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Showing posts from February, 2022

What is a root canal?

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  A root canal is a treatment that addresses most dental problems involving your teeth's nerves. It can be used to repair deep cavities, prepare teeth for crowns or other procedures, remove inflamed tissue (pulp), and prevent tooth decay from spreading. A root canal involves removing all the infected pulp and cleaning an area to seal it off so more infection can't enter. The technique was first performed in 1884 on Dr Charles Mayo's son, who had a tooth with a pain-causing abscessed cavity. Patients are usually numbed with a local anaesthetic to remove the infected pulp and clean out the canal. In some cases, the canals cannot be cleaned out due to the extent of infection, and a crown (cap) must be placed over the tooth. If you need a root canal, your dentist will refer you to an endodontist (a dentist specialising in endodontics). Your endodontist will discuss your case and perform a thorough examination, including X-rays and tests, to see if you need them. How to know if

What is osseointegration?

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A dental implant is an artificial root inserted in the jaw to act as a natural tooth root and support dentures or prosthetic teeth. The main plan is to ensure close contact between the titanium implant and jawbone as the implant is placed. The implant and jawbone are left to heal, and that's when osseointegration occurs. Osseointegration is when titanium is surgically implanted directly into human bone to act as a prosthesis. The jawbone cells grow up to the implant surface and hold it tight and securely. Osseointegration is defined as a working connection between living bone tissue and the surface of a titanium implant. It is vital for the firmness of the implant and the success of the dental implant procedure. The implant–tissue interface is a highly dynamic region of interaction. The interface involves biocompatibility issues and biomaterial and mechanical environment alternation. Osseointegration occurs over six weeks to six months, depending on the location of the implants an

How are dental implants different to their alternatives?

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    Dental implants are a kind of prosthetic tooth replacement. They are not removable, as they are inserted into the jaw bone and anchored by a screw--usually made of titanium metal but occasionally comprised of porcelain.  The implant will be integrated with the bone and create a new biological environment that responds to dental procedures just like natural teeth do. They can be utilised as an option for crowns and bridges or as an alternative to dentures. Different kinds of implants exist for various purposes: the aforementioned dental implant is one type; it is typically used when all of one's natural teeth have been removed or damaged past use for eating/speaking purposes. Other implants are used when one needs a bridge to replace missing teeth or a removable prosthetic to support eating and speaking. The main difference between the more common dental implant and the dental implant alternative is how they are inserted. There are numerous methods available today for inserting

Prepare for the All-on-4 procedure

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  The all-on-4 procedure is a dental restoration treatment used on individuals who have all or most of their teeth missing. The treatment uses a strategy where four implants are placed in the jawbone to stabilise the denture. The treatment helps individuals regain their smile, confidence and teeth function ability. With all-on-4 dental implants, an individual can eat any type of food. All-on-4 dental implants treatment consists of three steps. The steps include; Consultation. This is when a patient visits the dentist to enquire about the procedure for the first time. During the consultation, the dentist evaluates if the patient is suitable for the treatment. Not everyone can undergo the process due to various factors. Tests are conducted, and if the patient is a suitable candidate, a surgery date is scheduled. Surgery. All the remaining teeth are removed on the surgery day, and implants are inserted into the jawbone. The temporary dentures are fitted as the dentist prepares the permane

What happens if you don’t fix a missing tooth

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    1. Malocclusion Malocclusion describes several conditions that affect the alignment of your teeth or bite. Malocclusion bites are most often caused by missing teeth or tooth decay. If an individual has malocclusions, the symptoms can range from small tongue thrusts to speech impediments. Some patients experience pain in their jaw or difficulty chewing, swallowing and breathing. Missing teeth is the primary cause of malocclusion. The jawbone starts to recede when one doesn't have enough teeth to hold their bite in place. As a result, the rest of the teeth move forward to find stability. The more teeth gaps one has, the more likely their face will look slightly crooked, and one may experience problems speaking clearly or pain while eating or chewing. 2. Overbite Another condition that can result from losing teeth is an overbite. As the lower front teeth become shorter than the upper front teeth, they come together in an awkward position and make it difficult to chew or speak clea

Can You Fix Tooth Decay?

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  Yes, tooth decay can be fixed. However, the tooth decay fixing option is only possible during the early stages of the decay. When you visit the dentist, the dentist will give you options such as; 1.Root canal A root canal is a treatment option where your tooth is drilled completely around the infected root, and then a plastic tube is placed into the tooth to clean it. All germs and bacteria causing the decay are removed. Root canal treatment has a very pain free healing period. However, a few days after the procedure, you will experience some discomfort. The dentist will give you some over the counter pain relief medication to manage the pain. 2.Crown placement Crown placement is a procedure to replace a tooth that is too decayed to be repaired with a dental implant. Crowns are placed over the tooth, and they can come in gold/porcelain combination or single metal. There are no big differences between the materials as both of them can provide you with great improvements in your smile

How to handle the pain from a new dental implant

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  An implant is a replacement tooth anchored into the jaw, usually with screw-like posts. Implants are created from titanium and other materials and are designed to mimic a missing tooth's natural look and feel. The implants can be utilised as an anchor for dentures, bridges or complete implants restored with crowns or caps. A dental implant's long lifespan is often more durable than other restorative work such as dentures due to their stability on the bone tissue over time. A dental implant requires surgery before it can be placed into the mouth and stabilised with screws that go through gum tissues and into the jawbone. Due to the surgery, dental implants can be painful right after it. How do you handle the pain? Pain relief medication Your dentist will prescribe a pain reliever that you will need to take in the immediate aftermath of the procedure. It will help reduce some degree of pain. Some people use aspirin to help manage dental pain, but this is not something every den