Thursday, February 14, 2008

Root Canal

Root Canal

A root canal refers to the soft tissue inside a tooth, which usually contains the nerves to the tooth. This tissue is located primarily below the gum in the “roots” of the tooth. However, most people who refer to a root canal mean they are having a dental procedure that may remove some of this tissue and its nerves if the tooth has become infected or abscessed.

The precise term for a root canal procedure is a pulpectomy or a pulpotomy. However, the term root canal is so often used, that it will be used in this explanation for greater clarity.

Frequently, particularly among people with adult teeth, a tooth will begin to hurt. One might also notice that the gum around the tooth appears swollen. If the pain is specific to one tooth, the danger is that the soft tissue of the tooth may have become infected. In some cases, a course of antibiotics can treat the infection without further intervention. More often, however, the tissue inside the tooth must be removed in order to prevent future pain. This root canal procedure is often more feared than necessary. With proper local anesthesia and pre-treatment for infection it takes about the same time as getting two or three fillings done at once.Sometimes a dentist will perform a root canal procedure on only one root of the tooth. At other times, removal of the soft tissue in all the roots is required. Once the tissue is scraped out and removed, the roots of the tooth are filled with a slightly flexible filling material.After the root canal is performed, patients can expect to experience mild discomfort for a few days. This is often easily treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. A dentist can prescribe a narcotic pain relieve like codeine if pain is not adequately addressed. One will usually be asked to eat soft foods for a day or two. Continued pain occurring three to four days after a root canal may suggest that not all tissue was removed or infection still persists. One should contact one’s dentist if pain continues after the third day. As well, one should finish any prescribed antibiotics even after the dental procedure to prevent reinfection. Often performing a root canal means that much of the top of the tooth has been destroyed. This means that within a few weeks of the root canal, a patient will also require a crown. Crowns replace the portion of missing tooth with porcelain, silver or gold filling. In rare cases, a root canal may only result in a large filling of a permanent nature. This is more rare, and most dentists prefer to use a crown to fit it perfectly to the missing portions of the tooth. For some, having to get a crown is terrible news, and means a dental procedure beyond their means. In the US, a crown can cost about 800-1000 US dollars (USD). Dental insurance may pay half that, and most dentists will not accept payments. Inability to pay for a crown often means teeth are lost, because the tooth is much more vulnerable after a root canal, and the temporary filling of the canals will only last for a short period of time.

TOOTH PAINS

TOOTH PAINS

Back in the time of our grandparents and greatgrandparents the cure for terrible tooth pain was a good old yank of the tooth by its roots Removing the offending tooth may be effective but is certainly the least desirable way to handle a problem tooth such as an abscess Nowadays we are fortunate to have a whole array of dental health plans and dental providers who help families and individuals safeguard their dental health and as a result their overall health.The best cure for tooth pain is to remove its cause through regular dental checkups This can best be achieved by putting yourself and your family on dental care insurance plans which can be obtained at a low cost if you do your homework and compare plans before making a choice Preventative care through fluoride treatment and cleaning can ensure that you and your dentist can get rid of potential problems before pain flares up or find a quick remedy when it does.Depending on the type of tooth pain you may be able to apply a home remedy as well before visiting the dentist In some cases you may have painful gums due to overbrushing or cold sores inside the mouth In these cases application of a numbing ointment may do the trick If you dont know what to do for a toothache give your dentist a call or consult a home remedy book You may find that a pain reliever and some heat applied to the painful area will help you.Nonetheless if tooth pain persists you will want to see your dentist to relieve the pain and receive treatment You may have a cavity or infection in your mouth which will necessitate a filling and or medication to treat and give relief from the pain The dentist should then give you a recommendation for caring for your teeth so you can avoid pain in the future

