DENTALDISEASES
Dentistry treats three disease processes:
- decay (cavities) - a bacterial infection of the hard tooth structure. This is the major cause of tooth loss in children and the major cause of root canal infections in adults.
- periodontal (gum) disease - a bacterial infection of the soft tissues surrounding the tooth and the supporting bone (the tooth socket). This is the major cause of bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth loss in adults.
- traumatic occlusion (a bad bite) - a human bite exerts 200 pounds per square inch of pressure. An improperly positioned tooth within the dental arch absorbs more of that biting pressure than it should. This can greatly accelerate the rate of progression of periodontal disease.
It is critical to understand that the absence of pain does not indicate the absence of disease. Proper diagnosis is the only way to identify these disease processes early and treat them preventively.
