Disease or Syndrome
dental caries
[ den-tl kair-eez, -ee-eez ]
Subclass of:
Tooth Demineralization
Also called:
Cavities
Definitions related to dental caries:
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(caries) The decay of a tooth, in which it becomes softened, discolored, and/or porous.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(tooth decay) Infectious disease that attacks the teeth. Also called dental caries.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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(tooth decay) Tooth decay is damage to a tooth's surface, or enamel. It happens when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the enamel. Tooth decay can lead to cavities (dental caries), which are holes in your teeth. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss. Our mouths are full of bacteria. Some bacteria are helpful. But some can be harmful, including the ones that play a role in tooth decay. These bacteria combine with food to form a soft, sticky film called plaque. The bacteria in plaque use the sugar and starch in what you eat and drink to make acids. The acids begin to eat away at the minerals on your enamel. Over time, the plaque can harden into tartar. Besides damaging your teeth, plaque and tartar can also irritate your gums and cause gum disease. You get fluoride from toothpaste, water, and other sources. This fluoride, along with your salvia, helps the enamel repair itself by replacing the minerals. Your teeth go through this natural process of losing minerals and regaining minerals all day long. But if you don't take care of your teeth and/or you eat and drink lots of sugary or starchy things, your enamel will keep losing minerals. This leads to tooth decay. A white spot may appear where minerals have been lost. This is an early sign of tooth decay. You may be able to stop or...MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(carious teeth) Caries is a multifactorial bacterial infection affecting the structure of the tooth. This term has been used to describe the presence of more than expected dental caries.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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Demineralization and breakdown of tooth enamel due to bacterial infection.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Localized destruction of calcified tissue initiated on the tooth surface by decalcification of the enamel of the teeth, followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures, leading to cavity formation that, if left untreated penetrates the enamel and dentin and may reach the pulp.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A disorder characterized by the decay of a tooth, in which it becomes softened, discolored and/or porous.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse EventsU.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
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Caries is tooth decay, commonly called cavities. The symptoms--tender, painful teeth--appear late. Diagnosis is based on inspection, probing of the enamel surface with a fine metal instrument, and dental x-rays. Treatment involves removing affected tooth structure and restoring it with various materials. Fluoride, diligent dental...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Caries, cavity or decay of a tooth, a localized disease that begins at the surface of the tooth and may progress through the dentine into the pulp cavity. It is believed that the action of microorganisms in the mouth on ingested sugars and carbohydrates produces acids that eat away the enamel. The...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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