Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
What is Dentistry?
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity, commonly in the dentition but also the oral mucosa, and of adjacent and related structures and tissues, particularly in the maxillofacial (jaw and facial) area. Although primarily associated with teeth among the general public, the field of dentistry or dental medicine is not limited to teeth but includes other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the temporomandibular joint and other supporting, muscular, lymphatic, nervous, vascular, and anatomical structures.
What is Endodontics?
In clinical terms, endodontics involves either preserving part, or all
of the dental pulp in health, or removing all of the pulp in
irreversible disease. This includes teeth with irreversibly inflamed and
infected pulpal tissue. Not only does endodontics involve treatment
when a dental pulp is present, but also includes preserving teeth which
have failed to respond to non-surgical endodontic treatment, or for
teeth that have developed new lesions, e.g., when root canal
re-treatment is required, or
periradicular surgery.
Common Tooth Problems
- Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids made by bacteria. The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty with eating. Complications may include inflammation of the tissue around the tooth, tooth loss and infection or abscess formation. The cause of cavities is acid from bacteria dissolving the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin and cementum). The acid is produced by the bacteria when they break down food debris or sugar on the tooth surface.
- Bad Breath
It can be caused by something you eat, or more seriously, can signify a deeper oral health issue or serious medical issue. Most bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene. If you don’t clean your
teeth and your whole mouth regularly, food particles can remain in your
mouth and a sticky buildup of bacteria (also known as plaque) can form
on your teeth.
- Root Canal
Root canals
happen when a tooth is badly decayed or seriously infected. To protect
the tooth, the nerve and its surrounding tooth pulp are removed and the
tooth is sealed shut. The interior of the tooth is left virtually
impervious to future decay.
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected.
How do I know if I need to see a dentist?
- Toothache
- Bleeding after brushing
- Sensitive to cold
- Swelling gum
- Loose or shifting teeth