Dental decay is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting human beings. This bacterial infection results in gradual destruction of a tooth’s structure. In many ways, it can be considered a disease of modern times, as the occurrence of caries seems to be much higher in the last few generations. Once decay occurs, the scar persists throughout life even after the lesion is treated. There are practically no geographic areas in the world whose inhabitants do not exhibit some evidence of dental caries.
It affects persons of both sexes, in all races, all socioeconomic strata, and in every age group, though some people may be more prone to it than others. Though it may be argued that the disease is not life threatening, the sequelae associated with it are far reaching. The cost involved in treating the disease is enormous. Also the excruciating pain experienced by the patient can affect the patient as much as the esthetic problem it poses.
Systemic complications, such as Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis, have also been documented to be associated with dental caries. Chewing efficiency may also be affected, leading to difficulty in swallowing.
Because of the risks, it is important for everyone to understand the magnitude of this problem. Also vital is knowing the risk factors of one’s demographic (age, region, water content, habits, etc.) to plan suitable preventive measures. It is important to detect dental decay at an early stage using its underlying causative factors, and to obtain timely and effective health care services.
History
To a great extent, dental caries is a disease accompanying advances in civilization. Its appearance however, can be traced back to the ancient times where the disease has been found in the skulls of human beings adopting the practice of agriculture. Thus, caries has been found in the ape-man and hominid type as well. A carious lesion has also been described in the pithecanthropus, the Java man. The occasional occurrence of caries in the Neanderthal skulls has also been reported.
The so-called process of modernization has a telling effect on the incidence of caries. The settling down of population in urban areas, coupled with availability of refined carbohydrates, has influenced the diet to an extent that decay became highly prevalent.
It may be interesting to note that Nearchos, Alexander the Great’s admiral, found in the Indus Valley a rare and costly Indian salt that tastes like honey. The sugar preparation spread from India to Persia and Arabia, presently known as the ‘dental arch criminal’.
Present Status
The global epidemiology of caries exhibit three distinct patterns.
- In the first group, there is still scarcity of development and the infrastructure is relatively poor. The mortality rate is quite high. The areas included in this type of a population would be rural China, Africa, South America, and underdeveloped Asian countries. In this state of affairs, the availability of dental care is almost non-existent and the caries experience is higher in the cities than in the rural areas.
- It is found that in newly industrialized countries, there is evidence of an increasing rate of caries. These populous nations are faced with consumerism and urbanization, coupled with increased consumption of refined carbohydrates. The dental care available is concentrated in the urban areas and is involved more in curative and palliative services, with the problems of the masses still unaddressed. This pattern may be observed in countries such as Taiwan, India, Chile, Uganda, and Thailand.
- The third pattern is found in the developed countries where the availability of dental services coupled with a more preventive and maintenance approach has lead to a decrease in decay and greater number of retained teeth.
How to Give Your Teeth a Statistical Chance
With all these numbers and patterns, it can be hard to determine the best way to preserve your teeth against your lifestyle. The process and habits necessary to do so are simpler than the above seem to make them. The instructions we here at Josey Lane Dentistry give to each of our patients when they leave from a routine exam plus some subtle habits can help keep your mouth in top shape. On Friday, we’ll post part two of this series “How to Prevent Tooth Decay” with all the info. Chat with you then!
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