Homoeopathy for dental caries

January 30, 2020 admin Practice of Medicine 0

Dr. Amrutha Manoharan B.H.M.S,  M.D(Hom), Dip.Yoga 

ABSTRACT
Dental caries is the decay of teeth, characterized by demineralization of inorganic substance and decomposition of organic structures. 

KEY WORDS :Dental caries,homoeopathy.

INTRODUCTION
Dental caries simply means decay or rotting of the teeth. It is a from of progressive destruction of the enamel, dentine and cementum initiated by microbial activity at the tooth surface.[1]

The word caries derived from the Latin word meaning rot or decay. [2]

FACTORS AFFECTING DENTAL CARIES

  1. Age  –  mostly in children less than 12 years of age.
  2. Gender  –  females are affected more .
  3. Familial  –  siblings of individuals with high caries are greatly affected.[2]

ETIOLOGY OF DENTAL CARIES

  1. Miller’s chemo parasitic theory or acidogenic theory   –  caries are produced by microorganisms of mouth.

Dental decay is a chemoparasitic process consisting of two stage  

  1. Decalcification of enamel and dentin
  2. Dissolution of the softened residue.
  1. Role of carbohydrates  

The bacteria and sugar act on teeth and form organic acids that result in the caries of tooth.

3.Dental plaque or microcosm  – forms on the tooth surface that is not constantly cleansed , the enamel caries begins under the dental plaque. 

CLINICAL ASPECTS OF DENTAL CARIES

  1. ACCORDING TO MORPHOLOGY  OR ANATOMICAL SITE 
  1. Pit or fissure caries 
  2. Smooth surface caries

(B) DEPENDING ON THE RATE OF CARIOUS PROGRESION 

1.Acute dental caries

2. Chronic dental caries

(C) BSAED ON NATURE OF ATTACK

  1. Primary or virgin caries
  2. Secondary or recurrent caries. 

(D) BASED ON CHRONOLOGY 

1. infancy caries

2. Adolescent caries.

PIT AND FISSURE CARIES
Primary type develops on the occlusal surface of molars and premolars in the palatal surface of the maxillary incisors. They may appear brown or black and with feel slightly soft and catch a fine explorer point. 

SMOOTH SURFACE CARIES
Develops on the proximal surface of the teeth or on the gingival  third of the bucal mucosa and lingual surface . 

ACUTE DENTAL CARIES
Which runs a rapid clinical course and results in early pulp  involvement by carious process.  Occurs mostly in children and young adults presumably because the dentinal tubules are large and open and show no sclerosis. 

CHRONIC DENTAL CARIES
Chronic dental caries is that from which progress slowly and tends to involve the pulp much than the acute caries . it is most common in adults . the entrance to the lesion is invariably larger, because of this there is not only less food retention but also greater  acces of saliava. 

NURSING BOTTLE CARIES
Also called baby bottle syndrome, which is mainly attributed due to 

Nursing bottle contains milk or milk formula or sweetened water , breastfeeding and sugar or honey –sweetened pacifiers.

Most commonly four incisors are affected  followed by first molars. 

ADOLESCENT CARIES
Occurs mainly 11 – 18 years of age, these are usually seen in teeth and surface that are relatively immune to caries with a relative small opening in the enamel with extensive undermining enamel. 

METHOS USED TO STUDY DENTAL CARIES 

  1. Ground sections
  2. Microradiography
  3. SEM and TEM 
  4. Histochemistry and radioisotopes

APPROACHES TO CARIES PREVENTION

1. plaque control   – mechanical, chemical and immunological

2. dietary control  –  reduced intake of carbohydrate , sucrose substitute and addictive. 

3. increase the resistance of the tooth 

Pre- eruptive methods –  adequate nutrition and systematic fluoride 

Post – eruptive method  –  topical fluorides, fissure sealants and remineralizing solutions.[1]

MECHANICAL MEASURES FOR CARIES CONTROL

  • Oral prophylaxis by a dentist
  • Tooth brushing
  • Mouth rinsing
  • Use of  dental floss or tooth picks 

MIASM OF DENTAL CARIES[8]

PSORA SYPHILLIS
tartar and other improper substance in gums, painful teeth and easy bleeding dental caries and fistula, teeth decay as soon as they appear and irregular teeth 

Dental caries mainly comes under psoro-syphilitic miasm. 

