Dentistry – The Art and Science of Preventing, Diagnosing and Treating Teeth and Oral Structures
Dentistry – The Art and Science of Preventing, Diagnosing and Treating Teeth and Oral Structures
Dentistry is the art and science of diagnosing, treating and maintaining teeth and oral structures in order to preserve them for future generation. best dental clinic in jeddah misalignments of jawbones as well as replacing missing or damaged ones through fillings, crowns, dental implants or corrective surgery procedures.
Careers in dentistry provide doctors with an exciting and stimulating opportunity to interact with people. As medical research uncovers links between oral diseases and serious general health conditions, this field continues to change and grow.
Oral Diseases
Dental health is integral to overall wellbeing. Dental issues can severely impair one’s quality of life and have even been linked with heart disease and diabetes.
Oral diseases include dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss and oral cancers. Their causes vary, including sugar consumption, tobacco and alcohol use and poor dental hygiene practices – as well as genetic predisposition or birth defects such as cleft lips or palates.
Studies on oral-systemic health are increasingly demonstrating its connection with general wellbeing. A growing body of research shows a direct relationship between oral disease and systemic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, high poverty levels and ethnic/racial minority groups often result in limited access to dental care services.
Preventing Cavities
A cavity is caused by bacteria eating away at your tooth enamel. The best way to prevent cavities is through regular brushing and flossing as well as drinking plenty of water, plus researchers are exploring materials that could be placed into pits and fissures of teeth to slowly release fluoride and help protect from decay.
Contacting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings is also key, enabling him/her to detect potential cavities early when treatment will likely be simpler.
Fillings
Dental fillings are designed to restore teeth damaged by tooth decay, restoring their original functionality and protecting against bacteria or food entering damaged areas. The procedure begins by administering local anesthetic to numb the affected area before extracting and cleaning out damaged portions from each of your tooth before cleaning and washing the remaining healthy ones.
Your dentist then applies an etching solution to your tooth surface, creating tiny holes where filling material will adhere. She then applies multiple layers of composite resin, hardening each one with special lighting.
There are various kinds of dental fillings, including silver amalgam, glass ionomer cement and composite resin fillings. Amalgam fillings contain mercury mixed with silver, copper and tin; some groups argue they expose individuals to neurotoxic effects while exposing them to mercury vapors that may adversely impact their health.
Teeth Whitening
Whitening treatments (bleaching) lighten the color of natural teeth by eliminating stains and discoloration, using peroxide-based products in either the dental office or at home. Bleaching treatments may be used to address both extrinsic stains caused by coffee drinking as well as intrinsic ones caused by taking certain medication such as Tetracycline antibiotic.
Some in-office whitening procedures may take several 30- to 60-minute appointments, while other procedures can be completed with home trays worn for two to four weeks at home and kept clean to achieve results.
Studies on tooth whitening show it improves patients’ perceptions of their smile and quality of life, particularly compared to others with more attractive teeth. Unfortunately, the effects don’t last forever and stains will likely return over time; to prolong its effects it is essential that foods or beverages that stain teeth such as coffee, red wine and tobacco smoke are avoided.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a reliable way of replacing missing teeth, with results that look natural and enhance eating and speaking functions. Furthermore, they help preserve jaw bone health and decrease bone resorption.
If you neglect your implants, they could deteriorate over time and lead to failure or loosening. Furthermore, infections could develop in the gum tissue or bone supporting them – so if any signs of infection arise please notify your dentist immediately.
CBCT x-rays can help your dentist evaluate the strength and suitability of your jawbone for an implant. This procedure may be best for those with healthy gums and sufficient bone density to support a tooth; otherwise, a sinus graft may add bone in an area.
