Final answer:
The patient's concern about pitted and grooved tooth surface could indicate dental caries or tooth decay. Dental caries are caused by bacterial colonies feeding on sugars in the mouth, which release acids that degrade the enamel. Treatment may involve extraction, fillings, or root canal treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this case, the patient's concern about the pitted and grooved appearance of her tooth surface could indicate dental caries or tooth decay. Dental caries are microbial lesions that cause damage to the teeth. Over time, the decay can grow through the outer enamel layer and infect the underlying dentin or pulp.
Dental caries can be caused by colonies of bacteria feeding on sugars in the mouth, which release acids that degrade the calcium crystals of the enamel. If left untreated, the decay can progress to form an abscess and spread to deeper tissues or the bloodstream.
To improve the appearance of the tooth surface and treat the dental caries, the broken tooth and any other affected teeth may need to be extracted. Depending on the extent of the decay, fillings or a root canal treatment may be necessary.