Why would Somone Need a Root Canal?

No one wants to be announced by the dentist that a tooth needs a root canal. Here are some of the main reasons why a tooth should get root canal therapy. Knowing those circumstances might also help to prevent them:

• An infection that is at the apex of a tooth (periapical lesion) means that the whole pulp tissue is irritated or infected. A periapical lesion can only be seen on an x-ray. In this case the tooth needs a root canal, following antibiotic therapy.
• A cavity can grow and reach the dental pulp chamber, where the pulp tissue is located, including the nerve. The bacteria contained in the decay infect the pulp directly and the tooth would need root canal therapy to stop the infection.
• If a tooth has had an advanced fracture, and there is not enough tooth material left to repair it with a conventional filling, root canal therapy must be done on that tooth to be able to put a post that will hold a filling or a crown.
• If a tooth has suffered from trauma, the pulp can be irritated permanently and needs to be removed from the tooth by root canal therapy.
• The dental pulp can also be irritated by a filling that is too deep, which was done by a dentist following tooth decay that was very at a very advanced stage.

See also in french.

What is the Life Span of a Dental Crown?

A dental crown, which restores a damaged tooth, can be made from three main materials: porcelain, gold or gold fused with porcelain.

Gold
Gold is the least aesthetic material because of its yellowish colour, but it is also very durable. A gold crown may last for up to 25-30 years, considering that good oral hygiene is maintained.

Porcelain
A porcelain crown is very beautiful; of all materials, it gives the most natural appearance to a tooth. Its life span is however the shortest, lasting almost 10 years.

Gold fused to porcelain
A crown made of gold fused to porcelain offers the aesthetics of porcelain and the strength of gold. Its longevity is around 15 years.

When a tooth is less destroyed by tooth decay, it can be restored using an onlay or inlay, which can also be made up on gold or porcelain.

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What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

It is such a burden to suffer from a sensitive tooth. It bothers during meals, while drinking something hot or cold, even sometimes while breathing air through the mouth.

There are many factors that can cause sensitive teeth:

• Brushing the teeth in a hard or strong way can wear out the enamel and cause tooth sensitivity.
• If the gum level recedes, due to gum disease or vigorous brushing, the root becomes exposed, making the tooth sensitive.
• A fracture of a tooth can expose the dentin.
• Cavities and tooth decay can of course cause the teeth to be sensitive.
• Grinding the teeth wears down the enamel.
• Tooth whitening products can cause a temporary sensitivity to the teeth.
• Certain mouthwashes are acidic and long term use can wear away the enamel of the tooth.
• Foods high in acid content, such as soft drinks, citric fruits, or ice-tea, wear out the enamel if consumed excessively.
• Recent dental treatments (fillings, cleanings, root canals or crowns) can cause sensitivity to the repaired tooth for a few weeks.

A severe tooth ache, that is constant and prevents sleep, can be the cause of more serious problems and should be checked by a dentist as soon as possible.

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How to Stop Teeth Grinding

If someone suspects teeth grinding, either because the dentist noted it or the spouse complained about it, there are many ways to control it, depending on how severe the grinding is.

If the teeth grinding occurs during the daytime, it is possible to be conscious about it and try not to put the upper and lower teeth tightly against each other.

If it happens during the nighttime, these simple procedures can help for mild cases:

• Reduce stress.
• Reduce foods containing caffeine.
• Relax the chewing muscles in the evening by applying a wet and warm cloth to the face.

If all these don’t work, the dentist can fabricate a bite splint that should be worn at night. A bite splint is an acrylic appliance that is custom made for each person. It can be worn either on the upper teeth, or the lower teeth, which helps to prevent teeth grinding when it is well adjusted by the dentist.

See also in french.