Conservative Dentistry

As the name suggests, conservative dentistry is concerned with the state of the oral cavity, not only from the perspective of its function, but also its aesthetics. Whenever the patient needs to have a damaged tooth treated, we do our best to conserve it in its original state, always using the gentlest methods available. It is above all up to the patient to keep their teeth in their original state for a maximum amount of time by cleaning them regularly and going to their preventive examinations. The aim of conservative dentistry is curative and preventive care rather than repeated repair of the patients’ teeth.

Dental Filling, Crowns, Dentures

If a tooth or its part is lost after an injury or a cavity, the missing part needs to be replaced with a filling that restores both the function of the tooth and its original appearance. Depending on the type of the damage, the patient can either choose an amalgam filling or glass-ceramic materials and dental composites (white fillings).

The gap in the teeth formed after a tooth extraction can be filled with a crown or a bridge that spans it. In the latter case, a crown needs to be applied to the teeth adjacent to the gap. Another option is to replace the missing tooth with an implant, although this is not possible in all circumstances because it requires a strong underlying bone. In principle, the crown can be applied to almost any tooth, provided its root is firm and long enough and the surrounding gum is healthy. Before applying the crown, a thorough clinical and x-ray examination is performed in all cases.

If a denture is necessary, x-rays and a dental impression need to be made to provide a model for the denture. The patient is always informed in detail on the way the denture is used and how to maintain it. At first, the denture needs some time to adjust in the mouth and in some cases unpleasant bruising may occur – in such cases the denture is repaired. Even after the denture settles in, regular examinations are necessary to keep track of the state of the patient’s gums.

Treatment of Caries

While there are many ways of treating dental caries, it is always better to prevent it by carrying out oral hygiene on a regular basis and visiting the dentist’s office. Unless you clean your teeth regularly, food remains will stay in the mouth and form dental plaque, a sticky substance on the surface of the teeth that is composed of microbes. Bacteria produces lactic acid and this leads to the demineralization of the enamel, starting a process in which tooth decay can occur. Painful reaction to hot and very cold foods and drinks is among the first symptoms –  without an early examination, however, even complications such as an abscess or loss of teeth can occur. To prevent this, we encourage all our patients to not to underestimate their dental care and take preventive examinations regularly, as that is the only way to identify cavities early and choose the best treatment available.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is one of the most common operations in dental surgery. It is performed on local anaesthesia only after all options for saving the tooth have been exhausted. Before the operation the patient should inform the dentist about any medication that they are taking. After applying the anaesthetic, the patient no longer feels any pain and the tooth can be extracted. Any pain that occurs after the extraction can be handled by common analgesics available at any pharmacy. Healing starts when the wound is filled with a blood clot. If the blood clot is damaged, healing may be interrupted and in such a case rinsing and inserting a drain becomes necessary. Such cases, however, are very rare.

Periodontal disease

Gum diseases can be divided into two stages: in the first one gums become inflamed and swollen and minor bleeding starts during oral hygiene. That alone sends an important signal that something is wrong. In the initial phase, the periodontium and the bone are not yet damaged but unless the patient starts treatment as soon as possible, the disease may develop into periodontitis as periodontal pockets deepen and both the periodontium and the bone are gradually destroyed. This can lead to a complete loss of teeth because the teeth remain without any support whatsoever.