What Dental Treatments are Available?
Whether or not you’re currently experiencing a dental problem, it’s natural to be curious about the different treatments Gary Horblitt D.D.S. may offer. The following go-to dental treatments are used to tackle everything from decayed, unsightly teeth, pain issues, uncomfortable dentures, missing teeth, implants, tissue and/or bone disease.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are an important part of treatment for tooth decay. After your dentist removes the decayed part of the tooth, they use a filling to fill in the resulting empty space. To avoid pain during the procedure, our dental team in Fairfield may use a local anesthetic. Fillings come in a variety of materials, including composite resins, amalgam, and in special cases gold. These all have the same basic function but come with different advantages and disadvantages.
Dental Crowns
We fabricate and seat dental crowns over teeth that are damaged to restore their shape, appearance, and integrity. A crown may be appropriate when a tooth is damaged, weakened, or discolored. Sometimes, this is a one-day procedure, but often, two visits are necessary. Afterward, the crown doesn’t require any special care other than typical oral hygiene.
Periodontal Care
Periodontal care helps treat and prevent a reversible form of gum disease called Gingivitis. Gingivitis is a non-destructed inflammation of the gums. Our team may utilize scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar to help treat Gingivitis. (Tartar is hardened plaque that requires professional dental treatment to remove.) Our dental team in Fairfield may recommend scaling and root planing when plaque buildup has caused the gums to retreat from the teeth and create spaces prone to trapping additional plaque. During the scaling portion of this procedure, the team takes out plaque and tartar. During the root planing, the team removes unwanted material from your teeth’ roots, making it easier for the teeth to attach to the gums once more.
Root Canals
When infection or deterioration afflicts a tooth, a root canal may help save it. Once a patient’s case is evaluated, they may be referred to an endodontist for further evaluation and treatment. Root canals may present themselves at any time after preparing a tooth, after taking impressions, or after a crown is cemented. Dentists & endodontists often turn to root canals when a tooth’s nerve or pulp has suffered damage, potentially leading to an abscess or other issues. Patients may suffer from pain and sensitivity in the teeth, not to mention swelling.
We count on the endodontist for specific evaluation & predictability of a tooth. The endodontist drills into the tooth to clean out the infection and nerve tissue. These steps may occur all in one visit, or the endodontist may use a temporary seal during the first visit and apply a permanent one later. We continue to plan a patient’s case depending on the analysis of the endodontist. Hopefully, this will assist our office and the patient as to what the most predictable treatment would be. The patient could go for a lifetime with a root canal tooth. However, the tooth will remain at risk for failure. Root canals are usually a last-ditch attempt to save a tooth.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions may sound off-putting, but they can prevent a problem tooth from causing worse issues. Dr. Horblitt and the oral surgeon may recommend tooth-extraction dental procedures in cases involving impacted wisdom teeth, damaged teeth, and teeth with problems that resist a root canal procedure. Extractions come in two types: simple extractions, in which the oral surgeon removes the tooth with forceps, and surgical extractions, which are more complicated and will likely involve an incision and stitches. Before teeth are extracted, if replacements are going to be needed, a plan is put in place. This ensures the patient does not go with missing teeth unless that is their choice.
Get Recommendations on Dental Treatments from Your Dentist
Regardless of what care we treatment plan with you and recommend, we’ll be able to tell you more about why we think it’s appropriate and what to expect from the process. Soon, you’ll be well on your way to having a healthier mouth! Contact our office in Fairfield to schedule an appointment today.