Tooth pain or toothache usually refers to the pain occurring around the teeth or jaws In most instances toothaches are caused by either tooth or jaw problems such as a cavity a cracked tooth an exposed tooth root gum disease disease of the jaw joint or spasms of the muscles used for chewing The severity of a toothache can range from mild to chronic and excruciating The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by extreme cold or heat A thorough oral examination including dental xrays can help determine the cause whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or a jaw problem.Sometimes pain around the teeth and jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart such as angina or heart attack or of the ears such as inner or external ear infections and sinuses like air passages of the cheek bones The pain of angina which is due to the inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle because of narrowing of the arteries usually occurs in the chest or arm However in some cases of angina a toothache or jaw pain are the only symptoms of heart problem.Infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause toothache Thus evaluations by both dentists and doctors are sometimes necessary to diagnose medical illnesses causing toothache Otherwise the common dental causes of toothache include dental cavities dental abscess and gum diseases irritation of the tooth root cracked tooth syndrome temporomandibular disease impaction and eruption.The most common cause of toothaches is however dental cavities Dental cavities are holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer lying just beneath the enamel Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp where the blood vessels and nerves reside Certain bacteria in the mouth convert simple sugars into acidic solutions The acid softens and along with saliva dissolves the enamel and dentin creating small holes or cavities Small shallow cavities are not that painful and may go unnoticed by the patient The larger deeper cavities tend to collect food particles The inner living pulp of the affected tooth thus gets irritated by bacterial toxins or by foods that are cold hot sour or sweet causing toothache Toothaches from these larger cavities are the most common reasons for visits to dentists.

Treatment of a small and shallow cavity usually involves a dental filling using amalgam composite resin or glass ionomer cement However in the case of a larger cavity an onlay or a crown is capped on the affected area Treatment of a cavity that has penetrated deep enough and injured the pulp requires either a root canal procedure or extraction of the affected tooth Injury to the pulp can lead to death of pulp tissue resulting in tooth infection or dental abscess The root canal procedure involves removing the dying pulp tissue thus avoiding or removing possible tooth infection and replacing it with an inert material This procedure is used in an attempt to save the dying tooth from extraction and is very painful.Bad BreathAnyone concerned with their oral health and freshness of their breath should be concerned with choosing the right toothpaste With so many choices on the market its easy to get overwhelmed with all the advertising claims of whitening breath freshening enamel strengthening gingivitis fighting and so on Really what should a person look for in a product and how can you go about choosing the right toothpaste There are a few things you can keep in mind

The first thing you need to remember is that there is rarely much of a difference between the name brand toothpastes and generic or store brands Choosing the right toothpaste should rely completely on cost fancy advertising or finding brands that you are familiar with just because of their commercials on television Most have exactly the same ingredients so the packaging shouldnt sway you too much.

You may find that if you have a tendency toward bad breath pastes that have peroxide or baking soda can help with this These added ingredients fight against mouth odor and clean your teeth a bit more than regular products But when choosing the right toothpaste remember that too much of an abrasive can also do damage to your teeth as well If you do opt for one with baking soda and notice that it helps with your breath you might want to have another tube of a product without baking soda and switch between the two Choosing the right toothpaste means finding a product thats not going to damage your teeth in the name of getting them clean

When choosing the right toothpaste for your children be very careful about products that advertise sweeter or special tastes as these usually have more sugar than whats necessary The regular toothpastes that are mintflavored should be just fine for your children and theyll get used to them easily if you dont offer those other childrens toothpastes at any time Stay away from the products that tie in with their favorite cartoon characters or television shows as these are usually the worse for actually cleaning their mouths and typically have a ton of sugar.Being mindful of your oral health is important and involves more than brushing of course When you are at the pharmacy choosing the right toothpaste be sure that you are also choosing the right floss toothbrushes mouth rinses and other such products as well.

It may surprise you to learn that not all bad breath problems originate in the mouth Some come from the stomach the digestive system or elsewhere But when it comes to the inside of your mouth health problems might include gum disease or periodontitis which is a weakening of the bones underneath the teeth This weakening comes from excessive bacteria in the mouth and may be the result of poor oral hygiene.So when considering just what are the health problems causing bad breath from inside the mouth keep in mind that many of them are related to poor oral hygiene One of the best things you can do to keep your mouth healthy is to maintain proper oral hygiene habits.Many digestive problems are connected with bad breath Having problems with your digestion sends acid and other elements up from the digestive tract and back through the throat causing you bad breath Eating foods that are hard to digest such as red meat and dairy can give you an unhealthy digestive system and halitosis These foods can also allow bacteria to build up in the digestive tract anything that gives you digestive problems such as constipation or excessive bloating and gas is likely to also give you bad breath.

When considering just what are the health problems causing bad breath keep in mind that diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure also affect the bodys chemical makeup and this can manifest itself as bad breath Anything that upsets the bodys hormones or chemicals can manifest itself with bad breath as a symptom.If you are very curious as to just what are the health problems causing bad breath in your particular case you should definitely speak to a doctor Some who have done so have been surprised to find out that they have a hormonal imbalance or other such problem that needs to be treated.

