General Dentistry

COMPOSITE FILLINGS (Tooth-Coloured Fillings)

A filling replaces part of a tooth that has been lost to decay or accidental damage. All fillings are tooth-coloured and carefully selected to match the original shade and shape of the tooth.

Our fillings are composite resins, which are excellent aesthetic restorative materials. Composite materials are available in various shades to match the aesthetic requirements of individual restorations.

We use fillings for the following treatments:

Aesthetic tooth-coloured restoration in the anterior region
Diastema closure (closing the gaps between your teeth)
Improving/modifying tooth size and shape
Masking discolored teeth via composite veneering

The advantages of composite restorations:

Excellent aesthetics: With advanced technology, composite resins are now available in a variety of shades, which can beautifully be matched to your natural tooth colour. They are even available now with higher flexural strength and less shrinkage, eliminating issues such as fracture and sensitivity.

Conservation of tooth structure: Unlike amalgam (silver) fillings, composite fillings require very minimal drilling, preserving the maximum amount of healthy dental tissue.

Bonds to Tooth Structure: Composite resins now bond chemically as well as micro- mechanically to your tooth enamel and dentine, strengthening the tooth even further.

Easily repaired: Composites can be quickly and easily repaired, saving you time and energy.

A safer choice: Due to more research and increasing awareness of mercury toxicity, you may be worried about the possible health effects of your old amalgam fillings. At Gurukrupa Dental Care, we can safely remove your old metal fillings and replace them with composite resin fillings. This will remove the mercury from inside your mouth and give your teeth a brighter appearance.

Our tooth-coloured composite resins also contain fluoride, which helps prevent further decay and cavity in a filled tooth.

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Root canal treatment is a simple procedure with little to no discomfort for the patient. It is now common to undergo root canal treatment in one sitting.

Treatment FAQs

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root Canal, or Endodontic, treatment deals with the diseases of the pulp. The pulp contains the nerves, blood vessels and other soft tissues. It consists of a pulp chamber and one or more root canals. When the pulp is irreversibly damaged, it must be removed to eliminate the source of pain and/or infection. Once this is done, the hollow pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, filled, and sealed.

When is Root Canal Treatment required?

In advanced tooth decay, the pulp may be irreversibly damaged, leading to severe toothache. The removal of the pulp will eliminate the pain as well as the infection. Trauma and gum disease can also cause pupal disease, leading eventually to non-vital (dead) pulp.

What are the Alternatives to Root Canal Treatment?

Extraction with subsequent replacement with an artificial tooth is the only alternative. Root Canal Treatment saves teeth that otherwise would have to be extracted.

How is root canal treatment done?

Generally, Root Canal Treatment is completed in single sitting. In selected cases, it may require an additional sitting. In between visits, the opening of the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling material. X-rays are also taken often to aid the instrumentations and to monitor the progress of the treatment.

Will there be pain during the Treatment?

Root Canal Treatment is generally done under local anesthesia. Hence, the patient is absolutely comfortable during the treatment. The patient may experience mild discomfort for a few days after the treatment. In 2% cases there might be severe pain and / or a swelling after the Root Canal Treatment, Which generally subsides within a day or two.

Are there any problems associated with a Root Canal Treated tooth?

Although the pulp has been removed, an endodontically treated tooth can still be used for biting and chewing just like any other normal tooth. However, a Root Canal Treated tooth may be slightly more brittle than a normal tooth. A proper restoration (Crown) and good oral care are essential to ensure that the tooth will be able to serve you

WISDOM TOOTH SURGERY

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are third permanent molars. They erupt in our late teens or early twenties. We can have a maximum of four wisdom teeth, two in the lower jaw and two in the upper. However, not everyone will have all four wisdom teeth.

Should wisdom teeth be removed?

