What to Expect during Dental Fillings, Crowns & Root Canal
Are you due for a regular dental visit and are wondering what your dentist will be looking for during the visit? During a routine visit, dentists will thoroughly examine your mouth checking your teeth and gums for dental risks and problems like tooth decay.
The Centres for Disease Control have confirmed that approximately 91 percent of adults have experienced tooth decay. Dentists will be looking forward to uncovering any decay to bring them to your notice during the dental visit. Some issues may require you to schedule another appointment to treat the decay fully while also reducing the chances of more concerning dental problems in the future.
If any decay is uncovered by the dentist he or she may recommend one among the following three procedures in the form of fillings, crowns, and root canals. Continue reading to learn more about these procedures and what you can expect from them.
Fillings
Fillings are a procedure that can help to restore a decayed tooth to its normal function and shape. The affected tooth will be cleaned out by the dentist who will remove all the decay and thoroughly clean the area before filling the hollow space or cavity with a filling material. You have the option of choosing silver amalgam fillings which are quite popular or tooth-colored fillings made from composite resin material. You can also discuss various types of fillings with the dentist will be happy to provide you all the information you need.
Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are placed over a tooth as a restoration for its shape and size and also to improve the appearance of the tooth and strength. Dentists generally recommend crowns if you have a large cavity, a weakened tooth, a cracked or a tooth that needs root canal treatment.
Crowns can fully encase the part of the tooth about the gum line. They can be made from stainless steel, gold metals, resin, or ceramic.
Root Canals
If a tooth in your mouth has extensive decay because of infection and inflammation a root canal will initially be suggested after which a crown will be needed. During the root canal therapy, the dentist or endodontist will remove the infected pulp from within the tooth along with the infections before disinfecting it and sealing it with a temporary crown. If left untreated the tissue surrounding the tooth can become infected to form abscesses.
When you are recommended a filling, crown, or root canal you may become concerned about the pain and the financial implications along with the dental work. However, it is recommended that fillings, crowns, and root canals are routinely performed by dentists to eliminate the pain from the infection rather than cause the pain to you. Root canals have acquired a bad reputation as being painful and have scared quite a few into postponing the treatment are preferring extraction over it. However, if you are anxious about these procedures you must discuss the same with your dentist because he or she can work with you to reduce your dental anxiety.
It is suggested that you do not postpone treatment of tooth decay or infected teeth because it has the potential to lead to more serious issues in the future. Following proper oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, having a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups can help to prevent the need for fillings, crowns, and even root canals. You would be embarking on a preventive measure that will ensure any problems in your mouth are detected early to control them before they turn into a major problem.
It is quite common for many people to avoid dental visits with the fear that they may be recommended any one of the three procedures discussed in this article. For unknown reasons people seem to forget that the dentist is under attempting to safeguard their mouth by providing advanced information about a problem and even offering options to treat it. Quite a few people that are taking all the precautions necessary to care for their dental health do not even require a cleaning every six months and the only recommended to have them once a year. Rather than believe that a dental visit will bring upon you need to accept anyone of the three restorative treatments spoken about in this discussion you should be combating them head-on to ensure they never affect your mouth by visiting our dentist near you every six months for the exams.