Gum Disease

Dental decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth make acid which then dissolves the tooth.

Bacteria only produce this acid when they are exposed to sugar.

If you have a sensible diet, a good flow of saliva, a cleaning routine and your teeth get an

appropriate fluoride exposure, you are unlikely to get decay. So, you can prevent decay by:

• Being careful with how often you eat sugary foods or have sugary drinks.
• Brushing and flossing your teeth carefully to reduce the amount of bacteria on their surfaces.
• Using fluoride toothpaste. This will make the surfaces of teeth more resistant to acid. The fluoride in our water supply strengthens the developing teeth of infants and children.

Saliva is the best natural defence against decay. The acid from bacteria can be neutralised by saliva. A reduced flow of saliva (dry mouth) can increase your risk of decay. Causes might include:

• Medications that you may be taking that may have a drying effect in the mouth
• Excessive intake of caffeine. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and cola drinks. It draws fluid from the body and reduces saliva.
• Working in a dry environment and not rehydrating often enough
• Some specific diseases or conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome
• If you have a constant dry mouth, you should consult your dentist to find the cause.

In the mouth, there is a constant battle between demineralisation (tooth being dissolved by acids) and remineralisation (tooth being re-deposited on the teeth from saliva). If your demineralisation is happening at a greater rate than remineralisation, you get loss of tooth substance.

If your mouth is acidic a good deal of the day from, say, excessive and constant intake of acidic soft drinks or constant sugar intake, then the demineralisation wins and you have problems.

If you are careful with the diet, then your saliva is more neutral and you will get good

remineralisation to constantly repair the teeth.

Early dental caries is reversible. Mineral can be deposited back onto the tooth surface if you can modify your diet and oral hygiene. Your dentist can treat early areas of caries without the use of the drill (ICON). Another way of treating early decay is application of topical fluoride, and if you are careful with your diet and cleaning no other treatment may be required.

A more advanced area of dental caries will require a “filling”. Your dentist will remove the

damaged and infected soft tooth structure and repair the tooth. It is important to have this done as early as possible to preserve the strength of the tooth and prevent bacteria damaging the tooth pulp.

It is very important to listen to your dentist’s advice on how to eliminate the cause of your caries. Don’t think that just fixing a cavity will stop the disease from occurring in other areas of the mouth.

Being careful about how often you have sugar in your food and drinks is the best way to prevent and treat dental caries.

How often you have sugary food and drinks is more important than how much sugar you have in your food and drinks.

Other ways you may help prevent dental caries with your diet are:

• Rinse your mouth with water after having sugary food or drink
• Have a small amount of cheese after sugary food or drink. This will help to neutralize the acid produced by oral bacteria.
• Using sugarless chewing gum may help protect your teeth by stimulating extra saliva. Saliva is very important in protecting your teeth from decay.
• Do not put any sugar or other sweeteners in babies’ bottles.
• Remember the drying effect of excess caffeine.
• Remember that smoking changes the saliva to a more harmful consistency.

When brushing your teeth it is best to position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth, aiming the bristles of your brush toward the gum line. The join between the teeth and the gum is a nice area for bacteria and plaque to accumulate, so it is important to get to this area.

Once you have the brush at the correct angle, all you need to do is jiggle the brush gently back and forward, only brushing one or two teeth at a time. Don’t be excessively vigorous but also don’t be too mild.

Remember. You are trying to penetrate the bristles into the gaps between teeth to remove a very soft plaque.

You need to be systematic – brushing all teeth in order, inside and outside – and you really should do it in front of a mirror so you can see what you are doing.

Proper brushing should take two to three minutes.

Good brushing is very important to help prevent dental decay and periodontal disease, however brushing alone is not enough. It is also very important to clean between your teeth. This is why flossing is so important.

You should floss at least once a day, every day.

Holding floss is the key. You should have a decent length and make sure it is tightly wrapped around and locked onto the middle finger of each hand. Some companies also make small flossing aids. You should floss using a gentle sawing motion, against the sides of your teeth. If you find this tricky — speak to or team at Dental Avenue. They will be able to advise you on the best oral hygiene aids for you, and show you exactly how to use them. Remember — prevention is the key!

If your gums bleed or become sore after flossing, do not panic. If you have not been flossing regularly then the gums will be inflamed and will bleed more easily. If the bleeding persists — see us at Dental Avenue.

The best toothbrush is one with a small head and soft bristles. Electric toothbrushes can also be very good, particularly for people who find proper brushing techniques difficult to master.

