dentistry and its scope

DENTAL TREATMENT AND ITS SCOPE

Very often people tend to ignore dental problems. The general thinking is that dental treatment and dental disease is very minor and bears no implications to general well being. But we should recognise the importance of oral health. It irks me when i hear the patients asking for the guarantee of the treatment as the dental treatments are of minor nature. I want to convey to such people that dental treatment is as serious as any other surgery and is very much of medical nature and the uncertainity associated with the treatment is same as of any other medical stream.

Oral cavity is the window to general health and a healthy smile speaks a lot about the health of the person. Recently the dentistry has expanded its wings and the treatments offered are of a wide nature.

PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

This is the latest trend as prevention is always better than cure. We can prevent a lot of oral diseases just by visiting our dental surgeon at regular intervals.

1) Use of regular fluoridated creams can prevent caries and sensitivity in adults.

2) Fluoride application in kids can save their teeth from painful caries

3) Dental sealants are very effective in preventing caries in kids as well as adults.

4) Simple food habits can prevent caries- avoid eating sugary foods

5) Very soon a vaccine will be available to avoid caries. The trials are on for such a vaccine

RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

This includes restoration of missing teeth and filling of carious teeth.

This is very important as timely restoration of teeth can avoid many other complications.few components of restorative dentistry are as follows:

1) Dental implants

2) Crowns and bridges

3) Dentures

4) Root canal treatments

5) Cosmetic fillings(silver fillings are out dated)

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

This field deals with beautifaiction of ones smile. These days people are getting beauty conscious and every one wants to dazzle and flash a million dollar smile. There are dental whitening procedures, dental jewellary, smile designing, braces to correct malalign teeth, correction of gummy smiles, crown lenghthening, correction of smile lines etc.

Some of these are lunch time procedure as they can be done in an hours time to give you a dazzling smile.

PERIODONTICS

This is the field which completely removes gum diseases like pyorrhoea. The procedures included are gum surgery, bone graft,GTR etc.

DENTAL MEDECINE

A careful clinician can detect many of the systemic diseases much before they appear in body. We can safely say that good health starts at oral cavity.this makes a regular visit to the detist all the more important.

All sorts of gastric troubles like ulceration can be seen in oral mucosa.

Even hyperacidity can be seen in oral cavity.

Anaemia – the first sign appear in oral mucosa and only a dental surgeon can detect it.

Diseases like psoriasis and eczema show their first appearance in mouth.

Signs and symptoms of oral cancer are also present in the mouth many years before actual cancer appears in the mouth.

These are just the few aspects of dentistry. It is very vast and serious science which can save many lives .

Thus it is my advice to all to not fear the dentist but to be benefitted by the dentistry.

never leave a decayed tooth in your mouth for too long

A carious or decayed tooth can be potentially hazardous and can lead to various health hazards.

recently i had a patient.with root stumps since 5 yrs. the patient complained of redddis swelling in the gum area near that decayed tooth. on biopsy we found that it was pyogenic grauloma. we did a surgery and removed the granuloma and removed the decayed tooth as well as the granuloma originated frm that .

if a carious tooth left in the oral cavity for long unattended, it may even lead to problems like tumour,abcess or cancer. so you should never leave a tooth unattended. either get a filling done or RCT or at least get it extracted although extraction dentistry is outdated.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

dental implants are the latest in thing in dentistry. now you dont need to get a bridge done to restore your missing teeth. bridging not only is unnatural , old world but it also compromises adjacent healthy teeth.

now dental implants can be place in your jaw very conveniently to mimic and function as natural teeth. it is a pain less procedure and any one who if fit enough to get an extraction done can get a dental implant. it tech savvy , simple and latest techinique which has a very high success rate.

nobel biocare implants are the best. will post implant pics very soon.

ORAL CANCER

Oral cancer is a disease which can happen to any one because it has reasons like tobacco, smoking , drinking , areca nut(supari) etc. ther are genetic reasons and there are life style reasons.So oral cancer can happen to any one . But no need to panic.It can be detected very early and stopped. You just have to be very careful and vigilant. A visit to dentist every 6 months is a must. Any white /red spot or an ulcer in your mouth(more then 15 days) can be oral cancer. it takes 5 to 10 years for these spots to turn into full fledged cancer.
There are techniques like BRUSH TEST, biopsy-incisional and excisional, to detect cancer.
the treatment if detected early varies from surgery to radiotherapy to chemotherapy.
Oral cancer is curable but it should be detected early and timely. detection by brush test technique is not at all painful.
Biopsy is done for more advanced lesions. so dont hesitate and come forward to stop oral cancer. spread the word....why not start it now and check your own mouth...rush to a dentist near you and start saving lives!

third molar/wisdom tooth woes

This is the most commom tooth problem seen. the third molars popularly called wisdom teeth often are partially erupted of completely inside the bone. These teeth always give a problem ranging from pain to dangerous cysts and cancers at some stage in life.

Usually people take it lightly and indiscriminately use pain killers and antibiotics. this can indeed be life threatening at times. the best solution is to visit a dentist in time and get the wisdom teeth removed. Ideal time to get it removed is the first time you know that you have an un erupetd or partially erupted tooth. This will be most painless and fruitful. Waiting for the pain to happen and then go to dentist for removal is foolish.

contrary to common belirfs , extraction of a wisdom tooth or any tooth doesnt have any side effect on eye sight. this is just a myth.

A wisdom tooth extraction surgery is very skilled job and is done by an oral surgeon. usually it takes 10 to 15 minutes time and entirely painless. medications continue for 5 days and slight swellling on the face may be seen. but all the trouble is worth taking as keeping a wisdom tooth can lead ti dire consequences.

brush and dental floss

tooth brushing and dental flossing are integral part of oral hygiene maintainance. these two complement each other. only brushing does not give total care. brushing just clears the teeth surfaces but what about the food which is lodged between two teeth. you will be surprised that there is a ton of food debris lodged between two teeth, which we leave unattended to rot. this debris between teeth cause major decay and gum problems like gingivitis.

every night after brushing we should floss. this would gently massage the gums and stimulate them and at the same time cleanse the interproximal areas.

if dental floss is used properly, this itself will reduce more than half of dental problems. so its best to ask a qualified dentist ....how to brush and then start flossing in this new year. so HAPPY FLOSSING to all the readers.

teeth whitening

teeth whitening or dental bleaching is a popular dental procedure done routinely. its a process where teeth are whitened to a sparkling white shade in a matter of minutes.

whitening procedure followed in our clinic is BT COOL whitening where the teeth are cleaned and polished and then whitening is done by a special machine.the process of whitening takes 20 to 30 minutes and the cost starts at as low as Rs 2000/- only.

the in office whitening is harmless and leaves no or minimum sensitivity with zero side effects.

the whiteness thus obtained stays for at least 3 to 4 years, depending on maintainance and patient compliance. i think its very little of a compromise to make for that sparkling white smile which give you a new personality and power to win over others.