**Dental composite infection** is usually caused by lack of hygiene, improper installation, poor quality materials or cracked veneer, which causes the accumulation of bacteria under and around the **dental composite**. The symptoms of composite infection include pain, inflammation and swelling of the gums, bleeding, bad breath, purulent secretions, and changes in the appearance of the coating, and the treatment of composite infection is repair, replacement of composite, cleaning of decay, denervation of the tooth, or in severe cases, tooth extraction. Prevention is possible by observing hygiene, using dental floss and toothbrush, choosing an experienced dentist and avoiding harmful habits. In case of symptoms, you should see a dentist immediately to avoid serious complications. What is composite infection?
Usually, the composite material itself, which is a type of tooth coating, does not get infected, and most of the time, the gums or tissues around the composite tooth or the tooth below it get infected and contaminated. This pollution can be caused due to improper installation of composite coating, lack of oral and dental hygiene after installation and accumulation of bacteria and food particles around the composite coating. Finally, tooth infection under the composite causes damage to different parts of the tooth, such as tooth enamel, tooth dentin, pulp and root, and finally it rots so much that it is completely destroyed and there is no other choice but to extract the tooth. **Signs and symptoms of composite infection**
If you see any of the following signs and symptoms in or around your composite tooth, you must see a specialist dentist to avoid the possibility of more serious complications. ### **Composite tooth pain and sensitivity**
Usually, when the infection reaches the tooth below the composite, the sensitivity of the tooth to cold and heat and even touch or pressure increases, and sometimes even a momentary feeling of shooting or pain may occur in the damaged tooth, which usually happens due to tooth decay. ### **Swelling and inflammation next to the composite tooth**
Other signs of infection can be inflammation, redness, and swelling on the side and around the composite tooth, which may contain pus and infection and is extremely sensitive to touch and gives you a feeling of pain. ### **Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing**
When you brush or floss, if there is an infection, there is a possibility of bleeding from the gum area next to the composite tooth, because it is the infection that makes the gum thinner and more vulnerable. ### **permanent bad breath**
If there is an infection, even if you brush your teeth repeatedly or use dental floss and mouthwashes, the bad breath still remains, and this is due to the infection of the tooth under the composite veneer, and this bad breath will not disappear until it is treated. ### **purulent and infectious secretions**
If purulent or infectious secretions develop around the composite coating or the gum next to it and you feel that the taste of your saliva has a bit of infection and bitterness and a bad taste, it indicates the presence of an infection in the tooth under the composite coating, which must be treated as soon as possible. ### **Changing the appearance of the composite coating**
Sometimes the appearance of the composite may change due to long-term use, which can be resolved by using composite polishing or polishing. But if this change in appearance is excessive, such as complete darkening of the veneer or loosening or loss of structure, this means that the tooth under the veneer is infected and composite materials can no longer work well on it. ### **Changing the color of the composite or its brightness**
The composite cover does not get infected by itself and it is the tooth under it that gets infected and decays or breaks down. Of course, the composite veneer is damaged first, and then these damages can spread to the underlying tooth. When the composite coating is damaged, one of its obvious signs and symptoms is the change in the color of the composite, which usually loses its whiteness and shine and does not return to its original state even with polishing. In this case, the main texture of the coating is lost or even damaged, which can be caused by many reasons, such as cracks and the penetration of various bacteria or the use of various colored substances. ** Causes and causes of composite tooth infection **
However, composite veneers do not get infected for no reason, and are usually caused by the lack of proper care or the dentist's lack of skill. Among the most important reasons that cause infection in composites are the following. ### **Non-observance of oral and dental hygiene**
Definitely, in the mouth and teeth, hygiene is very important that some people may not follow it for various reasons. Some people think that materials such as composite or dental laminate do not require care, but this is not the case at all. If the toothbrush or dental floss and mouthwash are not used daily to clean the composite tooth, it can cause the accumulation of bacteria, plaque and mass and damage the tooth under the veneer. ### **Dental decay and infection under the composite**
