Frequently asked questions
1) What causes gum disease? Is bad breath & or bleeding from the gums indicative of gum disease?
Persistently sore, swollen, red, or bleeding gums as well as tooth pain, sensitivity including bad breath are warning signs of periodontal disease (gum disease) - a serious infection.
Studies have shown that this condition increases possibilities of a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and premature/underweight babies.
Bacteria plays an important role in many dental problems such as bad breath (halitosis), gum disease, plaque and possibly sensitive teeth. Bad breath is generally known to be caused by volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide. These compounds are produced by bacterial and cellular degradation. Plaque starts with a sticky film of live bacteria. If it is not removed, it starts growing on the sugar and minerals and hardens to become calculus which may lead to gum irritation, gingivitis and eventually to periodontal disease. This condition if untreated can lead to loss of teeth.
2) Is Cleaning/scaling harmful for the teeth?
It is a misconception that cleaning is harmful to teeth. On the contrary, not geeting the teeth cleaned from the Dental professional regularly can lead to many deleterious effects on the tooth and gums. No cutting of the tooth is done during scaling of the teeth instead a vibratory tool is used to remove the deposits.
3) What causes tooth decay/cavities?
Cavities occur as a result of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure & can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth).It occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as breads,
cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candy are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The food debris, bacteria, acid, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries.
Your susceptibility to tooth decay and cavities has a direct link to what you eat and drink. Cavities may also result from dry mouth, a problem that is associated with no or little saliva in the mouth. This condition could be due to many medical reasons including various medications.
Eating a healthy diet rich in fiber and less in starch and sugars gives your teeth a longer life.
4) Are there different kinds of filling materials?
There are three major types of direct filling materials (direct fillings are placed in a prepared cavity in a tooth)
- Silver amalgam, made of a mixture of an alloy of silver-tin and liquid mercury
- Composite (combination of glass/porcelain particles in a plastic matrix)
- Dental cements
- Gold (or other metals)
- Ceramic(Porcelain)
- Indirect composite
Silver amalgam's main disadvantage is its appearance in the teeth. It tends get grey or black. Older forms of amalgam tended to corrode imparting a dark usually bluish stain to the teeth. This stain could permeate the dentinal tubules and is very difficult to remove when replacing the old filling. The advantages to metallic fillings are that they are durable but they also tend to produce cracks in teeth over a period of time.
Composite fillings are what people think of when they say "white fillings" or "tooth coloured fillings ". Advantages of tooth coloured fillings are that they look natural, they bond with the teeth & are durable. This type of filling material also requires lesser cavity preparation & once done the patient can eat or drink immediately.
Dental Cements are filling material that are either used for milk teeth in children or small cavities in adults. They have anti cavity properties but lack the strength & durability.
5) What are dental crowns & Bridges?
Crowns and bridges are fixed over natural remaining teeth.A crown is used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged tooth. A bridge replaces missing teeth &unlike; removable devices such as dentures, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:
- Replace a large filling when there isn't enough tooth remaining
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
How do Bridges Work?
A bridge may be recommended if you're missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
6) Is it important to replace missing teeth?
Any of us can lose a tooth, for a variety of reasons, it can be an accident or a dental disease. Loss of teeth can lead to:-
- Chewing inefficiency(Reduced nutrition)
- Changes in speech
- Migration or drifting of adjacent & opposing teeth
- Bone loss in the area of missing teeth
- Gum disease, and bite problems
- Affect the mandibular joint(TMJ)
7) What are dental implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or even denture. The procedure of placing Implants is extremely comfortable & is done under very little Local anaesthesia. Most of the times the patient does not even require a pain killer after Implant Placement.
Dental implants are actually more tooth saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighbouring teeth for support. Under proper conditions, and diligent patient maintenance, implants have a very high success rate.
8) What is root canal treatment & when is it required?
The procedure basically aims at removing all the decay in the tooth along with the infected soft tissue in the roots and then restoring the tooth with a crown.When the decay in the tooth invades the vital part (Pulp) of the tooth, usually the patient experiences pain. This is a sign that the tooth is infected. In such situations root canal
treatment is the only treatment option by which a natural tooth can be saved from extraction otherwise the bacteria invades the pulp & reaches beyond the tooth causing abscess.
- Discoloration or darkening of the tooth, any history of trauma
- Severe pain, especially in the night or early morning
- Extremely sensitive t o hot and cold
- Persistent or recurring pimple on the gum area
- Fever, Swelling and tenderness around a tooth may be visible externally
Pain & swelling are normal complaints suggestive of deep cavities where RCT may be required in case of any of the complaints mentioned above please visit your dentist immediately.
9) How important are milk teeth, save them or extract them?
Baby teeth are crucial in holding the space in the dental arch for the future permanent teeth. They predict and help guide the underlying permanent teeth into their future locations and thus will have a huge impact on both the appearance and function of adult teeth. Extracting them rather than filling them in many cases can cause mild to severe crowding, spacing and asymmetry of adult teeth that may not have otherwise occurred.
10) What are sealants, are they effective?
The most common sites for a cavity to develop are Pits & grooves which are located on the surface of the back teeth & account for 90% of the cavities. Even with regular brushing it is difficult to clean these intricate areas.
Sealants are liquid coatings which are applied on these pits & grooves & when they become hard are extremely effective in preventing cavities.
Sealants block out these pits and grooves, and are designed to prevent the intrusion of bacteria and other debris into these areas.
Role of sealants is preventive in nature & the Dentists evaluates the patients & recommends this treatment for those who are more venerable to cavities.
11) Is it possible to whiten teeth?
The process of whitening of the teeth is called bleaching. It can be done in Dental office which normally takes about an hour or it can be done at home as well. For the home bleach the Dentist fabricates a tray & instructs the patient as to how to apply the given material, the home bleach takes about a week when used as either night or day time application.
Bleaching is extremely safe & is purely a cosmetic procedure.
12) My child has irregular teeth can it be treated?
Irregular teeth can be treated with the help of braces or sometimes the treatment is not required as child can have irregular teeth & it can be self correcting. This is due to the fact that children around the age of 8-9 years have a combination of milk & permanent teeth, this creates a situation called as “ Ugly Duckling Stage”.
Whether the child requires braces can be decided clinically by examining the child but it is a good idea to have a consultation with the doctor around the age of 9 & then 12 yrs.
13) Child’s First Dental Visit
The first visit of the child should be around his/her first birthday. The visit is important as it allows the child to familiarize with the doctor & the team & also the place. During this visit the doctor does a quick check & the check can be carried out with the child in the parents lap.