Like illnesses, different oral problems also require different treatment methods. Are you wondering what treatment you’ll likely get based on your dental problem? Here are the seven different treatment options that dentists use when treating their patients.
1. Endodontic (Root Canal) Treatmentrn rnEndodontic treatment involves the pulp of the tooth: the soft tissue at the center that is directly connected to the nerves. When your tooth gets infected by bacteria, the decay can eat away the healthy material, create cavities and sometimes, the decay can reach the center of the tooth and infect the pulp. When this happens, many patients feel sensitivity when eating hot, cold or sweet foods or extreme pain. If the infected material isn’t removed, the infection can spread to the gum, underlying bone and surrounding teeth. That’s why in such cases, endodontic treatment is required to remove the infected pulp through a hole drilled into the tooth. The procedure is called root canal treatment because the root canal is the space wherein the pulp is located, literally “a canal inside the tooth root.”
rn2. Denturesrn rnIf you’ve lost one or more teeth, you will need to replace them to help keep your face shape and mouth functioning properly. Dentures are often a restorative option. Dentures are artificial teeth made of acrylic. A mold is taken to ensure that the shape of your gums fits perfectly with the denture. Dentures are a traditional tooth replacement solution.
rn3. Dental Implants
For patients who have lost one or more teeth and would like to restore them in a more permanent way, dental implant-supported restorations are highly recommended. Unlike dentures that should be removed when sleeping, dental implants keep your dentures in place 24/7. The dentures that come with dental implants are called overdentures. Implants are small metal screws embedded into the gums, and the overdentures have metal clips inside them that attach to the implants, like mechanical buttons. Once in place, the overdenture will sit securely in the mouth.
4. Periodontal (Gum) Treatmentsrn rnIf your problem is your gums, you will need periodontal treatments. Gums are susceptible to bacterial infection and if you don’t practice proper dental hygiene, this can lead to gingivitis or periodontitis. These two gum diseases have similar symptoms but varying degrees. Both can present symptoms like swelling, tenderness, bleeding and pain, but periodontitis is more severe. Scaling and root planing is the primary solution for periodontal disease. This involves deep cleaning of the teeth and gums, particularly in the gum lining where bacteria and plaque grow.
rn5. Orthodontic (Alignment) Treatmentsrn rnFor those who have crooked teeth or malocclusions (bad bite), you need an orthodontist. Orthodontic treatment involves the correction of the alignment of the teeth. The typical treatment approach for these problems is the use of braces or retainers. New developments in dental technology have made clear aligners available for alignment correction. These are more popularly known in the brand names Invisalign and ClearCorrect.
rn6. Cosmetic Dentistryrn rnEsthetic dental problems can all be solved using cosmetic dentistry. These involve restorations, such as crowns, bridges, veneers and composite fillings, as well as teeth whitening and smile makeovers. Most dentists offer smile makeover programs that cover all of the aspects of dental esthetics. The dentist will recommend a plan of action and specify the different corrections that will be performed on your teeth to make them picture perfect. These often include teeth whitening, closing gaps between teeth, restoring lost teeth, and covering up fractured or unevenly shaped teeth. Many celebrities have cosmetic dental procedures done. Many of them have had their smiles made over. However, these are quite expensive procedures and most of them are not covered by insurance.
rn7. Surgical Treatmentsrn rnFor severe cases of different oral problems, surgical procedures are available. If you have jaw problems, your dentist may recommend you to undergo maxillofacial surgery. If you have a very bad case of periodontitis or gum recession, you may require bone or soft tissue grafting to restore the health of your gums. Tooth extraction is a common surgical procedure that is done to remove a decayed or impacted tooth. If your periodontal disease has worsened, you can get flap surgery which, as the name suggests, requires the gums to be lifted back like a flap so that the inner pockets of infection and plaque can be removed.
If you have an oral problem that needs to be treated, make sure you go to a
reliable and experienced aloha family dentist. Choosing the right dentist is as crucial as getting the right treatment because different dentists have different specializations. Ask for recommendations and check out dentist websites to learn more about their practice.