Always use a toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride combines with minerals in your saliva to strengthen your tooth enamel and help stop decay.

No. However, there are two things that a smoker should do to help protect his or her oral health.

1. Arrange to have a regular half yearly check-up with a dentist.
2. Give up smoking. If smoking is stopped in time it is often possible to maintain a healthy mouth and keep the teeth for a lifetime. In 3-5 years after stopping smoking the chance of getting oral cancer is halved and gets less and less with time.

Yes. Most people are becoming aware that smoking poses a problem to general health. It contributes to heart disease, stroke, and to a third of all cancer deaths, to name just a few conditions. In 1992 it was estimated that almost five thousand deaths in Victoria resulted from smoking.

What is less well known is the effect it has in the mouth.

The main damage is to the gums and mucosa, or lining of the mouth. Smokers develop more oral cancers than non-smokers (about five times more) and invariably suffer some degree of gum or, periodontal disease.

Other than staining, smoking does not affect the teeth. However, it also has a profound effect on the saliva, promoting the formation of the thicker ‘mucous’ form of saliva at the expense of the thinner watery ‘serous’ saliva.. There is a reduction in the acid-buffering capacity of their saliva.

This effect of nicotine explains why some heavy smokers get decay even if they are brushing well.

No, but it increases your chance of getting it by about six times and increases the severity by the same factor. However, it can hide the signs of periodontal disease which can take years to progress. The condition can be very advanced before a person actually notices the damage. Gum disease is normally coupled with plaque and calculus that collects at the base of the tooth, which leads to bacteria infecting the gums. Smoking reduces the body’s ability to combat this condition.

Slight infections around the edges of the gums are common and easily treated, but smoking allows the condition to progress more deeply and seriously. Plaque and tobacco are a dangerous combination. X-rays taken of the teeth of even young smokers usually show that bone support has begun shrinking away from the tooth roots.

Flossing and careful brushing tends to slow down the deterioration, but smokers often have reduced sensation in their mouths and it is difficult to detect and remove all the plaque at the gum margins. (See Gum Disease)

Yes, smoking is a major cause of cancers in the mouth. It is the single biggest risk factor.

Even when cancer is not present, dentists can often detect changes in the lining of the mouths of young smokers. When these changes become pronounced they predispose to cancer. The mucosa becomes hard and white and develops corrugations. Such areas should be observed routinely and are one more reason why people should have regular dental check-ups.

Detecting and treating precancerous lesions and early cancers is vital in improving survival rates.

Yes. Smokers are six times more likely to have serious gum (periodontal) disease. Periodontal disease is a deep-seated form of gum disease. It involves not just the pink gum, but also the supporting bone and the membrane that holds the teeth in place. When gum disease damages these supports, the teeth become less stable and move too easily. Eventually they can become painful and loose, and need to be extracted.

Smoking affects the immune system and lowers its ability to reduce harmful bacteria that can cause gum disease.

Yes. Tobacco staining on the teeth is often superficial in the first few years of smoking and your dentist can usually readily remove it. Unfortunately, as the years pass, the staining tends to spread into microscopic cracks in the enamel (the outer layer of teeth) and this is far more difficult to remove. Teeth can become permanently stained.

Many people are nervous or anxious about visiting and being treated by the dentist. Fortunately there are a number of techniques dentists have at their disposal to help their patients. These include inhalation sedation, intravenous sedation and general anaesthetic.

The most common technique is the use of a nitrous oxide and oxygen mix or the so-called ‘laughing gas’. The Nitrous Oxide mixture –

• Reduces pain,
• Reduces anxiety, and
• Reduces the gag reflex.

Patients will often experience a feeling of well-being and euphoria.

The technique involves placing a mask over your nose, and then breathing through your nose.

The gases have a slightly sweet smell and are well tolerated by even the most sensitive noses. The dentist will adjust the percentage of nitrous oxide to oxygen to suit you.

The technique has a number of advantages over other techniques:

• It is less expensive than other techniques
• It is simple
• No escort is required
• No fasting is required
• There is a rapid onset and fast recovery

It is suitable for children

Unfortunately, the technique is not suitable for all. Some anxious and phobic people require a deeper form of sedation. In general, pregnant women should not receive inhalation sedation. People with nasal obstructions and mouth breathers may also find this method unsuitable.

For people who require a greater degree of sedation, or if the procedure is of a nature that requires the patient to be sedated, intravenous sedation may be suitable. With this technique a sedative is injected into a vein in the arm by a qualified seditionist or anaesthetist.

