Root canal therapy as an option to tooth extraction

After we stop expecting money from the tooth fairy or a rat with a secret underground bank, we become very possessive with our teeth. We do not want to lose any which is why the word extraction evokes a dread in us, a justified dread. Stronger than that dread however is the dislike for pain. Pain from the causative tooth and perhaps even fear of what we have not experienced yet, fear of a root canal therapy. We are going to explore why root canal therapy is that stone that kills many birds and why it’s bad reputation is based on smoke and mirrors.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a dentistry treatment plan which aims at repairing and saving a tooth that is badly decayed, cracked or defectively filled. It is found in a specialty called endodontics which deals with the inner tooth structure id est, the pulp, blood vessels and nerves contained therein. It is a procedure that can easily be performed by a general dentist depending on the extent of the tooth’s damage and the comfort level of the dentist. In case it is a complicated case, the patient is referred to an endondotist who will provide specialized care.

Signs that you may need a root canal therapy

The question of whether or not you need a root canal therapy is best answered in the presence of clinical evidence from examination and investigations carried out by your dentist. There are however pointers whose frequency could be a sign that you may need root canal therapy. These include;

Pain on biting or chewing.
Teeth with deep cavities

What is involved during root canal therapy?

When you hear the term root canal therapy, your mind is probably plagued by ideas of its complexity, the pain involved, the cost and what not. Most of these are however just castles in the air considering that the procedure is easy and not as painful as your mind may have convinced you. The procedure is aimed at removing the infected pulp and cleaning out the canal.

The pulp is the innermost part of the tooth and contains the nerves and blood vessels which nourish the tooth. The canal from which the treatment gets its nomenclature is what holds the pulp. When the pulp gets infected, the infection can spread to the extradental tissues and can cause erosion of the jaw bone and may even seed into the blood. The inflammation resulting from the body’s response to the infection of the pulp causes it to swell and this results in the excruciating pain experienced.

As earlier mentioned, the aim of RCT (root canal therapy) is to remove the infected pulp and to clean out the root canal of any infection culminating in sealing of the tooth. Since the pulp can be dubbed the living part of the tooth, removing it results in its “death”. This is however not compromising for the tooth in terms of function or appearance since it can still obtain nutrients from the surrounding tissues. The pulp is majorly important as the tooth emerges from the gum and after this happens, it can be survived without.

Root Canal Therapy can be carried out in either a singular or multiple sessions depending on what needs to be addressed. Outlined below are the standard steps in which it is done;

The dentist will carry out an intra and extra oral examination.
They’ll then obtain an x-ray of the offending tooth to ascertain the extent of infection and spread if any.
After that, the dentist will then anesthetize the area he is going to work on. This will result in numbness and thus absence of pain during the procedure.
In order to isolate the tooth and to keep it dry and free from saliva, a rubber dam will be placed around the tooth.
The dentist will the drill an access hole.
Using root files, they will then remove the pulp and all contents of the pulp. They use water or sodium hypochlorite to remove the debris.
After satisfactory removal of the pulp, the dentist may decide to seal immediately or wait for a week to pass. In case they choose to wait, they will place a temporary filling to keep the canal clean till the next appointment. They also place an antibiotic to clear off any microorganisms before they finalize the procedure.
After the week is done, the dentist then does the final sealing of the root canal. He uses a sealer paste and gutta percha. Depending on the state of the tooth, further treatment may be necessary for example, crown, crown and post and so on which provide further strength to the tooth and enable it to maintain appearance and function.

After the procedure is done, you may experience numbness or discomfort or even slight pain. This can be handled with over the counter medication like ibuprofen or paracetamol. Put off chewing using the tooth until the numbness subsides. You can then upgrade to soft foods and subsequently, you can return to your previous diet.

Are there any complications with root canal therapy?

Like with any other procedure, complications may arise during or after root canal therapy. These maybe as a result of;

A higher number of canals than anticipated and thus some may not be cleaned out.
There may be an undetected crack.
The restoration may be defective.
The gutta percha may breakdown.

These call for involvement of a specialist who will either redo the RCT or may decide to extract the tooth.

Root Canal Therapy Vs Tooth Extraction

A root canal therapy is better than an extraction for as long as the tooth can be saved. This is advantageous for a number of reasons. No artifact can replace the authenticity of a natural tooth. When you have your tooth extracted, your smile, your chewing, how your teeth fit with each other are all negatively affected. To alleviate all these, you would need an implant which further increases cost. Extraction is like scorched earth policy, a drastic measure which must be avoided at all costs until it cannot be. Which is why you should always consider root canal therapy as your better option. This is available at Ezza Dental Care.

