The Most Common Dental Problems

The most common dental problems people have are:

1. Abnormal (pathologic) tooth wear

Tooth wear is so common with adults and children also, that it is considered normal by many dentists. I guess that if you looked at the prevalence of high blood pressure in this country, you could call it "normal" too. But there are many people with very little wear - some well into their 80's and 90's who exhibit little wear. There have been research studies showing why these people have no abnormal tooth wear, and we use these discoveries to routinely diagnose these problems so as to prevent, slow down and eliminate abnormal tooth wear. Accurate diagnosis is the key to discovering why this occurs with some and not others. Like the retina of the eye and brain tissue, there is no self regenerating mechanism for tooth enamel and dentin (root structure) - once it's gone, it's gone. Many times this phenomenon is accompanied by jaw joint discomfort and/or discomfort and headaches and neck pain. See "Oral Beauty and Function" or "TMJ Dysfunction"

2. Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease is very much misunderstood by most people. It causes loss of supporting gum and bone around the teeth. It never causes pain and that's why I think that people underestimate its potential to be of harm. Not only because of bad breath, loss of supporting tissue, but how it influences our general health. The bacteria that reside between the teeth and gums exude waste products that takes away the internal skin of the gum where it hugs the tooth. The bacteria enter the blood stream through this portal and can become involved in physical problems such as heart disease and diabetes. See "Periodontal Disease", "Bacteremia", "Oral Health and Your Heart" and "Getting to the Heart of Dental Disease", "Periodontal Disease May Lead to Diabetes"

3. Decay

Up until the last three decades, by far the most common dental problem was dental decay.  This is one area that has been significantly changed since the use of Fluoride and an awareness of the effectiveness of prevention.
 
What is tooth decay, and what causes it?
 
Tooth decay is the disease known as caries or cavities. Unlike other diseases, however, caries is not life threatening and is highly preventable, though it affects most people to some degree during their lifetime.
Tooth decay occurs when your teeth are frequently exposed to foods containing carbohydrates (starches and sugars) like soda pop, candy, ice cream, milk, cakes, and even fruits, vegetables and juices. Natural bacteria live in your mouth and forms plaque. The plaque interacts with deposits left on your teeth from sugary and starchy foods to produce acids. These acids damage tooth enamel over time by dissolving, or demineralizing, the mineral structure of teeth, producing tooth decay and weakening the teeth.