About Cavity Treatment
The basic premise is “Care” rather than “Cure”
In today’s conception of cariology (caries science), cutting and filling is not the cure for tooth decay. It is believed that bacterial factors, sugar intake (quality and frequency), and time frame are important in the background of caries, and that various environmental factors are involved. Lifestyle and environmental changes can also have a significant impact on oral health. We believe that oral care tailored to each individual’s lifestyle is the first prerequisite.
Proposal of treatment tailored to each tooth
If a tooth has already decayed under an old filling or a new crown, it still needs to be treated. If the decayed tooth has reached the nerve, it is better to preserve the nerve as much as possible to reduce the risk of fracture.
However, this is not always the case if the tooth is thinner. If enamel is still present, the tooth can be partially shaved and bonded to ceramic to reinforce the tooth. We believe it is important to make suggestions according to each situation.
Long-term stability based on overall balance
As mentioned above, a single tooth does not function on its own. The balance, placement, and orientation of the back and front teeth can cause many problems. A common pattern among Japanese patients is that they do not care about missing back teeth because they are not visible, and they come to the clinic only after problems occur in the front teeth. The reason why the front teeth are affected is because the back teeth are out of balance and the front teeth are affected by the imbalance. In this case, treatment of only the front teeth will not be successful, and the treatment will be repeated and the situation will get worse and worse. At our clinic, we often discuss the overall balance and risks with our patients, even if they are only coming for a single treatment or maintenance. The oral cavity is a much harsher environment than you might imagine, as it is constantly subjected to forces as great as your own body weight, and is also affected by bacteria, acid, sugar, and heat that you ingest in your diet. In these days of 100-year life expectancy, we believe that meticulous care and management are essential.