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Restorations And Root Canal Treatment

Vision: To develop a centre of excellence in dentistry meeting all expectations of our patients while simultaneously striving for research enabling us to provide quality treatment for our patients

Mission:

1. To build an institute that provides world-class treatment for our patients

2. To make dentistry affordable to the masses by being minimally invasive and reinforcing the importance of prevention over treatment

3. To alleviate the fear and anxiety that surrounds dental treatment, especially root canal treatments

4. To strive for making treatment strategies patient centric

Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics

It is that branch of dentistry that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and management of diseases of the teeth leading to loss of hard tissues and infections of the pulp inside.

A. Conservative dentistry

When do we need to get a filling?

1. Prevent decay in pits and fissures of teeth in susceptible individuals – pit and fissure sealants

2. Small cavitation in teeth due to dental decay without any symptoms – restorations like silver amalgam, glass ionomer cements and light-cure composites

3. Moderate to large cavities with symptoms like sharp transient pain – pulp capping procedure using Calcium hydroxide or MTA

4. Defects of teeth due to causes other than decay – worn down teeth, chipped teeth, discoloured teeth

5. Teeth with traumatic injuries requiring restorations

What is a filling?

1. A filling is a replacement for the hard tissue of the tooth that has been destroyed in the process of decay or otherwise

2. It is a material that is mixed outside the mouth and then the plastic mass is filled inside the cavity prepared for a restoration until it sets hard

3. The filling is then given a shape just like your original tooth so that it may function as a normal tooth in your mouth

How are fillings done?

1. The first step is to remove the decayed or weakened tooth structure using a dental drill

2. Give a specific shape to the cavity so that the restoration can stay in place and perform all functions effectively

3. Provide protection to the vital pulp inside (if required)

4. Restore using one of the various restorative materials available

What care needs to be taken after a filling is done?

1. We usually advise not to bite on that tooth for some time until the material sets completely

2. Depending upon the size of the filling, the filling material used and your bite, you will be advised about the precautions you need to take so that the filling serves you effectively for a long period of time

How long do fillings usually last?

1. With advances in material sciences and biotechnology, our restorative materials can now last for a very long period of time

2. However, luckily, our life span is way longer than that of the filling materials we use and you might eventually require a replacement of your filling or a root canal treatment at a later date.

3. The life of the filling also depends on how well you maintain good oral hygiene and whether you visit the dentist regularly for routine check-ups!

B. Endodontics

When do we need a root canal treatment (RCT)?

1. Large decay with symptoms of throbbing pain and/or swelling

2. Decay hidden inside a tooth with symptoms of pain and/or swelling

3. Decayed tooth causing severe pain on having hot or cold foods that stays on for some time even after the stimulus is removed

4. Spontaneous pain in a tooth that increases during the night

5. Tooth pain radiating to adjacent teeth, gums, cheek, ear, temple or eyes

6. Pain on biting

7. Tooth without any pain but an associated gum boil

8. Swelling over the cheek or face due to an infection originating in the tooth

9. Tooth with a lot of food lodgement

10. A healthy tooth which is going to be a part of a bridge prosthesis (for replacement of adjacent missing tooth)

11. Worn down teeth that need correction of bite and vertical dimension of teeth

What is root canal treatment?

1. It is the process by which the vital/ infected/ dead pulp tissue inside the tooth is removed completely right till the tip of the tooth root

2. The tooth is given a specific shape and cleaned thoroughly from inside

3. A permanent filling material is then placed inside the root canals so that reinfection will not occur

4. The number of appointments required for completing a root canal treatment can vary greatly depending upon many things which the dentist will explain to you; however, typically, a root canal treatment usually gets over in 2 appointments

5. A root canal treated tooth will most often require a cap to be placed over it to function normally as the tooth becomes weak after treatment – therefore, a root canal treatment sometimes might not be possible if the remaining tooth structure is not sufficient for a cap to be placed over it

How is root canal treatment done?

1. The first step is to numb the tooth so that it does not hurt you while we remove the pulp tissue from inside your tooth

2. A sheet of rubber dam is often applied over the tooth on which we are working so that only that tooth remains outside while the entire mouth gets covered by a sheet – this will prevent anything from slipping inside your mouth or throat and prevent any contamination by bacteria inside the tooth. It also helps in keeping the area completely dry while working. It makes the entire root canal procedure safer and comfortable for both, the dentist and the patient

3. The entire decayed portion of the tooth is removed with a drill and the root canal system inside the tooth is accessed

4. A desired shape is carved out inside the tooth (root canal) so that the entire root canal space can be cleaned and disinfected using disinfecting/ antimicrobial solutions

5. A medicine is then placed inside the root canal space and the cavity is sealed with cotton and a temporary cement placed over it

6. The medicine then acts inside the tooth until our next appointment in which we wash out all the medicine and fill the root canal permanently with gutta percha (a rubber like material)

7. The cavity prepared to access the root canal system is then sealed with a permanent restorative material like silver amalgam or composite in the next appointment

What care needs to be taken after root canal treatment is done?

1. We perform root canal treatment under local anesthesia. The area remains numb for some time even after the treatment is completed and you go home. Therefore, you need to be careful not to bite anything until the anesthesia has completely worn off

2. The cement placed over the cavity is temporary and also takes some time to set. Hence, avoid rinsing or gargling for around an hour during which time the material will set hard

3. Avoid biting on that tooth until the root canal treatment is done if the tooth was originally tender to biting. In other cases, you may chew with that tooth but avoid biting on hard foods

4. As the root canal procedure is a surgical procedure and was performed under anesthesia, some amount of pain is anticipated after the anesthesia wears off. Do take the medicines prescribed to you by your dentist

5. In the unlikely event that you have severe pain or a swelling with the associated tooth, contact your dentist for an emergency visit

How long do root canals last?

1. With advances in material sciences and biotechnology, root canal treated teeth can now last for a very long period of time

2. However, luckily, our life span is way longer than that of the filling materials we use and you might eventually require an endodontic retreatment procedure at a later date. If the tooth unfortunately fractures in between appointments or at a later date, it might need to be extracted

3. The life of the root canal treated tooth also depends on how well you maintain good oral hygiene and whether you visit the dentist regularly for routine check-ups!

Our Team:

1. Dr. Sucheta Sathe

2. Dr. Ameya Paralikar

3. Dr. Shantanu Gokhale

We are specialized in the field of fillings and root canal treatments and utilize many advanced technologies like magnification, ultrasonics, apex locators, endodontic motors, etc. so that we may be able to provide you with world class standard of care and make your dental treatment a pleasant one!