The advantages are –

• Patients usually remember nothing of the procedure, and
• An escort is required
• Fasting is required

It is suitable for a wide range of people and procedures.

The ‘ultimate’ technique for the phobic patient is for the patient to be completely anaesthetised by an anaesthetist. Some surgeries offer this technique ‘in house’ or at their local hospital / day surgery.

At Dental Avenue, we follow strict guidelines on infection control. We use state-of-the-art cleaners and steam sterilisers to achieve a rapid high heat sterilisation of instruments.

Our practice utilises sterilisable dental equipment and instruments. Otherwise we use disposable items wherever possible. The general standard of infection control in all surgeries in Australia is excellent.

Gloves should be worn wherever there is a risk of exposure to blood or body substances, which is almost always the case.

The crack exposes the inside of the tooth (the ‘dentine’) that has very small fluid filled tubes leading to the nerve (‘pulp’) of the tooth. Flexing of the tooth opens the crack and causes movement of the fluid within the tubes. When you release the biting pressure the crack closes and the fluid pressure simulates the nerve and causes pain.

Most fractures cannot be avoided because they happen when you least expect them. However, you can reduce the risk of breaking teeth by:

• Trying to eliminate clenching habits during waking hours;
• Avoiding chewing hard objects (e.g. bones, pencils, ice) and using teeth as a tool;
• Avoiding chewing hard foods such as pork crackling and hard-grain bread.

If you think you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist if a night guard or a splint will be of use to you. Individuals who have problems with tooth wear or “cracked tooth syndrome” should consider wearing a night guard while sleeping. This will absorb most of the grinding forces.

Relaxation exercises may be beneficial.

It is very important to preserve the strength of your teeth so they are less susceptible to fracture.

Try to prevent dental decay and have any dental decay treated early. Heavily decayed and therefore heavily filled teeth are weaker than teeth that have never been filled.

How does the dentist treat a cracked tooth? It depends on the direction and severity of the crack. If the crack is small enough, a filling may be used. Bonded white fillings and bonded amalgam fillings will hold the tooth together making it less likely to crack. Sometimes the cracked part of the tooth fractures off during the removal of the filling and this can be replaced with a new filling. Your dentist may first place an orthodontic band around the tooth to keep it together. If the pain settles, the band is replaced with a filling that covers the fractured portion of tooth (or the whole biting surface). Other options include the placement of gold or porcelain fillings or even a crown.

Unlike fractures elsewhere in the body, this crack will never heal. There is a small chance that the crack will get worse even with a crown placed. This may lead to the need for root canal treatment, or even the removal of the tooth. However, many cracks can be fixed without root canal or tooth removal. Seeking treatment early is key to minimising the extent of treatment required.

Front teeth usually break due to a knock, an accident or during biting. Back teeth can also be fractured from a knock. They are much more likely than front teeth to crack from forces applied by the jaws slamming together rapidly. This is why sportspeople wear mouthguards to cushion the blow. Other forces occur during sleep because people grind their teeth with a much greater force than they would ever do while awake. The first sign of problems may be what we call “cracked tooth syndrome” –a sore or sensitive tooth somewhere in the mouth that is often hard for even the dentist to find. In some individuals the grinding, called bruxism, causes tooth wear rather than fracture.

“Gum disease” describes a range of conditions that affect the supporting tissues for the teeth. The supporting tissues comprise both the surface tissues that can be seen in the mouth and also the deeper tissues of the bone, root surface and the ligament that connects the teeth to the bone.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. Bacteria form a ‘plaque’ which is a sticky, colourless film that forms on your teeth, particularly around the gum line. Other bacteria thrive deep in the gap between the gum and the tooth (the ‘pocket’). Some people are much more at risk of developing periodontal disease — smoking is one of the major risk factors. Other conditions such as diabetes, stress, pregnancy and various medications can all be contributing factors.

Yes. In the vast majority of cases the progression of gum disease can be arrested with appropriate care. Management of gum disease becomes more difficult and less predictable the more advanced the disease. Therefore, the sooner periodontitis is diagnosed and treated the better. Regular dental examinations are important to check for the presence of gum disease.

No. Bleeding gums are common but not OK. Healthy gums do not bleed. Bleeding is often an indication that the gums are inflamed. The inflammation is generally a response to the bacteria on the surface of the teeth. The bleeding may also arise from Periodontitis or traumatic cleaning. Bleeding gums are sometimes associated with serious medical conditions.

