Dental Implants
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements. They hold a crown, bridge or denture just like roots hold natural teeth in place. Many dentists consider implants to be one of the greatest advancements in dentistry since they truly are “the next best thing to your natural teeth.” Unlike a traditional plate or bridge, dental implants are actually anchored to your jaw. After integration with the jawbone, the crown, bridge or denture is then attached to the implants. This provides much greater stability for more effective eating, speaking and smiling!People of all ages are discovering how they can improve their lives with dental implants. No more messy, ineffective adhesives for denture wearers. With dental implants, denture wearers report eating foods that they have not had in years! Say goodbye to slipping partials and uncomfortable dentures. Implants allow for a secure solid fit of the more comfortable palate less denture.
Implants can even help a patient missing just one tooth. In the past, the two adjacent healthy teeth had to be ground down and “sacrificed” to build a three-unit bridge to replace the single missing tooth. Today, a single implant can often be placed in between the teeth and a crown can be fabricated without affecting the healthy teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements. They hold a crown, bridge or denture just like roots hold natural teeth in place. Many dentists consider implants to be one of the greatest advancements in dentistry since they truly are “the next best thing to your natural teeth.” Unlike a traditional plate or bridge, dental implants are actually anchored to your jaw. After integration with the jawbone, the crown, bridge or denture is then attached to the implants. This provides much greater stability for more effective eating, speaking and smiling!People of all ages are discovering how they can improve their lives with dental implants. No more messy, ineffective adhesives for denture wearers. With dental implants, denture wearers report eating foods that they have not had in years! Say goodbye to slipping partials and uncomfortable dentures. Implants allow for a secure solid fit of the more comfortable palate less denture.
Implants can even help a patient missing just one tooth. In the past, the two adjacent healthy teeth had to be ground down and “sacrificed” to build a three-unit bridge to replace the single missing tooth. Today, a single implant can often be placed in between the teeth and a crown can be fabricated without affecting the healthy teeth.
What are the benefits of dental implant treatment?
First of all, you will be able to smile. A big, healthy, happy smile. And you will have a lot to smile about, too. Dental implants allow you to speak, eat, sing, kiss – in other words, do everything you want – with total self assurance.
First of all, you will be able to smile. A big, healthy, happy smile. And you will have a lot to smile about, too. Dental implants allow you to speak, eat, sing, kiss – in other words, do everything you want – with total self assurance.
Root Canal Treatment
How it's occur:
Sudden pain/ acute pain/ sensitivity to hot or cold/ pain on biting
How is a root canal treatment done?
1. The dentist diagnoses a patient and advices for the treatment if the root canal is decayed.
2. The tooth area is isolated with the help of rubber dam kit, which is a rubber sheet fitted with the help of clamps or clips around the tooth which is going to be treated. This isolation helps in ease of operation for the dentist and prevents the entry of mixing of fluids from the motor and the saliva in the mouth.
3. The dentist would then prepare a cavity by the help of an aerotor which is done with proper outline and depth into the root, but this does not eliminate all the contents of the pulp chamber. Then the root canal files are used to entirely clean the root. These root canal files increase in thickness when they enter the root and help in removal of the pulp of the tooth.
4. After this is done, there are 2 ways of which one is chosen by the dentist - Either do everything else in a single seating or sealing the cavity with a soothing medicine with a temporary filling material for a week until the next seating is called for the completion of the procedure.
5. The use of soothing medicine is that it prevents the spread of further infection, if there was any prior to the cavity preparation, or also prevention of occurrence of any new infection in that region.
6. The final stage includes the filling of the canal with some plastic material called Gutta Percha which are bio-compatible, and after the canal is filled, a suitable and aesthetic regular cement filling is done over it, which can be accompanied with crown placement sometimes.
After the Treatment
You may have some pain, soreness or swelling for a day or two after the procedure. The dentist may decide to prescribe you painkillers and antibiotics to help in recovery. Most people can resume normal routine within 24 hours
How it's occur:
Sudden pain/ acute pain/ sensitivity to hot or cold/ pain on biting
How is a root canal treatment done?
