Learn about nine common dental procedures. Find out how these procedures can transform your smile and improve your oral health.
Dentistry focuses on preventing and treating dental problems and oral disease. It also focuses on improving the appearance of a person's teeth and gums. You'll learn about the most popular dental procedures in this article.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is used to treat diseases of the dental pulp. Pulpal damage is typically caused by cavities and tooth decay that reaches into the nerve or trauma to a tooth. The symptoms of pulpal nerve damage may include pain in the tooth while chewing or biting down,
oversensitivity when drinking cold beverages, and facial swelling. Without getting treated, the infection of a person's dental pulp will spread to the bone and it will not be able to hold the tooth. If you need root canal treatment, make sure you visit a dentist who has many years of experience performing this procedure.
Dental Cleaning
People should get their teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist every 6 months. This procedure keeps the teeth clean and it helps to prevent tooth decay, cavities, and other dental problems.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a wonderful alternative to dentures. Dental implants provide many advantages over dentures and you can use them to replace one or more missing teeth. Dental implants will make it easy for you to chew food, provide support to your surrounding teeth, and improve your appearance.
Dentures
There are four types of dentures. Complete dentures replace all of a patient's teeth. Partial dentures bridge the gap between a lost tooth or teeth. Conventional dentures involve a recovery period of 4 to 8 weeks after a patient's teeth are removed before the dentures are placed inside the mouth. Immediate dentures are fit into a person's mouth immediately after their teeth are removed. Dentures will make you look more attractive. They are also durable and they will last you many years.
Extractions
Extractions are performed when a tooth or teeth has to be removed or when it cannot be saved. Your dentist may recommend that you extract a tooth or teeth if you have tooth decay or a broken tooth. Your dentist may also recommend this procedure if fixing a damaged tooth is not practical.
Crowns
When a large part of a tooth is broken away or decayed, it can be restored with a crown. Crowns are usually constructed with porcelain or gold. Crowns are strong and durable, and they function like natural teeth.
Bridges
If you have one or more missing teeth, you can replace them with fixed or removable bridges. Not only does missing teeth affect a person's appearance, but it can cause shifting of the teeth, and an increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Periodontal Therapy
One of the most common causes of tooth loss is periodontal or gum disease. Early diagnosis and treatment for this problem is vital for maintaining healthy gums and teeth. Periodontal health can be achieved by using non-surgical periodontal treatment such as scaling and root planing. This procedure involves cleaning the root surfaces and removing the plaque, tartar, and bacteria from deep periodontal pockets. After being treated with this procedure, most patients do not require further treatments. However, surgical treatments can be prescribed when necessary.
Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is the most effective and safest procedure for whitening the teeth. Two teeth whitening systems are available: take-home teeth whitening kits and in-office teeth whitening treatments.
These dental procedures will keep you healthy and looking great. If you want to learn more about any of these dental procedures, consult with an experienced dentist.