If you have bleeding gums you should get a dental check up.

Anyone. Many people will have a small amount of periodontitis, which gradually increases with age. However approximately 15% of the population will have a significant degree of periodontitis. The destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues caused by periodontitis gets worse over time when left untreated, and is often seen more severely in the 45+ age group. However the different types of periodontitis may affect people of all ages. The risk for periodontitis is increased with poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, a family history of periodontitis and a range of medical conditions, in particular those affecting the immune system.

What are some of the warning signs of periodontal disease?

• Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth.
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
• Receding gums.
• Sensitive teeth or gums.
• Loose teeth or teeth that have moved.

It depends on the type of bone, and where the implant is placed into your jaw. It can range from a few months to over 9 months. Generally, implants in the front lower jaw need around 4 months; the back upper jaw needs around 9 months and elsewhere in the mouth around 6 months. These times may need to be lengthened if bone needs to be grown or grafting has taken place.

Some people may not be suitable for this procedure. Conditions such as alcoholism, some psychiatric disorders and uncontrolled diabetes can cause problems. Your dentist will also need to check to see how much bone you have and whether there is enough space for an implant. The adjacent teeth roots will also need to be away from the implant. If you don’t have enough bone, it is possible to grow bone or even graft bone from elsewhere in the mouth or places like your hip.

This means the implant has not attached or integrated to the bone. It usually fails at the second stage surgery. The failed implant is unscrewed, the bone left to heal for a while and a new implant placed. Other options such dentures or bridges are also available.

The success rate depends on where in the jaw the implants are placed. The lower jaw has a very good chance of success (98%). The further back in the mouth you go, the lesser the prognosis, but this is generally over 90%. If you smoke, the chances of success drop by at least 10%.

A dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth your dentist can give you. They feel much more natural and secure than traditional removable dentures, especially if these are loose fitting because of extensive bone loss. If several adjacent teeth are missing, a fixed bridge may be attached to dental implants as an alternative to a removable partial denture plate. Dental implants allow for the replacement of a missing tooth without modifying adjacent teeth. Your dentist will be happy to discuss alternatives for restoring your dental function with you.

The simple answer is no, if sufficient bone is available to accept the implant. The procedures can all be done in the dental surgery, using only local anaesthesia. In the first stage of surgery, the implant root component is inserted into the bone site.

This surgery generally takes about sixty minutes to complete. After six to ten days, the stitches are removed and the buried implant is allowed to heal for about three to six months. During this time, bone grows into the implant surface to secure it.

The second stage of surgery is very simple and lasts only about thirty minutes. During this stage, the buried, secure implant is uncovered using a small incision in the gum tissue. A post is attached to the implant until the final prosthesis is complete, which can take as little as two weeks. There is minimal discomfort associated with either of these surgical steps, certainly no more than having a tooth extracted, and usually less. Dentist prescribed medication can alleviate any uneasiness. Improved aesthetics, function and quality of life follows in a few weeks with your new prosthesis fitted.

This is impossible to predict. Though research has demonstrated a long life once the implants have been integrated with bone, each patient is different, and longevity may be affected by overall health, nutrition, oral hygiene and tobacco usage. Individual anatomy, the design and construction of the prosthesis and oral habit s may also have an influence.

In general, costs are closely comparable to those of other prostheses involving fixed bridgework. The uniqueness of each patient’s restorative needs means this should be discussed with your dentist.

Discuss this with your dentist, as there are a few medical reasons preventing the use of implants. Sufficient bone to accept the implant is the major limiting factor. This can be assessed radiographically (x-rays), and bone can even be augmented where it is deficient.

Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade non-toxic plastic that is virtually invisible when worn.

Aligners are nearly invisible and look similar to clear tooth-whitening trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists have referred to them as “contact lenses for teeth”.

The length of treatment is dependent on the severity of individual cases. Treatment may vary from anywhere between six months to two years with an average treatment taking around 12 to 14 months.

There are over 890,000 patients being treated with Invisalign and the number grows daily. Invisalign was launched in Australia in February 2002 and already over five hundred Australian orthodontists and dentists are accredited to treat patients with Invisalign.

Like brackets and arch wires, the Invisalign aligner moves teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.

If your insurance policy has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign should be covered to a similar extent as conventional braces as Invisalign is normally prescribed for a full course of orthodontic treatment. However, as medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each patient should check with their health fund.

