General Dentistry is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body.
Teeth can be damaged due to caries, trauma o malformation. The treatment to restore function, morphology and tooth integrity is by placing a dental filling which is a compatible artificial dental material.
Sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins, these fillings feature a combination of glass or quartz filler and can be made to match the color of your tooth. Composite fillings are also fairly durable and are ideal for small-to-mid-size restorations in areas of your mouth that perform moderate chewing.
Amalgam has been used by dental professionals for more than a century; it is the most researched material used for filling cavities. Amalgam fillings are strong and are therefore ideal for filling cavities in the back of the mouth such as in the molars, where chewing takes place. Since they are made of a combination of several metallic elements, amalgam fillings can be noticeable when you laugh or smile. These fillings are among the least expensive of all cavity-filling materials.
Endodontic treatment or root canal treatment (RCT) is the elected procedure to treat the soft tissue (pulp/nerve) inside the tooth. The nerve of the tooth can be compromised either by deep caries or some kind of trauma that injures the internal dental tissues. By treating a tooth with a root canal treatment, we can help you keep your natural smile, so you can continue to eat your favorite foods and maintain your overall health. Nothing feels or functions like your natural tooth!
An extraction means to have a tooth removed, usually because of extensive decay, periodontal disease, and trauma or crowding. After a complete dental examination we will explain the procedure and discuss alternatives for replacement of the extracted teeth.
BRUXISM: Teeth grinding can be caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or misaligned. The symptoms of teeth grinding include:
• dull headaches
• jaw soreness
• teeth that are painful or loose
• fractured teeth
The temporomandibular joints, also called TMJ, are the joints and jaw muscles that make it possible to open and close your mouth. Located on each side of the head, your TMJ work together when you chew, speak or swallow and include muscles and ligaments as well as the jaw bone. They also control the lower jaw (mandible) as it moves forward, backward and side to side.
Each TMJ has a disc between the head of the mandible and the socket. The disc cushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem that prevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly may result in a painful TMJ disorder.
Possible causes of TMJ disorders include:
• arthritis
• dislocation
• injury
• tooth and jaw alignment
• stress and teeth grinding
Diagnosis is an important step before treatment. Part of the dental examination includes checking the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving.