Professional tooth cleaning
How is professional tooth cleaning performed?
Mineralized plaque is removed from all surfaces of the teeth using an ultrasonic instrument and special hand instruments. Stains that cause tooth discoloration are air-abraded using special powder. Old soft plaque is removed using rotary rubber cups or brushes and special low-abrasiveness polishing paste with fluoride.
How often should professional tooth cleaning be done?
The frequency of professional tooth cleaning depends on the patient's personal oral hygiene, the rate of hard plaque accumulation and the conditions for plaque retention. Depending on all these factors, professional tooth cleaning should be done 1 to 4 times per year.
What can happen if I ignore the need for professional tooth cleaning?
Periodontal diseases may develop; in older age it happens very often.
What are the diseases of tissues surrounding the tooth (the periodontium)?
Periodontal diseases are inflammation of tissues surrounding the tooth, which causes bone loss. There are two main forms of periodontal diseases: gingivitis and periodontitis.
What causes periodontal diseases?
Soft plaque and calculus are the main causes of periodontal diseases. Plaque is a bacterial layer that forms on tooth surfaces every day. In order to avoid the unfavorable effect, plaque needs to be removed thoroughly every day. Usually using a toothbrush with toothpaste and dental floss is sufficient. When the plaque is not removed, over time soft plaque mineralizes and becomes calculus (hard plaque). Calculus is just as harmful for the periodontium as soft plaque. It is removed by the dental hygienist or dentist during professional tooth cleaning.
Tooth fillings
What are tooth fillings?
Tooth filling is a common treatment procedure performed in the dental office. It is the restoration of tooth function and aesthetics using various restorative materials. It often includes cleaning tooth cavity (also called decay, caries) using a bur and filling the cavity with a filling material. However, since tooth grinding (also called bruxism) is becoming more common, these days severely worn teeth are also restored more commonly.
What restorative materials are commonly used?
Usually, a light-cured composite is used.
Is it always possible to treat the tooth using filling materials?
When the cavity is too large to properly restore using fillings, crowns are used.
Root canal treatment
When is it necessary to treat root canals?
Root canal treatment (called endodontics) is necessary, when the tooth cavity is so large that it reaches the nerve (called pulp) and causes pulp inflammation. Pulp inflammation is also possible in cases of tooth trauma.
What is root canal treatment?
It is procedure, where the nerve (pulp) is removed, and the space it occupied is filled using special material.
Are these conditions always painful?
No, 70 percent of tooth nerve inflammations are chronic and non-symptomatic. It does not matter whether the inflammation is in early or later stages, the patient may not have any complaints.
Is the treatment painful?
No. Local anesthetic is used for anesthesia, it feels like ordinary dental treatment.
Who performs the root canal treatment?
In our clinic, only the specialist in root canal treatment (called endodontist) performs root canal treatment using a microscope.
Is the tooth resilient after treatment?
Yes. However, the tooth has often lost too much hard tissues for it to be restored using fillings, therefore in order to ensure tooth longevity, a crown may be needed.
Restoring teeth using crowns
What is a crown?
A crown is an ideal method to restore severely damaged teeth. It is like a cap that enshrouds a tooth. It is fixed onto the remaining tooth. The crown is resilient and restores tooth form.
Why is a crown necessary?
There may be many reasons. The most common are: very large cavity; tooth discoloration and unappealing appearance; the tooth has root canal treatment done; tooth damage due to trauma.
What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made of various materials. New materials and technologies are constantly being developed. These are some of the most common:
• Zirconia crowns – a great combination of aesthetics and resilience. White zirconia (a ceramic that is as strong as metal) fused to porcelain.
• All-ceramic crowns – not as resistant as porcelain fused to zirconia, but they look very natural and are often used for anterior teeth.
Is a crown noticeable?
No. The crown should not be distinguishable from the natural teeth. It should look just like your natural teeth. To achieve that, doctors observe whether the shade of the crown and your natural teeth match. However, a provisional crown is often needed, which can differ from your natural teeth slightly, but that is temporary and is only for the time until your permanent crown is made.
How long does the treatment take?
Usually, two visits are needed: one to prepare and scan the tooth, and a second visit to secure the crown to the tooth.
What is orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is the straightening of teeth by moving them in the dental arch in the necessary direction. It is used to improve the appearance and the function of the stomatognathic (i.e., masticatory) system by distributing the chewing forces evenly. Orthodontic treatment not only improves the appearance, but helps to keep gums, teeth, and the jaw joint healthy.
How is orthodontic treatment done?
Various devices are used for orthodontic treatment, usually it is fixed braces, transparent aligners, or removable appliances.