Posts Tagged ‘dental cavities’

Treatment for reversible pulpitis from central Leeds dentist saves tooth

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Pulpitis is a rather unpleasant dental condition that is caused as a consequence of dental cavities. When tooth enamel has been eroded by decay, the softer inner parts of the tooth are exposed to bacteria and other stimuli such as hot and cold food. If the pulp, which is the soft matter surrounding the dental nerve, is attacked by bacteria or irritated by hot or cold temperatures it can become inflamed resulting in pulpitis.

This can be the cause of significant pain in the mouth as when the pulp expands it puts a lot of pressure on the dental nerve. The pain can be so severe that patients often have difficulty pinpointing exactly where it is coming from as it may feel like several surrounding teeth are also in pain. Because the dentine and enamel that surround the pulp and nerve are more solid and no flexible, the inflamed and expanded pulp has nowhere to go. This can make it very difficult to treat before necrosis, or the death of the live part of the tooth, occurs.

If the inflammation is not treatable before the dental nerve dies it is known as irreversible pulpitis and involves the death and possible loss of the tooth. On other occasions the pulpitis may be treated successfully by a Central Leeds dentist. The cavity can then be filled after cleaning to protect the tooth from any damage. It is important with pulpitis, as with all dental concerns that you see a dentist as soon as possible after pain begins or you suspect that something is not right with your teeth. It could make the difference between keeping and losing a tooth.

Emergency dental treatment from Leeds dentist

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

A dental emergency, like any medical emergency can have potentially serious long-term consequences if not treated correctly and quickly. By ignoring or avoiding treatment you could put yourself at risk of much more extensive and costly treatment in the future.

One of the most common dental emergencies is a toothache. This is usually caused by an infection in the sensitive centre of the tooth caused by dental cavities. Toothaches can vary in terms of pain but any toothache requires dental treatment as soon as possible. If the pain has been caused by an infection it is important to receive treatment to prevent it spreading. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to your cheek to relieve the pain and make an appointment to see a Leeds dentist immediately. It is also important to see a dentist even if the pain seems to have gone away, as this may have been caused by the death of the nerve endings.

Other common dental emergencies include damage to teeth by head trauma or hard food. Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be very painful but can usually be easily treated with dental bonding or porcelain replacements. Initial application of gauze to the area with light pressure will usually stop the bleeding before you see the doctor. Knocked out teeth are slightly more of a concern but with the right action it is still possible to save the tooth. Placing the knocked out tooth in milk or covering it with saliva can extend its life even when knocked out the mouth. A dentist may then be able to replace the tooth.

Whatever the nature of your dental emergency, you can request an urgent appointment with a Leeds dentist or receive information about emergency procedures out of hours form their answering service.

Avoid painful tooth decay with effective cleaning and visits to Leeds dentist

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Tooth decay is a degenerative condition that takes place in the oral cavity involving the break down of tooth enamel. The destruction of this enamel leads to holes, known commonly as dental cavities, which can lead to more serious dental concerns like infections, abscesses and even tooth loss.

Tooth decay is caused by a build up of a filmy, sticky substance called plaque. When combined with the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth, plaque releases acids which erode tooth enamel causing cavities. Plaque can be removed by effective brushing and flossing, but if left it will transform into a harder substance called tartar. Tartar is impossible to remove with normal cleaning and needs to be removed by dentist using a process called scaling.

Tooth decay is not only increased by poor standards of oral hygiene. Maintaining a healthy diet and eating and drinking food low in sugar can help to keep decay to a minimum. Sugary foods increase the production of plaque acid that is the main cause of decay.

Tooth decay can be treated at several stages depending on the seriousness. Mild decay can be treated by increasing cleaning and oral hygiene. Larger cavities will need to be repaired with a dental filling. This is when the dentist removes any decaying enamel and uses a composite resin to fill the cavity. The resin is then set hard to protect the enamel from any further erosion. Large cavities are sometimes filled with ceramic inlays for an extra degree of structural protection.

If tooth decay has occurred to the point that the centre of the tooth is infected, a dentist will need to perform a root canal procedure. This involves drilling a hole into the tooth to allow the dentist to remove the infected material. Once the centre of the tooth and nerve are clean, the dentist will fill the root canal with medicine before sealing the tooth with a filling and possibly a dental crown. Root canal procedures are quite unpleasant and should be avoided if possible. The best way to avoid root canal treatment or any form of tooth decay is to properly brush and floss your teeth and keep up regular appointments with a Leeds dentist. By staying on top of tooth decay you could save yourself a lot of pain and money in the future.

Leeds dentist uses versatile cosmetic bonding to restore patient’s smile

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Cosmetic bonding, also known as dental bonding, is a process that has been widely used for years by dentists to repair minor damage to teeth and restore the appearance of a smile in only one visit. The process involves the use of tooth-coloured resin applied to the damage area which is moulded to the desired shape and set hard by a laser. Because of its pliability and versatility, cosmetic bonding is used for a wide variety of dental treatments.

One of the most common uses for dental bonding is as material for filling cavities. Dental cavities used to be filled using a material made of silver and mercury amalgam. This was very durable but over recent years has caused great controversy about its safety. Several studies have shown that silver amalgam fillings release mercury vapours that may be very damaging to the body. Silver amalgam fillings are also very aesthetically unpleasant so many patients and dentists have switched to white dental bonding. For very large fillings it may not be suitable to use dental bonding as it is weaker in larger amounts, but a dentist may be able to use a combination of bonding and a ceramic inlay.

Cosmetic bonding is also commonly used to repair chips and cracks in teeth. The resin bonding needs to be skilfully sculpted by the dentist before it is hardened using the extreme heat of the laser. Before application, the dentist will usually thoroughly clean the area before etching the enamel to allow for a greater degree of grip for the bonding resin. The bonding is often applied in several thin layers of one to two millimetres to allow for satisfactory setting. Once the bonding is activated and hardened by the laser it can then be buffed and polished by the dentist to more closely resemble tooth enamel.

Nearly all dentists offer cosmetic bonding as standard although some will specialise more in the procedure. Bonding is an extremely useful dental process that is simple and affordable and can be used to restore the appearance of broken, decayed or discoloured teeth in a single afternoon. A dentist in Leeds will be able to offer cosmetic bonding to treat any dental problem you may be experiencing or simply to replace old amalgam fillings for your peace of mind.