Understanding Dental Treatments and Procedures

Types of Anaesthesia

Local Anaesthetic: Administered via injection into the gum or soft tissue to numb specific areas quickly.

Sedation: Can be administered through drugs like midazolam or via a gas mixture (Nitrous oxide and oxygen), helping anxious patients relax during treatment.

General Anaesthetic: Conducted in a hospital by an anaesthetist, where the patient is completely asleep and requires hospital recovery.

Types of Dental Fillings

Non-Adhesive Fillings: Typically Amalgam, strong but visible; requires shaping of the tooth cavity.

Adhesive Fillings (Composite): Bonds to the tooth surface, aesthetically pleasing but less strong than amalgam.

Crowns: Custom-fitted jackets covering damaged teeth, made from materials like gold, silver, or porcelain matched to natural teeth colour.

Bridges: Similar to crowns but used to replace missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent teeth.

Root Canal Treatment (RCT)

Description of RCT: Procedure for infected or damaged tooth nerves, involving cleaning, disinfecting, and sealing the tooth to save it from extraction.

Procedure Details: Requires multiple visits, each lasting up to 45 minutes, involving careful cleaning and sealing of the tooth canal.