Pits and Fissure Sealants

Pits and Fissure Sealants Pits and Fissure Sealants What are sealants? Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your teeth from tooth decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth and is able to provide up to 86% protection against tooth decay in the next 3 years. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay. Which teeth should be sealed? Sealants are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits’ (small hollows) and ‘fissures’ (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Your dental team will tell you which teeth should be sealed after they have examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally have deep grooves which will need to be sealed; others have shallow ones which will not need sealing. What is involved? The process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only a few minutes for each tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard – usually by shining a bright light onto it. Will I feel it? No, it is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards. How long do pit and fissure sealants last? Sealants usually last for many years, but your dental team will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dental team needs to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it. How do pit and fissure sealants work? The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier by covering all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves if they are not sealed. When should this be done? Sealants are often applied as soon as the first permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age. Do I still have to clean my teeth? Yes. It is still very important to do this. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal brushing. Using fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day will help to protect your teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of fillings you might need. Writer is a Dentist and Co-founder at Max Dental Clinics

Halitosis

Halitosis Halitosis   What is Halitosis? Halitosis is the clinical term used to describe bad breath. Halitosis can result from a variety of causes, but most commonly improper oral hygiene. What Causes Bad Breath? Some of the most common causes of bad breath are listed below. If you suffer from consistent bad breath, also known as halitosis,  Food. When food particles of any kind remain in your mouth, they collect bacteria and contribute to bad breath. Brushing and flossing are easy ways to prevent food buildup.  Gum disease. Continual bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can be a warning sign of gum disease. Dry mouth. Saliva naturally breaks down food. Without an ample amount of saliva in your mouth, food particles build up and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by salivary gland dysfunction resulting from certain medications, diabetes, or repeated breathing through your mouth, neck radiations, etc.  Smoking and tobacco use. In addition to staining your teeth and being detrimental to your health, cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco can cause bad breath. Medical conditions. Sinus and lung infections or kidney and liver disease can cause bad breath.   How to Get Rid of Bad Breath Although antiseptic mouthwash and chewing gum may be short-term fixes to bad breath for the intra oral causes, the only way to keep bad breath away consistently is by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day.  You should also visit your dentist twice a year for thorough cleanings and examinations. The combination of excellent personal and professional care will reduce plaque build-up on your teeth that causes bad breath. Identifying and management of underlying systemic conditions is important to get rid of the extra oral causes of bad breath.

Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy Root Canal Therapy   A root canal procedure (also known as root canal therapy or RCT) is usually the best way to clear infections in a root canal. When dental pulp, the blood vessels and nerves found within a tooth, becomes badly damaged by decay or tooth fracture, irreversible pain and sensitivity may occur, resulting in the need for a restorative procedure like a root canal treatment. During the root canal procedure, your dentist will clean out the infected root canal and then seal it with inert material to prevent future infections.    If left untreated, an infected root canal, and subsequent abscessed tooth, can cause one or more of the following: Swelling that could spread to other areas of the face, neck or head causing various complications. Bone loss around the tip of the root Pus drainage that can ooze into the gums and even through the cheek into the skin Root canal symptoms The roots of teeth contain blood vessels, nerve fibers and soft lymph tissues. These tissues can become damaged or infected due to various causes, but most commonly a deep cavity. Root canal therapy is often the best option to relieve pain and avoid losing the tooth entirely. You may need a root canal if you experience one or more of the following root canal symptoms.  Common symptoms of tooth that may require a root canal therapy. Tooth discoloration due to injury or trauma Swollen and sensitive gums near the sore tooth A strong, sustained throbbing pain in the area of the tooth Pain when chewing on a particular tooth or a certain side of your mouth Pain lasting several hours when consuming cold food or drinks  In rare cases, no symptoms may be present even if you have a root canal infection, so it is always best to see a dentist every six months and practice good oral hygiene habits. Root canal procedure Here are the stages leading to an infected root canal: Root canals for baby teeth There’s a common misconception that baby teeth don’t matter. However, baby teeth are crucial for healthy adult teeth to develop, so it’s important to address infected root canals and abscessed teeth before the issues spread and cause further damage to a child’s mouth. There are two types of pediatric root canal procedures: a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy. In a pulpotomy, the coronal part of the pulp is removed while in a pulpectomy procedure, the crown and the root canal of the pulp chamber is removed. Pulpotomy A pulpotomy, sometimes referred to as a baby root canal, is a root canal procedure typically used to treat infected baby teeth. Different from a pulpectomy, a pulpotomy restores and saves a tooth that’s infected by a deep cavity. It’s important to treat a deep cavity in a baby tooth to avoid the spreading of inflammation and infection that can cause an abscessed tooth and further issues down the road. Pulpectomy A pulpectomy is another root canal procedure performed on baby teeth. Depending on how far the infection of a root canal extends, a Dental Associates pediatric dentist or endodontist may perform a partial root canal. This procedure, called a pulpectomy, will relieve pain and allow time for antibiotics to reduce the infection. At an initial appointment, the endodontist will administer antibiotics to reduce the infection. At a second appointment, the endodontist will remove the infected pulp, and clean and fill the infected canal so the primary tooth can stay in the mouth and ensure proper growth and placement of the incoming secondary (adult) teeth.  Root canals for adults Pulpectomy A pulpectomy can be performed on an adult tooth as well as a baby tooth. A pulpectomy involves the complete removal of pulp tissue in a tooth as the first step in root canal treatment. This procedure will remove all the infected pulp, both in the crown portion of the tooth and the roots, to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible. Apicectomy An apicoectomy is the root canal procedure typically used to treat an abscessed tooth in adults. They’re performed on teeth that already had a root canal completed but the original root canal was not successful in eliminating the infection. In an apicectomy, a dentist will remove a portion of the root tip as well as the apical infection. Once your dentist removes the infected tissue and cleans the entire area, the canal is filled with a biocompatible material called Gutta Percha, which is a rubber-like material that seals your tooth from bacteria and reinfection. And when necessary a final crown or cap is prepared for the severely damaged teeth.  Writer is a Dentist and Co-founder at  Max Dental Clinics