August 19, 2020/by Ezza Dental Care

Do ‘Tooth Worms’ Cause Tooth Decay?

Dental Myths

Have you ever had an excruciating pain rip through your mouth, as you eat, drink, talk, even; when you’re doing nothing at all! No? Well, those of us who have ever suffered a tooth ache or a tooth cavity can relate. I am sure this deep nagging pain can render one speechless, confused and helpless. However did you know that long ago the tooth worm was believed to be the cause of tooth aches and tooth decay? The tooth worm was an idea that persisted for thousands of years, with historical sightings dating back to 5000 B.C (in a Sumerian text), noted in ancient Chinese scripts of 1500 B.C, in writings of ancient Greek philosophers and poets, among the people of the Roman Empire and Germany in the middle age, even noted on a papyrus from the 20^th dynasty of Egypt.

Nobody knew what they actually looked like. You see, they varied among different people; to the British they resembled an eel, to the Germans, they were maggot-like; colored maggot-like creatures to be exact. For the people of the past, these little beasts were to blame for the unbearable pain and discomfort of tooth aches and cavities. These tiny monsters, about the size of your palm were believed to be hiding beneath the surface of the gums. Doing what? Well, causing havoc by boring holes in teeth. They were said to cause cavities and their movement resulted in tooth aches. Only until it stopped moving would the pain subside. Imagine that! A small monster in the mouth whose movements where powerful enough to leave a man numb. The treatment for these tiny devils wasn’t the same. In Medieval England they were treated with the fumes of burned poisonous henbane seeds, some places used magic to cast the demonic worm out of the gums, still, in other places honey was used to lure the worm to the surface and only when the case was severe was the tooth extracted.

Not until the 1900s did the doctors rule out the tooth worm as the cause of tooth decay, and scientifically recognized the ideology of bacteria. Scientists discovered bacterial acids would dissolve the enamel, dentin and cementum causing permanent damage to the tooth that would appear as cavities. Cavities leave the sensitive part of the tooth; containing the nerve, vulnerable to irritation, which causes pain. Simple prevention methods like; brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride containing tooth paste preferably after every meal, cleaning your teeth with dental floss and of course regular dental checkups have been encouraged and are still being encouraged to prevent tooth aches and tooth decay.

No real evidence to confirm the existence of tooth worms was ever discovered, but there are some, who still believe these tiny devils exist, and according to researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School, there are tiny hollow worm-like structures attached to the tubules in a human tooth. Scientists don’t completely understand what they are however they believe ancient people might have mistaken them for worms.

References

https://www.dentistry.com

https://www.1800dentist.com/dental-problems/tooth-worm/

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/tooth-worm#other-myths

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44442797?seq=1

August 12, 2020/by Ezza Dental Care

Image showing professional teeth cleaning

Professional Teeth Cleaning – Here’s what you need to know

Wellness monday

Teeth cleaning is a part of oral hygiene where an oral health professional removes plaque, calculus, or tartar from and around the teeth in a clinical setting as a preventive measure against oral disease. It is also known as dental prophylaxis due to its preventive function.

How often should one do professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is a routine procedure despite the ideal frequency not being empirically defined. The widely accepted one however is twice a year, every six months.

Why is professional teeth cleaning important?

Professional teeth cleaning is important for a variety of reasons.

It removes plaque and tartar which could have caused periodontal diseases and even some systemic diseases for example Heart Failure.
It greatly improves the aesthetic of one’s smile. During oral prophylaxis, stains and calculi which are hard to remove using normal tooth brushing are removed and thus the smile is brighter.
A fresher breath is attained since all the debris that could be on and around the teeth is effectively removed.
Identification of health issues. These could be both oral and extra oral but during the process of teeth cleaning, conditions can be identified and dealt with in their early stages.

What happens during teeth cleaning?

The procedure for teeth cleaning is short and easy to do. It is also thankfully not painful unless there’s an underlying pathology for example inflamed gums or cavities in the teeth or hypersensitivity. It takes around thirty to sixty minutes, depending on how extensive the cleaning has to be in tandem with how dirty the teeth are.

First, the dentist carries out a physical exam, both intraorally and extra orally.

They then ask you to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic to kill any microorganisms that may utilize the chance to invade your body.

The dentist then applies a disclosing solution to your teeth and on the areas around them. The solution colors the tartar or calculi differently depending on how long it has been present.

Using a dental mirror, he’ll then see the areas which need special attention.

The dentist will then use a scaler to scrape off the debris on your teeth. The scaler has a sharp end and a non-pointed end, the sharp end is used above the gum line and the blunt end is used below the gum line. The scaler maybe metallic or ultrasonic depending on availability, and of course the patient.