1. The dentist diagnoses a patient and advices for the treatment if the root canal is decayed.
2. The tooth area is isolated with the help of rubber dam kit, which is a rubber sheet fitted with the help of clamps or clips around the tooth which is going to be treated. This isolation helps in ease of operation for the dentist and prevents the entry of mixing of fluids from the motor and the saliva in the mouth.
3. The dentist would then prepare a cavity by the help of an aerotor which is done with proper outline and depth into the root, but this does not eliminate all the contents of the pulp chamber. Then the root canal files are used to entirely clean the root. These root canal files increase in thickness when they enter the root and help in removal of the pulp of the tooth.
4. After this is done, there are 2 ways of which one is chosen by the dentist - Either do everything else in a single seating or sealing the cavity with a soothing medicine with a temporary filling material for a week until the next seating is called for the completion of the procedure.
5. The use of soothing medicine is that it prevents the spread of further infection, if there was any prior to the cavity preparation, or also prevention of occurrence of any new infection in that region.
6. The final stage includes the filling of the canal with some plastic material called Gutta Percha which are bio-compatible, and after the canal is filled, a suitable and aesthetic regular cement filling is done over it, which can be accompanied with crown placement sometimes.
After the Treatment
You may have some pain, soreness or swelling for a day or two after the procedure. The dentist may decide to prescribe you painkillers and antibiotics to help in recovery. Most people can resume normal routine within 24 hours
Bone Grafting
It is not unusual for the patient to present for a consultation at the oral surgeon’s office and be informed at some point in the discussion that he or she may require a “bone graft” in order to maximize the outcome of dental implant surgery. While this sounds pretty scary at first, the truth is that bone grafting in the oral cavity today is a routine, predictable and painless procedure.
Major & Minor Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.
It is not unusual for the patient to present for a consultation at the oral surgeon’s office and be informed at some point in the discussion that he or she may require a “bone graft” in order to maximize the outcome of dental implant surgery. While this sounds pretty scary at first, the truth is that bone grafting in the oral cavity today is a routine, predictable and painless procedure.
Major & Minor Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry deals specifically with the oral care of children. It is very important for a dental surgeon to have training in child psychology, growth and development before treating any child. Primary teeth or milk teeth start appearing in mouth usually between 6-7 months. However, permanent teeth eruption process starts between 6-8 years and all permanent teeth erupt by 12-13 years. Primary teeth are very important as they act as space maintainers for permanent teeth Bottle feeding should be avoided after 18 months age as this will prevent 'Baby-Bottle" tooth decay or rampant decay.
By the time children are 3 years old, they usually have a full set of 20 primary teeth, however there are 28-32 permanent teeth. Primary teeth shed off one by one between the age of 6-12 years and eruption process for permanent teeth takes place during this age ( 6-12 years) period.
Preventive Dentistry
This is perhaps the most important role that dentist can play by preventing children teeth from deteriorating. Child should be thoroughly and patiently examined to detect any potential problem areas. Counselling and if necessary, certain steps / procedures should be taken like:
1. Advise / Prevent
Preventing bottle-feeding in a child after a certain age, as this habit can lead to pre-mature decay of primary / milk teeth. This is because sweet liquid pools around the child's teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel.
2. Sealants
These are resin materials filled in little ridges on the chewing part of the child’s teeth to protect and seal the teeth from food and plaque. Children with newly erupted back teeth benefit the most from sealants as these teeth are at highest risk of developing “Pit and Fissure” caries. Some of the sealants release fluoride as well.
3. Fluoride
This is an element which helps teeth to resist cavities. However, too little or excessive fluoride can be harmful to teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth, to help them resist caries. Excessive fluoride may contribute to dental-fluorosis, which is a chalky-white or even brown discolouration of permanent teeth.
4. Calcium
Calcium is very essential for children especially during eruption stage of teeth. It is very important for the growth of strong bones and teeth. Children should meet their calcium needs by eating dairy foods and having well-balanced diet such as milk, cheese, milk-based custards and leafy-green vegetables.
Pediatric Dentistry deals specifically with the oral care of children. It is very important for a dental surgeon to have training in child psychology, growth and development before treating any child. Primary teeth or milk teeth start appearing in mouth usually between 6-7 months. However, permanent teeth eruption process starts between 6-8 years and all permanent teeth erupt by 12-13 years. Primary teeth are very important as they act as space maintainers for permanent teeth Bottle feeding should be avoided after 18 months age as this will prevent 'Baby-Bottle" tooth decay or rampant decay.
