Modern dentistry offers a wide range of processes and treatments to patients who present with all kinds of dental problems. The more common treatments that most of us encounter are cleaning, oral hygiene and filling any cavities that have appeared since the last visit. However, this was not always the case. In the past, much of a dentist’s work was to perform extractions, since oral hygiene was so little understood and practiced that most people had teeth that were beyond saving. A visit to the dentist happened when the patient could no longer stand the pain, and taking the tooth out was a relief.
Thankfully those days have long past, and there is a treatment for almost every situation. Again, thankfully, most dental treatments are relatively pain-free, as local anaesthetic is used for anything invasive like a filling, extraction or any other treatment that will cause discomfort to the patient. However, there are other treatments that require dental surgery and dentists these days are trained to perform most procedures.
A loose definition of dental surgery is any medical procedure that requires artificially modifying dentition through surgery of the teeth or jawbone. There are a number of different procedures that fall under this definition, the most common being endodontic i.e. surgery involving the root of the tooth, dental prosthodontics and orthodontics.
We know endodontic surgery under the more common expression of root canal, and involves invasion of the pulp chamber or root of the tooth, where several different procedures can be performed. Prosthodontics is not a term most of us would be familiar with, but includes commonly known procedures such as crowns, veneers, implants, dentures and other artificial devices designed to improve the appearance and performance of the teeth.
Crowns are typically a restoration technique to cover a tooth that has broken in part and is a method used to preserve the remaining tooth. Veneers, on the other hand, are a thin covering on the front teeth which improves their appearance. Dentures are false teeth, and implants are made of titanium and placed in the jaw for an artificial tooth to be attached, closing a gap.
Orthodontic treatment is something we most associate with wearing braces to straighten teeth that are growing in the wrong direction but also includes implants and extractions such as the practice of removing wisdom teeth which are likely to cause problems. Extensive work at a Bundaberg dental surgery may require a general anaesthetic and a short hospital stay, depending on the amount of work needed.
There are now few general treatments that most dentists are unable to perform, and for anything extensive, there are specialist roles that have developed in the profession over time. We are fortunate to have these skills and technologies available to us and we are in good hands.
Thankfully those days have long past, and there is a treatment for almost every situation. Again, thankfully, most dental treatments are relatively pain-free, as local anaesthetic is used for anything invasive like a filling, extraction or any other treatment that will cause discomfort to the patient. However, there are other treatments that require dental surgery and dentists these days are trained to perform most procedures.
A loose definition of dental surgery is any medical procedure that requires artificially modifying dentition through surgery of the teeth or jawbone. There are a number of different procedures that fall under this definition, the most common being endodontic i.e. surgery involving the root of the tooth, dental prosthodontics and orthodontics.
We know endodontic surgery under the more common expression of root canal, and involves invasion of the pulp chamber or root of the tooth, where several different procedures can be performed. Prosthodontics is not a term most of us would be familiar with, but includes commonly known procedures such as crowns, veneers, implants, dentures and other artificial devices designed to improve the appearance and performance of the teeth.
Crowns are typically a restoration technique to cover a tooth that has broken in part and is a method used to preserve the remaining tooth. Veneers, on the other hand, are a thin covering on the front teeth which improves their appearance. Dentures are false teeth, and implants are made of titanium and placed in the jaw for an artificial tooth to be attached, closing a gap.
Orthodontic treatment is something we most associate with wearing braces to straighten teeth that are growing in the wrong direction but also includes implants and extractions such as the practice of removing wisdom teeth which are likely to cause problems. Extensive work at a Bundaberg dental surgery may require a general anaesthetic and a short hospital stay, depending on the amount of work needed.
There are now few general treatments that most dentists are unable to perform, and for anything extensive, there are specialist roles that have developed in the profession over time. We are fortunate to have these skills and technologies available to us and we are in good hands.
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