Topics
Gingivitis and Periodontitis
It is the inflammation of the Gums(Gingiva). If plaque, calculus(tartar) builds around the gumline, the gums are irritated and swollen.
Signs and Symptoms
- Bleeding gums while brushing
- Bright reddish appearance of gums
- Tender when touched
Complications
Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis if not treated on time.
- Recurring infection of gums and jaw bone
- Trench mouth, a painful bacterial infection and ulceration of the gums
Treatment
- In mild cases, professional cleaning (scaling)
- In moderate cases, scaling, root planing, antibiotic treatment is necessary
- In severe cases, surgical treatment (flap surgery) and bone grafting if required
Prevention
- Brushing and flossing
- Using anti plaque rinses
- Visiting dentist's office twice a year for professional cleaning and oral examination
- Good oral hygiene habits
Tooth Decay
Tooth Decay is the destruction of tooth enamal. It occurs when food containing carbohydrates and sugar left frequently on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these food producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy the tooth enamal resulting in tooth decay.
There are four stages of tooth decay.
Stage 1: Initial Stage, Demineralisation of enamal
Stage 2: Tooth Decay only in the enamal
Stage 3: Tooth Decay involving enamal and dentin
Stage 4: Tooth Decay involving enamal, dentin and pulp
Treatment
Incase of stage 1, remineralisation with dental gels and fluoride varnish, etc. Incase of stage 2, dental fillings. Incase of stage 3, proper screening for pulpal (root) involvement with an X-ray is needed. Some dental cavities may be close to the pulp and be symptomless. This can undergo pulp capping if not too close to the root or RCT if very near to the root. Incase of stage 4, root canal treatment is required.
Cosmetic Dentistry
It involves doing cosmetic changes to the appearance of teeth. It could be a stand-alone procedure or a combination of many procedures like,
- Cosmetic Contouring
- Laminates
- Veneers
- Crown Lengthening
- Correction of gummy smile
- Teeth Whitening
- Cosmetic Fillings
- Metal Free Ceramic Crowns
Sterilization
Sterilization is a process where all the living micro-organisms including bacterial spores are killed. Effective sterilization is achieved through AutoClave alone through its pressurized steam which is more penetrating.
All our instruments are cleaned with antiseptic solution placed in ultra-sonic cleaner to remove even the tiniest residue, wiped cleaned with sterile cloth and packed in vacuum pouches to prevent contamination while handling after the sterilization and autoclaved at 121 degree centigrade. At this temperature all possible micro-organisms along with the spores are killed. This procedure is followed at all the operatory around the world. After every patient, the chair and other immovable parts are wiped with anti-septic solution to prevent cross contamination.
Sterile water is used in our clinic for all our procedures. We use disposable gloves, syringe, mask, drapes, suction tips, glass, etc in our clinic to prevent infection and contamination.