what is root caries

Full Answer

What is root caries and what causes it?

Root caries occurs when bacteria have access to the roots of teeth which may occur if you have pockets in your gums or gum recession. The bacteria consume the sugars that you eat and produce a film called plaque as well as acid which may weaken the tooth and form a hole (cavity) .

What is the difference between root caries and crowns?

Unlike the decay that occurs on the white portion of the tooth known as the crown, root caries occurs on the darker root surface which may become visible in the mouth when the gums pull away (recede) from the teeth. What causes root caries?

What is the best treatment for root caries?

Treatment of Root Caries is similar to Dental Caries depending on the extent of the lesion into the tooth structure the mode of treatment is planned. In case of Grade 4 types Root caries – Root canal Treatment is the ideal form of treatment indicated along with excavation and restoration of the structure.

What are the different grades of root caries?

Root Caries Classification based on Extent of Lesion: Grade 1 or Initial Root Caries: Light Brown to Tan in color on visual inspection. No surface defect seen. Surface Texture is Soft and the surface of Caries can be disrupted with the pointed tip of Dental Explorer. Grade 2 or Shallow Root Caries: Dark Brown to variable Tan in Color.

What are tooth root caries?

Root caries occurs when bacteria have access to the roots of teeth which may occur if you have pockets in your gums or gum recession. The bacteria consume the sugars that you eat and produce a film called plaque as well as acid which may weaken the tooth and form a hole (cavity).

How do root caries occur?

Like all tooth decay, root caries is caused by bacteria (germs). When your mouth is not kept clean, bacteria can cling to your teeth to form a sticky, colorless film called plaque. This plaque can lead to tooth decay. In addition, for root caries to occur, the root of the tooth must be exposed.

How can root caries be prevented?

Conclusion. For 1° prevention of root caries the recommended 'best choice' is a 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride solution professionally applied annually, while for the 2° prevention of root caries, the recommended 'best choice' is a 22,500 ppm Sodium Fluoride varnish professionally applied every 3 months.

What can I use for root caries?

Fluoride has been shown to be effective in preventing root caries, either in toothpaste, in rinses or by professional topical application. Higher concentration 5000 ppm NaF dentifrices are more effective than lower concentrations. Topically applied fluoride both prevents and arrests existing lesions.

Can root caries be treated?

Restorative treatments The conventional approach of 'drilling and filling' is the treatment most commonly used for restoration of cavitated root surface caries lesions. The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach has been used to treat root caries lesions (Lo 2006; Da Mata 2015).

Can you restore root caries?

Resin-modified glass ionomer, glass ionomer, compomer, composite resin, and amalgam restora- tive materials are frequently used to restore carious root lesions. Amalgam continues to be used successfully to restore root caries.

What bacteria causes root caries?

Based on numerous microbiological studies performed over the past several decades, it is clear that mutans streptococci can cause human root caries.

How do you know if you have a root cavity?

SymptomsToothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.Tooth sensitivity.Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.Visible holes or pits in your teeth.Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.Pain when you bite down.

Can root cavities be filled?

Unless you need a root canal, your treatment for a root cavity shouldn't be too different from treatments for other types of cavities. A dentist will remove the decayed area and then put in a filling, which can be made from a variety of materials.

What is the best restoration for root caries?

In a root caries procedure, lack of dentin and poor isolation may present restoration challenges. Resin-modified glass-ionomer (RMGI) is a restorative material that can be used effectively in this situation.

Are root cavities painful?

Root canal procedures are commonly thought to be the most painful kind of dental treatment, but studies found that only 17 percent of people who've had a root canal described it as their “most painful dental experience.”

What happens when a cavity reaches the root?

If you have a cavity that has reached the nerve tissue, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms: Toothache when pressure (such as chewing) is applied to the tooth. Tooth sensitivity to heat or cold. Discoloration of the tooth.

What bacteria causes root caries?

Based on numerous microbiological studies performed over the past several decades, it is clear that mutans streptococci can cause human root caries.

What causes tooth root damage?

In most cases it is due to a physical injury to the tooth, as from an impact, chemical, or burn. The trauma leads to inflammation that in turn results in resorption. Other causes include pulp necrosis, periodontal treatment, orthodontics, or poorly done, non-professional tooth whitening.

Are root cavities common?

In fact, 31.6% of American adults aged 20 to 44 have untreated cavities — indicating more adults than children have tooth decay in need of treatment. Adults — particularly older adults — may develop a root cavity, which is a type of tooth decay that forms on the roots of the teeth.

How do you know if you have a root cavity?

SymptomsToothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.Tooth sensitivity.Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.Visible holes or pits in your teeth.Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.Pain when you bite down.

What is root caries?

