Archive for September, 2009

Root canal or Endodontic treatment necessary to remove infected tooth pulp

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

The treatment of root canal belongs to the special branch of dentistry called Endodontics. There are many expert dentists in London and UK who are providing the treatment of root canal along with other dental treatments.

However, when a dentist calls himself Endodontist, it means that he is a specialist in its treatment. These are the dentists with special post-graduate training in this field of Endodontics.  

A patient needs to take the root canal treatment when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth known as the pulp is infected through decay or injury.  

If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess.

If root canal treatment is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.

A dentist then removes inflamed or infected pulp through an access cavity made in the crown of the tooth. The inside of the root canal is then carefully cleaned and shaped before being filled to seal the space.

The access cavity made in the tooth is then restored and the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.  Now-a-days, root canal treatment can be executed in a single appointment ranging from 45-120 minutes.

However, this time duration depends on the number of root canals present. Sometimes, a crown or other restoration will be needed to protect and restore the damaged tooth to full function.

The success ratio of root canal treatment is very high, however if the decay again occurs, the treatment can be repeated.

In order to maintain the oral health after having the root canal treatment, root filled teeth should be treated just the same as any other tooth. You should clean your teeth at least once a day, preferably with a fluoride toothpaste.

Also, it would be desirable to reduce the intake of sugary snacks, and keep them only to mealtimes if possible. Also, regular visits to dentists are also desired.

Trial Smile deemed to be the latest innovation in cosmetic dentistry

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Trial Smile is considered to be the latest innovation in cosmetic dentistry. Apart from teeth whitening and veneers, Trial Smile is another cosmetic dental treatment in London that the people and the dentists in London are opting for.

Traditionally, when a patient opts for treatments involving porcelain laminate veneers, they could only imagine what their new smile would look like, sometimes with the use of limited results from computer imaging.

The process of Trial Smile involves cosmetic dentists producing a model of the proposed treatments which the patients can see and feel before any actual treatment is undertaken.

This proposed model of Trial smile empowers the patient to make any changes in the proposed smile. In certain cases, where the natural teeth are smaller than the proposed veneers, the proposed smile can even be tried in the mouth to enable to patient to see and feel what their new smile will look like.

Any Trial Smile treatment begins with a skilled cosmetic dentist evaluating the patients’ teeth, gums, face, lips, etc. and has some idea how he would design the smile. After this basis evolution, the dentist first designs the “trial smile“, or temporary smile, according to his idea of what will be the best for the patient.

Then the dentist prepares the teeth, places the “trial smile”, and then has the patient wear the “trial smile” for a few days, or sometimes even a few weeks to make sure that the patient approves of the colour, shape, length, etc. of the teeth.

If there are any changes that the patients wants to be made, those changes can be done much easier to the “trial smile” than the permanent porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.

Then after the changes to the “trial smile” are done and approved of by the patient, the cosmetic dentist can precisely direct the ceramist how to make the final porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.