NEGLECTED  TEETH

For those who have been putting off that much-needed visit to the dentist,
here's encouraging news - in recent years, new techniques have been 
developed to handle problems ranging from treating a badly broken down
tooth to helping an extremely nervous patient relax.  Here we take a look 
at a few of the current procedures that can be of great help.

TREATING  AN  ABSCESS

Decay that reaches the nerve (pulp) of the tooth causes it to become
infected or abscessed.  Fortunately, the majority of abscessed teeth can 
be saved by using a procdure called root canal therapy.  The dentist makes
a small access cavity into the tooth and the pulp chamber is cleaned out
using special instruments.  An antiseptic dressing kills any bacteria 
present and once the tooth is free of pain and infection, the pulp chamber
can be filled.

SAVING  A  BROKEN  TOOTH

Even though you may think a tooth is beyond saving because it is so badly
broken, there are techniques that can restore the use of the tooth as long 
as the root portion is healthy.

The dentist can repair a badly broken tooth by replacing the missing and 
decayed part of the tooth with a composite resin. 

A chipped or stained tooth can usually be helped quite simply using a 
technique known as tooth bonding.  Tooth bonding is a procedure in which
a tooth coloured plastic is bonded onto the surface of a toothto replace a 
missing piece or cover a stained area.

The dentist first conditions the surface of the tooth with a weak acid.
This roughens the surface of the enamel. Subsequently tooth bonding resin 
is applied . A special light is used to firmly set the plastic.
The latest bonding materials are now very strong indeed and can be used for
almost every type of restoration.

GUM  DISEASE

Many teeth are lost, not through decay, but because of gum related problems.
The early stages of gum disease can be treated at home with special care
techniques shown to you by your dentist.  More advanced gum problems, however, 
have to be treated by your dentist, who will remove plaque and hardened
deposits (calculus) from the root portion of teeth.  In severe cases it may
be necessary to refer you to a gum specialist known as a Periodontist.

OVERCOMING  ANXIETY

In most cases a new patient will feel nervous, this is only natural. 
The dentist will be as gentle as possible, and allow the patient time to
develop some trust. Gradually, as the patient becomes used to the procedures
he will relax and have confidence that the dentist and his assistant will be
doing there best to complete the work as quickly and accurately and as
painlessly as possible. 

A technique that's known as relative analgesia gives a temporary feeling
of extreme relaxation and is very helpful to some nervous patients. Small
quantities of nitrous oxide, in combination with oxygen, are breathed in 
through a small mask placed over the patient's nose.  The patient remains 
conscious during treatment and, minutes after, can resume normal activities.
 

Priority should be given to treating painful teeth. Once the mouth is free
of pain, a plan of repair and maintenance can be worked out.
Please try to have patience. Years of neglect can not always be repaired
in a few short appointments. 

Before undertaking a major course of dental work, it is wise to
obtain full details and an estimate of cost for the proposed treatment.