KRISHNA SAI DENTAL CARE

Conservative Dentistry

Conservative Dentistry is the branch of dentistry which is concerned with the preservation of teeth in the mouth. It includes the practice of operative dentistry and endodontics, and includes various kinds of direct and indirect restorations of individual teeth in the mouth. The primary goal of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics includes the diagnosis and treatment of sequelae of dental caries and includes the techniques and procedures to restore the teeth to full function and appearance. The treatment provided include various fillings, root canal treatment surgical endodontics, endodontic implants, bleaching and management of traumatized teeth.

 

Fillings

A filling repairs and restores the surface of a tooth that has been damaged by decay, fracture, or wear. A dental filling strengthens the tooth. If tooth decay is not repaired at its early stages, it will worsen and additional or alternative dental treatments may be necessary.
With proper care and routine oral hygiene, a filling has a lifespan of 5-12 years, depending upon the type of filling material used.

Warning Signs
Tooth sensitivity is the most common early warning sign of enamel loss due to tooth decay. While there could be a number of reasons for this sensation, only your Dentist can diagnose its underlying cause. If a damaged tooth surface is not treated early, your discomfort will increase.
When Prescribed
A filling prescription is made when:

• The surface enamel of a tooth is damaged due to decay, fracture, or wear.
• A tooth's surface needs to be evened out to improve your ability to bite or chew.

Patient Experience
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed-upon treatment is a dental filling, your Dentist will:

• Apply a local anesthetic to the affected area of your mouth
• Use a hand-held instrument to prepare your tooth by removing the decayed or damaged tooth surface
• Cleanse the prepared tooth to remove debris and bacteria
• Select the dental filling material based on the placement of the tooth, the location of the damaged area of the tooth, and the extent of its surface damage
• Apply adhesives and filling material to the prepared area and shape it to match the look and feel of a natural tooth
• Expose a special hand-held light to the filling material to harden the repaired surface of your tooth

Root Canal & Endodontics

Dental Health and Root Canals

In the past, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called root canal treatment, your tooth can be saved. Root canals are relatively simple procedures, with little or no discomfort, involving one to three office visits. Best of all, having a root canal when necessary can save your tooth and your smile!

What is the purpose of a root canal?
A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory - to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.

When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp tissue and germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess may form. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This can not only injure your jawbones, but is detrimental to your overall health as well. Without the proper treatment, your tooth may have to be removed. After root canal treatment, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. With good oral hygiene, the restored tooth has the potential to last a lifetime.

Overview
An endodontic treatment saves a severely injured, cracked, or decayed tooth when its pulp (the soft inner tissue inside a tooth's root canal) becomes inflamed or infected. If it is not treated promptly, pain or a tooth abscess results. Endodontic treatment is also known as a "root canal."
Root canal treatment is completed in one or two office visits, depending on the presence of infection and the required treatment plan.
Warning Signs

Teeth that require root canal therapy are not always painful. However, signs you may need a root canal include severe toothache, pain upon chewing or application of pressure, prolonged sensitivity or pain to hot and cold temperatures, a dark discoloration of the tooth, swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums, Pus drainage in your mouth and Swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes under your jaw.

Endodontic Treatment
Root canal treatment involves the removal of the diseased pulp along with the tooth's nerve (located within a tooth's root canal). The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of your tooth are then cleaned, medicated and sealed. A dental crown or other restorative treatment is used to protect and strengthen the tooth.

What happens during a root canal?
After reviewing an x-ray of your tooth, your Endodontist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, recommend a treatment plan, discuss it with you, and answer your questions.

Root canal treatment involves one to three visits. During treatment,  local anesthetic is applied to the affected tooth and surrounding area and your general dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems with the nerves of the teeth) removes the  affected soft pulp and nerve and the interior of the tooth will be cleaned and sealed. Finally, the tooth is filled with a dental composite. If your tooth had extensive decay, your doctor may suggest placing a crown to strengthen and protect the tooth from breaking. As long as you continue to care for your teeth and gums with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups, your restored tooth can last a lifetime.

Root Canal Myths

Root canal therapy is considered to be the most feared dental procedure. Does that surprise you? A survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists reveals that most people with a fear of the dentist base their fear on someone else's experiences, not their own.
The inaccurate information about root canal therapy prevents patients from making an informed decision regarding their teeth. There are many patients that go as far as requesting that a tooth is extracted, rather than save it with a root canal.
Before you believe the hype, take a look at the top root canal myths, and learn the truth for yourself.

Myth #1: Root Canal Therapy Is Painful

Root canal therapy is almost always preformed because a tooth is causing pain from an irreversible condition.Pulpitis, an infected pulp, broken teeth, or a slowly dying nerve are all common reasons for root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy is used to alleviate pain. Most people who have root canal therapy admit they did not experience any pain during the appointment and felt better afterward.

Myth #2: Completing a Root Canal Requires Several Appointments

Root canal therapy may be completed in one to two appointments. Factors that determine the number of appointments necessary to complete a root canal include:

• The extent of the infection
• The difficulty of the root canal
• Whether a referral to a root canal specialist, known as an endodontist, becomes necessary

Restoring the tooth after root canal therapy is necessary in order to ensure the tooth functions properly. The appointments necessary to completely restore the tooth, in essence, should not be considered part of the root canal process.

Myth #4: Teeth Need to Hurt Before Root Canal Therapy Becomes Necessary

Teeth that require root canal therapy are not always painful. In fact, teeth that are already dead may require root canal therapy to prevent the tooth from becoming infected. Your dentist will examine your teeth thoroughly during your regular check-up. It is usually during this routine appointment where your dentist will discover a tooth that has died or is on its way. Tests used to confirm a dead tooth include: • Temperature testing • Percussion testing • Using a pulp vitality machine

Myth #5: The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy Don't Last Very Long

A common misconception is that the benefits of root canal therapy don't last very long after the procedure has been completed. This myth originated after patients experienced their tooth breaking months after a root canal was performed on their tooth. When the nerve is removed from the inside of the tooth, the blood supply is eliminated from inside the tooth. The tooth eventually becomes brittle, and depending on the size of the filling used to close the tooth after the root canal, the forces from grinding, eating, and even talking may cause the tooth to break. Failing to have a crown placed on the tooth may cause this to happen.