Target your tongue Tongue scraping isnt all that common in Western oral hygiene But Ayurvedic physicians have been recommending it for centuries Its very helpful but few people do it Dr Brauer says

Tongue scrapers are hard to come by If you dont have a tongue scraper Dr Brauer recommends using your toothbrush You have to brush the very back of your tongue which may cause gagging But with a little practice you can overcome your gag reflex he says

Disinfect dentures If you wear removable dentures or any other dental appliance clean it daily and soak it in a commercial denture cleanser overnight

For bad breath the most effective mouth­wash is a prescription product called Peridex which contains the antibacterial antiseptic chlorhexidine In one study 6 months of regular rinsing with Peridex reduced oral bacteria by more than 50 percent Dr Replogle recommends rinsing for 30 seconds twice a day after brushing

Some people get stains on their teeth when using chlorhexidine but any stains can be removed by professional cleaning Also chlorhexidine may impair the sense of taste If this happens to you consult your dentist He may suggest that you use the mouthwash a few times a week rather than daily

If you suddenly develop persistent bad breath and it doesnt clear up after a few weeks of aggressive home treatment and professional teeth cleaning consult a physician A number of potentially serious conditions have bad breath as a symptom including diabetes kidney failure lupus liver and gallbladder disorders and certain cancers.Dental decay at any age is caused by bad bacteria in the mouth that cling to the enamel of the teeth When these bug make contact with the sugar in our food they form an acid that penetrates the enamel and makes it porous Although dental decay in childhood is not as common as it used to be tartar and plaque still are Heres how to keep the tartar and plaque under control

Brush your teeth with a soft or mediumbristle brush at least twice a day and preferably after every meal A soft brush is more effective than a hard one because it massages the guns as you brush and it also gets into the crevices more effectively Use toothpaste that contains fluoride Brush vertically in short strokes four or five times holding the toothbrush at a fortyfivedegree angle against your gums Brush all parts of your teeth outer inner and chewing surfaces The point of brushing is to clean your teeth not to wipe them so brush for at least three full minutes

Brushing the teeth at bedtime is an American ritual While that is better than not brushing at all it is not effective as doing so right after you eat The point of brushing is to get rid of the sugar that leads to plaque and tartar formation If you eat dinner then wait for several hours before cleaning your teeth sugar remains in contact with your teeth all that time Im not suggesting that you should excuse yourself when eating out in order to hunt for a washroom where you can brush your teeth But when you are dining at home brush right after dessert

Flossing Even if you brush meticulously for a full three minutes youll still remove only 80 percent of the fresh plaque off your teeth Thats why flossing is so necessary The right way to floss is to use about eighteen inches of floss either waxed or unwaxed Wind most of it around the middle finger of one hand and the rest around the same finger of the other hand Holding the floss tight between your thumb and forefinger move it between your teeth up around the gum then down along the tooth From time to time unwind some clean floss off one finger and take up the used floss with the other

Your dentist or periodontist should clean your teeth deepscale the plaques and tartar and plane the root surfaces of the teeth below the gum line at least twice a year If you are a plaque maker however you may need it done more often than that

Ask your dentist about mouth rinses that contain the antibacterial agent chlorhexidine Chlorhexidine reduces plaque by 55 percent but it discolors the teeth in some people especially when they use a fullstrength version that is not diluted I prefer Listerine antiseptic it is somewhat less effective it cuts plaque by 28 percent but it doesnt require a prescription and wont stain your teeth

Look for a toothpaste like Total that in addition to the usual chloride contains triclosan This is an antibacterial agent that adheres to the teeth after brushing reduces the accumulation of tartar and plaque and helps prevent infection of the gums

Saliva rinses away food particles and neutralizes harmful acids However as we get older our mouths are not as juicy so that the gums become more vulnerable to infection Whatever the cause chewing gum preferably the sugarless variety although it may not be the most elegant thing to do does increase the production of saliva And heres a tip for dealing with dry mouth Ill bet you never heard of Cheese especially cheddar neutralizes the acid produced by bacteria and increases the flow of saliva

Tobacco doubles the risk of your becoming edentulous by hindering your immune response and by decreasing blood flow to the gums If you smoke one pack a day expect to lose two teeth every ten years.

