Sunday, May 16, 2010

Need a Root Canal?

When it comes to flashing your smile, you would often think about the type of teeth that you have enclosed within your mouth. Would it not be a main concern of anyone? The level of confidence plus the manner of dealing with your relations socially and professionally are totally affected by the way your teeth are structured. How much more when you have decayed or infected teeth? The more that you need to submit yourself to root canal treatment!


When do you need a root canal treatment in North Salem?

The symptoms that would tell you that you need a root canal treatment include the pain that you feel when you touch, push, or bite down on the tooth, when the tooth gets receptive to heat and cold for more than a few seconds, inflammation is visible close to the tooth, and when the tooth is broken or discolored.

The dentist is the only authorized person to perform root canal treatment on you. After a thorough test, the dentist would inform you of the necessity to administer root canal treatment for your own good.



How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?

Inside the root of every tooth is a nerve, with pulp surrounding and protecting the nerve and a blood supply that extends out the end of the root to your circulatory system. This space inside the root is called the canal space.

Root canal therapy in North Salem involves drilling a small opening in the tooth, removing the nerve, blood supply and pulp. The canal is then cleaned, shaped, sterilized and the end of the root and canal space is then sealed off with a filling material, much like a cavity or hole in your tooth would be filled. A root canal is a repair to the inside of the tooth and is the only alternative for internal tooth nerve damage or tooth abscess besides having the tooth removed.

Root canal treatment allows you to keep a tooth you would otherwise have to have pulled. When there is infection inside the tooth, there is no cure. The bacteria continue to spread to the nerve and surrounding tissue.

Many people wonder why medications, like antibiodics, cannot cure the infection. The fact is that the tissues swell, cutting off the blood supply so there is no way to get the medication to the area. Yes, they can help surrounding tissue, but cannot reach the inside of the tooth.

Without proper treatment, a diseased tooth will abscess and become a life threatening situation. With your brain only inches away from your tooth, there have been cases of systemic infection that resulted in death.



What is a Root Canal

Root canal treatment, also called root canal therapy, is a procedure used to treat problems of the inside of the tooth, or the dental pulp. It is a way to save teeth that might otherwise have to be pulled. The treatment could involve from one to three visits to your dentist or Endodontist, (root canal specialist). During treatment, the diseased pulp is removed and the pulp chamber and root canals of the tooth are cleaned and sealed.

The root canals of a tooth are the parts of the pulp cavity which are inside the roots, and in a healthy tooth contain the vital (live) pulp tissues. The pulp is made up of mostly nerves and blood vessels. The nerves inside the tooth are responsible for transmitting feelings of pain and temperature inside the tooth. Root canals have different shapes in each tooth. They can also vary between different people and races, and they also can narrow as you get older.

Root canal treatment in North Salem is the removal of damaged or infected nerves and tissue from the inside of your tooth's pulp chamber.



Friday, May 7, 2010

A Guide to Veneers

Teeth veneers Cross River do not actually restore the health or function of teeth, but they do improve the appearance. The result in a set of straight, matching teeth of healthy white colouring, giving the patient greater confidence to show off their smile


What can veneers treat?

Veneers are a popular choice for patients having a smile makeover (that is, any cosmetic dental treatment that improves the aesthetics of your teeth). They correct a number of dental complaints, including:

Stained teeth that resist professional tooth whitening treatments can be effectively hidden by veneers. This is a common problem for smokers and people who regularly drink of tea, coffee, and red wine.

Damaged teeth can occur through excessive grinding or carbonated drinks, or may simply have been chipped or broken in an accident. A veneer can extent the length of a full-sized tooth.

Crooked teeth form naturally due to lack of space, and are better treated with orthodontics such as invisalign braces. However, this can take a year or more to correct, so some people turn to veneers for a quick fix.

Gaps or spaces that have formed between your teeth can be hidden by veneers to produce a better structured and balanced smile.

How can I get dental veneers in Cross River?

A consultation with your dentist will give you a chance to discuss all the options, including whether tooth veneers are right for you. They are a popular choice because they look just like real teeth with the light-reflective characteristics of enamel. Veneers also resist staining, unlike natural teeth.

However, you should be aware that the process is irreversible. Veneers may not be suitable for people with unhealthy or weak teeth, or for those who grind their teeth a lot, either in their sleep or as a general nervous habit. This may cause the veneers to break off.

For a single tooth, prices start from 200 and range up to 1,200 depending on the material used. Because tooth veneers are a cosmetic treatment they are not available at subsidised rates on the NHS. Healthy porcelain veneers last for 5-10 years, while composite veneers may only last for 1-2 years. So eventually they will need to be replaced at additional cost.
What is the procedure?

A local anaesthetic is injected into the gums so you won't feel any pain during the procedure. The dentist will then prepare the surfaces of your teeth so they can accommodate your new veneers. This involves shaving off a very thin amount of enamel with a dental drill, equivalent to the thickness of the veneer.

