Situations that require Root canal, Dental Implants and Dentures

Restorative materials

Before we go on defining what procedure works when, it is important that we define the materials used in such scenarios. The four materials that are used for such dental work include; dental amalgam, porcelain, gold and composite resin. Composite materials include plastic and ceramic items that can be used with glass ionomers. There are other metals that can be used besides gold even though it is the most durable.

When do you need a root canal?

A root canal is an endodontic procedure that most people have had in their lives. Endodontic procedures are those that have to do with the inside of the tooth. Under the white enamel lies the dentin, which is hard and under it the pulp, which is a soft tissue. The pulp is what creates the hard tissue during teeth development. It contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.The pulp goes on from the crown to the root of a tooth and connects to tissues surrounding the root. While it is important as teeth develop, the tooth can do without it when fully developed since the surrounding tissues nourish it.
The inflammation of pulp necessitates endodontic treatment as the soft tissue becomes infected or inflamed. The infection or inflammation of this tissue can arise from a number of reasons such as a chip or crack on the tooth, repeated dental work on the tooth or deep decay. Pulp may also be damaged from an injury to the teeth with no visible signs of damage or chipping. Pulp inflammation or infection can cause severe pain and also lead to the development of an abscess.
Severe dental pain usually leads the sufferer to think that they need a root canal. However, it is not always that a root canal solves the problem; you might need another process, and only your endodontist can decide which process is best suited for you.

Signs and symptoms that you need a root canal

Some of the signs to watch out for are discoloration of the tooth, pain, lingering sensitivity to hot and/or cold, swelling, tenderness that affects chewing and can be felt when the tooth is touched, as well as tenderness and drainage in the lymph nodes that also affects bone and gum tissue. Sometimes these effects may not be felt as you expect and may stay hidden until the tooth is in dire need of medical attention. It is not rare for the symptoms to stay hidden even as the damage worsens.

Why you need to get the pulp removed

When the pulp or nerve tissue is damaged, the pulp chamber becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which begin to multiply and cause infection. In most scenarios where the deterioration has dragged on for a while, the tooth develops and abscess which is basically a pocket filled with pus at the bottom of the affected tooth. The occurrence of an abscess is an indication that the infection has spread widely around the affected area and may come with the following effects;

-Loss of bone around the root tip

-Swelling that extends to other areas of the face and head as well as the neck. The pain that comes with such swelling may be so severe that it extends to the back and feels like an ear ache, making the entire area of the affected side painful.

-Issues with drainage that develop outward from the root. As the problem continues, a hole may form on the side of the tooth and cause drainage into the gums.

How it helps save the tooth

The infected or inflamed pulp is removed by your dentist or endodontist after which they clean the inside of the root canal in readiness for sealing the space. After the space is sealed, the patient has a second dentist visit where the crown is placed and the tooth is returned to normal function.

Success rate of the procedure

The procedure usually occurs without there being any complications and the effect lasts for a lifetime if well taken care of. A root canal has 95% success rate and most people get to use their teeth normally for eternity. The procedure also remains discrete since the final step involves placing a crown or filling which blends with the rest of the teeth and camouflages everything that happens.

When do you need dental implants?

Tooth loss occurs quite often and most people have had a tooth or two removed in their lives for different reasons. The effects of losing a tooth are enduring, and whether the cause is severe gum disease, irreversible tooth decay, accidental damage beyond repair or a failed dental procedure, patients usually want corrective procedures so that they can restore their smile.Aside from taking away the aesthetics of your smile, lost teeth can also cause further problems if not dealt with. The biggest problem with this is that most of these problems can go unseen until they become too serious to be ignored.
For many years, the main form of tooth replacement was fixed bridges. Fixed bridges work by the professional shaving down the sides on either side of the missing tooth and placing a fake tooth using a dental bridge. The approach did well to ensure that teeth would not shift due to the space created, and also took care of the aesthetic part of it. However, the bridge would soon become a food trap due to defects in gum and bone over time. This meant that over time, the bridge would have to be redone and possibly extended to other teeth which have also decayed, turning it into a vicious cycle that threatened to take away a good number of teeth.