TEETH WHITENING

TEETH WHITENING

In an effort to even the field and make whiter teeth available for everybody manufacturers have come up with so many products that flooded the market You have an option to go for inoffice or home teeth whitening system depending on your budget and your personal preference

For home teeth whitening system you can buy gels strips and whitening agents that are available from your dentist and from drugstores and grocery outlets everywhere There are also teeth toothpastes brushes and procedures that are done by a dentist in an office

Choosing system is very convenient considering that you can do it in the comfort of your home and at your own time You dont have to book and wait for appointment with your dentist You will also be spared the effort of driving all the way to where your dentist holds clinic You can also save hundreds of dollars because the cost for a home system is much less than the professional methods

The advantage with professional methods is you can instantly see results contrary to the home teeth whitening system where you will have to be patient and wait for sometime before the result will gradually show up

If your teeth are not badly stained you can use toothpastes at home Toothpastes contain gentle chemical agents that help remove surface stains from your teeth gradually but you cannot expect toothpastes to equal the shade you can get when you go for professional teeth whitening

Over the counter strips and gels are other products you can use for system However you have to apply these faithfully for the whole treatment period to get the maximum results

Teeth whitening systems had gained popularity after consumers discovered they could acquire white teeth without spending hundreds of dollars for a professional treatment by using these systems at home

Before you choose your teeth whitening system you should talk to your dentist to get his recommendation on what treatment would suit and fit your teeth best A dentist can make recommendations as to what type of system could work for you to remove the stains on your teeth and give you more information on some other concerns that you need to pay attention to

After you have asked for advice from your dentist you can go to select the teeth whitening system for you to use You have got so many choices available for you to choose from Some treatments can be used in your home without professional supervision while other procedures have to be done in a dental clinic

Choosing a treatment recommended by your dentist gives you an edge over choosing systems on your own Usually your dentist would recommend a treatment he is using on his patients so you can be guaranteed of achieving the desired results You can also get proper guidance from your dentist throughout the process of whitening your teeth

Information on the internet is available for just about everything and like teeth whitening there is a danger of information overload and sometimes conflicting information resulting in customers getting confused about what the best thing to do

It really is quite simple when it comes to teeth whitening the options are the off the shelf kits which are cheap and mostly ineffective the dentists route which requires you go to the dentist for a pre consultation before he measures your teeth for a tray which you need to insert in to your mouth for two to three weeks and sometimes your continuous bad habits will outweigh the removal of the staining

Laser teeth whitening or Zoom teeth whitening as it is also known is a treatment that is carried out at beauty salons and the client has a gum dam inserted to protect their gum during the treatment and then will have the stain remover applied to their teeth which is activated when the laser light is started

Clients benefiting from Zoom teeth whitening would normally have been created by caffeine coffee tea red wine and gravy to name a few of offending substances

Teeth Whitening Gel for Whiter Teeth

Having whiter teeth is becoming the latest trend nowadays and people would do anything just to acquire a set of perfect teeth The good news is that anybody can have very nice teeth All you have to do is find the method which would fit you and your budget There are so many products available in the market including teeth whitening gels

When you use teeth whitening gel you do not necessarily have to go to the dentist This is something you could perform by yourself The first thing to do in applying this treatment is to clean your teeth by brushing it and then protect the delicate tissues of your teeth by putting cover over it The next step involves adding special mixture of the whitening gel and painting this over your teeth The mixture will prod the active ingredients to break down and will help remove discolorations and stains from your teeth

Years of drinking coffee wine tea and other kinds of food leave stains on your teeth that pile up for so long These gels loosen those stains and whiten your teeth

Most teeth gels does not affect dental work done on your teeth so you can shrug off your worries in that area It does not whiten the caps veneers fillings or dentures but will only treat your teeth To get the maximum result you should not miss the recommended treatments You should also take care not to spill the gel on your teeth gums and your lips because of the possibility of irritation but if it cant be avoided wipe the spot with a tissue immediately

Teeth whitening gels make your teeth whiter that would last for as long as six months You must remember to brush your teeth and make it dry before you apply the treatment to remove any buildup that may lie on your mouth

DENTAL CLINICS

Dentistry is the science of diagnosis deterrence and medication of conditions diseases infections and maladies of the oral cavity A dentist is the doctor skilled to treat such diseases malformations and injuries to teeth Dentists like other mainstream medical doctors practice in clinics However a dentists clinic is much different from that of a regular doctor for many various reasons

