Friday, September 16, 2011

TOOTH PASTE


Tooth paste or dentifrice is a paste or gel that is used to clean the teeth. Toothpastes promote good oral hygiene by removing the dental plaque and food from the teeth. They also help fight the halitosis or bad breath and delivers active ingredients like fluoride that strengthen the teeth and prevent tooth decay. The abrasive ingredients in the toothpaste help in removing the stains on the teeth. They also polish the teeth.

Let us see what exactly is the toothpaste made of and how they prove good for our oral health: 

Fluorides are the active ingredients in the toothpaste that fight decay and strengthen the teeth by forming the dental enamel. It also strengthens the bones. Sodium fluoride is the most common fluoride used in toothpastes
.
Abrasives form the bulk of the toothpaste. They remove the stains and food particles on the teeth and polish the teeth.

Surfactants or detergents help clean the teeth by providing the foam that helps carry away the food debris. Sodium lauryl sulfate compounds are generally used as surfactants that have anti-bacterial properties that can penetrate and dissolve the plaque.

Antibacterial agents like triclosan prevent gingivitis and helps reduce tartar and bad breath.

Sweeteners like sodium saccharin are also added for taste.

Humectants prevent drying up of the toothpaste and prolongs its usability.

Now our concern is to choose the suitable toothpaste for our teeth, well there are different kinds of toothpastes available in the market for various dental problems.

 Let us see various kinds of toothpastes available for various dental problems:

Desensitizing toothpastes are for those who suffer from tooth sensitivity. The active ingredients are potassium nitrate and strontium chloride. They prevent the sensitivity by desensitizing the tooth nerves and blocking the dentin layer of the tooth.

Anti-caries toothpastes that contain fluorides that stop the decalcification of enamel thus preventing tooth decay.

Gingivitis preventing toothpastes that contain additional anti-bacterial agents that fight the growth of bacteria.

Teeth whitening pastes have higher abrasion values than normal toothpastes or contain special ingredients like sodium carbonate peroxide that bleaches the teeth and kills germs.

Tartar control toothpastes contain sodium pyrophosphate as the main ingredient which prevents the formation of tartar.

Kid toothpastes contain pleasant flavors and colors with lower concentration of fluoride (500-1000ppm).
Besides choosing the right toothpaste, it is very important to choose the right toothbrush and follow the right brushing techniques for healthy and strong teeth.

Besides choosing the right toothpaste, it is very important to choose the right toothbrush and follow the right brushing techniques for healthy and strong teeth.

Monday, September 5, 2011

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT


Nowadays the word “Root Canal Treatment” has become very common among the people.  When we generally talk about our dental issues most of us say that they have undergone a Root Canal Treatment. Where many of us do not know what it exactly means but might have undergone this treatment. Well, in this article I will give you the exact picture of what is Root Canal and under what dental conditions it is done.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Before I answer to this question, let me give you a brief idea of our tooth anatomy. As we all know that our tooth comprises of four main layers, the Enamel, Dentin, cementum and Pulp. Enamel is the outer most layer of the tooth which is the hardest substance in the human body. The dentin is the second layer beneath enamel which covers the pulp. It is a calcified tissue with tiny tubules. The cementum is the calcified substance covering the dentin of the root of a tooth. The pulp is the most vital part in the center of the tooth underneath the enamel and dentin that contains nerves and blood vessels that supply the tooth.

Root canal treatment is removal of inflamed or infected tissue from the inside of a tooth, cleaning, filling and sealing the empty space.

Why is a Root Canal Treatment done?

When there is a decay in the tooth, it should be immediately treated otherwise it penetrates deep reaches the dentin and then into the pulp. Generally we experience pain in a tooth when the infection reaches the pulp as mentioned earlier, pulp is the vital part of the tooth.  This happens when the pulp is exposed to bacteria in the mouth resulting in inflammation and infection of and ultimately death of the pulp. Root canal treatment removes the dead pulp and promotes healing of the surrounding bone and tissues at the root apex.

What are the symptoms that indicate Root Canal Treatment?


Severe and continuous pain while chewing food, drinking very cold or very hot liquids and may cause sleep disturbances.
Tooth discoloration is of course not an absolute indication for Root Canal Treatment but its need should be suspected and ruled out.
Swelling of the gums due to infection. 

What is the procedure of Root Canal Treatment?

