General Dental Care for Kids and Adults in Singapore

Teeth Scaling and Polishing

Despite our best efforts at brushing, tartar (or calculus in dental speak) accumulates over time especially just under the gum line. This accumulation provides the ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive and flourish resulting in bleeding gums and even loose teeth due to the destruction of the supporting bone, making it necessary to have scaling and polishing carried out. Ultrasonic instruments vibrate the stains and calculus off gently after which a polishing cup is used to remove any remaining plaque and leaves your teeth feeling smooth and looking sparkly!

Click here for a look at how gums disease affects our teeth

Gum disease is one of the main cause of tooth loss. However, very few people are aware about their gums health. Many even avoid the common signs of gum disease, assuming that it’s a normal thing to experience these symptoms. In its earliest stages, periodontal disease is often asymptomatic (does not show clear symptoms). This is why many patients only receive treatment only when their gum disease has already progressed to its later stages, at which point the treatments may get invasive and expensive. Early detection of periodontal disease increases the chances of complete recovery and regeneration of gum tissues. It is also easier to treat gum disease while it has not yet spread to several teeth. When gum disease worsens, some of the common signs and symptoms that you may experience are: bleeding gums, redness, tenderness, tooth sensitivity, receding gums, loose teeth and/or longer-looking teeth (due to gum recession). It is important to understand that these symptoms appear when the disease has already progressed quite a bit. If gum disease is left untreated, it may lead to the many complications. Tow of these are gum recession and tooth loss and are integrated to one another. Gum recession isn’t just an aesthetic problem ‒ it is the precursor to tooth loss. When the gums recede, the tooth roots become exposed. The tissue covering the tooth roots (cementum) is not as hard as the enamel, and is easier for bacteria to break down. As bacteria continue to destroy the cementum, the tooth roots unhinge from the gum and bone tissues, eventually loosening and falling out. Gum recession also destroys the structure of the jaws because the tissues and bones continue to degenerate. Once a tooth falls out due to gum disease, it can’t be put back into place like a healthy tooth in healthy gums can, even if you run to the emergency dentist. The gums need to be cleaned and disinfected before the tooth can be placed back in its socket. By that time, the tissues in the tooth will have already died and it will no longer have a chance to reattach to the gums and bone. Eventually, the other nearby teeth will follow suit, leading to complete loss of teeth. #gum #disease

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Tooth coloured fillings

The clear advantage of having a tooth coloured restoration is aesthetics. Shades can be blended to create colours that are nearly identical to the original missing tooth structure. These fillings are a mixture of plastic and glass and they can also bond to the remaining tooth structure to give it insulation from thermal changes.

Inlays and onlays

Having your teeth protected with inlays or onlays is a fantastic way to preserve the health and structural integrity of your teeth. Generally made of porcelain (although they can be made of gold), inlays are molded to fit the shape of a cavity and restore the tooth to its original form. This treatment option is effective for instances where the patient has large cavities which a direct filling would not be able to fix. Onlays are similar except they are used to replace a missing cusp (the points on the crown of your tooth). Both of these treatments allow for minimally invasive dentistry as they require less tooth trimming than a direct filling to hold a crown.

Click here for a look on how Inlays and onlays work.

Dental inlays and onlays are restorations generally used to repair the back teeth with mild to moderate tooth decay or cracked and fractured teeth surfaces that are not sufficiently damaged to require a crown. Ideal candidates for inlay/onlay work typically have too much damage or decay in the tooth structure to be successfully treated using a filling, but have sufficient healthy tooth remaining to avoid the need for a crown. This allows the dentist to preserve more of the patient’s original tooth structure when compared to crowns. There are other benefits to inlays and onlays in comparison to metal fillings. They are durable due to the fact that they are made from tough, hard-wearing materials like gold & ceramic, which are suggested to last for quite a long time. Inlays and onlays are suggested to help strengthen teeth and they may prolong tooth life and prevent the need for more dental treatments in the future. These restorations may be indicated when old fillings need to be removed or replaced. A dental inlay is similar to a filling and fits inside the cusp tips (top edges) of the tooth. A dental onlay is more extensive and extends over the cusps of the treated tooth. During treatment the dentist removes the old fillings under local anesthesia and takes an impression of the tooth, which is sent to the dental laboratory. The new inlay/onlay is made from this mold from materials such as porcelain, gold, composite resin, etc . Finally, the inlay/onlay is then cemented into place at the next appointment. It blends successfully with the treated tooth and the rest of the teeth to achieve a natural, uniform appearance. Animation of the inlay procedure provided by ICE Health Systems. #dental #inlay #onlay #restorations

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Dentistry for kids in Singapore

It’s important to instil good oral hygiene practices into your children from a young age. Baby teeth are important for eating, chewing and speaking. More importantly, they hold the space for the permanent teeth that are already growing under the gums so it is important to take good care of them.

