Mouth And Teeth

Toothache

What Causes Toothache? Toothache is a condition that usually occurs as a result of irritation or inflammation of the nerve ending (pulp) of the tooth and seriously reduces the quality of life. The character of the pain (throbbing, aching, sharp) gives a clue about the source of the problem.

Most Common Causes

Deep Cavities: Occur when bacteria penetrate the tooth enamel and reach the nerve.
Dental Abscess: Infection accumulated at the root tip, causing facial swelling and throbbing pain.
Gum Diseases: Receding gums and exposure of the tooth root surface.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth: A tooth that cannot emerge, pressing against adjacent teeth.
Tooth Enamel Erosion: Sensitivity caused by hard brushing or acidic foods.

When to See a Dentist If pain persists despite painkillers, wakes you from sleep, causes facial swelling, or leads to fever, you should see a dentist without delay.

Which Department to Visit: For general tooth pain, start with a General Dentist. However, if the pain originates from the root, see Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment); if it is gum-related, consult the Periodontology department.

Dental Implant Treatment

What is a Dental Implant? A dental implant is a titanium screw placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth, mimicking the tooth root. It is considered the closest alternative to a natural tooth, providing both aesthetic appearance and restoring chewing function.

To Whom Can It Be Applied?

For those who are missing one or more teeth,
Individuals with completed jaw bone development (usually over the age of 18),
For patients whose bone density is sufficient to securely hold the implant screw.

How Does the Treatment Process Work? The implant process has two stages. In the first stage, the screw is surgically placed into the jawbone and is waited for 2-3 months for it to fuse with the bone (osseointegration). In the second stage, porcelain or zirconium teeth are attached to it.

Which Department Should You Go? Implant surgery requires expertise. For this procedure, you should consult Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specialists or experienced dentists with an implant certificate.

Root Canal Treatment

What is Root Canal Treatment? Root canal treatment is a rescue procedure applied in case of inflammation or death of the living tissue (vessel and nerve bundle) located inside the tooth, called “pulp”. The aim is not to extract the tooth, but to clean it, cover it with a filling and keep it in the mouth.

In Which Situations Is It Done?

Severe pain that wakes you up at night,
Persistent sensitivity to hot and cold,
Darkening of the color of the tooth (losing its vitality),
Formation of acne-like swellings (fistula) on the gums.

Is the Treatment Painful? Contrary to popular belief, no pain is felt during the procedure as it is performed under local anesthesia. It is normal to have slight sensitivity for a few days after treatment.

Which Department Should You Go? The specialty of this treatment is Endodontics. For teeth with difficult and crooked roots, it is necessary to see an Endodontist.

Teeth Whitening

What is Teeth Whitening? Teeth whitening (bleaching) is the process of lightening the color of teeth that have become yellow due to coffee, tea, smoking or genetic reasons, by using chemical gels a few shades. It should not be confused with dental scaling; This process lightens the color of the tooth itself.

What are the methods?

Office Bleaching: It is a fast method applied by the physician in the clinic, activated by a light device, and gives results in 1 hour.
Home Bleaching: It is a method that gives longer results and is applied at home by applying gel into personalized plates prepared by the physician.

Is it harmful? Whitening procedures performed under the supervision of a dentist do not cause permanent damage to tooth enamel. However, cold-hot sensitivity may be observed for a few days after the procedure.

Which Department Should You Go? This procedure is an aesthetic application. It is performed by physicians interested in Aesthetic Dentistry or general dentists.

Tooth Extraction

When should a tooth be extracted? In modern dentistry, the priority is always to save the tooth. But in some cases, shooting becomes inevitable. If there is so much damage that it cannot be saved with root canal treatment or filling, an extraction decision is made.

Cases Requiring Tooth Extraction

Teeth with excessive substance loss or decayed roots.
Severely loose teeth with periodontal damage.
In order to gain space for orthodontic treatment (braces treatment),
Wisdom teeth that remain impacted and cause pain.

When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed? Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. However, surgical extraction is necessary if the tooth is impacted under the gum and causes an abscess, decays the adjacent tooth, or creates overcrowding in the jaw.

Which Department Should You Go? General dentists perform normal tooth extractions. However, for impacted teeth, cysted teeth or difficult extractions, you should go to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department.

Filling Treatment

What is Filling? Filling is the process of cleaning damaged tooth tissue due to caries and filling the resulting gap with special materials. In this way, the function of the tooth is restored and the progression of decay is stopped.

What are the Filling Types?

Composite Filling (White Filling): It looks aesthetically pleasing because it is tooth-colored. It is applied in a single session and hardened with light. It is frequently used on front and back teeth.
Porcelain Filling (Inlay/Onlay): These are very durable fillings prepared in the laboratory and made by taking measurements from the tooth. It is preferred in teeth with a lot of substance loss.
Amalgam Filling (Grey Filling): These are old generation, metal-containing fillings. Nowadays, it is less preferred due to aesthetic concerns and mercury content debates.

Which Department Should You Go? Filling procedures are a routine dentistry practice. It is performed by the Restorative Dentistry department or general dentists.