Restorative Dental Work Can Help Preserve Teeth

A lot of the work carried out by local dentists or D.D.S (doctor of dental surgery) is aimed at preserving teeth and trying to avoid the need for dental extractions. Most people will suffer one or more cavities during their lifetime that requires fillings to replace the area lost to dental decay. 

Choices of dental fillings

In past the only choice for dental fillings used to be amalgam, but this material has fallen out of favour during recent years. It has received quite bad press due to the mercury content, even though numerous studies have proven it to be safe for use. Amalgam is still a good choice for large areas of decay in molars as it is extremely hard wearing and cost-effective. In spite of this most people would prefer to have tooth coloured fillings that are either made out of a composite resin, referred to as being direct fillings or they can be made out of porcelain which is a type of indirect filling. Direct fillings are those fillings that are able to be completed in just one visit to your dentist, while in direct fillings require an impression to be taken which is then sent off to a dental laboratory for the filling to be made. These fillings can then be fitted at a subsequent visit.

Root canals are excellent at preserving teeth

Root canals are an incredibly common treatment, and this dental work can almost certainly be carried out by your local D.D.S. Before root canal therapy was invented the only alternative was to have dental extractions, as this treatment is excellent at helping to preserve teeth. It is one of those treatments that people tend to fear, but is generally no more unpleasant than having dental fillings. Root canals are necessary whenever the central part of a tooth has become infected, and this area is called the pulp. The pulp contains all the nerves of the tooth, but the tooth is able to function perfectly well without it as it's only used for sensing hot and cold foods. The D.D.S. will first anaesthetise the affected area before drilling into the crown of the tooth to access the pulp. They then use a series of specially shaped files to clean out the infection. Sometimes it's necessary to place antibiotics topically, and it's not uncommon for the dentist to seal the tooth using a temporary filling to make sure all the infection is cleared before finally restoring the tooth. The final restoration process generally involves having crowns, as this helps protect the tooth against any further infection and decay.

Dealing with toothaches and infections

Suffering from toothaches and infections can be very unpleasant, and is essential to seek treatment from the local DDS. Even if the infection seems to clear up it's still a sign that something is wrong, and it's well worth booking a checkup especially if it's been awhile since the last dental visit. In general having teeth professionally cleaned by dental hygienists, combined with regular brushing and flossing should be enough to avoid most infections and toothaches as any early signs of disease can be quickly picked up and treated before they present a problem.

Tips on Avoiding Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)

Periodontal disease is an extremely common condition that is estimated to affect around three quarters of the American population at any one time. It is a serious condition that has considerable ramifications for oral and general health. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection and is often caused by poor oral hygiene. Plaque bacteria are present in everyone's mouth and the numbers gradually multiply throughout the course of the day. These bacteria are generally removed through proper brushing and flossing, but if left will quickly harden into a substance called tartar. Tartar can only be removed by dental hygienists, or by a D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery). When left to build up plaque bacteria will irritate and inflame the gums, causing gum disease.

Early symptoms of periodontal disease (gum disease)

The earliest symptoms of gum disease include noticing that gums feel more tender than normal, and they may look slightly red in colour. Sometimes the gums can look a little puffy, and they are far more likely to bleed when brushed or flossed. These early symptoms of gum disease are called gingivitis, and catching this condition at this stage is vital. Gingivitis is relatively easy to cure, and simply involves making an appointment with dental hygienists to have teeth professionally cleaned. 

Professional teeth cleaning from dental hygienists

Professional cleaning has been proven to be one of the best methods of keeping teeth and gums healthy. It is the job of dental hygienists to scrape away the tartar that builds up in between the teeth, removing the source of inflammation and infection. In addition to professional cleaning it is essential to pay extra attention to brushing and flossing. Teeth need to be brushed twice a day for at least 2 minutes each time, and it's vital to floss once a day. Following a good daily oral hygiene routine should be enough to see significant improvements in gum health in just a couple of weeks. It's important to continue flossing even if it makes the gums bleed to begin with, as things will begin to improve after a few days or so.

Periodontal therapy to treat periodontal disease

If the symptoms of gum disease aren't caught fast enough then the condition will quickly progress into periodontal disease. This is a much more serious condition and can be significantly more difficult to treat. Periodontal disease causes the gums to retract from the teeth, creating pockets around the base of the teeth. People with this condition frequently look as if their teeth have become longer as more of the root area is exposed. Sometimes periodontal disease can become chronic, meaning it can only be held in check and cannot be cured. One of the most popular periodontal therapy treatments for this disease is scaling and planing. This is a deep cleaning treatment whereby the teeth are scaled or scraped to remove all the tartar, before the root area is smoothed or planed to help clear up infection. Planing the roots helps make it more difficult for plaque bacteria to adhere to the smooth surface. Some people are more susceptible towards developing periodontal disease, especially if they have a compromised immune system and suffer from conditions such as diabetes or AIDS-related illnesses.

