Monarch Beach Dental Cambra – What are Problems Associated with Dental Caries?
The current understanding and professional consensus regarding dental
caries, or “tooth decay,” is that it represents an infectious process
via a biofilm composed of various bacteria and bacterial bio-products
that break teeth down. Once the teeth are significantly affected by
this process–which may occur with or without pain – a restoration such
as a filling, onlay or crown is required to replace the infected tooth
structure. Replacement of an existing restoration (recurrent decay) is
sometimes required as well, or even an extraction of the tooth if it is
completely unrestorable.
There are currently two accepted approaches to manage this disease
process. The traditional, or surgical approach, addresses the effects
of this infection by focusing on restoring the teeth as they present
with the tooth decay. The medical, or preventive approach, addresses
the underlying infection prior or concurrent with the restoration phase
of treatment.
CAMBRA, or “Caries Management by Risk Assessment,” is a popular
technique that is used to evaluate and determine one’s risk for caries.
This approach focuses on understanding the individual patient’s risk
factors that cause or contribute to the disease process of tooth decay.
These risk factors may include diet, specific medical conditions,
medications, genetic predispositions or habits, etcetera. By
understanding the individual’s risk factors, concrete and measurable
steps can be taken to eradicate the disease or greatly reduce the risk
of tooth decay and its reoccurance.
Tooth decay from dental caries can pose a number of problems,
including not only the decay of a tooth’s structure and roots, but can
lead to the extraction of teeth, gum disease, and other problems within
your mouth that may require additional time and treatment by your
dentist.
In order to accurately determine your risk for dental caries, it
is important that you go to Dr. Cruz for a CAMBRA evaluation and
assessment. One call and one appointment can get you the answers you
need to determine your risk factors and come up with the appropriate way
to prevent dental caries.