Often, the lower wisdom tooth is “jammed” or prevented from erupting. This is called an impacted wisdom tooth. This creates problem as food is trapped between the teeth, causing a painful infection of the gum around it and decay to the tooth in front. Therefore, it is often advisable to remove the impacted wisdom teeth even when there seems to be no problem with them.

How is the impacted wisdom tooth removed?

The removal of impacted wisdom tooth requires a simple operation that is carried out on the dental chair under sedation & local anesthesia.

The gum around the tooth is incised and moved to one side. Some bone around the tooth is then removed.
Often, the tooth is divided into two pieces before it is removed.
The gum is then replaced and stitched. The stitches will be removed one week later.

Will there be pain during and after the operation?

We have special painless Injections for local anesthesia, which will be given before the procedure, to numb the area. You should not feel any pain during the surgery ,though you will experience the sensation of pressure. Antibiotics & Painkillers will be prescribed to you after the extraction, which will help manage the pain and help in healing. Slight swelling of the cheek is expected which may last for 1-2 days .

What to do before the Surgery?

Inform the dental surgeon of any existing or past medical conditions and as advised by the dental surgeon get the OPG x-ray and start the pre-medication.

What to do after the Surgery?

After the operation, you should:

Bite firmly on the gauze piece and apply ice from outside for at least 30 minutes.
Take all medications prescribed.
Change to soft diet for the next few days.
Avoid strenuous exercise, smoking and alcohol.
Consult your dental surgeon if your wound is bleeding badly.

DENSTISTRY FOR CHILDREN (PEDODONTICS)

The American Dental Association recommends a dental check up by the child’s first birthday. In addition to checking for decay and other possible problems, the dental surgeon will teach you how to properly clean your Child’s teeth daily, evaluate any adverse habits such as thumb sucking and identify your Child’s fluoride needs.

CARE FOR MILK TEETH

Starts as soon as the child is born. After feeding, the baby’s gums should be wiped with a clean cloth or sterile gauze. Begin brushing your Child’s teeth with little boiled water as soon as the first tooth appears. Once the child learns how to rinse out, a pea-size amount of toothpaste is used. Fluoridated toothpaste is recommended as it helps to protects against cavity (decay) formation.

DECAY IN MILK TEETH

Food residue which gets stuck on the teeth forms a soft layer called ‘Plaque’. This plaque has injurious bacteria which form acids that dissolve the tooth structure. This is called decay/caries that leads to teeth breaking & formation of cavities. One serious form of tooth decay among young children is ‘baby bottle tooth decay’. This is caused by frequent and long exposures of infants teeth to liquids which contain sugar such as milk (including breast milk), fruit juices and other sweetened drinks. This is generally observed in children who are given bottle while they are sleeping. The milk forms a rich sugary layer on teeth. Bacteria consume this & start forming acids which dissolves the tooth structure to form cavities. This is generally seen in upper front teeth.

NEED TO TREAT MILK TEETH

Early loss, decayed, over retained milk teeth can directly affect the development and position of the permanent teeth erupting beneath and cause irregularities in them. Hence, the child unknowingly becomes a candidate for future dental treatment. Thus milk teeth are very important for healthy eruption of permanent teeth.

PREVENTION OF DECAY IN MILK TEETH

1) Fluoride Treatment: a specialized treatment in which a concentrated fluoride Gel is applied to the teeth to reduce the chances of decay. The fluoride reacts with the enamel and makes it more resistant to attack by decay producing bacteria. It is done at regular intervals of 6 months.

2) Pit and fissure sealants: Sealants are special free flowing materials which seal (fill) the pits and fissures (grooves) on the chewing surfaces of teeth. This prevents the food from getting stuck in these areas and hence reduces cavity formation.

GOOD HABITS:

Brushing after meals.
Minimizing sticky food in between meals.
Using fluoridated toothpaste.
Eating fibrous foods like fruits and vegetables.
Regular Dental check-ups.

Attitudes and habits established at an early age are important in helping your child maintaining good dental health throughout life.