Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

Dental Procedures You May Need

26 July 2016

Herman Kim

For many people, a visit to the dentist is one of the most nerve wracking situations they can find themselves in. The situation can be made considerably worse by all the utterances by the dentist as to what you need and what will be done, especially if you have no idea what any of the dental jargon means. With a little information, however, you can panic less and make more informed choices as to what you want based on your personal considerations such as insurance for instance. The following are some of the confusing procedures and a little information that can help you decide when you need them and why.

Gum graft

Sitting on a dentist's chair and hearing the words "you need a gum graft" can send someone straight into panic mode. You do not have to fear this term. A dentist may recommend a gum graft in cases where your gums are showing significant recession. Receding gums can be caused by either over brushing, poor flossing, or some malocclusion cases. The procedure involves the dentist removing a piece of skin from your palate roof and transplanting it at the area of recession; fairly non-invasive. A gum graft is absolutely necessary when the receding gums have exposed the roots of your teeth. This leaves you extremely sensitive to hot and cold things, especially in the lower front teeth or the premolars. Remember, gum grafts may be considered major dental services and can cost a considerable amount from you on top of insurance.

Filling replacement

If your amalgam fillings are breaking down, your dentist may recommend a replacement of the fillings. Not every situation requires a complete set of new fillings for your teeth.  Sometimes, composite fillings are used to cover up only the damaged or broken fillings. Composite fillings are more plastic-like and insulate the tooth better. You can ask for this if your x-ray shows a few broken or cracked fillings. Broken fillings allow for some bacteria to seep into the cracks. These can later worsen the feeling by causing huge cavities that may be quite painful. Covering amalgam fillings with composite fillings is a good way to deter this. 

The laser

Advancements in technology have seen many dentists take up several new ways of conducting procedures differently. One of these new ways is the use of laser technology. A dentist may recommend use of laser technology to clean out tooth decay. The beauty with lasers is that they are precise and painless in some occasions. Some dentists even say that they drastically reduce the time it takes to heal. If your cavities are very small, you may want to opt for laser treatment.  With large cavities, however, lasers aren't as recommended.

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