Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. It involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma.

The term “root canal” comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth’s root.

Advantages of saving the natural tooth with RCT:-

• Efficient chewing
• Normal biting force and sensation
• Natural appearance
• Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain.

Root Canal treatment step by step:-

1. A Deep Infection

Root canal treatment is needed if tooth is infected due to any injury or a large cavity.

2. A Route to the Root
   The dentist gives anesthesia, if needed. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber.

3.Removing the infected/inflamed tissue

Special  files are used to clean infection and unhealthy pulp out of canals.

Irrigation is used to help clean the canals and remove debris.

4.Filling the canals

The canals are filled with permanent material. This helps to keep the canals free of infection and contamination.

5.Rebuilding the tooth

A temporary filling material placed on top of the gutta –percha to seal the opening. The filling remains until the tooth receives a permanent filling and/or a crown.

6.Extra Support

In some cases a post is placed into the root next to the gutta-percha. This gives the crown more support.

7.The crowning touch

The crown is cemented into place which looks like a natural tooth .It is placed over the top of the crown.

How to get rid of stains?

Stained teeth can be due to poor oral hygiene, consumption of tobacco etc. So, it is important to change your habits in order to have a good smile. Get professional cleaning done and maintain hygiene.

 How to fight bad breath?

Foods like onion or garlic are notoriously known for causing bad breath. Other items that can be responsible for it are coffee, alcohol and cigarettes. Eating a healthy balanced diet, staying hydrated, washing your mouth at regular intervals, brushing right and giving up on smoking can help.Mouthwashes can help for transient time. Start flossing and cleaning tongue.

 Toothaches are really painful. What to do?

There can be causes like accidents or falls, misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth, gum disease,caries, etc. If your tooth is hurting, it is recommended that you visit a dentist to get relieved of your pain, instead of self medication.

 After how much time, toothbrush should be changed?

Replace your toothbrush when the bristles start splaying or bending, or every three months, whichever comes first.

    Why is smoking bad for my teeth?

Smoking or chewing tobacco can leave extrinsic stains on the enamel of the teeth. Tobacco contains staining elements that cause a gradual yellowing of teeth and affect the appearance of your teeth.

   What can be reason of dry mouth?

Dry mouth is not a disease, it’s a symptom of other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson’s or a side effect of several medicines.A dry mouth can increase tooth decay and fungal infections of mouth.

 How many times should I brush?

While it is ideal to brush thrice a day, brushing twice everyday for 2 minutes can be sufficient to prevent germ build up and maintain good oral hygiene.

1.Brush at least twice a day. The best time to brush teeth is after meals. Choose a toothbrush with a small head for better access to back teeth. Soft bristles are kinder on your gums.

2.Use fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride helps to harden tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay.

3.Brush thoroughly. Tooth brushing should take between two and three minutes.

4.Floss your teeth daily. Use a slow and gentle sawing motion.

5.Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries).

6.Limit sugary foods. Bacteria in dental plaque change sugars into acids.

7.Protect your teeth from injury. Wear a mouthguard or full-face helmet when playing sports.

8.Try to save a knocked out tooth. If possible, hold the tooth back in place while you seek immediate dental advice. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in milk and seek dental advice immediately.

9.Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food. If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.

10.See your dentist for regular check-ups. You should also visit your dentist if you have a dental problem such as a toothache or bleeding gums.

Myth-Once you get a denture, it lasts forever.

Fact– Dentures are tough,but artificial teeth are softer than natural teeth. Proper regular care and cleaning is needed for the denture maintainence .

Myth- After losing all the teeth will lead to suffering with a denture for rest of life.

Fact- Having dentures doesn’t mean that you have to suffer! These days with modern dentistry, having dental implants helps to retain and stabilize a denture. The implant-supported denture also allows you to eat food that you would normally not be able to eat.

Myth- Dentures can be made with a standard mould.

Fact– Not at all. Every denture is different as it’s custom-fabricated according to your bone and soft tissue in your mouth.

Myth-Dentures will change your appearance.

Fact-Dentures that fit properly shouldn’t change the shape of your face or appearance but give you a perfect and confident smile.

Myth- You can’t eat or speak properly with a denture.

Fact- It needs little time to acclimatize to your denture. Properly fitting dentures may actually encourage you to eat a varied and well balanced diet that maximizes your overall health.

Warning labels on cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and other tobacco products  point smoking and tobacco are bad for your body and bad for your oral health.

Smoking and chewing tobacco risk factors:

• Mouth and throat cancer
• Gum disease
• Delayed tooth adjustment with orthodontic work
• Poor healing after oral surgery
• Receding gums
• Tooth decay
• Failed dental implants

The best thing you can do for your teeth, mouth and health is to quit using tobacco; it’s the only way to decrease your risk regarding tobacco-related health problems. It’s not easy because the nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, and pipe and chewing tobacco, is very addictive. But you can do it. And when you do you’ll be happier and healthier, and have a smile of which you can be most proud!