Believe it or not, many adults are still scared of the dentist. At the Orthodontic Clinic, we create a fun environment for the children. Kids can watch their favourite cartoon while having their teeth cleaned. Our gentle and caring dentists will make your child feel right at home, they will be excited to come back again next time!

Fluoride treatment

Fluoride is a mineral which is very similar to calcium and benefits the teeth at all ages. Application of fluoride comes after dental cleaning and helps strengthen areas in the teeth which have been weakened by the acids released by the bacteria in the tartar. Fluoride gel is placed in flexible foam trays and inserted into the mouth to cover the teeth for 1 minute. After applying the fluoride, it is best not to eat, drink or rinse for 30 minutes for the maximal effect.

Caries risk assessment

Many of our patients come in confused as to why, despite their rigorous oral hygiene routines, they still suffer cavities whilst others who are seemingly careless with their brushing and flossing and go years without seeing a dentist leave the clinic with a clean bill of health and perfect teeth.

This is because everyone’s body is different and different physical factors such as saliva pH and consistence, acid wear, tooth structure and of course diet all have an impact on the levels of bacteria in your mouth and the tooth decay that it is responsible for. Everyone has a different predisposition towards tooth decay with many different elements being responsible for plaque and decay when they fall out of balance.

At The Orthodontic Clinic, our cavity assessment services are designed to help prevent tooth decay by assessing and advising each client on an individual basis. We’ll work to identify the various factors which predispose you to tooth decay and will then advise you on the best way to keep these risk factors in check. Treatments may involve things like fluoride treatment, diet or lifestyle modifications and prescription dentifrices. This way you avoid the need for expensive cavity treatment and can enjoy better overall oral health.

Root canal treatment

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. Damage to the pulp may be caused by untreated dental decay, decay beneath a filling, and tooth damage due to trauma, tooth grinding (bruxism) or gum disease. You may need more than one visit to complete the treatment depending on root canals in tooth.

Click here for a look at how Root canal treatment is done.

Root canal treatment (RCT) is a dental procedure that replaces a tooth’s damaged or infected pulp with a filling. Damage to the pulp may be caused by untreated dental decay, decay beneath a filling, tooth damage due to trauma, tooth grinding (bruxism) or gum disease. It may take more than one visit to complete an RCT, depending on root canals in the tooth. I will be describing the general procedure of an RCT. The exact procedure chosen by your dentist may differ from the procedure outlined here. Ask your dentist for more information about your case if you're a candidate for RCT. Generally an RCT is usually performed using local anesthetic. If the pulp is infected, anaesthesia may not always be necessary since the tooth may no longer have sensation. The tooth is wrapped in thin rubber (aka a ‘rubber dam’) to prevent contamination of the root canals from saliva and other foreign obects. The decayed portions of the tooth and any defected filling are removed. The pulp/pulp remnants are extracted. A special drill and small pin like instruments known as files are used to thoroughly clean and shape the root canals and to remove bacteria, pus and debris. The root canals may need to be shaped or hollowed out to ensure a smooth interior surface. The interior of the tooth is flushed with disinfectants like saline and then dried. If the root canal is not infection free, it may be medicated and the tooth sealed with a temporary filling material. If bacteria are still present at the next appointment, the cleaning procedure may be repeated and the tooth once again packed with medication. This will continue until the dentist feels the tooth is free from bacteria. The infection-free root canal is then sealed with long-lasting root filling, usually a pink rubber-based material called ‘gutta-percha’. The tooth then gets a restoration and an artificial biting surface for the tooth is made from regular filling material. In many cases, where there is considerable loss of tooth structure, there may be a need for a crown made from porcelain, gold alloy or other materials. Failure to get an endo-treated tooth crowned when indicated by the dentist may result in its fracture. #root #canal

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