Dental implants are an easier option to use

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry shows in its research that 3 million people use dental implants for their dental problems in the United States and the number is growing by 500,000 each passing year. The figures show that more people are choosing dental implants for their dental problems here in Australia as well. The success rate for such a procedure has also been found to be 95%, showing that the approach works, and is applicable in a wide number of scenarios across the board.

Signs that you need a dental implant

Many people are choosing implants over other dental treatments because of reasons such as their long-lasting results and the ultimate appearance. Implants work just like normal teeth and don’t require any special attention over the time you have them. When maintained as they should, such implants last for a life time without needing any follow-up procedures.
For people who are wondering if their dental issues are enough to warrant such a procedure, here are some situations where an implant would be the right choice. The procedure is favourable for both aesthetic and functional purposes (as you will probably notice);

1. A cracked tooth
There are cases where the tooth cracks severely such that it cannot be restored by any other means except a dental crown or implant. The extent of damage can be evaluated by a dentist in order for you to know what procedure works best for your problem.
In most cases where the tooth has undergone some damage, the dentist tries to save as much of the tooth as possible. However, when it is unsalvageable, an extraction followed by a dental implant will have to suffice. The bad tooth is removed and replaced with a prosthetic, which functions and looks just like a real tooth.

2. Missing teeth
Losing teeth affect the person’s esteem negatively such that they are too self-conscious in social gatherings and are too aware of their smile. In such cases, a dental implant solves the problem completely and restores the aesthetic and functional roles of the lost tooth perfectly. The final look is that of a confident person smiling through of perfectly arranged and healthy teeth.

3. Partials or a denture that fit loosely
Dentures and partials that don’t fit properly are a constant worry every day; you never know when they might let up and embarrass you. While dentures and partials may be a good option in some cases, most people go for dental implants, whose efficacy they don’t have to worry about all the time. For people who abandon dentures and partials for dental implants, it is mostly for the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge of the fact that the artificial tooth will not cause an embarrassing moment in the future.

4. Preventing bone loss in the jaw area
The material used for the root when it comes to implants bonds with bone tissue quite easily. Titanium, which mostly forms the root for dental implants, raises no complications when connected to bone tissue. Through osseointergration, the metal used for the root can promote bone development, thus preventing wasting away over time.

5. The sunken look from dentures
People who wear dentures often have a sunken look around the mouth. It is a very common occurrence, and most people do not understand its roots. However, the reason for the appearance has to do with bone loss over time. The appearance develops slowly as the bone mass around the mouth deteriorates since dentures do not stimulate bone development. Using implant can curb this and restore a normal appearance.

6. Problems while chewing, biting or speaking
The structure and form of your teeth will not remain the same throughout life; at one point or another, teeth change due to bite issues, teeth grinding, TMJ complications and a lot of other issues that are common when it comes to dental health for people across the board. Even though implants may not be the first option, they will be in the cards when patients are thinking of a permanent solution.

7. Severe pain in the teeth, prompting you to find a solution
Dental implants are a go-to for many people who have to deal with dental issues because they take care of the problem, and for good. Dental implants can be the best option you have when you are thinking of extracting a tooth. The prosthetic tooth feels, functions, and looks like a real tooth.

Implants can be placed later on

The problem areas may have some issues such as bone loss which make it hard to place a dental implant. In such scenarios a delayed implant placement can be arranged. If bone loss has become too much to carry out the procedure immediately, bone graft material can be placed in the area in preparation for the implant which will be placed two months after. The bone graft is given time to heal where the space can be filled with temporary replacements before the implant can be placed.

Dental implants are reliable

The use of dental implants to restore lost teeth is trusted by many dentists and patients alike. Dental implants are known to work without any complications arising on the way. They remain functional as long as the patient maintains a high level of oral hygiene. Aside from this, they also protect the other teeth from either side and there are no cavities to deal with.

When to get Dentures

Dentures have long been thought of as just ideal for senior citizens. However, the facts reveal that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Statistics from recent surveys show that the number of women over 40 who wear dentures has reached 20 million. The number is forecasted to grow even bigger and might go up to 37 million by 2020.