General Dental Work Available at Your Local Dental Office

The majority of dentists are general dentists, and will often have the letters D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery) after their name. General dentists tend to carry out a wide range of treatments aimed at servicing the majority of the public. These include offering professional cleanings with dental hygienists, wisdom teeth extraction and dental extractions. In addition they deal with cavities and replace fillings, fit crowns, dentures, and veneers and carry out preventative treatments such as fluoride treatment and sealants. Most people will find this range of dental work sufficient for their needs, but sometimes it may be necessary to seek out specialist help. 

Having Special Dental Work 

This is especially true for anyone looking for a smile makeover and who requires cosmetic surgery. The very best cosmetic dentists combine artistry with dental expertise to create naturally perfect smiles. And those unlucky enough to suffer from periodontal disease (gum disease) may need periodontal therapy. At the very least it may be necessary to have a full assessment from a periodontist who specialises in this disease as it is vitally important to treat this condition as effectively as possible. Luckily a lot of people won't require this type of specialist treatment and will be able to stick to seeing their local dentist.

Preventative Dental Work Can be Well Worth the Effort

Obviously prevention is always better than cure, and the local dental office is likely to offer several treatments that can help preserve teeth and keep them in the very best of health. Nowadays children and teenagers are likely to be offered dental sealants. These sealants are a type of protective covering that is painted onto the chewing surfaces of bicuspids and molars, helping to prevent decay. These areas are especially susceptible towards cavities as it can be quite tricky to clean all the little fissures and grooves in these teeth. Sealants can be painted on to any teeth that are free from disease and decay, although sometimes they can be painted on to teeth that have very small areas of decay as they help to seal in the bacteria, effectively killing them. Although this treatment is generally carried out on children, there's no real reason why it can't be carried out on the healthy teeth of adults. Sealants tend to last quite a few years, but their condition is checked at every appointment and renewed whenever necessary. The actual process for sealing the teeth is pretty quick and straightforward and can be completed in just one visit.

Fluoride Treatment Can Help Strengthen Teeth 

Fluoride treatment is one of the most popular methods of helping to protect teeth from cavities and decay, and is very effective. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in a lot of foods and many public water supplies, and plays a vital role in strengthening tooth enamel. Teeth come under attack every time we eat or drink something sugary or which is full of carbohydrates. This is because the plaque bacteria present in the mouth feed off the remains of the food, and in doing so create acid. This acid attacks the tooth enamel, weakening and softening it. Having fluoride treatment helps to re-harden it. Fluoride treatments can be administered at the local dental office, but it can also pay to use products containing fluoride such as toothpaste and mouthwash to help give a little extra protection.

Getting the Perfect Smile through Cosmetic Surgery

There is a lot more pressure these days to have a perfect smile, as the media is full of images of people with perfect teeth. However most of them weren't born this way, and will have required at least a little bit of work to perfect their pearly whites. Cosmetic surgery covers a huge range of dental work, and some dental treatments can be regarded as being both restorative and cosmetic. The most popular dental work for perfecting a smile includes having veneers fitted, having white fillings, getting new crowns, and of course having teeth whitened. 

Choosing the best dentist for cosmetic surgery

Anyone contemplating cosmetic surgery to perfect their teeth should choose their dentist very carefully. All dentists are referred to as being a D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery), but some have chosen to specialize in cosmetic surgery. It is well worth asking a lot of questions and asking to see before and after photos or testimonials from satisfied patients. It's essential to pick a dentist who is willing to answer all questions, and all dentists should provide a written plan detailing the costs of each individual treatment involved in a smile makeover. 

Getting veneers to perfect a smile

Dental veneers are one of the most popular methods of perfecting a smile, and are an excellent way of hiding minor imperfections. They can be used to mask tiny chips or cracks in teeth, or they can modify the shape and size of teeth and can even hide discolorations. Veneers can be fitted on the front teeth, including cuspids, but can also be fitted to bicuspids and even molars. Veneers are also very good for straightening out slightly crooked teeth. In cases where a lot of veneers are being fitted on all the front teeth they can be used to completely change the colour. Most veneers require a small amount of tooth structure to be removed as the average veneer is between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm in thickness. They are incredibly thin but once cemented into place should last a considerable number of years before needing replacing. Some types of veneers require no healthy tooth structure to be removed, and it might be worth asking your dentist if you are suitable for these types of veneers. It is always worthwhile trying to preserve as much healthy tooth structure as you can, as once removed it is lost forever.

Using dental crowns to get a better smile 

Dental crowns can also significantly improve a person's smile, and modern dental technology uses very sophisticated materials that can look incredibly lifelike. Crowns used for cosmetic surgery are most likely to be tooth coloured, and can be made out of porcelain fused to a metal substructure, or can be entirely made out of porcelain, or they may have a substructure made out of a material called zirconia. The advantage of having all ceramic crowns is that they allow the light to be transmitted through in a way that is very similar to natural teeth. Porcelain fused metal crowns still give a good result, but can sometimes look a little opaque due to the porcelain used to mask the colour of the metal.