Tooth-colored Fillings & Gum Treatment

1) What are plaque, tartar and cavity?

The plaque is nearly fresh and soft and can be mostly cleaned with routine brushing. Calculus is the harder form of plaque. The same bacteria in our mouths cause plaque and calculus. Both of these materials are harmful to our teeth.

A cavity is a black hole inside your tooth. It happens because of food and plaque stuck in your teeth. If not cleaned then this leads to acid production and tooth destruction which is called a cavity.

2) Tooth-coloured Fillings?

Dental Fillings are used to replace the parts of the tooth that have been lost, due to many reasons. These include wear and tear, decay and accidental damage.

Tooth-coloured/white fillings are less obvious and more natural looking. They are almost identical to the natural tooth.

All cavity fillings are done using natural tooth-coloured composite materials. We use the best 3M Unitek materials for tooth-coloured fillings.

Image

3) Can we do fillings on the front teeth?

Cavities can happen on all teeth. Cavities on front teeth are more common if there is crowding on the front teeth. Flossing I'm such situations is important. Tooth-colored Fillings are an excellent treatment to fill front teeth cavities. They match the natural tooth colour and no one can know that you've got a filling done. Dr Jayshree will show you other cases so that you can understand the process first.

Image

4) What is the procedure to get a filling done?

  • We clean the cavity with a bur
  • We make sure all the blackish tooth structure is removed. It is now white and healthy
  • Following this we use a blue gel to roughen the surface
  • Then paint the tooth with a brush and liquid
  • We then add the composite resin material which has a clay-like consistency
  • A blue curing light is then used to harden the material. The colour of this filling matches your tooth color exactly that's why they are called tooth-coloured fillings
  • The blue light has a wavelength that hardens the fillers in the composite material. That's why they set it immediately.
  • You can eat or drink immediately after the filling.

5) How do we avoid Cavities?

Prevention is better than cure.

  • Brush with fluoride toothpaste after eating or drinking.
  • Rinse your mouth.
  • Visit your dentist regularly.
  • Consider dental sealants.
  • Avoid frequent snacking and sipping
  • Eat tooth-healthy foods.
  • Consider fluoride treatments.
Image

6) What are the causes of stains?

Foods/drinks: Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and some starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes, can create conditions that cause staining.

Tobacco use: Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth.

7) Scaling and polishing

Dental clean-up or Scaling and polishing

Scaling helps in removing the tartar build-up. If left untreated, tartar can lead to cavities, toothaches, and eventually periodontal disease which cause tooth loss.

By having your teeth cleaned regularly (at least once every 6 months), you help your teeth avoid more serious problems.

After cleaning we follow with polishing, which removes the stains and makes your teeth shine.

Image

8) How often should we get a clean-up?

Gum Treatment would include deep cleaning, curettage, root planing and flap surgeries.

Scaling and polishing clean the stains, food debris, plaque, and tartar. This makes the gums healthy. Patients end up feeling gaps between their teeth post-clean-ups. This happens since the tartar is out and the teeth and gums feel different.

Regular clean-ups once in 6 months to 1 year are compulsory for everyone including us dentists. It helps to clean those areas where our brush doesn't reach.

9) Gum disease/Pyorrhea

Pyorrhea is an inflammation or swelling of gums that surrounds your teeth. It can be due to tartar or plaque build-up or other underlying problems.

Signs:

  • Tartar or calculus build-up
  • Swollen gums or redness of gums.
  • Bleeding more than usual.
  • Moving teeth or loose teeth.
  • Bad breadth

Treatment:

  • Clean up/Scaling and polishing or deep cleaning.
  • Gum Treatment if required.
  • Medication.
  • Gum Surgery.

Gum Treatment

Periodontal diseases are gum infections caused by bacteria (plaque) that destroy the gums and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth.

You may need a gum treatment in the following cases:

  • Gums are red and swollen
  • Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
  • If you suffer from bad breath or halitosis
  • Loosening or spacing of the teeth
  • Placement and maintenance of dental implants
Image

10) Cost for tooth-coloured Fillings and clean-up?

The cost of tooth colored Fillings depends on many factors

  • Size of the cavity
  • Amount of tooth structure remaining
  • Esthetics of the tooth whether front or back tooth

The cost starts from Rs 1500-5000 per tooth

The cost of clean up depends on many factors

  • Amount of stains and tartar
  • The extent of gum disease
  • Need for deep cleaning

The cost starts from Rs 1500-2500

The cost of flap surgeries ranges from Rs 20000 onwards per arch