subject: Restorative Dental Work Can Help Preserve Teeth [print this page] Choices of dental fillings
In past the only choice for dental fillings used to be amalgam, but this material has fallen out of favor during recent years. It has received quite bad press due to the mercury content, even though numerous studies have proven it to be safe for use. Amalgam is still a good choice for large areas of decay in molars as it is extremely hard wearing and cost-effective. In spite of this most people would prefer to have tooth colored fillings that are either made out of a composite resin, referred to as being direct fillings or they can be made out of porcelain which is a type of indirect filling. Direct fillings are those fillings that are able to be completed in just one visit to your dentist, while in direct fillings require an impression to be taken which is then sent off to a dental laboratory for the filling to be made. These fillings can then be fitted at a subsequent visit.
Root canals are excellent at preserving teeth
Root canals are an incredibly common treatment, and this dental work can almost certainly be carried out by your local D.D.S. Before root canal therapy was invented the only alternative was to have dental extractions, as this treatment is excellent at helping to preserve teeth. It is one of those treatments that people tend to fear, but is generally no more unpleasant than having dental fillings. Root canals are necessary whenever the central part of a tooth has become infected, and this area is called the pulp. The pulp contains all the nerves of the tooth, but the tooth is able to function perfectly well without it as it's only used for sensing hot and cold foods. The D.D.S. will first anaesthetize the affected area before drilling into the crown of the tooth to access the pulp. They then use a series of specially shaped files to clean out the infection. Sometimes it's necessary to place antibiotics topically, and it's not uncommon for the dentist to seal the tooth using a temporary filling to make sure all the infection is cleared before finally restoring the tooth. The final restoration process generally involves having crowns, as this helps protect the tooth against any further infection and decay.
Dealing with toothaches and infections
Suffering from toothaches and infections can be very unpleasant, and is essential to seek treatment from the local D.D.S. Even if the infection seems to clear up, it's still a sign that something is wrong, and it's well worth booking a checkup especially if it's been awhile since the last dental visit. In general having teeth professionally cleaned by dental hygienists, combined with regular brushing and flossing should be enough to avoid most infections and toothaches as any early signs of disease can be quickly picked up and treated before they present a problem.
by: Rachel Nolander
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