatous pulpitis
Periodontitis
Periodontitis usually presents as a localized condition with destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus, and sometimes the adjacent alveolar bone, which impairs tooth function. Acute apical periodontitis is a complication of diseases affecting the hard tissues and pulp of the tooth (caries, pulpitis, gangrene). The inflammatory process is localized around the tip of the tooth root. Acute periodontitis develops with a massive infection and reduced immune defenses. Pain increases when chewing hard food. Acute purulent periodontitis manifests as severe, intolerable, localized pain when the tooth is touched, along with pulsating pain that only subsides after the purulent exudate drains naturally or after treatment. Body temperature may rise to 38°C (100.4°F), and the submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged and tender to palpation. Chronic periodontitis develops as a consequence of acute periodontitis, following drainage of inflammatory exudate, reduced infection activity, chronic trauma, and good resistance of the body. This results in fibrosis with granulomatous growth, localized granuloma, root cyst, and chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis often progresses with minimal symptoms and is usually discovered only through X-ray examination. Treatment of granuloma can be conservative or surgical. Conservative treatment includes mechanical and chemical cleaning, disinfection, physiotherapy, and root canal filling. If unsuccessful, surgical treatment is performed—removal of the granuloma and restoration of physiological balance.