Periodontal disease and root caries often meet seniors

Many people develop with age, degeneration of the gums and jaw bone or suffer from gum disease. Cause is often untreated periodontitis but also treated. The mostly non-inflammatory process in single or multiple teeth but sets free the root surfaces (root surfaces). They are more susceptible because of individual tooth structures to decay than others enamel surfaces. A change in the chemical composition of dentin and cementum due to mechanical irritation by:

contribute to an increased susceptibility to root caries.

The visible root caries is as superficial, soft and discolored destruction of cement and dentine (dentine). Timely prevention can be very successful, because even with a damage of up to 50% of the structure of the dentine still so intact that is done and remineralization of the tooth can be obtained. Especially in the interdental spaces a diagnosis is very difficult because of periodontal a direct view is prevented. This is critical in that there is a root caries is closely related to the possible loss of the periodontal attachment apparatus. The disease course is not to clean rooms or dental dentin defects is much faster than with a coronal caries. If the tooth is so damaged that even the core (endodont) is concerned, a root canal treatment is often unavoidable. To perform a thorough diagnosis, therefore, the use of a probe for accessible areas of teeth or the making of a radiograph of affected non-accessible areas has proven itself in practice.

Prevention of root caries

Due to various indicators prophylaxis despite intensive oral hygiene is relatively difficult. Especially periodontal / gum disease patients should be in addition to regular use (amine) fluoride dentifrice take additional measures. To mechanical plaque removal belongs (professional cleaning) in combination with the application of high doses of fluoride or chlorhexidine thymol varnishes. Especially in children and adolescents is a professional paint job for the period of three to six months is recommended. Newer applications using casein phosphopeptides and amorphous calcium phosphate, and the laser treatment of dentin has so far not been confirmed by clinical studies to be effective.

Treatment of root caries

Since periodontal disease and tooth decay as a result of infectious diseases created by microorganisms and bacteria biofilms are destructive effect with a tissue, a successful means of periodontal scaling and root planing is exactly here. The problem is that in the context of treatment, the infected areas are removed mechanically resistant and less caries, tooth fresh material is exposed. Connected to the roughening of the tooth surface, intolerance and susceptibility to caries should be encouraged. It could, however, the active lesions without cavitation by remineralization (regular application of suitable fluoride and Chlorhexidinpräparate) into the inactive state. Caries are inaccessible unless the defects, surgical crown lengthening or in the case of non-recoverable defects (cavitation) fillings are necessary.