Root Decay

I’m seeing an increase of patients with Root Decay or Root Caries in our office. This is very surprising to us. However the American Dental Association (www.ada.org) states that the majority of people over age 50 have Root Decay. Root Decay is a cavity that develops at the bottom of the tooth, where the gum has receded or moved away from the tooth, exposing the softer surface called cementum. It looks like brown or black spots. In the beginning, there may be no pain or discomfort, unlike other cavities. There are various treatments for Root Decay, but the main thing is to stay current with your dental exams and cleanings. This way any problems can be caught early and addressed promptly. See the October/November 2012 issue of Generations Magazine (www.generations808.com) for a short article I wrote on this topic.