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What Causes Progressive Dental Decay?
Question: I have recently been diagnosed with progressive dental decay after having no cavities for years! . My dentist, whom i have seen regularly at 6 months intervals for 30 years sent me to an ENT who found no symptoms to suggest that acid reflux could be causing the decay. The diagnosis of dental decay occured soon aftY
er i had some treatments at the dentist's office to prevent problems from grinding and clicking my teeth while sleeping. According to recent tests performed per my primary physician's request, I have scoliosis and osteoarthritis . I am a smoker and drink alcohol every day. I am 67 years old and male. Recently I have been having tightness in my calf muscles and get knots and intense pain in those muscles after physical activity. I have difficulty achieving an erection and sustaining it during intercourse. I also,have significant hearing loss in one ear. Are all these conditions related? How? Do I need to spend the $16,000 to repair my teeth? Do I need to seek second opinions?
er i had some treatments at the dentist's office to prevent problems from grinding and clicking my teeth while sleeping. According to recent tests performed per my primary physician's request, I have scoliosis and osteoarthritis . I am a smoker and drink alcohol every day. I am 67 years old and male. Recently I have been having tightness in my calf muscles and get knots and intense pain in those muscles after physical activity. I have difficulty achieving an erection and sustaining it during intercourse. I also,have significant hearing loss in one ear. Are all these conditions related? How? Do I need to spend the $16,000 to repair my teeth? Do I need to seek second opinions?
Brief Answer:
Dental cries,acidreflux, steoarthritis,restoration
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query, I have gone through your query.
as far as The increased incidence of the dental caries in your oral cavity is concerned i have two possibilities.
The first possibility can be because of the acid reflux disease which makes the teeth weak. It can also be because of the osteoarthritis, if the hand are involved and you are not able to brush your teeth and maintain oral hygiene properly or the medicines you are taking for osteoarthritis can result in xerostomia or reduced salivary secretion which makes teeth more prone for caries.
The decayed teeth can be restored with a tooth color filling material if the decay is not involving the third layer of the tooth(pulp).
If the decay is extending till the pulp then it has to be treated with RCT or extraction.
Regarding the treatment charges it varies from treatment to treatment.
So based on the diagnosis, we can decide the treatment and the treatment charges. So take a second opinion from any dentist.
I hope my answer will help you, take care.
Dental cries,acidreflux, steoarthritis,restoration
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query, I have gone through your query.
as far as The increased incidence of the dental caries in your oral cavity is concerned i have two possibilities.
The first possibility can be because of the acid reflux disease which makes the teeth weak. It can also be because of the osteoarthritis, if the hand are involved and you are not able to brush your teeth and maintain oral hygiene properly or the medicines you are taking for osteoarthritis can result in xerostomia or reduced salivary secretion which makes teeth more prone for caries.
The decayed teeth can be restored with a tooth color filling material if the decay is not involving the third layer of the tooth(pulp).
If the decay is extending till the pulp then it has to be treated with RCT or extraction.
Regarding the treatment charges it varies from treatment to treatment.
So based on the diagnosis, we can decide the treatment and the treatment charges. So take a second opinion from any dentist.
I hope my answer will help you, take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
What is RCT? I do have zerostomia and use a spray as needed to lubricate my mouth. I am able to brush my teeth.
Could an infusion to restore lost bone also benefit my teeth?
Could an infusion to restore lost bone also benefit my teeth?
Brief Answer:
xerostomia, dehydration, artificial saliva
Detailed Answer:
thanks for your reply, RCT means root canal treatment, it is a treatment done when the decay is involving the third layer of the tooth, that is pulp.
You might be having xerostomia, since your are giving history of osteoarthritis, scoliosis, and the alcohol dehydrates the mucosa and makes the teeth prone for caries. If you are able to brush, then it is fine. Consult a oral physician and get it evaluated. Get the stimulated and unstimulated salivary secretion rate checked to rule out xerostomia. if it is xerostomia, we can treat accordingly with artificial salivary substitutes like carboxy methyl cellulose gel. Avoid in between eating, avoid sweets before going to bed, brush twice daily, rinse your mouth soon after consuming anything.
I hope my answer will help you, takeccare.
xerostomia, dehydration, artificial saliva
Detailed Answer:
thanks for your reply, RCT means root canal treatment, it is a treatment done when the decay is involving the third layer of the tooth, that is pulp.
You might be having xerostomia, since your are giving history of osteoarthritis, scoliosis, and the alcohol dehydrates the mucosa and makes the teeth prone for caries. If you are able to brush, then it is fine. Consult a oral physician and get it evaluated. Get the stimulated and unstimulated salivary secretion rate checked to rule out xerostomia. if it is xerostomia, we can treat accordingly with artificial salivary substitutes like carboxy methyl cellulose gel. Avoid in between eating, avoid sweets before going to bed, brush twice daily, rinse your mouth soon after consuming anything.
I hope my answer will help you, takeccare.
Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Dr. Mahesh Kumar T S
Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Practicing since :2007
Answered : 3377 Questions
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