General Dentistry Clinic in Delhi NCR, India

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General Dentistry

There are many procedures which are more common in day-to-day dentistry. These have been classified under General Dentistry.

Root Canal Treatment

Inside your tooth, beneath the white enamel and a hard layer called dentin, is a soft tissue called pulp. This tissue contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, which help grow the root of your tooth during its development. A fully developed tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

Root canal therapy or endodontic treatment is required when the infection from a decayed tooth or an injury reaches the pulp of the tooth. In that scenario the tooth cannot be fixed simply with a filling and needs a thorough cleaning of the entire canals of the tooth which harbour the infected nerve.

Once the tooth is decayed and left untreated, the infection spreads to the nerves and travels through the root canal of the tooth into the bone. This could lead to an abscess, pain from which can come and go. Antibiotics can temporarily alleviate the pain and swelling but are not capable of treating the underlying problem. Furthermore, regular intake of antibiotics can cause them to be less effective as the bacteria become more resistant over a period of time. Thus, it is better to get the treatment done as soon as possible.

Undergoing an RC treatment at Indiadens is nothing like those old sayings! It can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your teeth and your personal circumstances. Getting an RCT is relatively painless and extremely effective. You’ll be back to smiling, biting and chewing with ease in no time.

Steps involved in a Root Canal Treatment:

An opening is made in the infected tooth to reach the infected pulp.
Infected tissues are removed, any abscess is drained and the canals are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.
Laser is used for final disinfection of the canals(this step is optional).
The canal is filled with a permanent material (gutta percha)
Openings are sealed and sometimes an additional post is inserted for extra support (if needed)
New crown is cemented to rebuild the tooth structure in order to restore the functional ability of the tooth as well as to protect the natural tooth

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need an RCT?

You may not feel any pain during the early stages of infection.

In some cases, your tooth may darken in colour, which could mean that the nerve (blood supply to the tooth) is dying.

It is important to know that you may not have any symptoms in the early stages of infection, and every tooth will respond differently when it comes to tooth decay.

Root canals are needed in a tooth with a deep cavity, or secondary infection beneath a pre-existing filling, or in a tooth cracked from injury or genetics. There are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal—

Lingering sensitivity to hot and/or cold food and sweets, even after the sensation has been removed
Throbbing pain while chewing or biting
Pain that worsens when you lie down
Tooth pain that radiates to the head and ears
Pimples on the gums/swelling around the tooth
A chipped or cracked tooth
Deep decay or darkening of the gums

Does root canal treatment (RCT) hurt?

A root canal treatment will be performed after administering local anesthesia which makes the tooth numb. Make sure you eat a light meal before you visit Indiadens for your treatment. You will be advised against chewing and biting until the numbness wears off.

Can I get back to my normal routine after getting my root canal treatment?

Although you will most likely be numb for approximately 30-60 minutes following the procedure, most patients are able to return to school or work directly following a root canal treatment. However, it is advised against eating for one to two hours until the numbness has completely gone to avoid biting your lip/tongue.

Crowns/Caps

PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) - It is a type of crown with porcelain layered on top of the supporting structure of metal. However it requires more removal of healthy tooth structure to accommodate the restoration. It is considered highly resistant to wear and tear but it does not match the translucency of the natural tooth as well as the esthetics of all ceramic restoration. Hence its use in the front teeth is limited. Additionally, it may cause radiographic noise in surrounding tissues on CT scans and MRI’s.

Casted: The inner coping of metal is made by manual casting technique.
Laser Sintered: The inner coping of metal is made by highly advanced laser sintering technology which significantly improves the precision and fit and hence the longevity.

Zirconia (Metal free)

Layered: All ceramic layered restorations are preferred at places where better esthetics is the primary concern because their colour and translucency resemble that of a natural tooth.The strength of these restorations depend on the thickness of porcelain and the ability to bind to the tooth surface. They are highly resistant to wear and tear but can undergo fracture if placed under high impact or tension. These are mostly used in front teeth.
Monolith: When dealing with posterior teeth, the all-ceramic restorations with high strength are preferred. Their esthetics are relatively lower when compared to the layered all ceramic prosthesis, but the strength is higher, which is required for biting food especially with posterior teeth.

Restorations/Fillings

Tooth cavities occur when bacteria attack the food stuck on your tooth and start demineralizing the structure of the tooth. The damage is irreversible and needs to be repaired by first cleaning the infected and demineralized tooth surface and then filling it with an appropriate filling material. The durability and longevity of the filling depends on various factors, first being the patient’s oral health and maintenance of hygiene. The others are the type of filling material used, the location of the filling on the tooth and how much load the filling will bear while chewing.

Composite/Tooth Coloured - It is a tooth coloured filling composed of a glass filler mixed in a resin medium. The shade matching your teeth is used.

Fluoride/GIC fillings - This is also a tooth coloured, translucent filling material with a single, universal shade for all teeth. It is composed of a few acrylic acids and fine glass powder. Its most important property is that it releases a small amount of fluoride which could help prevent tooth decay in patients prone to tooth decay. Glass ionomers can not match the shade of the tooth close enough.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are actually the indirect substitutes for fillings. They can be made from porcelain, gold or even metal. They are considered much more superior to routine fillings/restorations in case of large cavities.

Scaling and Polishing

It is a process to mechanically clean the tartar(calculus) and removable stains off your teeth. It is a painless procedure with the current state of the art equipment used.