Virginia Fonseca’s diagnosis lights up alert for untreated caries risk

Virginia Fonseca, a 23-year-old digital influencer, used her Instagram last Friday (27) to share her diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) with her followers and how the condition can be aggravated by cavities.

The influencer’s dentist, Raulino Borges, explained that injuries to the dental arch – caused by cavities, for example – can change the pattern of closing the mouth, thus causing temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

“When you have a cavity and it is not corrected immediately, or when the installation is not done properly, it will change the position of the teeth, which changes the pattern of closure. The change in the closure pattern is what causes TMD”, said the doctor in temporomandibular disorders in Virginia Fonseca’s stories.

Among the main symptoms of temporomandibular disorder is discomfort, local pain and migraine.

In the case of the digital influencer, the dentist said he found a “poorly made resin” on the tooth, which changed the pattern of closing his mouth.

TMD treatment

According to the dentist specialized in general practice Maria Luiza Pisaneschi, the main treatment for temporomandibular disorders is the acrylic plate.

The device protects the dental arch and reduces pain in the area. In milder cases, such as Virginia’s, removing the cavity causing the TMD can also solve the problem.

Precautions to avoid caries

The dentist warns that the main cause of cavities it is a diet “based on sugars and carbohydrates together with a lack of hygiene”.

“The acid pH caused by bacteria, mainly the Streptococcus mutansattacks tooth enamel, causing the caries. The bacteria feed and increase the infection”, says the specialist.

Pisaneschi points out that cavities can be avoided, generally, in a simple way. The main way is always to “promote a good oral hygiene, with brushing and flossing at least once a day”, he concludes.