1)    An opening is made through the crown of the tooth to gain an access into the root canals.
2)    Then once access is gained, the dead pulp and tissues in the canal are removed using
       various instruments.
3)    The canals are irrigated with anti bacterial solutions and canals are cleaned and shaped
       to accommodate the filling materials.
4)    Finally the canals are filled with filling materials and sealed.
5)    X-rays are taken before and after the treatment and if needed in between the treatment to
       evaluate the tooth condition.

Is the treatment painful?

Before starting the treatment the area related to the tooth is numbed by giving a local anesthesia. So the treatment is absolutely painless. Sometimes you may experience a mild pain if a severe infection persists. But it is relieved once the infected tissues are removed.

How lengthy is the procedure?

Root canal treatment can be completed in one visit or may sometimes take more than a visit. Depending on the condition of the tooth, if it is a complicated tooth with more than one canal, severe infection, curved canals, position of the tooth in the mouth, in such conditions it may take more visits.

What is next?

Once you are done with the treatment, you should go for a permanent filling of the crown part and then the tooth should be restored with a cap or crown. This is to prevent the tooth from fracture as the tooth becomes brittle after Root Canal Treatment.

What is the alternate for Root Canal Treatment?

The only option you will have is to get the tooth removed. The missing tooth should be replaced with a bridge or an implant. If not then again it is a problem as the adjacent teeth tend to drift to this space causing loss of alignment of the tooth. So it is always advisable to save the natural tooth as they allow you to eat variety of foods necessary to maintain proper nutrition.

Friday, September 2, 2011

TOOTH FRACTURE OR TRAUMA

Tooth fracture or trauma is distressing and an alarming condition. Fracture of tooth can occur due to many causes. They may fracture while biting on a hard object, severe falls, accidents, sports injuries, decay induced fractures.

Children in the age group of 1 to 1 ½ years are prone to dental injuries most frequently. This is the age when they learn to toddle. Children in the age group of 8 – 11 years are prone are also prone to injuries in their permanent teeth.

Traumatic injuries of teeth may involve only the crown or both the crown and root. The severity of symptoms and treatment vary accordingly.

The symptoms depend on whether the pulp is exposed and the degree of damage to the pulp and the age of the patient.

Crown fractures:

If only a part of the enamel is chipped off it may be treated by smoothening any rough edges present and the chipped off part can be recontoured with tooth colored cements.

If a fragment of crown is broken then there is nothing to panic. If you find the fragment, get it to the dentist by storing it in milk or water to prevent dehydration. The fragment can be re attached if it fits well into the broken space. If not, that part can be replaced with tooth colored cements.

Sometimes crown fractures involve the inner most part of the tooth, the pulp. At this point one may experience a constant pain as the pulp contains nerves and blood vessels. In these conditions pulp therapy may be indicated.

Root fractures:

This type of fracture involves the roots only. The fracture can be at the crown region, middle of the root or the apical third of the root.

If the fracture is at the coronal third, the repair is less favorable because of the difficulty of immobilizing the tooth. Repair does not occur due to constant movement of tooth and exposure of pulp. In most of the cases the tooth need to be removed and later replaced with implants.

If the fracture is at the middle third, if the tooth can be successfully immobilized then it can be saved by root canal treatment.

If the fracture is at the apical third, the root needs to be stabilized with splints followed by root canal treatment.

Avulsed tooth or knocked out tooth:

 Avulsion occurs when the tooth is completely displaced out of the socket. This occurs frequently in children between the ages of 7 – 9. Replacement of primary tooth is generally not recommended due to the possibility of damage to the permanent tooth bud and it also may get ankylosed causing difficulty in normal exfoliation process. In these cases replacement with artificial prosthesis is recommended.

Avulsion in adults demands immediate replacement for tooth’s long term prognosis. When the tooth is avulsed the best way to preserve it is to place it immediately back to its socket. If immediate placement is not possible then place it into a protective solution like milk.

Care to be taken to the avulsed tooth:

Do not touch the root of the tooth, handle the tooth by its crown.
Do not scrub or scrape the tooth.
Do not allow the tooth to dry out.
Treatment should be done within 4 to 6 hours.

First Aid for a broken tooth:

Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
Apply pressure with a piece of gauze until the bleeding stops, if there is any.
Apply cold pack to the injured cheek or lips. This will reduce the pain and inflammation.   
Take a pain reliever.