One of the most common terms in oral and dental health is tooth enamel. Therefore, it’s completely normal for people to be curious and have many questions about it. On the other hand, it’s also likely that the enamel can be damaged due to neglected oral care or improper practices. So, why do tooth enamel erosion or chipped enamel, which many people suffer from, occur? How is tooth enamel treatment performed, and what stages does it involve? Here are all the details about the health and protection of tooth enamel…
We’ve all heard the term tooth enamel dozens of times in our lives, but do you know where it is on the tooth and what its structure is made of? The outermost layer of our teeth is the tooth enamel. It is the hardest substance in the entire human body and is composed of about 95% minerals. It gives teeth their shine and determines the tooth color based on the thickness of the layer. This thickness is between 2 or 3 millimeters; accordingly, the tooth color can vary from light yellow to a bluish-white and even gray. The 95% mineral composition of tooth enamel is completed by 4% water and 1% protein.
In today’s world, there are many types of food that can wear down the outer layer of the tooth. The most consumed and most damaging are known to be acidic drinks and foods. The constant consumption of such foods is the cause of tooth enamel erosion.
Along with the consumption of acidic foods, there are many other causes of tooth enamel erosion. These situations can be listed as follows:
Each of the listed reasons will cause the erosion of tooth enamel. In the medium to long term, the result of enamel damage will be tooth sensitivity and eventually tooth decay. The erosion starts on the part of the teeth near the gums. In this area, notch-like complications are seen, and it can turn a darker color locally. This is because the eroded tooth enamel exposes the underlying dentin, which causes the tooth’s color to darken.
When you have a problem with your oral and dental health, the symptoms are very clear and uncomfortable. The symptoms of tooth enamel erosion can be too unsettling for a person to ignore. We can list these symptoms as follows:
Most of these symptoms are complications that are too problematic to be ignored, causing pain and discomfort. The moment you have one or more of these symptoms, your tooth erosion process has begun and is sending signals. If you do not prevent it as soon as possible, you may experience decay and tooth loss.
Many injuries and abrasions on the human body can heal themselves. However, unfortunately, tooth enamel erosion is irreversible. Due to its structure, tooth enamel cannot repair itself. Therefore, the answer to the question “Can tooth enamel be repaired?” is no. For this very reason, your main goal should be to prevent tooth erosion and protect the enamel to avoid irreversible damage to your teeth.
Tooth enamel, which can never be as strong as it once was after being lost, is one of the areas that needs the most protection despite its strong structure. Therefore, resorting to methods of protecting the enamel instead of trying to strengthen tooth enamel is very important for your oral and dental health. For this, it is necessary to pay attention to the following details:
Patients generally tend to neglect tooth enamel treatment. This often-overlooked condition is a problem where time is of the essence. The sooner it is treated, the more effective the enamel erosion treatment will be.
As the condition of the tooth worsens, the probability of tooth loss will increase. However, the priority of dentists is always to save the tooth and preserve the original tooth. In the treatment planning, the extent of enamel erosion is determined, and a method is chosen accordingly. Especially if the pulp (the tooth’s core) is severely damaged due to tooth erosion, the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels within the structure are attacked by bacteria. The resulting deep cavities and cracks in the tooth bone lead to the need for root canal therapy.
In cases where root canal therapy is necessary, since the tooth structure may be compromised, Invisalign, or clear aligner therapy as it is commonly known, can also be applied based on the patient’s preference so they can love their teeth again.
The hard layer that forms the outermost surface of the tooth is the tooth enamel.
It protects the dentin layer of the tooth, gives the tooth its shine, and determines the tooth color.
Once tooth enamel is lost, it cannot repair itself.
