TOOTH REMINERALISATION

Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth Remineralisation is a process for enriching teeth with minerals to prevent tooth decay.

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is now managed with a more advanced and conservative approach which aims to prevent, reverse and repair damage to tooth mineral.

Being able to prevent the weakening of tooth enamel and reverse the start of dental decay to obviate the need for new fillings is possible with many modern dental treatments utilising tooth remineralisation technologies. Remineralising therapies aim to add back the minerals that acids take away from dental surfaces, to prevent teeth weakening and cavities (holes in teeth) forming.

However, there is a limit. Treatments at the dental office are unable to completely compensate for what is not also undertaken at home, on a regular basis with respect to self care and prevention.

What Causes Tooth Decay?

It is often forgotten that dental decay is actually an infection. It is a multifactorial disease involving the interaction of certain types of oral bacteria, diet, individual resistance (composition of your saliva, quality of your tooth structure), the tooth and time.

Weakening of tooth surfaces or demineralisation can occur underneath stagnant clumps of dental plaque containing acidogenic bacteria (Mutans Streptococci and Lactobacilli). These bacteria produce acid as a by-product of their functioning when they metabolise dietary sugars within the mouth.

For tooth demineralisation to occur, both acid producing bacteria and sugar must be present at the same time. If these conditions exist frequently, over long periods of time, and are not adequately resisted with minerals in saliva (particularly in dry mouths), repeated sugar consumption and concomitant acid production by oral bacteria will keep the pH of saliva low (more acidic) and promote demineralisation - dissolving your tooth mineral to progressively deeper levels and lead to decay.

Demineralisation Vs Remineralisation

There is this continuous dynamic, akin to a 'tug of war' which occurs between the impact of demineralisation (pathologic damage) and the effect of remineralisation (therapeutic repair) on teeth in the presence of saliva.

If the oral environment is acidic for hours at a time, demineralisation will promote dissolution or loss of tooth mineral. If conditions are neutral and less acidic for a greater length of time, remineralisation will attempt to repair or reverse the damage by incorporating the calcium, phosphate and hydroxyl minerals, found in saliva, back into teeth.

Over a period of time, there comes a point where the cumulative effect of more episodes of demineralisation outstrip the mouth's capabilities for remineralisation and results in the formation of a cavity, which cannot be reversed, and needs to be treated with a dental filling. If the damage had not progressed beyond this point, the lost mineral may have been replaced over time, preventing the cavity.

By reducing the acidity of the oral environment, we can help promote conditions favouring more episodes of remineralisation over the longer term and protect teeth to avoid the need for fillings.

A Tailored Caries Prevention Program with Remineralisation Therapies

At Melbourne Dentistry, we can develop a caries prevention program specific to your needs. Following a thorough clinical and radiographic assessment for early diagnosis, appraisal of the quality of your tooth structure, your past caries history and current medical history, saliva testing and dietary evaluation, a comprehensive treatment plan can be recommended to manage any existing tooth decay and address your caries risk factors to prevent ongoing problems.

Our program aims to reduce the acidity of your saliva, and promote remineralisation. It includes restoring active decay (removing the acid producing bacteria from within decayed lesions and rebuilding the damaged tooth structure), teaching you efficient oral hygiene techniques and routines, along side appropriate dietary strategies and goals. Advanced topical remineralising treatments may then be prescribed to help support a renewed oral environment that promotes healthy and strong teeth, for both well individuals and medically compromised patients with reduced saliva flow (such as those taking certain medications or undergoing treatments for cancer).

Tooth Remineralising Treatments

Along with professional dental care, there are eight main ingredients/factors valued for promoting tooth remineralisation:

Saliva : Both the quality and quantity of saliva is important (and may be supplemented with good hydration, activities which stimulate saliva flow or saliva substitutes in patients with dry mouth issues);
Fluoride : The most significant and time proven adjunct the dental profession has for preventing tooth decay. Available in various forms and concentrations from toothpastes to topical varnishes such as Duraphat®, oral gels or mouth rinses and of course, tooth pastes such as NeutraFluor® 5000 Plus by Colgate or Pro-Health® by Oral-B (all best professionally prescribed);
Plaque Control : Tooth cleaning aids, techniques and protocols specific to the individual, can significantly improve home plaque removal and prevent plaque stagnation;
Diet Control : Reducing the frequency of dietary sugar and acid exposures;
CCP-ACP/Recaldent : A ground breaker in tooth remineralisation technology, this is a milk protein derivative named Casein Phospho-Peptide - Amorphous Calcium Phosphate, abbreviated to CPP-ACP, which contains the calcium and phosphate minerals found in teeth. It is available in products such as Tooth Mousse™, Tooth Mousse Plus™ (with fluoride) and Recaldent chewing gum;
Amorphous Calcium Phosphate : This ingredient stimulates remineralisation of tooth enamel and is found in Enamel-Pro® toothpaste and in a professionally applied tooth varnish;
Tri-Calcium Phosphate : f-TCP is a highly effective tooth remineralising calcium, phosphate and fluoride containing ingredient. It is available in professional varnishes, sealants and tooth pastes such as Clinpro™ Tooth Crème;
Xylitol : A sugar substitute that prevents acid production by oral bacteria and enhances remineralisation of teeth. It is found in various products including chewing gums, lozenges and tooth pastes such as Remin-Pro® (most suitable for those with milk-protein allergies who cannot use milk derived calcium-rich tooth crèmes);
NovaMin - is a calcium sodium phophosilicate and the active ingredient in Sylc® Therapeutic Prophy Powder and Sensodyne® tooth paste. It helps plug dentinal tubules to reduce dentinal hypersensitivity by building a mineral layer with water or saliva;
Time : The demineralisation/remineralisation 'tug of war' is a slow process. This is fortunate with respect to demineralisation, as acid damage will take a long time to occur. Conversely, however, it also means an equally long time will be required for remineralisation to repair the damage.

At our practice, we can recommend an effective combination of tooth remineralising therapies to suit individual needs.