Hygiene
1. Periodontal (gum) treatment
Gum Diseases Can Be Dangerous! Be Careful
Our dentists who have experience in specifically working with gum-related infections, inflammations, sensitivity and so on treat periodontal (gum) diseases. The services of a periodontal specialist may only be sought when a regular dentist refers a patient to their expert services.
At our clinic, we offer periodontal services which generally begin with a thorough Hygiene of the gums. The dentist will carefully observe the areas of pain, inflammation and sensitivity to check for gum pockets, exposed roots of teeth and/or infections of the gum. Then with the help of radiological (X-ray) information a treatment plan will be formulated and discussed with the patient.
The first steps of a periodontal treatment are by caling. In doing so, the dentist removes all sorts of bacterial and plaque deposits on the teeth and can assess the nature and depth of the gum pockets.
After scaling, the periodontal or gum pockets are checked to see if the healing is progressing as expected and if there are further complications, surgery may be considered as an option. Periodontal surgery covers the following areas:
- stitching gums to hug the teeth more firmly
- reaching into areas of the teeth where plaque and bacteria build-up is causing infection
- putting in dental implants as and where required by surgically making space in the gum structure
- building or reshaping bone where the bone has been damaged
- socket preservation after the removal of a problematic tooth to prevent damage to the bone
- crown lengthening where a tooth broken below the gum line is repaired
- treat infections to suit dental implants by bone grafting and decontamination of the implant surface
Post-periodontal treatment involves a rigorous cleaning, desensitisation regime, and a number of frequent check-ups to take care of residual pain, bleeding gums and sensitivity. Generally, a healthy routine of brushing and flossing to avoid plaque build-up and periodical visits to the dentist can help keep periodontal diseases at bay.
2. Scaling and polishing
Why you need scaling and polishing at Guardian Dental Care ?
The smile of an individual takes any interaction to the next level. Here at Guardian Dental Care, we take our task of scaling and polishing teeth with the utmost importance to ensure that you leave our clinic with the pearliest set of teeth possible.
Through years of eating different types of food and drinking beverages like tea, coffee, cola, wine etc., teeth can become discoloured. Scaling, also known as professional cleaning is a process by which the plaque build-up on the surface of the teeth is removed and the enamel is made plain by removal of any debris and detritus that deposit on the tooth surface. For certain individuals, years of plaque deposit and bacterial infestation on the teeth may start causing gum infections. Scaling is the recommended procedure to begin with for such individuals.
Depending on the amount of deposits, the dentist may divide the process into two or more sittings. A dental scaler and curette are the tools used to scrape out the plaque from each individual tooth. For those with sensitive teeth and gums, an anaesthetic shot maybe used to prevent discomfort. Typically, after a scaling procedure, some degree of soreness in the mouth is to be expected and we generally ease this discomfort by providing mouth-washes or desensitizing pastes for oral application. A follow-up appointment, a week or so after scaling is common to check for any gum pocket infections, etc.
Post-scaling, many patients opt for a dental polishing. This involves removal of stains and making the surface of the teeth smooth. Polishing is done purely for cosmetic purposes and is aimed at providing as smooth and build-up free version of the patient’s teeth as possible. The procedure is done by applying a gritty polishing paste on the teeth with the help of tiny motorised rubber cups. The abrasive motion of the gritty paste on the teeth makes them smooth and gives a polished look and feel. Though it needs to be mentioned that polishing removes the outer enamel of the teeth, this enamel is replenished over time by natural saliva and the usage of fluoride-rich pastes.
3. Stain removal
How Stain Removal Helps Maintain Oral Health
How Stain Removal Helps Maintain Oral Health Dental stains can seriously impact the way a smile looks. This is the reason why a lot of our patients at Guardian Dental Care come to us for stain removal solutions which we provide with utmost care. The first thing to know when dealing with dental stain is the type of stain and depending on this information, the course of treatment will be chosen.
Intrinsic Teeth Stain Removal
Intrinsic stains refer to staining of the dentin which is the sensitive layer below the dental enamel. This layer becomes a darker over time, which is observable if the enamel wears away due to poor oral health.
These stains originate inside the teeth so they cannot be removed at home with just whitening toothpaste. Instead, at-home dental whitening kits or a professional treatment by our dentists may be able to remove these stains. The main ingredient is bleach which is meant to remove deep stains in addition to the surface ones.
Bonding or crowning, which are restorative methods, can camouflage even the most rigid intrinsic stains. Bonding applies composite resin, which is of the same colour as the tooth to the surface of the stained teeth and then contours it into the correct shape. Once cured, the resin is smoothed and polished. This restores the original white colour of the teeth. Crowning, on the other hand, involves placing tooth-coloured caps on top of the discoloured teeth. This hides the staining. Our dentists will help you choose which method is right for you.
Extrinsic Teeth Stain Removal
Staining of the enamel, which is the hard surface protecting the more nervous dentin and pulp is known as extrinsic teeth staining. Foods such as curry with turmeric in it and berries with strong pigments can have a staining effect on teeth, as can common drinks like soda, coffee, tea and red wine. Tobacco in any form is another possible cause of this type of staining. Because these stains are on the outer layer of your teeth, unlike intrinsic staining, you can usually remove them with whitening toothpastes. If whitening toothpastes are not helpful, dentists can perform professional dental cleaning to remove them.