Restorative Dental Treatment
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a mixture of two gases, oxygen and nitrogen. When inhaled it is absorbed by the body and has a calming effect that can be especially beneficial for anxious patients, depending upon their age and condition. Patients on nitrous oxide are still fully conscious, but should be more relaxed for the dental procedure. The use of nitrous oxide is based on the consent of the parent/guardian and the discretion of the treating doctor.
What is an amalgam restoration?
Amalgam restorations are metal fillings placed on posterior teeth when dental caries (cavities) develop. The decay is removed from the tooth and amalgam is place to restore the patient’s natural occlusion and function.
What is a deciduous chrome crown?
Deciduous chrome crowns are used when the decay in a primary (baby) tooth is too extensive for an amalgam restoration. The crown covers the remaining tooth structure and allows for the normal function of the tooth – mastication of food, pronunciation and phonetics, and space maintenance for the permanent tooth.
What is a pulpotomy?
When the decay in a tooth reaches the pulp (nerve), it can become sensitive. The bacteria infect the pulp and the effect disease nerve tissue must be removed. Pulpotomy is the removal of the coronal pulp chamber in the tooth that is done when caries has affected the nerve.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal (endodontic therapy) is the complete removal of the nerve from a tooth, both the coronal pulp chamber and the ridiculer nerve. A root canal is treatment planned once dental decay has progressed into the nerve of a permanent tooth, symptoms of sensitivity to hot and cold, along with spontaneous pain can occur prior to root canal treatment.
What is a Porcelain Crown?
A porcelain crown is the next step in treatment of a tooth, following root canal therapy. This preserves the remaining permanent tooth structure. The color porcelain is selected to match the adjacent teeth and therefore make an esthetically pleasing restoration.
What is an Extraction?
Extraction is the removal of a primary (baby) or permanent (adult) tooth. Teeth may be extracted due to eruption of the permanent tooth, extensive decay/infection, or due to spacing issues.
What is a space maintainer?
A space maintainer is an appliance used after the early loss of a primary (baby) tooth. The space maintainer is designed to prevent movement of adjacent teeth into a specific area and to allow for the eruption of the permanent tooth when it has developed.
