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Keep That Smile on, the Tooth Ache Away
It helps us diagnose problems that may be in the initial
stage and hence proves to be cost effective as well. Kids below the age of six
require preventive and sometimes temporary curative treatment to save their
milk teeth. From then on, till they turn 16, they need preventive treatment,”
she said.While adults normally require and mostly seek cosmetic and
curative treatments, the elderly require curative and prosthetic treatments.
A good set of teeth is a functional necessity for proper
delivery of the food that we eat for the purpose of digestion. It also affects
one’s social interactions. “So a regular check up is indispensable,” says Dr
Keshav Prasad of Prasad’s Dental Care Clinic in Jayanagar.
He says that common dental problems include dental decay,
gum diseases, bad breath, tooth erosion, tooth sensitivity, missing teeth,
protruding teeth, an unattractive smile, discolouration of teeth, trauma to the
teeth and such. Cosmetic treatment of irregular teeth and complete smile
makeover cater to the requirements of the adult population which is
increasingly becoming conscious of its looks.
Various dental procedures like restoration of decayed teeth,
root canal treatment, extraction of grossly decayed and infected teeth or
wisdom teeth, cleaning of teeth, crowns and bridges, fixing of removable and
fixed partial dentures, complete dentures, implants, teeth whitening, teeth
veneers and orthodontic treatment can take care of a lot of the above
conditions.
Root canal treatment
Tooth decay starts when food particles are left on the
tooth, especially sugary foods, wherein bacteria from plaque turn them into
acid which attacks the enamel. If recognised early, it can be removed and the
tooth can be restored with a silver filling or a tooth coloured filling. If
left untreated, the decay reaches the pulp of the tooth. The tooth then needs a
Root Canal treatment or RCT.
An RCT is where the infected pulp or nerve is removed, the
canals are cleaned with tiny files and are then filled with a rubber plastic
material called gutta percha. The tooth is then protected by a crown.
Extraction
If a tooth is severely damaged and infected, then it is
extracted. The tooth can then be replaced by fixing a bridge or by placing an
implant or a false denture.
Gum disease
Plaque is a thin bacterial film seen on the surface of the
tooth. Bacteria in the plaque release substances that infect the gums causing
inflammation known as Gingivitis. If plaque is not removed, it hardens to form
tartar. The infection spreads to the underlying bone supporting the tooth leading
to periodontal diseases. Hence, regular
check up and cleaning is necessary.
Teeth whitening
This is for people with internal staining, developmental
defects leading to discolouration and fluorosis stains using hydrogen peroxide
and carbamide peroxide.
Veneering
A veneer is a thin laminate of porcelain or ceramic that is
used to cover the surface of a tooth to enhance a discolored, chipped or a
broken tooth.
Correction of faulty teeth (orthodontics)
In cases of mal-aligned teeth (crooked teeth), orthodontic
treatment like braces help in moving the teeth for a better smile. Aesthetic
improvement continues to be the mainstay of orthodontic treatments in the city.
Among those, braces continue to be the most popular treatment, says Dr Vinaya S
Pai, professor and head, Department of Orthodontics at Bangalore Institute of
Dental Sciences.
She has observed an increased demand in orthodontic
corrective treatments among adults, especially lingual braces. A new type of
invisible braces called the ‘Invisalign’ is gaining popularity in Bangalore.
“There was a time when only stainless steel braces were available. Now, many
patients are coming to enquire about the Invisalign. But cost is a huge factor.
Since the laboratories for it have not yet come up in India, the material has
to be brought in from Dubai,” she says.
Dental health for senior citizens
Dental caries and periodontal problems (gum diseases) are
frequently seen in adults and senior citizens. Timely treatment prevents loss
of teeth. Dr Krishna Raj, periodontist at Vasan Dental Care, says that for
senior citizens, the treatment is about replacing missing teeth to maintain
form, function and aesthetics. “They have several options and dental implants
are helpful. For any treatment, they should review their oral health and gum
care status,” she says.
For children
Commonly seen dental problems in children are dental caries
and complications of early loss of milk teeth. Early restoration and preventive
procedures can stall complications. Fluorides, in the right concentration, have
some benefit in protecting the surface of teeth against dental decay.
Fluoridated toothpastes are not usually recommended for very young children.
The important aspect is the frequency and technique of brushing. A toothpaste
from a reputed manufacturer without a high concentration of abrasives
containing fluorides would be a good choice for regular use, says Dr Sahith
Kumar Shetty, maxillofacial consultant at Columbia Asia Hospital, Mysore.
Early jaw correction for kids
To avoid jaw corrective surgeries, or undergoing other
orthodontic procedures, parents of kids aged between eight to 12 years can go
in for appliances to correct their jawline. Dr Pai says that parents are
getting increasingly particular about
their children’s looks. “When a child’s upper and lower jaw are not aligned
properly, it causes their face to look disproportional. This is a called a jaw
fault,” she adds. Although the main concern of parents is appearance, a jaw
fault causes a lot of inconvenience to the children. “Kids with no prominent
upper jaw and a flat middle face, find it hard to bite and chew.”
This condition is correctable using a trainer or functional
appliance that fits partially onto the teeth and uses facial bones. “Many
parents choose to get this done instead of letting the problem become more
serious requiring corrective surgery later,” Dr Pai says. “So there is a shift
in trend from going in only for orthodontic treatment for functional
corrections, to such treatments that are targetted at defusing worry about a
child’s appearance.”
The dentist’s roster of dos and
don’ts
- Visit the dentist regularly. Regular dental check up will help the dentist recognise and identify potential dental and oral health problems and treat them.
- Clean your tongue every day.
- Brush regularly using an Indian Dental Association (IDA) stamped toothpaste. Flavours added to the paste encourage brushing. Fluoride toothpastes also give added protection against tooth decay. Medicated tooth pastes are available to be used by people with tooth sensitivity.
- Dental flossing is good, but not compulsory. It is essential only for people with artificial implants like crowns, tooth caps and bridges in their teeth.
- Diabetics should ensure good oral hygiene as they are more prone to gum diseases
- Patients with heart disease should ensure regular dental check up. Poor oral hygiene can affect cardiac health.
- Have regular scaling and dental check up done during pregnancy to ensure oral health is maintained.
Bad breath: Is it curable?
- Bad breath is one of the most common dental problems also known as Halitosis. It is an embarrassing condition that can affect anybody.
- Some causes of bad breath are:
- Sticky and junk food and indigestion,
- Odours from garlic, onions and certain spices in the food,
- Faulty brushing and flossing habits,
- Periodontal diseases where there is accumulation of plaque, bacteria and decomposing food
- Dry mouth known as Xerostomia,
- Cigarette smoking,
- Underlying medical conditions in diabetics, people with chronic kidney failure and gastroenterointestinal problems,
- Medical conditions like sinusitis, gastritis, pneumonia and bronchitis.
Foods that harm, that heal
Cheese, chicken and other meats, nuts, and milk protect
tooth enamel by providing calcium. Fruits like apples and pears and vegetables
with high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain
and stimulate the flow of saliva which protects against decay by washing away
food particles and buffering acid. Have
acidic foods like citrusfruits, tomatoes and lemons as part of a larger meal to
minimise the acid from them. On the other hand, food high in sweet or
carbohydrate content like cookies, cakes, breads, potato chips, bananas,
raisins provide a fuel source for bacteria.
Ref: - http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Keep-That-Smile-on-the-Tooth-Ache-Away/2014/02/26/article2078247.ece1
Very informative blog.
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