Dentists will make treatment decisions based on several factors. First, they consider your overall health and well-being. A responsible dentist will not perform any procedure that will jeopardize your health. Second, the dentist also will use medical and dental histories to establish a sense of which treatments will best suit your needs and lifestyle. Third, treatment can depend on the type of dental problem, its location in the mouth and the function of the teeth needing repair. Keep in mind though, you are ultimately the one with the final say about dental care. It is important for you to make informed decisions. Below are three common decisions many dental patients face and some information to help you find the right treatment for your needs. This article written with the help of
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Fillings or Fluoride Therapy?
What happens when you get a cavity? Do you need a filling right away? Not necessarily. If you are in pain and have an obvious cavity, then a filling is the most logical option recommended by a dentist. However, in the early stages of decay, the enamel just starts to lose some of its minerals, softening before a hole (cavity) forms. Fortunately, dental decay is a slow-progressing disease. Dr David A. Albert D.D.S. and associate professor of clinical dentistry at the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery says, “In the general population, from start to finish it can take five years to go from a new caries lesion (early decay) to full-blown involvement of the pulp (nervous center of the tooth).” New technology, in addition to physical exams and X-rays, allows dentists to find and treat early decay before it becomes a larger problem. With a little fluoride therapy, some dietary changes and a focus on oral hygiene, you and your dentist can reverse the early effects of decay. To do this though, you will need to keep up with your six-month checkups.
Inlay/Only or Dental Crown?
It is true, larger dental caries do not always require a crown. Many patients look for an alte
ative treatment, especially for mid-level cavities on the biting surfaces of molars. When installing a dental crown, the dentist needs to remove a decent amount of natural tooth, something a good dentist does not like to do. So, where decay falls between fillings and crowns, the dentist could recommend inlays or onlays. An inlay is a fitted restoration in the center of the tooth. An onlay is a restoration designed to cover one or more of the points (cusps). This alte
ative treatment preserves more tooth structure and is more affordable and convenient when compared to a full scale dental crown. However, some instances where crowns are necessary include cracked or broken teeth due to wear or trauma and teeth severely weakened by decay. Otherwise, inlays and onlays provide similar solutions. Together, you and the dentist can make the right choice.
Extraction or Root Canal Therapy?
Unfortunately, according to a recent survey by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), most people are not aware that root canal treatment is a viable alte
ative to tooth extraction. The worst part is more than half of those who have had a tooth extracted did not replace it with anything. Usually, you need root canal treatment when the pulp becomes infected or inflamed due to an injury or severe decay. The dentist will often extract a tooth when extra teeth block others from growing in or there is too much damage for repair. Also, when teeth are in the field of radiation in cancer patients or teeth have become severely infected due to certain drugs that weaken the immune system.