Sequence of dental caries

  

This is how a normal tooth looks like when it has been maintained well with proper brushing and oral care.

1. When one fails to keep the mouth clean by proper brushing, flossing and rinsing then food particles begin to accumulate on the tooth, leading to bacterial action and acid release and the first signs of tooth decay begins involving enamel - INITIAL DENTAL CARIES.

2. Once the infection spreads through out the enamel layer of the tooth and it not recognised and treated by the dentist, the infection spreads further into the dentin layer which may induce sensitivity in the underlying pulp- CHRONIC REVERSIBLE PULPITIS

3. As the infection spreads further, the infection reaches the pulp chamber, leading to severe pain and inflammation of the blood vessels and involves the nerves of the affected tooth. The tooth is now in a state of “no return”.- CHRONIC IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS.

4. At this stage the tooth is completely damaged by the advancing bacterial infection and no amount of medication can help. The tooth has lost its strength and becomes brittle. The tooth must now be treated with Root Canal Treatment (RCT) or removed completely (Extraction), to prevent further spread of infection into the bone.- CHRONIC IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

5. This is the last stage of the disease where the underlying supporting bone also gets infected by the bacterial infection and there is puss accumulation in the bone and severe swelling and pain, associated with fever and lethargy (tiredness). CHRONIC IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS LEADING TO SPACE INFECTION!