What are inlays?

An inlay is a restorative treatment for cracked or broken teeth when a filling does not suffice. Inlays are used for tooth that is not too damaged to require crowns.

An inlay is made of porcelain, gold, or composite resins. An inlay is typically applied to the chewing are of the tooth.

What are onlays and how different are they from inlays?

Onlays are a type of inlays that cover more than one tooth. Onlays are spread over the chewing surface of multiple teeth.

What are the different types of inlays and onlays?

Inlays and onlays are of two types:

• Direct inlays/onlays

• Indirect inlays/onlays

The direct inlay/onlay is fixed directly in the tooth. It is then taken out and hardened and then fixed again. The indirect inlay/onlay is prepared in stages: first a mould is prepared by using a soft material on the tooth; next, the mould helps prepare the actual inlay/onlay in the laboratory. The patient is given temporary filling while the inlay/onlay is being made.

How is an inlay or onlay fixed on the tooth?

First, the area around the tooth is numbed using an anesthesia. Then, depending on whether a direct inlay/onlay is required or an indirect inlay/onlay, the treatment is done. Your dentist will guide you to the kind of inlay/onlay you will need.

How many visits does it require for this treatment?

Typically, it requires two visits for the treatment. However, with technological advancements, it is possible to fix a direct inlay/onlay in a single visit.

Happy smiling!

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are restorations for teeth that have been severely affected by cavities or badly broken or damaged. The crown essentially restores the shape of the teeth by filling in the gaps. The adjacent teeth’s shape and structure help design the perfect crowns. A crown is typically made of porcelain. However, crowns made of other restorative materials are also available. Dental crowns are also known as caps as they ‘cap’ the damaged teeth.

What are dental bridges?

Dental bridges are artificial, but close-to-real replacements of your tooth. A bridge helps fill in the gap created by a missing tooth. A dental bridge is made with porcelain or metal.

What is the difference between bridges and crowns?

A dental crown acts as a cover for a damaged tooth while a dental bridge replaces a whole tooth. However, both crowns and bridges are made with the same material.

Dental crowns and bridges are customized restorative solutions. The cover or the artificial tooth is completely made from scratch based on the patient’s teeth structure and needs. The shade of the crown or bridge is made to match the color of the rest of the teeth.

If you have a tooth missing or have damaged teeth, consult your dentist for a restorative treatment.

Happy smiling!

My dentist says I have to go for the root canal treatment. What is it? Is it painful?

Root canal treatment is done when pus forms at the root of a tooth and it becomes infected. In the root canal therapy/treatment, or RCT, as it is popularly knows as, the pus and the damaged tissues are removed from the root of the tooth.

The treatment usually takes two or three sessions. However, it can be done in one session depending on the condition of your tooth. Your tooth may become a little sensitive after the procedure, which is common. You should, however, inform your dentist of the degree of sensitivity to make sure everything is alright.

How soon can I eat something after a dental treatment?

It is better to wait for a couple of hours before consuming anything after any dental treatment. You may eat sooner if your dentist permits. Ask your dentist for advice on eating time and habits after any major dental treatment.

Does root canal treatment imply tooth extraction?

The root canal treatment is not equivalent to tooth extraction. RCT is done to treat a tooth with infected root. Typically, the root is cleaned off pus and dead tissues, followed by a filling so that your tooth can remain attached. Your dentist will look at saving the teeth rather than removing it. Only in exceptional cases, you may find tooth extraction.

Happy smiling!

Accidents happen. Tooth accidents happen more frequently. One may not be in a road accident to hurt the teeth; a soccer game in the neighborhood playground may be enough to cause damage to the teeth. In this post, we will discuss what you should do in cases of dental injuries.

What should I do if one of my wisdom (permanent) teeth comes out?