Root cariesoccur when these bacteria invade the tooth root below the gum line.

What is caries of the root surface of a tooth?

caries of the root surface of a tooth, usually appearing as a broad shallow defect in the area of the cementoenamel junction.

How many teeth are root caries?

Interestingly, root carieswere present in only 13% of teeth, despite the high prevalence of periodontitis.

Why is the root of my tooth more susceptible to decay than the rest of the tooth?

The root is more susceptible to decay than the rest of the tooth due to the lack of an enamel covering, difficulty in maintaining a clean root surface, and the lack of effective preventive therapies.

What happens to tooth roots when gums recede?

In patients with advanced gingival recession or periodontal disease, the tooth roots become progressively more exposed as gums recede, increasing the vulnerability to caries. Etiology.

Is thymol varnish good for root caries?

Chlorhexidine-Thymol varnish 1:1 mixture of may be efficacious in prevention of root caries. Sucrose-free chewing gum containing xylitol only or xylitol lozenges may be used as adjunctive therapy for adults at higher risk of caries. Advanced lesions require restoration or extraction.

What is root caries?

Root caries is any carious lesion which occurs on the root surface of the tooth and is more prevalent in older people. Lesions are discoloured, softened and ill defined but may or may not be cavitated. Dentine has a higher percentage of organic material than enamel and demineralises at a higher pH (6-6.8) than enamel (5.4). Additional risk factors for root caries, in addition to the presence of carbohydrates and bacteria, include reduced ability to maintain oral hygiene and reduced salivary flow. Diagnosis is made on visual criteria and radiographically. Gentle tactile examination with an explorer may also be used with care because of the potential for damage to early lesions, thus inducing cavitation.

How to prevent periodontal caries?

Successful prevention depends on changing dietary habits, disturbing the biofilm, reducing the presence of plaque, promoting remineralisation and inhibiting demineralisation. Early intervention to prevent loss of periodontal attachment and consequent exposure of the root to the oral environment is important. As with coronal caries, reduction in the frequency of the consumption of food and snacks that are high in sugar is important. Plaque removal techniques should focus on high risk areas such as proximally and surfaces abutting a denture. Patients with xerostomia should be recommended to use xylitol containing products and saliva-inducing medications.

Does fluoride help with root caries?

Fluoride has been shown to be effective in preventing root caries, either in toothpaste, in rinses or by professional topical application. Higher concentration 5000 ppm NaF dentifrices are more effective than lower concentrations. Topically applied fluoride both prevents and arrests existing lesions. The application of chlorhexidine varnish may be beneficial. The application of silver diamine fluoride has also been shown to arrest root caries lesions.

Where is root caries found?

Root caries are typically found on the root surface of a tooth, generally at or below the cementoenamel junction. In the US, the prevalence of root caries among individuals older than 75 is more than 50%, and among those age 65 to 75, the prevalence is approximately 25%. 3 As the number of older adults in the US continues to grow, ...

How to prevent root caries?

5 Thorough biofilm removal is critical to reducing root caries risk. Oral health professionals should provide guidance on dietary risk factors and education on effective oral hygiene strategies, including the use of chemotherapeutics, to aid in root caries prevention. Fluoride application is key, as it reduces biofilm proliferation and encourages remineralization. 6 For patients at elevated risk of root caries, the in-office application of fluoride varnish four times annually as well as the use of prescription fluoride products (containing 5,000 ppm) may be helpful. 6

What is low salivary flow?

Low salivary flow caused by xerostomia renders tooth structures more vulnerable to acidic challenges from food, beverages, and plaque bacteria. 12 As a result, demineralization is initiated, leading to tooth decay. Saliva offers buffering capabilities that protect the teeth from acid challenges, especially on exposed root surfaces. 13 Saliva also acts as a reservoir for the calcium ions and phosphate ions needed to remineralize the tooth surface. 12 Patients with low salivary flow do not enjoy these caries protective benefits. Alternative measures may be required to support the remineralization process. Patients with xerostomia should use a prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste. The addition of a calcium phosphate product to patients’ oral hygiene regimens may be helpful because they provide more calcium and phosphate ions, thereby encouraging remineralization.

Why is fluoride important for root caries prevention?

Fluoride application is key, as it reduces biofilm proliferation and encourages remineralization.

How can root caries be prevented?

15 The initiation of root caries might be significantly reduced by the implementation of preventive dental programs and the application of chemotherapeutic agents by oral health professionals. 1

Is remineralization good for caries?

