Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems in children and adults. It develops in several stages. In the article, we will learn about the types of tooth decay and dental caries treatment options in Turkey.
Caries is a disease that causes the destruction of the enamel, which is the hard outer surface of the tooth. With the progression of caries, it can attack the deeper layers of the teeth, leading to the appearance of cavities, but if left and untreated, tooth decay will harm your teeth and gums to the point of need. for tooth extraction.
People of all ages from childhood to old age can develop cavities as soon as they have teeth.
Young children are at risk of various types of tooth decay. In early childhood, a child may develop tooth decay caused by a feeding bottle, which is severe caries that affects the child's teeth.
Many elderly people suffer from receding receding gums Which allows the cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth to come into contact with the root of the tooth, so they can develop cavities on the exposed root surfaces of their teeth.
What is tooth decay?
All types of tooth decay begin when carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruit, candy, bread or milk stick to the surface of your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth will then digest these bits of food and turn them into acid, which leads to a buildup of plaque (plaque) on your teeth.
Because plaque is acidic, it plays a key role in caries, as it can dissolve the enamel layer on your teeth and create holes in them called cavities. ?

Causes of tooth decay
Some health habits and medical conditions can be causes of tooth decay and caries, such as:
- Not brushing and flossing regularly
- Eating a lot of snacks
- Eat a lot of sugary foods that produce acids
- Eat foods rich in carbohydrates, such as bread
- Not getting enough fluoride
- Tobacco
The plaque that causes cavities must be eliminated. You can reverse early cavities with the right treatment but you cannot reverse and cure a cavity once it has become a certain degree of depth.
Predisposing factors for caries
A person may have a higher chance of developing some types of tooth decay if they:
- he have dry mouth
- Has a weak port due to genetics or disease
- Has an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia
- has a case gastroesophageal reflux disease Also known as acid reflux
Tooth decay symptoms
These symptoms include:
- Sudden toothache, especially when eating cold, hot, or sweet things
- Dark spots on the teeth
- Pain when biting
- The appearance of carious cavities
- fillings ragged
- cavities in the teeth
- Food stuck in the teeth
- Difficulty chewing some foods
- dental abscesses Cause pain, facial swelling, or fever
Dental caries diagnosis in Turkey
Tooth decay can be found during a regular dental exam. Early tooth decay may appear as a white spot on the tooth and if the decay is more advanced it may appear as a dark spot or pits in the tooth.

The dentist can also check the smoothness of the tooth surface or take an X-ray that can show cavities.
Types and stages of tooth decay
The types of tooth decay vary over time with the development of decay through five stages. We will look at each one.
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demineralization
During the first stage of tooth decay, the outer affected layer of the tooth, known as the enamel, begins to weaken due to the presence of the plaque layer.
As the demineralization process begins, you'll likely start to see white spots on your teeth. This is where the plaque began to remove tooth enamel.
You can reverse the damage caused by plaque in the first stage by using fluorine mouthwash more often or getting fluoride treatment from the dentist, but if caries develops and progresses, you will need to treat tooth decay in the clinic using fillings.
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port collapse
If tooth decay is not treated and you allow the enamel to continue to break down, the white spots will start to turn brown and move into the second stage of tooth decay where the enamel begins to deteriorate and tooth decay begins to form.
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ivory caries
If tooth decay is not treated and the cavities are filled in time, the affected dentin may eventually collapse as well, the part of the tooth located below the enamel that is softer than enamel and is more sensitive to acid damage.
In this type of tooth decay, the caries will increase from this point onwards. If you do not see the dentist, you will know that you are in this third stage of caries when you start to feel severe tooth sensitivity while drinking hot or cold drinks, especially sugary types, as well as while eating.
If dentin caries is caught early it can be repaired with fillings, if significant damage occurs your dentist will likely remove the decayed portion of your teeth and place Crown over the remaining tooth structure.
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pulp damage
One of the most dangerous types of tooth decay is when the decay reaches the dental pulp, or as it is rumored to be called the nerve of the tooth, which is the layer under the dentin in the lower part of the tooth and includes the blood vessels and nerves that maintain the teeth and provide sensation in them.
Once you do not treat tooth decay and spread in the pulp, you may develop an acute infection, and your tooth will begin to swell and the pressure will begin to increase, because your teeth cannot expand with the pulp, which causes pain.
The final stage of pulp injury involves its death also known as pulp necrosis.
Patients may experience the following symptoms when tooth decay is not treated and the pulp dies:
- Tooth discoloration to ash
- teeth with bad smell
- swelling around the tooth
- Bad taste in your mouth
You will need Tooth root canal treatment For the treatment of damaged pulp of the tooth.
be an abscess
In this last stage, when the patient's tooth decay is not treated, certain types of bacteria enter the decaying pulp, which usually leads to infection.