Smoking directly affects your oral health because it:

• Reduces blood flow to your gums
• Reduces the Vitamin C levels which is needed to keep your gums healthy
• Raises the temperature in the mouth, damaging and killing important cells

Smoking causes:

• Bad breath
• Stained teeth and tongue
• A dulled sense of taste and smell
• Delayed healing after a mouth wound or having a tooth extracted
• Difficulties in correcting crooked teeth or misaligned bites
• Gum disease, bone loss and tooth loss
• Oral cancer

Smokers are bound to have dental problems. And with every puff, the problems get worse. Even if you feel you can’t quit fully, at least try and reduce the amount you smoke.

• Anyone can get dental implants.

Fact: Not everyone require dental implants. For dental implants, it is important to have healthy bone tissue in the mouth for the implant. A qualified dentist can figure this out.

• Dental implants are painful.

Fact: Under local anesthesia, the patient undergoes a very comfortable procedure.

• Dental implant titanium causes migraine or headache.

Fact: There are no clinical studies which prove this. In addition to this, the headache felt after the procedure might be due to patients having TMJ disorder or opening mouth wide.

• Dental implants are ineffective.

Fact: Dental implants have history of over forty years. And, the researches show that dental implants have approximately 95% success rate.

• Dental implants are quite high-priced.

Fact: When you think about dental implants to restore your missing teeth, the initial investments provides huge benefits over a period of time compared to other treatment alternatives available.

1.  Halitosis stinks

Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life, relationships, and self-esteem. Most bad breath comes from the bacteria at the back of the tongue (an area that’s difficult to reach with a toothbrush), studies show that crevices of all areas the tongue are cleaned properly using scraper.

2. You can get a good taste of food.

If you don’t take clean toxic mucus on the tongue, your taste buds can become blocked. This causes inability to recognize the taste of food. Removing build-up from the surface of tongue will open up its pores and better expose your taste buds allow for greater food taste and help your body digest and assimilate food.

3. Increase your immunity.

The tongue is part of the first line of defense. Scraping your tongue prevents toxins from being reabsorbed into your body and boosts overall immune function.

4. Dental health is on downfall.

This oral hygiene practice promotes general tooth and gum health and removes bacteria and toxins responsible for periodontal problems, plaque build-up, tooth decay, loss of teeth, gum infections, and gum recession.

5. You’d like to improve your digestive health.

Scraping activates saliva production and promotes Agni (the body’s digestive fire) for the digestion.

How to scrape your tongue

The daily routine for maintaining oral health includes scraping tongue in the morning upon rising, and on an empty stomach.

A tongue scraper is a long, thin, flat piece of metal that is bent in a “U” shape.

Stand in front of a mirror, scrape your tongue by holding the two ends of the scraper in both hands and placing the scraper as far back on tongue as possible. Do with firm but gentle pressure; scrape the surface of your tongue in one long stroke. Rinse the scraper and do until your tongue feels clean and is free of coating (usually 5 to 10 times).

Tip 1: Brush Teeth, Gums, and Tongue Twice a Day

It is important to remember to brush your teeth once in the morning and once in the evening. Brush for 2 minutes every time . Brush along the gum line as well as your tongue which helps to reduce the amount of bacteria that live on the surface of the gums.

Tip 2: Floss Once a Day

A toothbrush cant clean properly in between your teeth and crevices. Plaque and food get lodged into these crevices which causes bacteria to form in between the teeth and gums. Floss everyday.

Tip 3: Stop Smoking & Tobacco.

Smoking  and tobacco has an adverse effect on the periodontal health and general health of the body. Quit smoking to prevent any gum disease.

Tip 4: Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year

The dentist can perform a regular check up to determine the health of gums and teeth. Your dentist will check your medical history and its signs in oral cavity. They will also perform cleaning ,if required.

Tip 5: Watch for Signs of Gum Disease

Keep checking for sign of gum disease. You must check to see if you have any tender or swollen gums. Watch for loose or separating teeth. If you are experiencing any kind of pain or swelling, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease

Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don’t have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

Research has suggested that the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease goes both ways – periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Heart Disease

While a cause-and-effect relationship has not yet been proven, research has indicated that periodontal disease increases the risk of heart disease.

Scientists believe that inflammation caused by periodontal disease may be responsible for the association.

Periodontal disease can also exacerbate existing heart conditions. Patients at risk for ineffective endocarditis may require antibiotics prior to dental procedures.

Stroke

Additional studies have pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. In one study that looked at the causal relationship of oral infection as a risk factor for stroke, people diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared to others.

Gum Disease and Other Systemic Diseases

Osteoporosis

Researchers have suggested that a link between osteoporosis and bone loss in the jaw. Studies suggest that osteoporosis may lead to tooth loss because the density of the bone that supports the teeth may be decreased, which means the teeth no longer have a solid foundation.

Respiratory Disease

Research has found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lungs to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.

Cancer

Researchers found that men with gum disease were 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30% more likely to develop blood cancers.