Remineralization can be helpful in managing root caries surface lesions. Baysan et al 10 demonstrated that the use of a 5,000 ppm fluoride dentifrice was significantly more effective in remineralizing tooth structure than dentifrice containing 1,100 ppm of fluoride. For incipient root caries, surface recontouring of the root structure may be indicated to excavate softened dental tissues and create a smooth surface. The new surface will more effectively absorb fluoride treatments, inhibit biofilm retention, and may encourage patients to comply with their oral health care regimens. 11

Does silver diamine fluoride help with root caries?

Silver diamine fluoride, which has just recently become available in the US, is particularly effective against root caries because it arrests or significantly slows the demineralization of dentin. 6 A study of 227 older adults who had at least five exposed root surfaces found the group that received an annual application of silver diamine fluoride and oral health education every 6 months experienced the greatest reduction in new root caries lesions and more effective arrest of existing root caries compared with controls. 8

How to diagnose root caries?

A dentist uses a visual exam and an x-ray to diagnose root caries during a regular dental exam. When gum recession is present, the root cavity is visible to the naked eye. Microbiological tests are also helpful in determining the presence of decay-causing bacteria on tooth roots. Root cavities are more difficult to treat than normal cavities ...

Why do elderly people have root caries?

Elderly people are more prone to developing root caries. This is because people are living longer and keeping their teeth longer nowadays. Tooth roots can only develop cavities if they become exposed due to periodontal disease or gum recession.

Why do tooth roots get cavities?

Tooth roots can only develop cavities if they become exposed due to periodontal disease or gum recession. Root decay also spreads faster than normal cavities because the cementum covering tooth roots is thinner and softer than enamel.

What causes gums to decay?

Advanced Periodontal Disease. The primary cause of root decay is due to periodontal attachment loss. In short, periodontal disease (PD) is a serious form of gum disease that results in permanent damage to the gums, tissues, and surrounding bone. Patients with PD commonly develop gum recession.

How to treat a decayed tooth?

The earliest treatment for root decay involves the removal of softened tissue around the affected tooth. Then your dentist recontours the decayed root structure, which creates a smooth and cleanable surface.

How do you know if you have root decay?

If root decay is left untreated, you may develop a serious oral infection or notice the following signs and symptoms: Continuous pain near the affected area that interferes with your daily life. Toothache that doesn't go away. Difficulties eating, chewing, and swallowing. A dental abscess.

Why is saliva important for cavities?

Saliva is necessary for cavity protection because it helps repair tooth enamel and rinses out plaque. If your mouth produces inadequate amounts of saliva, you are more prone to tooth decay. In addition, if you have dry mouth along with periodontal disease and/or gum recession, you are more prone to developing root decay.

What is dental caries?

Dental Caries Symptoms. Dental caries (tooth decay) is progressive tooth destruction. It can affect single tooth or several teeth. Caries symptoms depend on the stage. In the early stage, superficial changes in tooth enamel. In the advanced stage, a visible cavity found on the tooth surface.

How to treat caries in teeth?

These white spots are solved minerals from tooth enamel. The Early stage of caries can be reversed by regular tooth brushing to remove caries bacteria and using a fluoride toothpaste to replace mineral loss from the tooth surface. With poor oral hygiene, the progression of dental caries begins. White spots on the tooth enamel turn to cavities and you may experience pain for the first time. But pain occurs when nerves of the tooth are attacked by bacteria. At the early stage of dental caries, teeth react very sensitively to cold or high sugar foods.

What foods and drinks cause caries?

Some foods and drinks: dental caries formation is promoted by sugary foods and drinks. Carbohydrates provide a good environment for bacterial growth. Oral bacteria decompose sugar and produce acidic metabolites that damage the tooth enamel.

What are the causes of tooth decay?

These factors are: Bacteria: they decompose carbohydrates and produce acidic metabolites that attack tooth enamel. Carbohydrate: it provides the basis of life for bacteria.

What bacteria destroys tooth enamel?

Dental caries bacteria decompose sugar from food debris and produce acidic metabolites (mainly lactic acid) which destroy the tooth enamel. The tooth enamel is exposed constantly to two processes:

Why chew sugar free gum?

Chew sugar-free gum: to stimulate the flow of saliva and inhibit dental caries bacteria.

Why do you need a root canal?

Root canal treatment: if dental caries bacteria spread to the tooth pulp, you will need a root canal treatment to remove bacteria from roots and to prevent a dental abscess. Root canal treatment is used to save a badly damaged tooth and prevent its extraction.

Root Caries Prevention

The Role of Xerostomia

• Individuals with xerostomia or salivary gland hypofunction may experience an increased risk of oral infections and dental caries. When assessing root caries risk, a patient’s medication usage should be reviewed. Clinicians should also use patient medical histories to determine if a patient has an autoimmune disease, which may also increase the risk...

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Treatment Strategies

Conclusion

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