Eventually it may form abscess In the lower part of the tooth, which causes severe pain, the danger of which lies in the possibility of spreading to the rest of the mouth, gums, face and jaw, causing a medical condition called bcroup ludwig It is a life-threatening condition that needs to be treated by a specialist immediately.
The effects of tooth decay on the body
- form croup ludwig life threatening
- The transmission of germs to other places in the body, causing inflammation of the lining Heart valve
- mediastinitis
Methods of treating tooth decay in Turkey
Depending on the type of caries that has occurred, the dentist can recommend the appropriate dental caries treatment for the person. Dental caries treatment can include:
Fluorine treatments in the early stages (treatment of simple caries)
Fluoride is a mineral that can help strengthen enamel, and a dentist can use fluoride therapy in various forms to help stop and even repair damage done by cavities.
A dentist can apply professional fluoride treatments directly to the teeth. Fluoride treatments are usually quick and only take a few minutes. Fluoride comes in the form of a gel, varnish, foam or solution. where he does Caries treatment without drilling.
Conservative dental fillings in Turkey
When a dental cavity occurs it is padding As a treatment option for treating dental caries, after drilling the tooth to remove any decay, the dentist removes the damaged parts of the tooth and shapes the dental cavity to fit the filling.
During the treatment of tooth decay, the dentist fills the cavity directly with fillings using materials such as amalgam or Composite resin or gold or silver or in a few cases indirectly by resorting to Inlays/onlays.
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crowns
according to ADA Large caries that progress due to untreated caries may require a crown instead of padding.
To place the crown, the dentist will first remove the outer part of the tooth as well as any existing decay, and then the dentist will take Digital Age Edition Or traditional, and installs a temporary crown until the permanent crown is ready for installation, usually after one to two weeks.
Root canal treatment (deep caries treatment)
The dentist can perform Tooth root treatment To help prevent the need to extract when the pulp is damaged when tooth decay is not treated in the early stages.
according toThe American Dental Association The dentist first numbs the tooth before removing the nerve and then cleans and forms the root canal inside the tooth. The dentist may also place a medicine inside the tooth as its antiseptic properties help get rid of any bacteria.
The dentist will then fill the root canals with a rubber-like material and place a crown or filling on the tooth to restore and strengthen it.
selective extracting
Failure to treat and neglect tooth decay may lead to tooth loss, the dentist may recommend a person toselective extracting If tooth decay causes severe damage.
The dentist will first numb the affected tooth. Once the tooth is removed the dentist will recommend post-extraction instructions.
A person may notice swelling or pain after tooth extraction, which is normal. However, if a person notices any of the following symptoms, he should contact a dentist and seek medical attention immediately:
- Fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- Severe pain, swelling, or bleeding
- Pain increases over time
Preventing and preventing tooth decay
More important than knowing how to treat tooth decay is knowing how to prevent cavities and stop the accumulation of plaque and food residues. You can do this by:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Rinse and floss every time you eat something sticky, acidic, or high in carbohydrates, especially chocolate and citrus fruits.
- Use the means to clean between the teeth and floss to get rid of as much food residue as possible to prevent the development of Tooth decay from the side.
- Use mouthwashes containing fluoride and anti-cavity at least once a day to get rid of plaque.
- Ask your dentist to apply Plain materials for mulch and gutters For the teeth on the molars to protect them and prevent caries.
- Drink water containing fluorine.
- Visit your dentist at least once a year for examinations and clean the mouth.
- It's important to watch what you eat if you want to prevent tooth decay, avoid drinking acidic sodas and avoid sweet and sticky snacks like candy and caramel bars.
- If you eat these foods, be sure to brush your teeth immediately after eating them, the longer you don't brush your teeth after eating these types of foods, the more likely you are to develop tooth decay.
- Despite this, some people may suffer from tooth decay, so you should visit the dentist to learn about it Causes of tooth decay despite cleaning. Where there may be some problems in the structure of the teeth itself.