CTRESTORATIVE
Root Canals
Every tooth consists of three different layers. The outermost and hardest layer is enamel, and the second layer is dentin. The third is pulp, which is the cavernous space where the live tissue and nerve of each tooth is located.
If for any reason the pulp space is exposed to the outside, the tissue becomes contaminated and eventually infected. The exposure of pulp happens in many circumstances, such as when you have a large cavity or a fractured tooth. Your dentist can explain the exact reason for damage to this tissue. In these cases, the treatment is usually root canal treatment.
Root canal treatment is the process of going inside the pulp space and removing the infected, dead tissue. The space is then disinfected and sealed with special materials. Nowadays, root canal treatments are performed with advanced techniques and materials, making them far more comfortable and faster. After root canal treatment is complete, your restorative dentist will usually place a crown on your tooth to safeguard against fracture.
Extractions
Tooth Extraction: Only When Necessary
Some teeth may have extensive decay or will be broken or cracked in such an extreme manner that an extraction is the best solution. In some cases, repair and restoring is simply not possible.
Teeth that have experienced the effects of advanced periodontal disease, aka gum disease, are teeth whose supporting bone has been damaged. In general, as periodontal disease worsens, a tooth is supported by less and less surrounding bone, often to the point where the tooth becomes loose. In those cases where significant bone damage has occurred and a tooth has become excessively mobile, extraction of the tooth may be the only option.
Sometimes 3rd molars or wisdom teeth lie in a position that proves to be a constant source of irritation to the person’s cheek by either rubbing against the cheek or causing the person to bite it. As a solution, your dentist may suggest that the offending wisdom teeth be extracted.
Wisdom teeth are typically in a region of the mouth that is hard to clean, thus placing them and their neighboring tooth at greater risk for decay and periodontal disease. Depending on the precise circumstances, your dentist may advise that removing a nonfunctional tooth might be in your best long-term interest in regards to maintaining good oral health.
Impacted teeth are teeth whose positioning in the jaw bone is such that they cannot erupt into normal alignment and are often nonfunctional. This combination of factors makes impacted teeth common candidates for extraction. Extractions are often necessary in those cases where a large discrepancy exists between the size of the patient’s jaws and the needed space required for the improved alignment of their teeth. An orthodontist usually makes that decision after x-rays and models.
What to Expect After Extraction Surgery
In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon.
The following tips will help speed your recovery:
- Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.
- While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip or your tongue.
- Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop your head with pillows.
- Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use moist heat such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out for the following 2 or 3 days.
- Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
- Eat soft foods such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
- Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
- After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. In addition, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.
- Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.
- Continue to brush your teeth and tongue carefully.
- Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days if needed.
Fillings
Fillings- What are they?
If you’ve ever had a cavity, you have probably encountered dental fillings.
Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, embrace gold, porcelain, and composite. The strength and sturdiness of ancient dental materials make them useful for things wherever repaired teeth should stand up to extreme forces that result from chew, like within the back of the mouth.
Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the looks of natural teeth. These compounds, usually referred to as composite resins, are sometimes used on the front teeth wherever a natural look is very important, however they'll also be used on the rear teeth looking on the placement and extent of the dental caries.
Crowns and Bridgework
Dentistry is an art as well as a science; dental crowns offer a perfect example of this. A dental crown or “cap” is a covering that fits over a damaged, decayed or unattractive tooth. It can even replace a tooth entirely as part of dental bridgework.
A crown completely covers a tooth above the gum line. This is in contrast to a dental veneer, which only covers a tooth's front surface and needs natural tooth structure to support it. Therefore, if a tooth is missing a significant amount of structure above the gum line, a crown would be the restoration of choice.
Crowns strengthen damaged teeth, allowing them to function normally again.
There are various types of crowns, ranging from full porcelain to full metal. Your dentist will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each kind for you.
Crowns may also be used to securely attach a bridge if the surrounding teeth by themselves are inadequate to do so. A bridge is a dental appliance that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. They are designed to be cosmetically appealing and also to restore proper occlusion. Like crowns, bridges are fully customizable and made of various materials, including porcelain and metals. Although not as permanent as a cap, bridges are bonded to surrounding teeth and only removable by your dentist.
Both crowns and bridges are created to match the color, height, texture and overall appearance of your teeth. Most crowns and bridges will last for life, eliminating the need to replace them unless they fall out or become loose. You may prolong the durability of your crowns and bridges by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.
Crowning or Capping a Tooth
Crowning or capping a tooth will usually take two to three visits. At the first visit, we will prepare your tooth to receive its new crown. First we will shape it to fit inside the new covering. This will involve some drilling to give the tooth a uniform shape. We will numb the tooth and the surrounding area beforehand. If there is very little tooth structure left to begin with, we may have to build up the tooth with filling material, rather than remove tooth structure, to support the crown.
After the tooth is prepared, we will take impressions of your teeth, either digitally or with reliable, putty-like impression materials, and send them to the dental laboratory. There, the impressions will be used to make models of your teeth for the creation of a crown. The models will serve as guides to the highly skilled lab technicians, who will ensure that your new crown is designed to enhance your smile and function well within your bite.
Before you leave the office, we will attach a temporary crown to your tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is ready. At the second visit, your permanent crown will be attached to your tooth with either a resin that hardens when exposed to a special light source, or a type of permanent cement.
Creating a Bridge
Crowns can also be used to create a lifelike replacement for a missing tooth. This is done with bridgework, which spans the space of the missing tooth and requires at least three crowns. Two of those crowns will be placed over healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth; these healthy teeth are referred to as abutment teeth. The two crowned abutment teeth become supports for a third crown placed in between them; that third crown is referred to as a pontic. If more than one tooth is missing, more crowns will be needed to bridge the gap in between the abutment teeth.
Caring for Crowns & Bridgework
Crowns and bridgework require the same conscientious care as your natural teeth. Be sure to brush and floss between all of your teeth - restored and natural - every day to reduce the buildup of dental plaque. When you have crowns, it is even more important to maintain your regular schedule of cleanings here at the dental office. Avoid using your teeth as tools (to open packages, for example). If you have a grinding habit, wearing a night guard would be a good idea to protect your teeth and your investment.