• Find the tooth and put in back in your mouth, at the same place it was originally in. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it under flowing water or milk for a few seconds. You should take care not to rub or damage the tooth in any way. See your dentist immediately. Your dentist will be able to fix your tooth if you make it fast. Time is very critical when it comes to fixing a permanent tooth.

• If you are unable to keep the tooth in the original place in the mouth, store it in milk or wrap it in a moist cloth and rush to the dentist. The longer you keep the tooth out of your mouth, the more difficult it will be to fix it.
• If you are attending to someone else whose tooth has come out, follow the same instructions as mentioned above. If, however, the person is unconscious, store the tooth in milk or in a moist cloth and see a doctor. The person should be checked for injuries in his/her head, face, and mouth before going for any dental treatment.

What should I do if my child receives injury on his mouth and teeth?

• If your child has milk teeth, you need not worry if one of his/her teeth has come out. However, if a permanent tooth has come out, follow the same instructions as for your permanent tooth.

• If your child is bleeding from the gums or inner cheeks, use moist cloth to stop the bleeding. The bleeding will stop in a while. If it does not, rush to your doctor immediately. If he/she feels severe pain or develops a swelling, visit your dentist immediately.

Continuing with our last two posts on dental care myths, we bring to you seven more common myths in this post.

Myth# 9: My teeth are white, hence there are no problems.

If you think white teeth indicate healthy teeth, you are in for a surprise. White teeth may still be feeding cavity-causing bacteria. If your teeth are white, it may be a little more difficult to diagnose the problem at home. You should visit your dentist every six months for regular check-ups.

Myth# 10: You don’t need to see a dentist unless there is a problem.

How would you know if you have a problem in your teeth? You would say that pain, change in color, and visible tartar and cavities are indications to problems with your teeth. Unfortunately, these are not indications but the problems. You should let your dentist diagnose problems. Even if you don’t have any, visiting your dentist regularly just makes sure you do not develop any.

Myth# 11: I should not brush my teeth when my gums bleed.

You should see your dentist immediately if you find blood in your gums. However, do not stop brushing; your dentist will tell you why. Any break in brushing opens up opportunities for bacteria to feed on your teeth, causing problems.

Myth# 12: There is no correct way of brushing.

If you have been following the posts in this blog regularly, you already know that there exists a correct way of brushing. Brushing this way ensures maximum cleaning.

Myth# 13: The costlier the dental care products, the better their effect.

While you may choose your clothes with this perception, do not buy dental and oral care products based on how much the cost. A less expensive toothpaste or toothbrush may just work as fine or may be, better than a very expensive toothpaste or toothbrush. Invest in fluoride-based toothpaste or ask your dentist for the one that would suit you.

Myth# 14: Dental treatment means tremendous pain.

In the days of technological advancements, visiting a dentist is no longer synonymous with pain. Click here to read about technological developments in dentistry.

Myth# 15: Tooth loss is inevitable with age.

This is the strongest myth that holds for ages. Age has nothing to do with tooth loss; however, with age, we tend to stop taking care of ourselves, thus resulting in various ailments as well as dental problems. Take care of your teeth no matter how old you are.

Have a great weekend!

Happy smiling!

Continuing with yesterday’s post on dental care myths, I present to you some more popular dental care myths.

Myth# 4: Removal of tartar leads to tooth loosening.

Some of us believe that cleaning or scaling the teeth professionally can loosen the teeth. This is completely a false notion. When the tartar is removed from your mouth, your teeth will get more space and will lighter, however that does not indicate that your teeth have become loose. The tartar was not supposed to be there in the first place, so the feeling of lightness is a false feeling. However, you must consult your dentist before going forany kind of treatment.

Myth# 5: Salt and charcoal are good for cleaning the teeth.

People think that the abrasive nature of some substances like charcoal and salt help clean the surface of the teeth. However, these substances do more harm than good to the teeth as they are too harsh for the teeth. If you have been using these substances, get in touch with your dentist to see if your teeth are alright.

