Before the pandemic, Dr. Claypoole, DMD and dental hygienist Julia Krenzel were routinely treating their patients every six months– tracking and filling new cavities in stages 1 and 2 of the tooth decay process. Now, a little more than two years later, dental side-effects of the COVID-19 stay-at-home lifestyle have taken over. At home snacking has increased, the urgent need for teeth brushing has decreased, and stress has caused teeth grinding to climb to an all time high. These three common denominators are considered the “tooth decay” starter pack in dentistry.
“I’ve been in this practice for over 20 years and have never seen anything like it!” Dr. Claypoole exclaims. “Many of our patients who have recently come in for appointments are already in stage 3 out of the 5 stages of the tooth decay process.”
The 5 Stages of Tooth Decay
Stage 1: Light Grey Spots
- Sugars and acid erosions starts just below the surface of the enamel. This stage is often painless and hard to detect. This is when plaque and bad bacteria build up and start to soften the enamel of your tooth– preparing the surface for for Stage 2!
Stage 2: Enamel Decay
- The tooth erodes from the inside out. Now, the erosions from the sugars and acids have caused the grey spots to grow weaker, the cavity can now break through the surface of the enamel. At this stage, a filling is needed.
Stage 3: Dentin Decay
This is the stage where you will start to feel some pain. “Dentin” is the layer of your tooth that lies beneath the enamel. A filling should be implemented ASAP at this point, before the cavity and bacteria can reach the pulp.
Stage 4: Pulp Irritation (Pulpitis)
- When the cavity reaches your pulp, it will be VERY painful. The best solution for this stage is a root canal, followed by a dental crown or complete extraction… depending on the situation.
Stage Five: Abscess Formation
- This stage is the worst case scenario. At this point, the infection has reached the tip of the root– defeating the once healthy tooth structure, causing swelling on the surrounding gums and jawline. This stage is so painful that it will need emergency treatment before the infection causes other serious health problems.
When was your last dental check-up? Let’s restore your smile back to how it should be!
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