Myths About Root Canals
June 28, 2010
We utter the word “ouch!” when we even think about having a root canal. Root canal is not as dreadful as we think. Check out the following root canal myths, and decide for yourself:
1. Root canals are very painful: A common myth people have is that the procedure of root canal is very painful. This might be true decades back, but now due to the advancement of science and technology, local anesthesia is very effective. For this reason, the root canal treatments are performed causing minimal pain to the patient – normally the pain is not more than that of having a filling.
2. Root canal treatments require frequent dental visits: Due to advanced dental techniques, root canals can be easily carried out in a single visit. In many instances, not more than two visits complete the whole root canal procedure.
3. Crowning eventually leads to Root canals: There may be instances when a crowned tooth needs root canal treatment; however, this only happens when the crowned tooth has decayed to an extent that it has effected the tooth pulp. In other instances, crowns do not end up in having a root canal therapy.
4. Root canal treatments lead to a week immune system: Among some people, it is a common misconception that the people who have had a root canal therapy in the past are more likely to fall ill than those who have not undergone any such treatment. There is no scientific evidence proving this myth. It is observed that people who have, and those who have not had the therapy, all have equal probability of falling ill.
5. Root canals remove the roots of the tooth: Root canal treatments do not end up in removal of the tooth roots. The dentist only removes the pulp that is present inside the tooth; the roots of the tooth are not removed.
6. Women should avoid having Root canals during pregnancy: Pregnant women can undergo the root canal procedure without any hesitation. The reason for this is that root canal involves a minor x-ray of the mouth, and no other exposure to the harmful radiation rays. However, if you are having root canals procedure during pregnancy, make sure you inform your dentist beforehand so that your dentist can be extra careful with the x-ray.
7. If you do not feel any pain in your tooth, avoid having Root canal: In most of the cases, root canal procedure is done on teeth that suffer a throbbing ache. However, there are instances when a tooth requires root canal but do not show any symptom of pain. This is the reason why dentists recommend regular checkups even for people with healthy teeth.
8. Root canal permanently restores our tooth: Once the root canal procedure is performed on your tooth, you need to make a follow-up appointment with your dentist as soon as possible in order to make sure that your tooth has been successfully restored. When the dentist removes the pulp of your tooth, your tooth becomes dry and if it is not permanently restored, it may result in having a fracture.
Treatment Of Fluorosis Stains
June 14, 2010
Fluorosis is a common problem in many parts of the world where a hard enamel of dental tissues is formed because of using an unusually high amount of fluoride during odontogenesis. The enamel formed in fluorosis is a weak, hypocalcified, porous and very unaesthetic collection of tissues.
Some dentists recommend bleaching in order to whiten the fluorosis stains, however, this does not guarantee a 100% result. The procedure to perform dental bleaching can be broken down into four steps:
1.Scrubbing the enamel in order to clean it from all sides.
2.Treating the enamel with Hydrochloric Acid (HCL).
3.Applying Sodium Hypochlorite.
4.Applying dental adhesives.
When a patient suffering from fluorosis stains asks his or her dentist about whitening of his or her teeth, the dentists are happy to convey the good news. Normally, a tooth is either grayish yellow, yellowish white, or grayish white, but very few people actually have such teeth. The reasons for discoloration of our natural teeth are improper brushing, aggressively brushing and extremely strong cleaning techniques. Food and beverages which are acidic in nature also contribute in the process of discoloration. Aging is also a factor that cannot be neglected in this regard, and this is the reason why old people have more yellowish teeth than the younger lot. Even people who have normal teeth are now inclined towards whitening their teeth in order to get the perfect smile. Since bleaching is the easiest, most common and the most cost-effective solution of getting a set of teeth close to perfect, many people are opting for it, and many dentists are conveniently recommending it to their patients to lighten discoloration.
In 1877, Chappel introduced the process of treating discoloration using oxalic acid. Later many variants of this process emerged using chlorine. In 1884, Harlan introduced Hydrogen Peroxide to treat discoloration. Many other bleaching techniques followed till now when modern technology is used to carry out bleaching.
The process of bleaching is relatively simply. Oxidation takes place using a bleaching agent, where this agent reacts with the enamel and take care of the discolored tissues. The intensity of bleaching highly depends upon the nature and depth of stain, and upon the fact that how deep the bleaching agent can penetrate and stay there long enough to remove rigid stains.
There are two types of discoloration – extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic discoloration takes place due to the consumption of tobacco, tea, coffee, silver nitrate, iron tablets, chewing gum and excessive use of mouth washes. Intrinsic stains penetrate through the enamel and are stored within the dental structure. Examples are tetracycline, fluorosis stains, pulp necrosis, dentinogenesis imperfecta, etc.
It is generally observed that premolars and second molars are teeth that are mostly affected by discoloration. Then follow maxillary incisors, canines and the first molars. The mandibular incisors are the least discolored teeth.
The reason why flurosis stains appear may be different for different people. For some it is due to the overdose of fluoride in toothpaste, for others it may be the reason of fluoride contamination in water. The stains on the teeth depend upon the content of fluoride. Therefore, if we keep a check on the water we are drinking, fluorosis stains may never be a problem
How To Prevent Oral Cancer
June 1, 2010
Although science has tremendously advanced in the past fifty years, yet, doctors still do not know why one person eventually gets cancer and the other does not. Every person, no matter what age or country he/ she belongs to, have equal probability of getting cancer. However, there are a few habits and environments where one is more likely to get this life-threatening disease.
In case of Oral Cancer, the herpes simplex virus gets into the body via skin either inside or around the mouth region. Generally, it is spread when a person touches, or shares utensils or razor of the infected person. The saliva of the infected person plays a major role in spreading the disease.
However, besides watching out for people who already have cancer and keeping away from them, there are some preventive measures by which one can protect oneself from Oral Cancer. Quitting smoking and drinking might be the first step in preventing from Oral Cancer.
Tobacco usage is termed as the main cause of Oral Cancer. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewable tobacco. Tobacco consumption can cause cancer in areas like the floor of the mouth, oral cavity, and lips. A recent study showed that tobacco users have a possibility of developing second cancers in vocal cords, esophagus, windpipe, throat and nose.
Positive news for people who intend to quit smoking is that the risk of getting Oral Cancer is plummeted to 50% within five years and after ten years, the risk becomes same as for a person who never consumed tobacco in any form.
Alcohol consumption is another factor for people to get Oral Cancer. Alcohol may cause abnormal white or red patches on the skin, and when these patches are formed on mucous membranes, the result is Oral Cancer.
Sun exposure may also lead to cancer of lip. Avoiding sun when possible and using lip balm that has sunscreen may be helpful in preventing lip cancer.
If a person is suffering from Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), that person has a higher risk of getting Oral Cancer. Intake of Marijuana may also result in getting Oral Cancer.
It is important for a person to avoid addictions like tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol as they may lead to serious illness. Moreover, there are certain factors that may decrease the risk of Oral Cancer. For example, having a healthy diet with fresh fruit and vegetables may lower the risk of having many types of cancers. Chemoprevention is a technique that uses certain drugs to prevent or at least delay the growth of cancer cells. This technique is applied on people who have a higher risk of getting cancer, or, who have developed cancerous symptoms.
Oral Cancer, if not treated properly and on time, can even lead to death. Therefore, measures must be taken in order to prevent this disease from occurring and spreading.