After debridement, the dentist will apply Prophypaste; a material containing gritty substances and fluoride among other components. He applies this using a rubber tipped rotary brush attached bon a low speed hand piece to remove any remaining caliculi and to give the teeth some polishing.

They’ll then rinse your mouth and hand you a mirror to see your brighter smile.

Is professional teeth cleaning safe?

The procedure is a safe one and the myths around eroding enamel and dentine are just that; myths. The slightly common side effect is hypersensitivity of the teeth especially to hot and cold food. This is however because the tartar which was covering those areas has been removed and hence the teeth are yet to be remineralised.

Does professional teeth cleaning hurt?

Ideally there should be no pain during professional teeth cleaning. However the pain that may be present during the procedure is usually as a result of periodontal disease or cavities present at the time the procedure is carried out.

Where can I do professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is available at Ezza Dental Care and so, you can book your appointment with us. Our contact is available on the website and on all our social media platforms.

How much does teeth cleaning cost?

Professional teeth cleaning at Ezza Dental Care costs between Ugshs 80,000 and Ugshs 150,000 depending on how dirty one’s teeth are.

August 12, 2020/by ezzadental

Gum Disease: Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Wellness monday

Jane was excited for a new day. She jumped out of bed and started preparing herself for work. In the bathroom, she had a pretend concert using her toothbrush as a makeshift microphone. She then lined it with toothpaste and started to brush her teeth, the song becoming a hum. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and she was amused at what she saw. There was foam around her mouth and she thought she bore a resemblance to Santa Claus. Laughing, she spat out the foam. In the sink basin, her attention was however drawn to the color of the spit.

Jane’s toothpaste was white so the reason it had red stains was not adding up. To be sure, she spat more and her heart sunk as her taste buds caught on what was undoubtedly dying her spit; blood. Her concert ended, and anxiety took its place. What was this? What was happening to her? Why today? All these questions ran through her mind as if they were on a relay running track. What Jane was to find out later after she called her dentist is that she had just experienced one of the commonest signs of gum disease.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a condition characterized by deteriorating health of the gingivae and the other tooth supporting structures. It has two broad categories, gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis involves inflammation of the gums which are also called the gingivae and periodontitis involves inflammation of the tooth supporting structures. The latter develops after the former and is a worse stage; however gingivitis does not always result in periodontitis.

When we don’t brush our teeth as often as we ought to, we consequently reap from seeds we did not intentionally sow. These may not stop at people facing the other way when we talk to them because we have what they call “dragon breath”(bad breath).

Causes of gum disease

Unless removed, food sticks to our teeth and harbors bacteria which form plaque. Plaque is a mass of bacteria contained in a biofilm and grows on any of the surfaces within the mouth. The presence of the bacteria causes the body’s immune system to respond and this acts in conglomeration with the toxins produced by the bacteria causing inflammation of the gum tissues and eventually, it destroys them. In case the tissues get infected, the microorganisms keep digging and destroying the tissue until the gum line recedes and the tooth socket gets eroded which leads to the teeth falling out.

Inflammation causes the gums to swell, change in color, become tender and fragile which makes them easily bleed. This is the most common path of development of gum disease but it is not the only one. Hormonal changes during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy, illnesses which compromise the immunity of the body like HIV/AIDS, cancer or diabetes, some medication for example Procardia or NSAIDS can all lead to one getting gum disease.

Signs and symptoms of gum disease

There is a range of signs and symptoms and one may be experiencing just a single one or even all of them at a go. These include;

Gums that bleed easily during or after tooth brushing or eating food
Painful swollen gums whose color could have changed
Bad breath
Shaky teeth
Pockets forming between the teeth and the gum

Treatment for gum disease

Gum disease can worsen either slowly or very rapidly and the earlier it is treated, the better the recovery and the less expensive the treatment. Depending on the stage, treatment can range from an antiseptic mouth wash to emergency surgical procedures considering that it can become fatal if the infection reaches the blood stream. It is important to consult with us at Ezza Dental Care to get a personalized treatment plan.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. Prevention is especially paramount for the people at high risk for gum disease. These include the pregnant, lactating mothers, those in their periods, and those on predisposing medication or the immunocompromised. First things first, oral hygiene practices must be paid attention to including brushing teeth a minimum of two times a day, flossing, changing a tooth brush every three months et cetera.

Diet too plays a role in how strong our immunity is henceforth, vegetables should be integrated because they have antioxidants and vitamin E and C which are important for the mouth’s health. Stress breaks down a lot of things in the body and the mouth is not spared. Efforts must be made to decrease stress levels. In case you are using medication which puts you at a risk, talk to both your physician and dentist so that a regimen can be adjusted.

August 5, 2020/by Ezza Dental Care