These are regular maintenance procedures, such as consults, follow up, cleaning of teeth etc.
Teeth Cleaning/ Scaling & Polishing
What is it? Oral prophylaxis, scaling, teeth cleaning, or gum cleaning is the thorough removal of all the deposits (plaque and tartar) from above and below the gum line and any stains that may be present on the tooth surface.
Who needs it? If you have suffered or experienced the following, you may be in need of cleaning:
- If the gums are red, swollen, or inflamed
- Bleeding while brushing
- Yellow, green, and black deposits near the gums
- Foul odor in the mouth: bad breath (Halitosis)
- Receding gumsÂ
- Dull, chronic, irritating pain in the gums
- Loosening of the gums
- Shaky teeth (mobility)
- As an annual maintenance protocol
Myth Buster
Is scaling bad for teeth?
Scaling, when done with the state-of-the-art ultrasonic scalers biannually, is absolutely safe on enamel.
Will I have gaps? Will my tooth become loose?
Scaling does not ‘create’ gaps. It removes the buildup, and hence one can only see what already exists. If the deposits are quite significant, one can expect some amount of gap in between the teeth once the deposits are removed. We have a policy of informing you beforehand of the area’s extent. This may require you to get a full-mouth X-ray or OPG so we know the pre-treatment bone level.
Will my sensitivity worsen?
As we remove the deposits from the exposed root surface, the exposed dentine can be sensitive; hence, there is a temporary increase in sensitivity in some cases. This is transient, and we advise desensitizing procedures accordingly. These are toothpastes and mouthwashes that settle it in a week or so.
RESTORATIONS (Fillings)
What is it? : A filling is a tooth coloured material (cement, resin, silicate or zirconia) that restores the area of the tooth that has been cavitated, decayed, eroded, or chipped off so that the tooth regains its original form and function.
Who needs fillings?
Fillings are indicated when the following symptoms occur:
- Cavitated and blackened areas
- Ditches in teeth that retain food
- Intermittent pain from hot,cold, sweet, and sour food
- Notches caused by excessive force while brushing
- Fractured or chipped off tooth Â
Post and Core
What is it?
A post is a metal or fiber pin or screw that is placed inside the treated root canal. It supports a large filling. A core refers to the core buildup of the tooth, which is done after the post is placed. We mostly use prefabricated posts, but in some cases we may use a customized option.
Who needs it?Â
- Where the destruction of the tooth is more than 60% of the crown. Additional retention is needed to sustain and function for a longer period of time. It anchors the filling or cap to the residual natural tooth.
- After an old cap has been removed and the remaining tooth structure is decayed.
- It can be a prefabricated metal or fiber post or a customized one.