Usually, this problem is due to some tooth decay, which was either already inside the tooth under the composite and the dentist did not remove and treat it, or it was created after the installation of the veneer due to lack of hygiene and the accumulation of bacteria, plaques, and debris. ### **improper composite installation**
If the dentist does not have enough skills, the edges of the veneer are not properly aligned on the tooth and creates an empty space between the veneer teeth, which ultimately creates an excellent space for the accumulation of bacteria and food particles and as a result, infection in the tooth under the composite. ### Fracture or cracking of the composite
The composite coating is more sensitive than the person's tooth itself, and in case of any impact, it may break, crack or chip, which creates a suitable space for the growth and accumulation of bacteria and as a result, tooth infection. ### **Damage to the gums during the composite**
If the dentist does not have enough skills, during the composite and its installation, he may damage the gums by accident or lack of skills, and this damage may cause swelling and inflammation and even allergies in the gum area around the tooth that has been composited. ### Use of inferior materials in composite
If when the dentist installs composite materials and veneers on your teeth, you use composites that are of low quality or poor quality, or if you stick the composite veneer on the surface of the tooth with poor quality adhesive, over time, an empty space will be created between the tooth and the veneer, and this space is the best place for the accumulation of bacteria, plaque and dental plaque. Also, food gets stuck in this empty space and cannot be cleaned easily, which eventually causes more bacteria to grow. As a result, they can cause tooth infection and tooth decay under the composite. **Preventing composite infection**
If you want to prevent the tooth and crown from getting infected after the composite, it is better to take the following recommendations seriously. - Be sure to brush twice a day with special toothpaste, usually after every meal. - Be sure to use dental floss and special mouthwash once a day before going to bed. - Choose a skilled and experienced dentist and visit him periodically for examination. - Avoid bad habits such as smoking, untying knots and teeth, and chewing hard materials such as pistachios and nuts. - Avoid consuming too much sugary and acidic substances such as soft drinks and all kinds of sweets. **Treatment of composite infection**
Only the dentist can determine exactly how the infection of the composite tooth is done and what method is used; But among the best methods to treat this infection, the following can be mentioned. ### **composite replacement or repair**
If the infection has damaged the composite coating and has not reached the underlying tooth, the infection can be removed by repairing or completely removing the old composite and replacing it with a new coating so that the underlying tooth is not damaged further. ### **Treatment of tooth decay under composite coating**
If the decay has progressed and reached the tooth under the composite veneer, the dentist can first remove the veneer, remove the infection and **tooth decay** with methods such as tooth filling, and re-install the veneer over it. ### **Root treatment or denervation of the tooth**
When the infection has reached the pulp or the root or nerve of the tooth, the dentist must clean the pulp from any infection and contamination and restore it by using tooth extraction. Then he can repair and restore it with a suitable coating. ### **Tooth pulling (which happens rarely)**
If the decay and infection has passed through the pulp, root and nerve and destroyed the entire structure of the tooth, there is no other choice but to extract the tooth, because if the composite is used continuously with a damaged tooth, there is a possibility of the infection spreading to other teeth, gums and jawbone degeneration. ** Complications of composite infection **
If this infection is not treated, it can cause many complications, the most important of which are:
- Redness, swelling and inflammation of the gums around the composite tooth. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing. - Bad breath that does not go away even after oral hygiene. - Pain and sensitivity of the teeth when chewing or contact with hot and cold substances. - Receding and atrophy of the gums, which leads to a decrease in the strength of the tooth holder. - Changing the position or distance of the teeth due to the loss of gum tissue. Loosening of teeth in severe cases of infection. - The formation of deep pockets between the teeth and gums, which is the place where bacteria accumulate and helps worsen the infection. In rare and advanced cases, the infection can damage the underlying bone of the tooth and lead to tooth loss. - Disseminated infections may cause sepsis (severe infection of the whole body) or cellulitis (local infection with fever and pain) if left untreated.
