Solutions to save your dental nerve

In medical terms, the dental nerve is called the intracoronary and intraradicular pulp. It is composed of blood vessels through which various cells pass that provide help in the attack of bacteria in the carious process, the tooth depositing reaction dentin to protect the pulp from bacterial invasion. The pulp also contains a lymphatic canal and a nerve that transmits pain sensations to the brain when inflammation occurs. 

How can you preserve your dental nerve?

Since most of the diseases through which you can lose your dental nerve are caused by bacteria, the best way to prevent these things is to have a very rigorous oral hygiene with a correct toothbrushing! Both in the morning and, especially, in the evening, because during the night the salivary secretion decreases a lot and thus the bacteria become more aggressive by the acid attack on the enamel. Mandatory, for a correct and complete dental hygiene we must also introduce an interdental hygiene method, namely, the oral irrigator.

Another major factor that can favor the appearance and rapid progression of cavities is a diet rich in processed sugars, simple carbohydrates, flour, etc. If we manage to reduce their intake and replace, for example, desserts with fruit, then we are already contributing to the health of our teeth.

What medical procedures help us keep the nerve alive?

1. First of all, regular dental cleanings aim to remove tartar and bacterial plaque from the teeth and gums. These are the source of the onset of dental caries which, later, end up affecting the dental nerve. At the 6-month cleaning, incipient caries can also be detected which, if treated correctly, do not lead to aggravation of the conditions. The only way to treat cavities minimally invasively and prevent caries recurrence by killing bacteria is with a dental laser. When the dental carious tissue is cleaned with the help of a dental laser and not a bur, practically only the carious tissue is destroyed, without affecting the surrounding tissue. The chance of "disturbing" the nerve is much lower, the bacteria are destroyed and thus the risk of caries recurrence is much lower.

2. In addition to using a laser, a long-lasting way to restore teeth affected by decay and save the dental nerve is with ceramic inlays , which replace the missing tooth structure exactly like a puzzle piece. Ceramic inlays/onlays are a good option for teeth with a large lack of substance because they provide the desired resistance. Being a very resistant material, it does not degrade over time, so the chances of re-intervening on a treated tooth are much lower.

3. The dental nerve can also suffer from dental trauma, orthodontic appliances due to tooth displacement and in patients with very deep periodontal pockets (this falls into the category of those caused by bacteria). When we suffer an accident with dental trauma, it is important to make an emergency appointment at the dental office. The tooth nerve can only be saved through a rigorous evaluation by a specialist and it is important that no more than a few hours pass after the accident.

The conclusion is that a healthy tooth has the best chance of keeping its nerve alive and the only way we can have healthy teeth is to take care of them at home and go to the dentist regularly!