If your dentist has recommended a root canal procedure, you may be wondering what will happen while you are undergoing treatment.
A root canal treatment necessitates one or more office visits. It can be performed by your dentist or by an endodontist, a dentist specializing in the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of trauma or diseases of the human tooth pulp or nerve. Depending on the degree of difficulty of your procedure needed, you may choose your regular dentist or seek out a specialist. Your dentist can help you with this decision.
An x-ray is often the first step toward planning your root canal procedure. This allows the accurate visualization of the shape of the root canals and any surrounding infection in the bone or tissue. Once this information is established, you will then receive a local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the affected tooth.
Your dentist will then prepare the space around the tooth with a dental dam (a sheet of thin rubber) around the tooth, shielding it from saliva during the procedure. This allows for a more sterile and safe working space.
During treatment, an access hole is drilled into the tooth, allowing for the removal of tooth pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and any remaining debris. This thorough cleaning is necessary to prevent infection. If you have a severe infection, your dentist may apply medication inside the tooth, or if there is none, your tooth may be sealed immediately with a temporary filling to keep out saliva and food particles until your next appointment.
During the second appointment, the temporary filling is removed and the interior of the tooth is filled with a sealer paste and tooth compound. A permanent filling seals the hole again.
If further restoration is needed due to extensive decay, a dental crown or other dental cosmetic restoration might be needed to prevent further tooth decay, cracking or breaking, and to restore full tooth function. Your dentist in Etobicoke will know what additional dental work is needed for you.
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From a young age, we are taught to fight plaque. Considered a dreaded enemy of teeth, dental plaque is a clear, sticky substance that sticks to surfaces in your mouth. Initially, this film is easily removed when you brush, but if left alone, the plaque releases acid that will erode enamel. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can eliminate.
The following bad habits can contribute to plaque build up:
Lack of brushing
Although no one else may notice if you don’t brush religiously, your teeth will suffer. Make twice-a-day brushing part of your regular routine.
Infrequent flossing
If you only brush and don’t take time to floss, plaque gets left between teeth and can create dental health issues like cavities and gum disease.
Forgoing Dental Visits
Even with good home care, you may not remove all the plaque from your teeth. Once it forms tartar, a hardened substance, your dentist will need to remove it. Neglecting dental visits can increase your chances of tooth decay, and even tooth loss, so schedule checkups at least once a year at a minimum.
Dietary Choices
Before toothbrushes and toothpaste existed, certain foods were known to naturally fight plaque and promote oral health. Apples, celery, cucumbers, carrots, and other raw fruits and vegetables help remove plaque when you eat them.
Feeding Your Sweet Tooth
Simple carbohydrates like sugar provide a breeding ground for the bacteria in your mouth. When you indulge in candy or other sweets, bacteria have a guaranteed food source.
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You are wrong if you think your child’s dental care can wait until the permanent teeth erupt. Around your child’s first birthday, it is time to begin seeing a dentist. Many parents and kids alike prefer going to a pediatric dentist, who specializes in oral health care for children. You and your child will learn the best ways to maintain and protect the teeth and gums.
Here are some basics that your dentist will likely share with you about childhood oral health.
Brushing
It is important to learn the most effective ways to keep your child’s mouth clean. Removing plaque and food particles will reduce the risk for tooth decay. Your dentist will show you how to properly brush your child’s teeth, which you can expect to do as a parent until your child is several years old. You can then teach your child to brush themselves, although you must continue to supervise and help as needed. Flossing should not be neglected, because it’s a key part of the dental hygiene process. Parents need to continue to assist with flossing for a longer time, since it can be difficult for kids to do.
Sealants
Applying dental sealants to your child’s teeth is a great way to provide protection. The purpose is to seal the tooth so that it is harder for bacteria and plaque to get inside and cause decay. The risk of tooth decay is significantly lowered with the application of sealants. Your dentist will apply the material to the teeth and allow it to dry, which is not a lengthy or painful process for your child, but goes a long way in helping to avoid cavities.
Bad habits
Your dentist in Etobicoke will help identify any habits that your child has that may be detrimental to oral health. There are risks with habits such as falling asleep with a bottle, pacifier use, and thumb sucking. Your dentist can provide helpful hints on how to eliminate bad habits so that your child’s dental health is at less risk.