Myth# 6: Keeping an aspirin beside your aching teeth relieves you of toothache.

This one is an age-old perception but a wrong one. Pills like aspirin are acidic in nature, thereby eroding the outer surface of our teeth, the enamel.

Myth# 7: Milk teeth do not need dental care.

Most of us do not pay much attention to the dental health of our children, thinking that the primary teeth or milk teeth are not permanent and hence do not need much care. However, on the contrary, it is important to take good care of the milk teeth for making a strong base for wisdom teeth.

Myth# 8: Too much brushing is not good for teeth.

This is one of the most popular myths. People wrongly believe that brushing too many times a day erodes the teeth enamel. Brushing helps clean your teeth; it does not harm your teeth in any way. Brush regularly for healthy teeth and gums.

We will be back with more myth-busting information tomorrow.

Happy smiling!

Like everything else, we think we know a great deal about dental care and oral hygiene. Thanks to the information overload, as our IT counterparts would say, we have plenty of incorrect and contradicting information stored in our brains. Let’s look at some of the popular dental care myths we are surrounded with:

Myth# 1: Dental health is hereditary.

You may inherit great complexion and good hair from your parents, but you cannot inherit their good oral health. Dental health is completely dependent on the way you treat your teeth and mouth. Your genes are not responsible for great teeth. However, proper oral care will ensure good dental health. Go to your dentist for regular check-ups once every six months.

Myth# 2: Eating chocolates is bad for your teeth.

Well, I am sure that the fact of the above perception being a myth has brought a grin to your face. Yes, indulging in chocolates is not bad, at least for your teeth, provided you brush your teeth every time you eat chocolate. If you cannot brush for some reason, make sure you rinse your mouth properly after you had chocolate. Eating chocolates or sweets is not bad if taken in moderation. However, you need to make sure that you do not let traces of the food stay in your mouth for long.

Myth# 3: One set of dentures will last a lifetime.

If you think a set of dentures is a one-time investment, you are mistaken. The same set of dentures will not fit you all the time. The tissue beneath your teeth changes over time; the teeth can adjust itself with the changes, the dentures cannot. Therefore, you should change dentures regularly in consultation with your dentist.

We will tell you about more dental care myths tomorrow.

Happy smiling!

Overheard at a dentist’s:
After thirty years of existence on earth and twenty-eight years handling the toothbrush, they tell me I have been brushing the wrong way!

You may feel the same way after reading this post. Have we been brushing the wrong way all our lives? How different can the correct way of brushing be from the way we brush? Very different, if you ask your dentist.

In this post, we will look at how you should brush your teeth.

Which toothbrush and toothpaste should you use?

• Toothbrush: Invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush. It does not matter whether you are six or sixty; use a soft brush. Try to use a toothbrush with a small head; it helps you clean deep inside your mouth.
  Change your toothbrush every three months. If it is not yet three months but the bristles look tattered, change your toothbrush immediately. Wayzata advises that you change your toothbrush if you have had cold; you may catch the infection again if you are not careful.
• Toothpaste: Prefer fluoride-based toothpaste over non-fluoride toothpaste. If your drinking water has fluoride in it, you do not need fluoride toothpaste.

How should you brush your teeth?

• Hold the brush at 45 degrees angle from your teeth surface.
• Brush the front teeth with upward and downward motions.
• Apply short strokes to brush your teeth. At one time, brush only one tooth; keep the stroke aligned to one tooth at a time.
• Brush both sides of your front and side teeth.
• The molars or the last teeth in the two sides on both the upper and lower teeth sets have three exposed sides. Brush the front, back, and top of the molars.
• Be gentle when brushing; do not be too harsh on the teeth.
• Gently brush along the gum line to prevent any plaque formation.
• Floss the places that the toothbrush cannot reach like the gaps between your teeth.

How long should you brush your teeth?

A fun advice available on the internet suggests that you should play your favourite song while you brush; this will make sure that you brush for at least 2-3 minutes, the minimum recommended duration.

