Understanding Different Types of Oral Health Conditions and their Appropriate Treatment 

Maintaining good oral health is now regarded as essential for our overall health and wellbeing and understanding the various dental conditions and treatments available can help you make informed decisions about your dental care. 

Preventive Treatments

Dental Exams

This is the most important procedure carried out by a dentist. The purpose of a dental exam is to monitor the status of your oral health and diagnose whether your mouth and surrounding structures are healthy or diseased. The three most important disease conditions are dental decay, gum disease and mouth cancer. Your mouth should be examined at least once a year to catch these diseases early. 

Cleanings

The purpose of a dental cleaning is to remove calculus (small grainy particles attached to your teeth) and stubborn stains not removed by normal cleaning. Both conditions are caused by failure to remove dental plaque biofilm effectively when you are brushing your teeth. It is important that you ask a hygienist or dental nurse to demonstrate to you how to clean your teeth and gums safely using an electric brush and interdental cleaners including micro brushes and dental floss.  Cleanings should be carried out according to your level of risk as advised by your dentist. People with active disease may need more frequent cleanings. 

Dental Examinations and Cleanings are essential for diagnosing and preventing progression of gum disease, dental decay (cavities), mouth cancer and other conditions affecting teeth, gums, soft tissues, and jaw bones. 

Restorative Treatments

Fillings (Restorations)

When a cavity progresses in size beyond enamel (hard outside shell of a tooth) and into dentin (soft living inner core of tooth) and cannot be reversed or arrested, a filling may be used to restore the damaged tooth. The decayed portion is removed, and the area is filled with materials such as silver amalgam but more commonly now with composite resin. Amalgam is durable and easy to place on the tooth, but composite has an advantage of requiring removal of less tooth tissue and forms a bond with the tooth. 

Crowns

A crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its size, shape, strength and appearance. Crowns are used for teeth with extensive decay, tooth fracture or following completion of a root canal treatment. 

Bridges

These replace one or more missing teeth. They consist of artificial teeth anchored by crowns on adjacent teeth, filling the gap left by the missing teeth. 

Implants

An Implant is another option for replacing a missing tooth. A post made from a precious metal such as titanium is surgically placed in the jawbone, and a crown is attached to it. Implant crowns require an extremely high standard of oral hygiene to maintain the health of the surrounding bone and gum tissue. 

Denture

This is a removable prosthesis that replaces missing teeth. A full denture usually made from acrylic replaces all teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while a partial denture which is usually made from a combination of chrome a cobalt metal and acrylic fill in the gaps left by several missing teeth. 

Orthodontic Treatments

Braces

Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires to gradually move teeth into proper alignment. They are effective for correcting a wide range of complex dental alignment issues. 

“Clear” braces

a set of transparent plastic aligners that are constructed by scanning an image of the upper and lower teeth and jaws and using digital technology to design each individual aligner.  These custom-made, removable devices gradually straighten teeth without the need for metal braces. Metal braces and aligners can be used in combination to get a better result. 

Endodontic Treatments

Root Canals

When the pulp which contains the nerve and blood supply of a tooth becomes infected, inflamed, or necrotic (dead), a root canal treatment is necessary. The procedure involves removing the infected tissue, cleaning the root canal, and sealing it to prevent further infection. 

Periodontal Treatments

The most usual form of periodontal (gum) treatment is non-surgical consisting of cleaning the root surfaces of individual teeth which have been diagnosed as having loss of attachment to surrounding bone. This may be localised or generalised affecting some or all the teeth and go through periods of active disease or inactivity. The treatment may be carried out by a dentist, a hygienist or a dentist specialising in gum diseases. This treatment enables a patient under the guidance of a hygienist to carry out extra oral hygiene procedures themselves to help prevent any further loss of bone attachment. 

In severe cases of gum disease, surgical procedures may be necessary to restore gum health.  

Remember – A yearly visit to the dentist is essential for catching issues early and determining the best course of treatment for your needs.