Invisalign is an emerging form of technology within orthodontics in Australia. It often takes insurance companies to formally recognise new technologies in their policies. Please consult your treating orthodontist/dentist to ascertain the type of treatment you will be receiving and determine their billing policies in relation to private medical insurance. Invisalign Australia can provide assistance if necessary.

Invisalign is an effective at straightening teeth as tradition methods of orthodontics but largely depends upon a patient’s biology and compliance with treatment. As such, Invisalign cannot guarantee that a patient’s teeth will move exactly as predicted.

The treating orthodontist or dentist is responsible to use their experience and skill to treatment plan and monitor the appropriate treatment as it progresses. If necessary, additional treatment with Invisalign or other forms may be needed. Discuss this further with your treating orthodontist or dentist during your initial consulation.

Yes. There is a government rebate that is available to a taxpayer whose eligible net medical expenses in the year of income exceed $1,500 (net of Medicare and any health fund refund). The amount of the rebate is 20% of the excess over $1,500 but cannot exceed the amount of tax otherwise paid. The rebate is claimed when the patient lodges their annual income tax return.

For example, a patient undergoes Invisalign treatment at a cost of $6500. Assuming the patient can claim $1000 back from a private health fund and none from Medicare, the rebate would be as follows.

[($6500-$1000-$0) – $1500] x 20% = $800

Invisalign does not treat patients. Orthodontists and dentists do, and with experience they can use Invisalign to treat a vast majority of adults and adolescents who want a better smile. For more information on what types of cases can be treated or to see if your type of dentition is suitable for Invisalign treatment, please go to www.invisalign.com.au.

Align Technology defers to the professional judgment of the treating doctor in determining how Invisalign can be incorporated into the treatment plan. Align Technology almost never rejects the cases submitted by our doctors, as we currently accept over 98% of all cases we receive but only a orthodontist or dentist who has been Invisalign accredited can determine if

Invisalign is an effective option for you.

Only the treating orthodontist/dentist is able to determine whether your particular case is suitable to be treated with Invisalign. Three types of tooth movements have found to be less predicably achieved with Invisalign alone:

• Severe derotations of cylindrical teeth
• Complex extrusions
• Closure of large spaces usually associated with extractions of teeth other than lower inscisors.

With more Invisalign experience, doctors may improve the ways they manage the treatment and increase the predictability of these movements.

Almost all teenagers over the age of 14 are eligible for treatment with Invisalign as long as their second (twelve year old) molars are fully erupted.

Many patients are being treated with some form of combination of braces and Invisalign. You should consult with your orthodontist or dentist to determine the best treatment for you.

Yes, Invisalign can correctly mild to moderate overbites. The aligners create a force on the front teeth causing them to intrude, thus correcting the overbite.

Yes, certain dental conditions can restrict you from being an eligible patient – for further information, please consult your orthodontist or dentist. Cases that are difficult or unsuitable for Invisalign may exclude up-righting severely tipped teeth, cases where not all the permanent teeth have erupted, cases with multiple missing teeth, patients with poor periodontal condition or patients that want to change their facial profile.

No, crowns are usually not a factor in Invisalign treatment. However, small composites called attachments are sometimes bonded onto teeth to help achieve certain movements. In these cases, the location of crowns must be carefully evaluated by an Invisalign orthodontist or dentist.

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular, or jaw joint. Individuals can have a number of problems with the jaw joint, some of which can be aggravated by appliances and treatments like Invisalign. To find out if your TMJ problem will adversely impact orthodontic treatment consult an Invisalign accredited orthodontist or dentist.

Yes. Spaces between teeth are generally easy to close with Invisalign. However, the size and location of the spaces will need to be evaluated.

Because bridges firmly link two or more teeth together, they can offer significant resistance to tooth movement. Your orthodontist or dentist will be able to determine whether bridges will be a factor in your treatment.

After or during the initial consultation, your treating orthodontist/dentist will need to take x-rays, photos and moulds of your teeth. These records will be sent to the US to be used to manufacture your custom made aligners. This process will take approximately 6 weeks (from the time the records are sent to the US to the time treatment can begin).

Your orthodontist or dentist will schedule regular appointments – usually about once every six weeks. This is the only way your orthodontist or dentist can be sure that the treatment is progressing as planned.

Most people experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It is a sign that the Invisalign aligners are working – sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away for a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

Like all orthodontic treatments, aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by aligners should disappear.