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

MOUTH – TEETH – Caries

3mark remedies  – ant-c, bell, borax, fl-ac, merc, mez, natc, plb, sep, staphy.

Diabetes mellitus – sulphuric acid

Internal   – selenium[4]

Crown  – merc, staphy

Decay as soon as they appear – kreos, staphy

Gums edge  – calc, syph, thuja

Internal  – selenium

Premature in children  – calc fl, calc ph, flac, kreos, staphy, sil, mez, 

Roots  – mers, mez, sil, syphy, thuja

Sides of teeth  –  mez, staphy, thuja [3]

MEDICINES FOR DENTAL CARIES

1.ASAFOITEDA 

Caries of teeth after abuse of mercury  with drawing pain in the jaws and copious salivation. 

2.BARYTA CARB 

Rapid caries , toothache in decayed tooth before menses or from cold. Toothache worse when thinking about it. 

3.CALCAREA FLUR

Dental caries premature in children . caries of teeth and upper jaw. 

4. FLUORIC ACID

Rapid caries of teeth , violent pain at the root of the right eye tooth with frequent discharge of pus. Mouth and teeth coated with mucous  morning. 

5.KREOSOTUM

Rampant caries with periodontitis , spongy  and bleeding gums. Rapid caries as soon as the teeth erupt . tooth shows dark spots ,  begins to decay . premature greying of milk teeth aching and pain in diseased teeth. Bad odour from decayed teeth. 

6.MERCURICUS

Crown of teeth except incisors decay, teeth feels elongated . toothache in decayed teeth. Drawing stinging pain in whole side of face extending to ears.

7.MEZEREUM 

Caries at roots and sides of teeth while crown remains sound. Rapid caries , sensation as if even the healthy teeth are plucked out of socket. Teeth decay on sides above the gums. 

8.STAPHYSAGRIA

Rapid caries in chlorosis, teeth black and crumbling cavitation submaxillary glands swollen necrosis of teeth. Tearing pain shooting to ears. Teeth decay early in children; cannot be kept clean.[5] 

9.SEPIA

Rapid caries , drawing pain in upper molars extending to ears decay of teeth in clorosis. Taste salty, putrid. Pain in teeth from 6 pm till midnight; worse on lying.[6]

10.SYPHILINUM

Teeth decay at gum; edges serrated, dwarfed. Tongue coated, teeth-indented; deep longitudinal cracks. Ulcers smart and burn. Excessive flow of saliva; it runs out of mouth when sleeping. [6]

11.THUJA OCCIDENTALIS

Teeth decay at the roots , crown remain sound , crumble and turn yellow. Toothache from tea drinking.[7]

CONCLUSION
Along with indicated medicine, proper diet and regimen are needed for the correction of dental caries.  A frequent dental examination is also advised for the patient along with compulsory night time brushing also help in reducing the risk of developing dental caries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Dental caries aetiology , pathology and prevention.  – L.M. Silverstone, N.W. Johnson, J.M. Hardie, R.A.D.Williams. Macmillan publishers LTD. London.
  2. Shafers’s textbook of oral pathology 6th edition . R.Rjendran  and B. Sivapathasundharam. Elsevier.
  3. Homoeopathy in disease of teeth and gums Dr.Y.R . Agarwal. Vijay publications . Delhi.
  4. The essential synthesis. Dr. Frederik Schroyens. B.Jain publishers. 
  5. Leaders in homoeopathic therapeutics Dr.E.B. Nash, Indian  books and periodicals publishers.
  6. Boericke.M. William.A Compend of the principles of homoeopathy. B.Jain .Publishers.
  7. Allen.H.C.keynotes rearranged and classified with leading remedies of materia medica and bowel nososdes B.Jain .Publishers.
  8. Banerjea Kumar Subrata.  Miasmatic prescribing. Second extended edition.

Dr. Amrutha Manoharan B.H.M.S,  M.D(Hom), Dip.Yoga
Assistant Professor
Department Of Physiology
White Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College. Attor. Tamil Nadu.