A dental clinic much like a conventional medical clinic is a place where people with dental ailments can get their problems solved by a medically qualified dentist A dental clinic is fully equipped with all the dental equipment that the dentist might require to treat all types of dental issues There is everything from tooth extraction machines and tools to xray machines from teeth whitening machinery to mouthwashes and fluoridation gear from teeth bracing apparatuses to denture fixtures All equipment in the dental clinics is directly or indirectly related to a persons mouth and teeth and is required to be sterilized before another individual is treated with the same equipment Sterilization and cleanliness is an essential part of dental clinics and must be practiced by all dentists to avoid spread of any infection or mouth disease.Many dentists also have a counselor to meet with all patients and advise them on proper dental care They are told by the counselor how to brush their teeth floss them and are given a good brand of toothpaste or mouthwash These counselors speak to people about how to control bad breath and how to develop strong teeth Other than these counselors many clinics also have their own dental pharmacy section where patients can buy the tablets and medicines that have been recommended by the dentist.Dental clinic can be a savior or a burden to those that visit This of course depends upon what kind of insurance you have and your options that are available Sometimes they have a bad rap Here are a few things to look for when choosing a dental clinic for you and your family. It is not the kind of appointment that we are most eager to attend Often we will wish that the date will be moved or cancelled Dentists are probably the most feared among health practitioners Children often behave like meek lambs when told they are to be sent to the dentist as punishment for behaving badly Most of us have been scared of dentists since we were young Often we stick with the dentist our family knows for years but it is also wise to evaluate if our dentist is providing us with adequate treatment If not it is probably best to seek a new and better practitioner Moving to a new place also presents the problem of finding a good dentist

Check if there is a dental school nearby Dental schools are good sources of fine practicing dentists You can call and ask for the names of the practicing faculty members. Check for hospitals and heath care centers that provide dental services in your area The dentist in charge in those facilities may be able to provide you with good recommendations The dentist in charge may very well know the reputations and performances of his colleagues practicing in the area.You can ask an orthodontist or a periodontist if you know one They will be able to recommend to you a good general practitioner These specialists should be familiar with the kind of work referring dentists do.

If you are moving to a new place you can ask your current dentist if he knows of a good dentist in your new location

Your new dentist should carry out a preventative approach This means that on your first visit he should perform a thorough medical and dental history with a complete head and neck examination Head and neck exam is usually done on the patients very first visit and every 6 months thereafter. Your dentist should provide you with the adequate knowledge on how to take care of your teeth and perform good oral hygiene These are the preventative measures in fighting against dental decay and other dental problems

Your dentist should invite you back for regular checkups This will ensure that no problem will be left unchecked The dental hygienist should perform oral prophylaxis or dental cleaning after every 6 months. Your dentist should take xrays more responsibly Full series of Xrays should be taken no more than once every five years or so Not taking any Xrays on the other hand is as bad as taking Xrays too often. Your dentist and dental hygienist should practice proper care against infection They should wear rubber gloves and a mask when treating their patients Your dentist should be keen in explaining to you any sanitary procedures his clinic is implementing and or using to protect his patients and himself against unwanted infections Finding a good dentist is not really so difficult only if you know how to handle it.There is nothing more important than taking good care of your health Regarding your teeth and the hygiene of your family the best way to make sure you and your family receive the best health care services is turning to a reputable dental clinic to maintain your dental hygiene When choosing one for your family make sure the one that you choose is not only covered by your dental plan but also offers a wide range of family health care professionals and is staffed by reputable dentists

Word of mouth may actually be the best way to determine if a dental clinic is the best choice for you My family and I have used three different dentists all of which have been recommended for their outstanding work I did not nor would I have found these dentists in the phone book and I certainly would not have had the instant trust that I had if I had found them online.Make sure you hear things such as the staff is great at making the patients feel comfortable and secure in the dentist office Make sure that the dentist has all of the necessary certifications to do the dental work that you need.Most dental offices will offer simple things like tooth bleaching implants fillings tooth extraction and regular checkups Make sure that your insurance will cover them Also check to see if they are part of their preferred provider program so that you can get an even larger discount.Moreover make sure that your first visit to the dental clinic is a happy one If you felt comfortable come back If not do not come back You have to be comfortable while someone is drilling on your teeth or you should not even be in the room.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

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