The prevalence of cavities in 12-year-old children is around 80%, however, this percentage rises to 99% among the population of over 25 years of age.
It is important to keep these numbers in mind to raise awareness of the importance of cavity prevention and treatment.
PREVENTION
The method of cavity prevention is to focus on hygiene. Proper brushing of the teeth, combined with the use of dental floss and interproximal brushes is the best way to prevent cavities. In addition, we cannot forget to maintain a healthy diet, to chew sugar-free gum and, above all, to go to the dentist once a year for check-ups. In children, inspections should be made every 6 months. In this way, the dentist will determine other prevention methods such as fissure sealants or fluoride applications.
TREATMENT
Once cavities make an appearance in our mouths, we must act as soon as possible, go to our dentist, and let him determine the treatment. The treatment may vary depending on the type of cavities found in our teeth.
When the decay is small, a filler can be made, which is commonly called a filling. Fillings allow us to replace or restore the lost part of the tooth after cleaning the cavities.
When the decay covers a large part of the tooth, you can opt for laboratory-made porcelain inlays or crowns. Inlays are more conservative than crowns, but there are cases in which a porcelain crown may be better suited.
When the cavities are very deep and affect the pulp, before restoring, it is necessary to perform a root canal.
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