Many people experience anxiety at the mere thought of going to the dentist. They delay a visit until driven by a severe toothache. By the time this happens, the treatment is more extensive and therefore more expensive than it might have been. Technology has advanced in dentistry as well as other fields. Unlike in the past, today most dental procedures are pain free. And those people who suffer anxiety to the point that it prevents them from obtaining proper care need only talk to their dentist in advance. Dentists can provide both sedation and premedication to help reduce and even eliminate anxiety.
Most dental procedures are performed with the patient under anesthesia to be certain that pain is reduced or eliminated. Local anesthetics are used to numb the area that is to be treated. Dentists use this type prior to drilling a tooth or doing a root canal. First a numbing agent is rubbed on the gum and then the anesthetic is injected to deaden the entire area where the dentist will work. However, if infection, inflammation or pain is present, it may not be possible to use a local anesthetic. In this case the dentists injects the anesthetic into a nearby nerve. This procedure numbs a larger area.
When general anethesia is used the patient loses consciousness. Very few dental procedures are performed in this manner due to the risks that are involved. It is possible for complicated oral surgery to be performed in an operating room using a general anesthetic. Sedation and premedication are prescribed for patients that are extremely anxious about undergoing treatment. Teeth cleaning is not normally done with an anesthetic unless the patient is particularly sensitive. Antibiotics may also be prescribed prior to dental procedures.
Perhaps the most common dental procedure involves fillings. Teeth decay or become chipped. The area where the decay occurs is called a cavity. After administering an anesthetic, the dentist will clean the tooth and then removed the decayed portion with a drill. The filling material is then placed into the opening and allowed to harden. Front teeth are always filled with a plastic material that is the same color as the tooth. The same type of material may be used for teeth that do not show. However, these teeth may also be filled with an amalgam material or gold, depending upon the patient s desire.
When a tooth is badly chipped or broken, the dentist may apply a crown. In this case the dentist needs to make an impression of the original tooth. Then the damaged tooth is drilled down to a stub and another impression is made. The dentist will use both impressions to create an artificial tooth that will fit over the stub. Then this tooth is fitted and cemented to the stub. When finished, it resembles the original tooth. Fitting a crown requires two dental appointments. During the first the impressions are made and the stub is prepared. The stub is fitted with a temporary crown while the permanent one is being prepared. The permanent crown is then fitted during the second visit.
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