By the time children are 3 years old, they usually have a full set of 20 primary teeth, however there are 28-32 permanent teeth. Primary teeth shed off one by one between the age of 6-12 years and eruption process for permanent teeth takes place during this age ( 6-12 years) period.
Preventive Dentistry
This is perhaps the most important role that dentist can play by preventing children teeth from deteriorating. Child should be thoroughly and patiently examined to detect any potential problem areas. Counselling and if necessary, certain steps / procedures should be taken like:
1. Advise / Prevent
Preventing bottle-feeding in a child after a certain age, as this habit can lead to pre-mature decay of primary / milk teeth. This is because sweet liquid pools around the child's teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel.
2. Sealants
These are resin materials filled in little ridges on the chewing part of the child’s teeth to protect and seal the teeth from food and plaque. Children with newly erupted back teeth benefit the most from sealants as these teeth are at highest risk of developing “Pit and Fissure” caries. Some of the sealants release fluoride as well.
3. Fluoride
This is an element which helps teeth to resist cavities. However, too little or excessive fluoride can be harmful to teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth, to help them resist caries. Excessive fluoride may contribute to dental-fluorosis, which is a chalky-white or even brown discolouration of permanent teeth.
4. Calcium
Calcium is very essential for children especially during eruption stage of teeth. It is very important for the growth of strong bones and teeth. Children should meet their calcium needs by eating dairy foods and having well-balanced diet such as milk, cheese, milk-based custards and leafy-green vegetables.
Wisdom / Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the rear (third) Molars that erupt sometime around late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can cause various dental problems including overcrowding of the existing teeth and impaction. Impacted teeth are unerupted or partially erupted teeth as their eruption process is being obstructed due to :-
(a) Lack of space:
In some cases ,there may not be enough room in the jaw for the erupting wisdom teeth.This can stall their exit at the halfway point,making room for food lodgement.Food and bacteria will build up between the wisdom tooth and its neighbouring molar,so decay and gum infections are more likely.Partially impacted or crowded (tilted) wisdom teeth in the upper jaw have tendency to lean sideways and grate against the cheek causing cheek bite and chewing problems.The pressure from wisdom teeth may also force the other teeth closer together causing crowding,thus interfere with the bite.
(b) Ankylsos:
The roots of the impacted tooth can fuse to the surrounding bone ,creating a tooth stuck in an unerupted or partially erupted state.
(c) Competitive position:
(A tooth has erupted over another tooth’s position). The teeth most likely to become impacted are the third molars also known as the “wisdom teeth”.There is rarely enough space to fit these last teeth into the small space left behind the second molars,thus causing obstruction in their eruption and the wisdom tooth becomes impacted. An average mouth dentition holds 28 teeth.There can be discomfort/pain when 32 teeth try to fit in a space comfortable for only 28 teeth.These four other non-funtional teeth are the wisdom/third molars.the tendency to get impacted is due to the small space available to them.
Using panaromic X-ray,dentist can evaluate the position/angulationof the wisdom teeth and determine the severity of the impaction.This is important for planning the treatment course.If a wisdom tooth is erupted but the clinical visibility is obstructed due to soft tissue flap over it,the dentist may need to snip the soft tissue to avoid food lodgement and hence infection.
Some useful tips for self care after dental extraction:
Wisdom teeth are the rear (third) Molars that erupt sometime around late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can cause various dental problems including overcrowding of the existing teeth and impaction. Impacted teeth are unerupted or partially erupted teeth as their eruption process is being obstructed due to :-
(a) Lack of space:
In some cases ,there may not be enough room in the jaw for the erupting wisdom teeth.This can stall their exit at the halfway point,making room for food lodgement.Food and bacteria will build up between the wisdom tooth and its neighbouring molar,so decay and gum infections are more likely.Partially impacted or crowded (tilted) wisdom teeth in the upper jaw have tendency to lean sideways and grate against the cheek causing cheek bite and chewing problems.The pressure from wisdom teeth may also force the other teeth closer together causing crowding,thus interfere with the bite.
