Everyone has to face a dentist at some point in their lives, and for a lot of people it is a source of great anxiety. So, whether you are searching out of curiosity, or you have just booked in for a treatment on this list, you will be interested to know 10 of the most common dental treatment completed every day worldwide, how they are done and what they are used for. Hopefully, it will ease your mind when it comes to your next visit.
Temporary Treatments
(Treatments that will need to be maintained for best results)
1. Teeth Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning is one of the most popular dental treatments as it is provided in check-up visits that should take place twice a year. Usually, it begins with a mouth examination, followed by the removal of any plaque and tartar build-up.
To avoid plaque and tartar build-up, make sure to rinse with water after eating and drinking, brush your teeth twice a day (not within 30 minutes of eating and drinking), and floss regularly.
Check-ups are important because otherwise, teeth damage can become more severe and lead to cavities.
2. Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is used to remove staining on teeth and consists of bleaching to lift the color. It is necessary for maintaining a whiter smile if you are prone to staining due to lifestyle habits, including:
- Drinking a lot of coffee, tea, cola, wine
- Eating starchy foods such as pasta and potatoes
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
Minimize teeth staining by maintaining a good dental hygiene routine, using straws when sipping, and using over-the-counter whitening agents.
3. Fillings
Dental fillings are often used to repair cavities where the tooth has decayed. There are multiple types of fillings available, and your dentist will decide which is most suitable for you.
- Amalgam – silver-colored and made from a mixture of metals
- Composite – tooth-colored and made of resin and glass mixture
- Glass ionomer – tooth-colored and made from powdered glasses, which forms a chemical bond with the tooth
To avoid the need for fillings, maintain a good dental hygiene and attend two check-up visits a year to your dentist. If you are looking for a dentist that offers these services, search for a dentist in Droitwich or near you to prevent tooth decay.
Permanent Treatments
(Treatments that are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance for best results)
1. Crowns
Dental crowns are used to protect and restore the shape of the tooth where fillings are not suitable. Essentially a cap for a damaged tooth, it prevents further decay. Your dentist will decide which is clinically best based on your teeth. The options include:
- Gold and other alloys
- Porcelain fused to metal
- All resin and ceramic
- Stainless steel
2. Root Canal
A root canal procedure is used to treat infection at the center of the tooth – which has damaged the dental pulp – because of tooth decay, leaky fillings, and damage to the teeth following trauma. The treatment removes bacteria which has spread.
3. Extractions
Extraction is used when a root canal is not suitable for removing the bacteria and treating the damage done to the tooth. This then requires extraction, the removal of the tooth, to remove the source of infection and reduce the risk of further damage.
4. Braces
Braces are a form of orthodontic treatment intended to straighten crooked teeth and apply pressure to move them into the ideal positioning. This can be for cosmetic and health purposes, and crooked teeth harbor more bacteria and can be harder to clean, putting them at higher risk of tooth decay. There are multiple types of braces available:
- Metal – cheaper but more visible
- Ceramic – more expensive but less visible
- Removable aligners – more expensive but clear and thin
Invisalign are a popular removable aligner and are flexible mouthguards that are removable when eating and cleaning the teeth.
5. Bonding
Composite bonding is a dental treatment used to fill chips, fractures, and gaps in teeth, mostly for cosmetic purposes. A tooth-colored composite resin is attached to the tooth to restore the original shape and hardened by UV light to bond it together.
6. Veneers
Veneers are used to improve the appearance of the teeth by covering the front surface with custom-made shells of a tooth. Made from porcelain or resin composite materials, they are a more extreme alternative to composite bonding, better suited to teeth with more damage and in need of more work. This can include teeth that are heavily discolored, worn down, chipped, broken, misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped, those with gaps. This treatment, like most, begins with an examination so that the dentist can determine which time of veneers are appropriate and discuss the procedure in detail, as it should not be a decision made lightly due to its permanence.
7. Dentures
Commonly referred to as ‘false teeth,’ dentures are used to fit over missing teeth to eliminate problems caused by gaps such as eating and speaking and reduce the risk of damage such as bacteria build-up and teeth growing incorrectly. Sometimes teeth are removed first, and the dentures are given as a replacement treatment. Complete sets and partial dentures are available depending on the number of missing teeth.
Sometimes dental implants are more suitable, so discussing your goals with your dentist during the consultation is important to achieve a result that you are happy with.
How to Avoid the Need for Dental Treatments
- Brushing regularly – twice a day for two to three minutes, in circular motions without aggression.
- Use fluoride– look for kinds of toothpaste and mouthwashes that list fluoride in the ingredients; experts believe that the element is effective in reducing cavities.
- Use mouthwash – for antibacterial properties and fresh breath.
- Daily flossing – to reach areas that a toothbrush cannot and remove plaque and bacteria build-up.
- Avoid sugary foods and starches – to reduce the risk of dental issues.
- Eat calcium-rich foods– to counter harmful acids in your mouth.
- Stay hydrated – saliva washes away food, bacteria, and acidity, so drink lots of water to prevent dry mouth.
- Avoid teeth grinding – this can wear down the enamel.
- Do not smoke – smoking causes extreme staining on the teeth and tongue, gives the breath an unpleasant odor, and damages the body’s immune system, putting it at further risk.
- Visit the dentist every 6 months – check-ups should be attended twice a year to check for any issues that require treatment.