Happy smiling!

Some terms sound so commonplace that it becomes difficult to ask someone what they mean. Do you ever wonder how plaque and tartar are different but hesitate asking your dentist? Do you want to know what every other line in those dental brochures refers to? This post will help you figure out the basic dental jargon.

What is plaque?

This is the layer on your teeth that you remove by brushing everyday. Plaque is a soft layer of bacteria that usually accumulates near the gum line and in the hard-to-reach places between your teeth. Plaque is harmful to the teeth and gums. If plaque is not removed on a regular basis, it can become hard and affect your teeth more adversely. Now you know why your parents, teachers, and dentists always asked you to brush and floss regularly.

The bacteria that cause plaque formation feed on the traces of food inside your mouth. Keep your mouth clean all the time to keep plaque at bay.

Taking care of plaque

• Brush at least two times a day.
• Floss once everyday.
• Rinse your mouth after consuming anything.
• Eat teeth-friendly food.

What is tartar?

Tartar refers to the hard, visible deposits on your teeth along your gum line. It can be usually identified by the contrast it poses against the teeth in terms of color. Tartar is usually yellow or light brown.

Unfortunately, you and I cannot remove tartar on our own. Thus, we need to take care to prevent the formation of tartar.

Taking care of tartar

• Follow a strict oral care routine to prevent tartar.
• Get your teeth cleaned professionally every six months.

What is calculus?

Well, this is just another name for tartar!

What are cavities?

Cavities are holes in the teeth, an indication of teeth decay. Cavities are a result of plaque in the mouth. The bacteria present in the plaque releases acids that erode the outer surface of our teeth, the enamel.

It is advised that you get your teeth checked once in a while for cavities. Cavities are difficult to catch on our own. In case you develop cavities, your dentist will remove the rotten parts and fill in the holes in your teeth. Your dentist can provide you with natural-looking fillings that match the color of your teeth.

How to avoid cavities

• Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly.
• Drink fluoride-rich water or use fluoride-based toothpaste.
• Go for regular dental check-ups and preventative advice.
• Snack on tooth-friendly food.

What are dental caries?

This is just another fancy term for cavities.

You will come across dozens of familiar and unfamiliar dental terms everyday. It is wise to ask what they mean and not to assume. So, if there are other dental terms you would like us to explain, drop in a line.

Happy smiling!

We all agree that cavities are a menace. What can we do to fight cavities? Here are some easy-to-follow pointers to help fight cavities.

• First of all, do not hesitate to go to your dentist to get the cavities removed even if they have just started building. You need not wait for the cavities to grow before making a visit to the dentist.
• Drink water after every cup of coffee, tea or a glass of juice, coke etc. Water cleanses our mouth apart from cleansing our systems, thus making sugar and starch do less damage to our teeth.
• Brush after every meal. Yes, we all know this one but rarely follow it. Remember, adhering to this simple rule will go a long way in keeping that perfect smile. So, brush regularly and properly.
• Floss, floss, floss. Yes, this one keeps coming back! Flossing helps remove food particles from between teeth, thus making them less prone to damage.
• Drink plenty of water. Yes, you must have heard this all the time, even for body care and skin care. Water is a panacea for a lot of things. It even avoids obesity!

  The water in Minneapolis is treated with Fluoride, thus making it excellent for prevention of teeth decay. The water goes through multiple treatments to arrive in your kitchen. Minneapolis water is made extremely soft by these treatments, so feel free to gulp down galloons everyday.

• While choosing a toothpaste, go for a fluoride-based one.
• If you feel that you have tarter on your teeth, seek immediate professional help. You dentist will cleanse your teeth, making it less prone to cavity. Tarter will not vanish even with you brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. Leave this part to the experts.

We cannot afford to neglect our teeth unless we want to try dentures in future!

Till the next post, happy smiling!