(b) Ankylsos:
The roots of the impacted tooth can fuse to the surrounding bone ,creating a tooth stuck in an unerupted or partially erupted state.
(c) Competitive position:
(A tooth has erupted over another tooth’s position). The teeth most likely to become impacted are the third molars also known as the “wisdom teeth”.There is rarely enough space to fit these last teeth into the small space left behind the second molars,thus causing obstruction in their eruption and the wisdom tooth becomes impacted. An average mouth dentition holds 28 teeth.There can be discomfort/pain when 32 teeth try to fit in a space comfortable for only 28 teeth.These four other non-funtional teeth are the wisdom/third molars.the tendency to get impacted is due to the small space available to them.
Using panaromic X-ray,dentist can evaluate the position/angulationof the wisdom teeth and determine the severity of the impaction.This is important for planning the treatment course.If a wisdom tooth is erupted but the clinical visibility is obstructed due to soft tissue flap over it,the dentist may need to snip the soft tissue to avoid food lodgement and hence infection.
Some useful tips for self care after dental extraction:
- Apply cold compress to avoid swelling.
- Take appropriate pain relievers as and when required, keeping adequate gap before the next dose.
- Rinse with lukewarm and prescribed anti-microbials after 24 hours of extraction.
- Do not brush over the area for two days. 5. Eat cold diet on the day of extraction and soft/easy to chew food for the next few days
Crowns & Bridges - Fixed Prosthesis
Replacement of Missing Teeth
In case of failure to replace a missing tooth, you could end up loosing all your teeth. Each tooth has two parts - Crown and Root. Crown is visible in the mouth whereas the root is embedded in the bone. Molars have two or three roots whereas the front teeth are usually single rooted.
When teeth are heavily decayed they may be too weak to survive with just a filling. By placing a dental crown, a tooth may be given a new lease of life. Even when a single tooth is lost, a denture may not be required as a bridge can be made which spans the gap with a tooth attached to those next to the space. Sometimes when a single small tooth is lost at the front of the mouth a simple bridge can be made which has 'wings' that are glued to the back of the adjacent teeth. This results in fewer teeth being damaged by the drill.
A dental bridge allows the dentist to replace lost teeth without the use of a denture. Basically a false tooth is held in place by being attached to a tooth next to it. The disadvantage is that the teeth next to the space have to be prepared in a similar way to a crown in order to accept the bridge. Dental bridges are soon getting obsolete with the advent of Implants.
Replacement of Missing Teeth
In case of failure to replace a missing tooth, you could end up loosing all your teeth. Each tooth has two parts - Crown and Root. Crown is visible in the mouth whereas the root is embedded in the bone. Molars have two or three roots whereas the front teeth are usually single rooted.
When teeth are heavily decayed they may be too weak to survive with just a filling. By placing a dental crown, a tooth may be given a new lease of life. Even when a single tooth is lost, a denture may not be required as a bridge can be made which spans the gap with a tooth attached to those next to the space. Sometimes when a single small tooth is lost at the front of the mouth a simple bridge can be made which has 'wings' that are glued to the back of the adjacent teeth. This results in fewer teeth being damaged by the drill.
A dental bridge allows the dentist to replace lost teeth without the use of a denture. Basically a false tooth is held in place by being attached to a tooth next to it. The disadvantage is that the teeth next to the space have to be prepared in a similar way to a crown in order to accept the bridge. Dental bridges are soon getting obsolete with the advent of Implants.
FILLINGS
Those dark colored silver fillings considered best till recent past are now rarely used because of,
Those dark colored silver fillings considered best till recent past are now rarely used because of,
- The unaesthetic colour of the filling.
- The mercury content of the amalgam.
- These fillings match to the tooth color and are difficult to differenciate.
- These filling bond to the tooth structure ,they last longer & are stronger.
ORAL SURGERY
Most common surgical procedure in routine dental practice is removal of an impacted third molar or commonly known as wisdom tooth.In majority of people due to lack of space in arch thirdmolar are either not present or if present are partially/completely impacted into the bone.
Most common surgical procedure in routine dental practice is removal of an impacted third molar or commonly known as wisdom tooth.In majority of people due to lack of space in arch thirdmolar are either not present or if present are partially/completely impacted into the bone.