No. Unlike traditional orthodontics, you can usually eat whatever you desire while in treatment because you remove your aligners to eat and drink. Thus, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favourite foods or snacks, unless instructed otherwise by your orthodontist or dentist. Also, it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper hygiene.

You should remove your aligners to drink anything else except water. Leaving aligners on while drinking may stain them and the patient risks decay drinking fluids with sugar in them.

We discourage smoking while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become discoloured.

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water. Your treating doctor can also supply you with aligner cleaning crystals.

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing and flossing.

While we are aware that some patients are using aligners for bleaching, Align Technology, Inc. Has not examine the compatibility of currently available bleaching products with our aligners, nor have we demonstrated efficacy in clinical studies. Align recommends that you consult your orthodontist or dentist for more information on whitening teeth.

This depends on the outcome of the treatment. Some patients might need a positioner, or conventional retainer. Other patients might need a clear plastic retainer similar to Invisalign aligners. Discuss these possibilities with your treating orthodontist or dentist. Every patient is different and outcomes vary.

In this case you should contact your orthodontist or dentist immediately who will diagnose what remedial action is needed to bring the treatment back on course. This may involve moving back one or two stages in treatment to a previous aligner or possibly some additional orthodontic treatment.

Root canal or endodontic treatment is a process whereby inflamed or dead pulp is removed from the inside of the tooth, enabling a tooth that was causing pain to be retained.

Dental pulp is the soft tissue in the canal that runs through the centre of a tooth. Once a tooth is fully formed it can function normally without its pulp and be kept indefinitely.

After removing the pulp, the root canals are cleaned, sterilised and shaped to a form that can be completely sealed with a filling material to prevent further infection. The treatment can take several appointments, depending on how complex the tooth is, and how long the infection takes to clear.

Subsequently a crown or complex restoration to restore or protect the tooth may be a necessary recommendation, as a tooth after undergoing treatment may be more likely to fracture.

If you have a damaged or injured tooth, root canal treatment may help to save it. Inside your tooth is soft tissue containing nerves, and blood and lymph vessels, known as the tooth pulp. When the pulp cannot repair itself from disease or injury, it dies. A fracture in a tooth or a deep cavity commonly cause pulp death, as the pulp is exposed to bacteria found in your saliva.

When the pulp becomes infected, it is best to remove it before it spreads to the tooth and surrounding tissues. The whole tooth may be lost if the infection is left untreated. Root canal treatment can save your tooth.

Your dentist at dental avenue may perform root canal treatment to find the cause of your tooth’s problems. It is a safe and clinically proven way to save teeth. The diseased pulp is removed, while you keep your tooth.

The pulp is the soft tissue inside your tooth that carries the vessels (blood and lymph), nerves and connective tissue. It extends from the crown of the tooth right to the tip of the root (in the bone of the jaw).

If the pulp cannot repair itself from disease or injury, it will die. A cracked tooth or deep cavity can allow bacteria to enter the pulp and cause pulp death. If the infection is not treated, an abscess or pus can form in the root tip. This can eventually cause damage to the bone around the teeth.

Initially, you may experience pain and swelling from an infection. Damage to the bone surrounding your tooth can also result. Without root canal treatment, your entire tooth may have to be extracted.

Root canal treatment may involve one to three visits to the dentist. A general dentist or an Endodontist (a specialist in pulp problems) will remove the pulp of the tooth. They will then clean and seal the pulp chamber and root canal/s.

A bridge is an appliance permanently fixed in the mouth to replace missing teeth. It uses remaining teeth to support the new artificial tooth or teeth.

A conventional fixed bridge consists of crowns that are fixed to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. False teeth are rigidly attached to these crowns. An enamel-bonded bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework to which the artificial teeth are attached. Resin is then used to bond with supporting teeth.

Dental crowns (also sometimes referred to as ‘dental caps’ or ‘tooth caps’) cover over and encase the tooth on which they are permanently cemented. Dentists use crowns when rebuilding badly broken or decayed teeth, as a way to strengthen teeth and as a method to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth. Crowns are made in a dental laboratory by a dental technician who uses moulds of your teeth made by your dentist.

The type of crown your dentist recommends will depend on the tooth involved and sometimes on your preference. They include porcelain crowns, porcelain-bonded-to-metal crowns, which combine the appearance of tooth coloured material with the strength of metal, gold alloy crowns and acrylic crowns.

A crown is more complicated than a filling. Laboratory fees are incurred in its preparation and the materials used are more expensive than normal filling materials.