An impression of your teeth will be made with special dental putty from which the new veneers are cast. This can take up to three weeks, during which time you may receive temporary veneers. Alternatively, in some modern surgeries, a hi-tech system called CEREC is used to take 3D photographs of your teeth. The images are sent to an onsite milling machine which produces the veneers in a matter of minutes.

With the new Cross River dental veneers at hand, the cosmetic dentist will clean the surfaces of your teeth and roughen them with a special acid gel. This creates the optimum bonding surface for the dental cement. The veneers will be put in place carefully and activated with a special curing light which permanently bonds the veneer to the tooth. Finally, the new surfaces are polished for a natural result.



How to Get Dental Veneers

How Do I Get Dental Veneers?

Search the listings for a Cross River cosmetic dentist, or ask friends and relatives for referrals. Always ask your dentist for references or view samples of their work. Ensure that they guarantee the procedure - a reputable cosmetic dentist will not promise to do work they cannot guarantee and will fix any mistakes they make.

Once you have found a cosmetic dentist experienced in the application of veneers, you will have a consultation to determine if they are a good solution for your oral problems. Ask questions to ensure that you understand the procedure and the type of results you can expect.

At the preparation appointment, the cosmetic dentist will shave a fine layer, about 0.5mm thick, from your natural tooth enamel. This gives the veneer a good surface for bonding. Your dentist takes an impression of your teeth and may fit temporary veneers until the permanent ones are ready. This can take anywhere from one to two weeks.

Once the custom-made veneers are ready, they are bonded to the teeth using a special type of glue. Because they are so thin and were designed specifically for your mouth, there is typically very little reshaping required. The results are instant; after the fitting appointment, your new, natural looking smile is finished!

Keep Your Veneers Gleaming

The life of your Cross River dental veneers depends greatly on how well you take care of your teeth and gums. Drinking coffee, smoking and playing contact sports can all damage your veneers and reduce their life.

Brush your teeth for two minutes, three times per day and floss regularly. See your dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning. If you drink coffee, tea or soda, use a straw to prevent staining your beautiful (and expensive!) veneers. Avoid extremely hard foods such as candy to prevent chipping.

When playing sports, use a mouth-guard to prevent chipping or breakage. If you notice any damage or cracking, visit your cosmetic dentist immediately to see if the veneer can be repaired or replaced.

Veneers - Getting Your Money's Worth

Dental veneers cost anywhere from 200 to 1200 per tooth, depending on the material from which they are constructed and the dentist applying them. If this seems steep, consider using veneers in combination with other treatments. For example, you may be able to use laser whitening to brighten many of your teeth, leaving you requiring only one or two veneers for badly stained teeth. Or you might find that dental implants are a more sensible option if you are young and will have to pay to have your veneers replaced several times throughout your life.

Consult with your Cross River cosmetic dentist to formulate a teeth whitening, implant and veneer treatment plan that best suits your needs, budget and lifestyle. Many cosmetic dentists now offer financing and payment plans to accommodate patients with needs greater than their budgets allow. Considering the embarrassment and poor self-esteem that accompanies many people's oral health problems, cosmetic dentistry is a worthwhile investment!

Dental Veneers, A Key to a Perfect Smile

In recent years, Cross River dental veneers have become popular thanks to their gleaming, beautiful appearance and the ease with which they are applied. Cosmetic dentists regularly perform this procedure as more and more patients are discovering that a bright, beautiful smile is within their reach.

Cross River Dental veneers had a bad reputation several years ago, as they appeared unnatural and were often too long or bright to match natural teeth. As cosmetic dentistry has evolved and improved, so too have dental veneers. Now constructed of a translucent ceramic material, they are bright and natural and can be shaped to fit well with natural teeth.

Who Can Use Veneers?

Veneers are used to cover teeth that are worn, cracked, dulled or uneven beyond repair. They are not appropriate in all situations, because the preparation for bonding the veneer to the natural tooth damages it permanently. Therefore, it is not recommended for those who could whiten their teeth, undergo orthodontic alignment procedures, or have cracks filled with composite white resin filling and achieve desirable results.

Veneers cannot be used on teeth that are badly broken or damaged because there must be a good bond between the tooth and the veneer. Therefore, crowns are better for badly damaged teeth.

Veneer placement Cross River is best for those with:

Enamel worn beyond repair - The hard enamel tooth coating can be damaged by dietary habits, genetics and medications. If the damage or discolouration is so substantial that laser whitening will not restore the tooth to its natural beauty, veneers are a good option.

Uneven or unaligned teeth - Uneven teeth are a cause of embarrassment and low self-esteem for some. Braces can be used to align teeth, but are not suitable in all situations. Your cosmetic dentist will determine whether orthodontic alignment or veneers are a better choice for you.

Chipped teeth - Chipped or deeply cracked teeth respond well to veneers. The veneer can actually prevent further damage by protecting the tooth with it's hard coating.

Spreading teeth - As we age, genetics cause the spacing between our teeth to grow further apart. This can cause embarrassing gaps between the teeth. Since the veneer is placed over the natural tooth, it is often a good option and negates the need for more invasive techniques such as implants.