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If you smile doesn’t shine as brightly as you would like, teeth whitening can transform your appearance. Several options exist for people who want to enhance their smiles with teeth whitening. Drugstore kits, at-home whitening, and in-office whitening are all ways to give your pearly whites a pick-me up.
Whitening Toothpastes
When you use toothpaste, it contains mild abrasives that remove surfaces stains. Some whitening toothpastes also include carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide that will lighten the enamel a shade or two. Unfortunately, whitening toothpastes don’t produce lasting results.
Over-the-Counter Kits
Various companies make whitening strips and other products that claim to whiten your teeth. Though these kits may remove some discolorations, a higher level of a bleaching agent is needed to generate long-term changes. Additionally, drugstore whitening kits can weaken tooth enamel or damage gum tissue if not used properly. It’s advisable to go with dentist-recommended options.
At-Home Whitening
Some people desire professional results but on their own schedules. Custom take-home trays allow you to whiten teeth when it works for you. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and send the models to a dental lab that will produce the trays you will wear. Apply the whitening gel and keep the trays in as directed. You may notice a difference in your smile right away, but the final results usually appear in two to three weeks.
In-Office Whitening
The quickest way to lighten stains is with in-office whitening. In one appointment, your dentist can brighten your smile up to 10 shades. You can come in at lunch time and leave with a dazzling new appearance. For in-office whitening, your lips and gums are protected, a bleaching agent is applied to the teeth, and a special ultraviolet light is used to activate the whitening gel.
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When you have a cavity, your dentist will have to remove the decay and repair the tooth with a filling. For years, the only option for tooth restorations was amalgam, or metal, fillings. These fillings stabilized the tooth and were relatively inexpensive and easy for dental practitioners to use. Currently, many dentists have started choosing composite fillings instead.
Amalgam fillings contain several different metals, but they are over 50 percent mercury, a potentially toxic material. Normal chewing and grinding can release some amount of the chemical into your system. Overexposure to mercury can lead to problems such as kidney dysfunction, neurological impairment, birth defects, and other serious issues. The FDA still considers amalgam fillings a safe option for tooth repair.
Tooth-colored fillings offer several advantages to amalgam fillings. With metal-free fillings, your dentist can remove less of the healthy tooth structure, which protects the tooth’s strength. All-white restorations create an natural-looking repair whereas amalgams turn dark over time and then stand out in your mostly white smile. Though metal fillings can leak or crack from normal wear and tear, all-white fillings bond to the tooth and form a solid surface.
Usually, our Etobicoke dentist can fill your cavity in one appointment. The doctor will remove the decayed area and clean the remaining tooth surface. Then, he or she will tint the composite material and fill in the tooth. A curing light will harden the new filling, and the dentist will polish the tooth to finish the process.
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To restore missing teeth, many people turn to dental implants as an effective and long-lasting solution. Titanium implants are surgically inserted into the jaw to create an artificial tooth root, and then a crown is placed on top to complete the restoration. Some people may wonder if this technology is advisable for senior adults. This is what the experts have to say.
Age
There is not an age limit for receiving dental implants. The only way to know if you are a good candidate is to discuss your situation with a qualified dentist.
Medical history
The main factor that might impact a senior’s ability to qualify for dental implants is medical history. The dentist will use a patient’s medical history to make sure the patient has a good chance for successful implantation, as well as not overly high risks for infection. Some conditions that decrease implant success include previous strokes and heart attacks, which are more common among seniors.
Bone condition
At any age, a patient’s jawbone much have adequate height, width, and mass to anchor an implant properly. It is not uncommon for people to lose bone mass with age, which means that elderly patients may not qualify. Sometimes a bone graft is an option though, so bone condition doesn’t automatically rule a patient out.
Ability to heal
Because an implant is inserted into the jawbone, it is vital that it heal correctly and completely. Seniors with medical conditions like diabetes may not heal as well as other patients, so dentists will want to make sure the patient does not have an impaired ability to heal.
Maintenance
Dental implants require maintenance to be successful. That means practicing good oral hygiene and maintaining dental checkups to ensure progress. Seniors must be capable and willing to maintain their implants.
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