Introduction
A perfect smile enhances the quality of life, appearance and self-esteem in our lives. A tiny crooked tooth can have an impact on our facial features. Different types of dental treatments, early detection and treatment of oral diseases by proficient dental surgeons and dental health workers can work wonders.
Dentists take care of several issues like dental caries, periodontitis, oral cancers and disorders of the oral cavity, teeth, gums and the associated structures of the mouth. India has seen impressive advances in dental technology in recent years.
What is Dental Surgery?
- Dental surgery is a surgical procedure performed on teeth, gums, jaws or other oral structures, usually performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist.
- It includes tooth extractions, implants, gum grafts, wisdom teeth removal, root canal treatment and jaw surgeries.
- It is done in cases of oral cancer, irreparable tooth decay, severe gum disease, jaw bone loss, broken teeth, Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), sleep apnea surgery and cleft lip and palate repair.
- Dental surgery aims to improve oral health, restore functionality, enhance aesthetics, and alleviate pain or discomfort.
Common Dental Treatment Procedures in India
Awareness of dental disease as a serious public health problem can boost dental healthcare further in India. A dentist in Vizag with an expert medical team and advanced facilities can relieve dental issues.
Below listed are the types of dental treatments common in Indian dental care. Let us dive into it:
Dental filling:
- It is a procedure to repair cavities and damaged teeth using amalgam, composite resin, porcelain and gold as fillings to close the spaces and prevent further decay.
- Composite resin materials are used by dentists to fill teeth because many people prefer tooth-coloured fillings and because composites continue to improve.
- Discuss with the dentist the suitable filling based on preference.
Dental Implant:
- Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth, resembling natural teeth.
- The dental implants are fixed into the jawbone surgically and support several dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures.
- Implants help us chew food, prevent rapid bone loss and defective speech, enhance our facial appearance etc.
Dental Bridges:
- Bridges replace missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth.
- It is made up of two dental crowns for the teeth on the side of the gap and a false tooth in between. It can replace one tooth or a row of missing teeth.
- These bridges help us by restoring chewing and speech function, teeth shifting to the gaps etc.
Teeth Whitening:
- Professional teeth whitening treatments help lighten and brighten discoloured or stained teeth, enhancing the smile’s appearance.
- Also called dental bleaching, Hydrogen peroxide is the bleaching agent used and is applied directly on the teeth as a gel.
- It can last from a few months to up to 3 years if steering clear from smoking or drinking red wine, tea or coffee.
- Although at-home whitening kits are available, it is preferred to do so under a licenced dentist as the chemical can harm our already sensitive teeth and tooth enamel and cause burns to gums.
Veneers:
- Porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured made from porcelain or resin composite materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to change appearance.
- It is bonded to the front of the teeth according to the preferred colour, shape, size, or length.
- Chipped or broken teeth, discoloured teeth due to stains, root canal treatment, gaps between the tooth etc. can benefit from the veneers.
- It only covers the front of the tooth, making it look whiter and brighter, and is a quick fix to brighten the smile.
Crowns:
- Crowns cover a damaged or weak tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength and improve its appearance.
- Permanent crowns can be made from stainless steel, metal such as gold or an alloy, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin or ceramic.
- On average, dental crowns last between five and 15 years if we follow good oral hygiene practices and limit the wear and tear exposure by biting or chewing harsh foods.
Dental Bonding:
- Dental or teeth bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-coloured resin material is applied and hardened with a special light, causing it to bond to the surface of teeth.
- It is the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures.
- It requires the least amount of tooth enamel to be removed compared to veneers and crowns.
- Typically, bonding material lasts from three years up to about 10 years before needing to be touched up or replaced.
Root Canal Treatment:
- RCT is a procedure to save a severely infected or irreversibly damaged tooth by removing the infected pulp and nerve and sealing the tooth to prevent further infection.
- Pulpitis(bacterially infected pulp), broken teeth or a slowly dying nerve are common reasons for root canal therapy.
- Common symptoms such as pain when biting or chewing, swelling of the gum, pus oozing from the affected tooth, a swollen cheek or jaw, and a darker-coloured tooth call for RCT to mitigate.
- The procedure is done by removing the bacteria, filling the root canal and sealing it with a filling or crown.
Extractions:
- Removing a tooth or multiple teeth from a socket that is either damaged, decayed or causing other dental issues is called a tooth extraction.
- It is done to correct and align crowded teeth, tooth decay or damage to the pulp and Periodontal (gum) diseases.
- Dental specialists such as oral surgeons and periodontists can perform tooth extractions.
Dentures:
- Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity.
- These are removable and can be cleaned.
- Complete dentures are needed when all the teeth are missing, and partial dentures are fixed when some natural teeth remain.
- Dentures closely resemble your natural teeth, providing enhanced cosmetic appeal and help in speaking and chewing food.
- Complete dentures are usually made entirely of plastic, whereas partial dentures are made of plastic and metal.
Tooth Contouring and Reshaping:
- Dental procedures like tooth contouring and reshaping treat minor issues like chipped teeth, crooked teeth, overlapping teeth or even cracked teeth.
- It is also known as enameloplasty or odontoplasty and is relatively a painless procedure that needs no time for recovery.
- It helps in smoothing, removing discolouration from teeth, enhancing the glossy appearance and smile.
Gingivectomy:
- It is the surgical treatment to cure gum diseases when the gums are inflamed and pulled away from the neck of the tooth, causing gaps to form between the teeth and the gums, known as gum pockets or periodontal pockets.
- The main signs of gingivitis are red, swollen and bleeding gums.
- Bacteria and tartar in the gum pockets can cause further inflammations, so gingivectomy prevents further damage and loss of teeth.
A healthy mouth corresponds to healthy living! Ensure complete oral care from the best dental clinic in Vizag, offering a wide range of dental care services. Click here to know more.