Even though the figures show a bleak picture, dental problems don’t develop overnight and good oral health will keep your teeth healthy for a long time. This, combined with regular dental check-ups, should keep teeth healthy well into old age.
Dentures are false teeth that are used cover missing teeth around the mouth or a whole set of missing teeth. They come in different styles and materials. Before you get a denture, you need to know quite a bit about them and be informed about whether you actually need them for your situation.

Reasons for getting partial dentures

Partial dentures don’t cover every tooth; they are meant only for places in the mouth with gaps. These work best for people who have lost not more than half their teeth. They are important since they allow the wearer to smile normally and promote the health of adjacent teeth.

1. Partial dentures help keep the rest of the teeth in good condition. They cover spaces that would otherwise be food traps and reduce the rate of tooth decay. In the long run, patients who opt for partial dentures find that their teeth are better preserved.

2. You can have partial dentures when an unfortunate event leads to the loss of your teeth. This gives you the ability to smile normally. You could also keep them as a temporary reprieve and think of a dental implant later on.

Reasons for getting complete dentures

Complete dentures are used when there has been complete tooth loss. The dentures were developed when it was noticed that many people don’t keep a full set of teeth through their lives. Complete dentures give you back your facial structure and also allow you to smile and speak properly. In life, there are some scenarios where you will need complete dentures such as;
1. Extreme mouth disease where all the teeth are lost due to disease. Bad dental hygiene can cause the loss of teeth such that one would require complete dentures.

2. Old age can also cause one to lose all their teeth. When people grow older and the body becomes weaker, they have a greater chance of losing teeth and end up using dentures to restore their smile.

Skipping dental appointments; while your personal dental hygiene may be the best, you will need at least two dentist appointments per year to ensure that everything stays in good shape. At the dentist’s, you can find out about problems before they become too difficult to deal with.
Periodontal disease causing bone loss; loose and shifting teeth are a clear indication that you may have periodontal disease. The disease widens the gaps between teeth and the bone loss related to it may cause lose teeth to eventually fall off.
Difficulty eating chewy or hard foods; when you can’t chew comfortably, that could be an indication that you have a problem such as gum disease, tooth fracture, decay or a related issue of this kind that may require you to have a tooth extraction.
Tender, bleeding, swollen or red gums are clear red flags that something is amiss with your dental health. When such cases are treated, they usually go away without any adverse effects. However, they will need aggressive treatment to heal properly. The problem with these issues is that they easily develop into serious cases because most times, people tend to downplay the real extent of the condition since their assumptions are based off the amount of symptoms they experience.

When the the choice to have an implant or bridge presents itself, you need to know what exactly is pushing you towards you decision for a replacement procedure. Here are some reasons most people choose dentures over other methods.
• The cost is low; dentures are a good choice if you are looking for a temporary quick fix that will not cost you much.
• Dentures don’t take much time to make; they are preferred by most people since there are no long procedure to go through. Making them takes a matter of days and sometimes even hours. This is a stark contrast to the dental procedures that may need you to come back to the clinic even after months of the initial treatment.
• Dentures are easy to find from many places; you don’t have to look too far to find dentures available. You can find them on virtually any busy shopping area you go to.
• The materials used for dentures are readily available; one of the reasons people have to wait for quite an amount of time in some dental procedures is because the devices involved need to be made.
Dentures don’t need much customization to be ready.
Choosing the right kind of restorative dental procedure. This should be informed by various factors as well as a professional opinion. Rather than decide for yourself what you think is the right move, you are better off getting a dentist’s, or orthodontist’s opinion first. Such professionals consider the long-term benefit, aesthetic value as well as health issues while making decisions.

You should also make such decisions by considering the financial implications and prior treatments. People who have previously faced challenges with dental implants or root canals should not attempt the same dental procedure a second time. The constant battering on the area and obvious trauma has long-term implications that may cost you other teeth.
Choosing the right professional for such procedures is also important. This should also be an important factor when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Get qualified and certified professionals who will give the best results and advice you on a dental procedure that is suitable for you. The field of dentistry has had so many developments which have virtually merged all the disciplines under dentistry into one large assortment thus qualifications matter a lot when you need a dentist for a specialized procedure.

Each reconstructive procedure has its own drawbacks and advantages. However, each is meant to alleviate a bad situation when it comes to dental health. Every option should be looked at uniquely and weighed for its own merit rather than its disadvantages when compared to another.