Dental caries

What is Dental Caries?

The word “CARIES” is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘ROT’ or ‘DECAY’. Dental caries, also known as dental decay or a cavity is defined as an infectious microbiological disease of the hard structure of the tooth that results in localized demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic structures of the tooth. 

Synonyms: Tooth Decay, Cavity

Dental Caries is a common disorder, occurring usually  in children and young adults. Dental Caries is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people.

What causes dental caries ?

Dental Caries is a multifactorial disease. Various factors responsible for the carious processare:

1. Tooth (Host)

         i) Variation in morphology

         ii) Composition

         iii) Position

2. Saliva

         i) Composition

         ii) Quantity

         iii) pH

         iv) Viscosity

3. Dental Plaque

4. Diet

       i) Physical Factors

       ii) Local Factors

• Ø  Carbohydrate Content
• Ø  Vitamin Content
• Ø  Fluoride Content
• Ø  Fat Content

What are the symptoms of dental caries ?

Symptoms of dental caries include:

• Holes on the surface of the tooth
• Pain while chewing
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages
• Pain in the tooth

How are dental caries treated?

Treatment of cavities in teeth depends on extent of tooth decay which is present. Various treatment options are:

1. Fluoride Application or Fluoride Rinses

2. Tooth Filling

3. Dental Crown

4. Root Canal Treatment

5. Post and Core Restoration

6. Extraction

For more info,visit the link http://www.identalhub.com/article_causes-and-symptoms-of-dental-caries-229.aspx

Frenectomy

Frenum is the skin flap or a fold on tissue that is found between maxillary anteriors, under the tongue and beside the gums. Under normal conditions, frenum keeps the organs in place but at times it overgrows to bring some abnormalities like midline diastema, tongue tie etc.

Labial Frenectomy

Due to overgrowth of labial frenum, it gets extended from centre of upper lip to the center of maxillary central incisors. This causes a space between anterior teeth medically termed as midline diastema accompanied with recession of gums. To close this gap and prevent gingival disorders, labial Frenectomy is done.

In labial Frenectomy, an incision is given to reduce the thin flap between the central incisors and finally the area is sutured.

Lingual Frenectomy

Lingual frenum is a thin skin fold connecting the underside of tongue to the floor of mouth. Lingual Frenectomy is done when the skin fold extends till the tip of the tongue thereby providing hindrance in speech. This is, in most cases, seen in children.

To treat this condition, an incision is placed on the tissue flap at the tip of the tongue and is finally sutured. This is then allowed to heal.

Tongue frenectomy is done under local anesthesia and at times a sedative is given intra-venously during the procedure. Doctor can do either laser surgery or can use just scalpel. The benefit of doing former is less bleeding. The whole surgery doesn’t last for more than half an hour.

Things to be taken care of after Frenectomy

1. Take medications (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) like Advil and Motrin as prescribed.
2. Do warm saline rinses regularly to promote healing process.
3. Apply ice packs after surgery. This will reduce inflammation.
4. While brushing and flossing take care not to poke the site of surgery.
5. In case of any problem, immediately consult your dentist.

Source: http://www.identalhub.com/article_types-and-techniques-of-frenectomy-84.aspx

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is the removal of tooth from the socket. As per rule, every effort is made to save a tooth by one or the other way thereby leaving ‘tooth extraction’ the last treatment modality.

Though tooth can be extracted by every dentist but oral surgeons are specially trained in this field. So, it is advised to go for tooth extraction from an oral surgeon. Before performing an extraction, dentist will advise general blood tests like Bleeding time and Clotting time and will check for any bleeding disorders.

Indications for tooth extraction

1. Severely damaged teeth due to caries (Grossly carious teeth).
2. Severely damaged teeth due to periodontal diseases.
3. Any apical abscess that has lead to an infection in sinus and which can’t be treated endodontically.
4. Teeth with multiple fractures
5. They can be extracted for orthodontic reasons.
6. In case of aged patients requiring a full mouth denture.
7. Cases of impaction
8. Teeth with severe fractures due to trauma

Steps in tooth extraction

1. After getting the satisfactory blood reports oral surgeon will give you local anesthesia.
2. Within minutes the area anesthetized will become numb and heavy.
3. The time surgeon pokes into the area, you will only feel the pressure of instruments.
4. The whole extraction procedure may last from 30 minutes to hours depending upon the tooth to be extracted.

Things to be taken care after Tooth extraction

1. Apply ice pack on the extraction site for at least 12 hours post surgery to prevent inflammation.
2. Take medications as prescribed.
3. Start warm saline gargles 12 hours post extraction.
4. Don’t smoke, suck or chew any hard food.
5. Maintain a proper oral hygiene.
6. Report to dentist if the pain is continuous and troublesome even after one week of extraction.

Source: http://www.identalhub.com/article_do’s-and-don’ts-after-tooth-extraction-153.aspx

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com! This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.

Happy blogging!