General
dentists serve as your first line of defense against oral health problems.
Although general dentists provide primarily preventative care and minor
restorative therapy, they often are able to perform a wide array of dental
procedures with their upgraded knowledge & skill. With advancement in
Dentistry, there are specialists dentist for each kind of dental issues Here
are some of the common dental treatment procedure.
VARIOUS COMMON DENTAL PROCEDURES :
During a dental examination your dentist will use instruments, tests, radiographs and clinical expertise to diagnose potential or existent disease states and pathologies. The general dentist’s primary focus is on the oral cavity, head and neck. An individualized plan is developed to prevent or treat disease states of the oral cavity. In the case of cosmetic dentistry, your general dentist will work with you to identify your esthetic goals.
Dental
Fillings: Dental
fillings are used to repair damage to the structure of a tooth or teeth.
Structural damage can be caused as a result of tooth decay, wear or trauma.
After the removal of a problematic tooth structure, the tooth is restored with
one of several filling materials: gold, amalgam, composite resin (white filling
material) or porcelain. Each filling material has its advantages and
disadvantages. Your dentist will work with you to determine which material is
appropriate for you.
Bonding: Bonding is the term
used to describe the process of using composite resins to “glue” materials to
the surface of a tooth for restorative purposes. Chipped or cracked teeth are
typically repaired through bonding. An enamel-like composite material is
applied to the surface of a tooth, sculpted into shape, contoured and polished,
making the crack or chip invisible.
Dental Veneers:
Shells made of Composite or Ceramic material, dental veneers are the top end
dental cosmetic procedures. It is very effective to correct issue like gaps in
teeth, slight misalignment, mild inclines correction & similar issue when
patients don’t want to undergo braces /orthodontic therapy & need a quick
fix.
Orthodontics: Misaligned teeth and
malocclusions can be straightened and corrected with dental braces and
retainers. Orthodontics is both a functional and cosmetic treatment, and has
become an increasingly popular field of dentistry. Metallic ,Ceramic or latest
Dental Aligners are few options for braces.
Teeth Whitening: Hydrogen Peroxide &
Carbamide peroxide FDA approved teeth whitening gels can be used to effectively
whiten the teeth. It can be both “in
house” within 45 minutes in the dentist’s clinic or “Do it on your own” home whitening where you do it yourself as per
convenience at your home.
Root
Canals Treatment: Root
canal therapy removes infected pulp tissue within the root chamber of the
tooth. The hollowed-out tooth is filled with an antibacterial filling, and the
tooth is “capped” with a crown for protection. Endodontists specialize in
performing root canal therapy, though general dentists also often perform the
restorative procedure.
Dental
Crowns: Dental
crowns can repair extensively decayed or damaged teeth. Dental crowns can be
made of Gold,Crome Cobalt metals ,Zirconia, Acrylics & similar materials or
a combination of Porcelain and Metal. Most dentists & labs use CAD/CAM
technology for the fabrication of dental crowns. In some cases, conservative
dental veneers may replace the need for a dental crown. General dentists,
family dentists, prosthodontists, pediatric dentists and cosmetic dentists may
perform the crown procedure; however, expertise varies among dentists.
Dental
Bridges: Dental
bridges replace missing teeth with artificial replacements (Pontic). We need to
shave off some enamel of the adjacent teeth to provide the space for the
support of Ceramic material.1missing tooth typically needs a support from
either side hence a 3-unit bridge. It’s never the first line of choice as
Dental Implants, if possible, are much preferred way to replace your teeth.
General dentists, family dentists, prosthodontists and cosmetic dentists may
perform bridge procedures. Availability of the latest materials, technology and
expertise varies among dentists.
Kids dentistry: the children under the age
group of 12 come under pediatric dentistry. The common procedures for them
include fillings, RCT, crowns, scaling/cleaning of teeth , brushing demo,
extraction of any milk tooth if needed, space maintainers, pit & fissure
sealants to prevent cavities. Best performed by a specilaised Pediatric Dentist
under conscious sedation.
Dentures: Dentures are used to
replace missing teeth or damaged teeth that cannot be otherwise repaired.
General dentists, family dentists, prosthodontists, may perform the procedure.
However, availability of the latest material, technology and expertise varies
among dentists. Generally made of crome cobalt metals, acrylics or softer thermoplastic
materials -Valplast & other BioHPP based materials
Dental Implants : The most novel way to replace a missing
tooth, multiple teeth or complete set of teeth. The Implants are Titanium
alloys & Zirconia Based Restorative screws which are inserted into the jaw
bone like any other minor surgical procedures. The Biocompatible materials bind
with the bone by Osseointegration process, thereby securing the implants firmly
in the jaw bone. After a due healing time, it is ready to receive the dental
crown/bridge to replace the missing tooth/teeth.
Oral
and Maxillofacial Procedures: Oral and maxillofacial procedures range from the less
invasive treatment of abnormalities of the mouth, jaw and face – including
accompanying structures such as the teeth – to major oral surgeries. Dental
implants, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) procedures, reconstructive surgery and
cleft lip and palate procedures also fall under the oral and maxillofacial
category. Most common being the extraction of teeth.
Periodontal
Treatment: Early
gum disease treatment may include tooth scaling and cleaning at three-month
intervals along with use of medicated mouthwash and proper flossing.
Later-stage gum disease treatment may include deep-plane scaling, periodontal
surgery and laser surgery. General dentists, family dentists & periodontists
may perform gum disease treatment. However, availability of the latest
material, technology and the level of expertise varies among dentists.
Laser
Procedures: In
some cases, Hard & Soft tissue