Common Dental Procedures: Frequently Asked Questions: PART 1
Let us address some frequently asked questions about common dental treatment procedures.
- Why do teeth appear yellow sometimes and how can they be whitened?
The natural colour of teeth appears to be yellowish-white but when the enamel gets stained by food or drinks, the yellow colour darkens. Many tooth-whitening products like toothpaste are available over the counter but none of them is as effective as in-office dental bleaching.
- Can a tooth cavity be treated at home?
A tooth cavity or dental caries permanently damages the tooth. Cavities cannot be treated at home as they require dental fillings and other extensive procedures, depending on the extent of the damage.
- Why are tooth fillings required?
Dental fillings materials are used to fill cavities, repair a broken tooth, and close gaps between teeth. The different types of dental fillings include glass ionomer cement (GIC), composite (tooth-coloured filling), amalgam (a mix of silver powder and mercury), and gold.
- Why does one require a root canal treatment (RCT)?
Root canal treatment (RCT) is an invasive dental procedure that involves cleaning diseased and dead pulp tissue, consisting of nerves and blood vessels. Local anaesthesia is given to the patient while this procedure is performed to ensure that the patient does not experience any pain. After cleaning the canals, the tooth is filled with a root canal filling material and sealed using dental cement.
