Dental Care Services

Composite fillings (white fillings) are modern dental materials that can bond to the tooth while matching its color, texture, and shape. They are used to restore teeth with simple and moderate cavities. Composite Fillings provide excellent aesthetics, function, and durability.

Filling Cavities: What Will Happen During My Filling Appointment?
You should expect to be at your dentist’s office for around an hour. This gives him/her enough time to take x-rays if needed, talk to you about the procedure, and complete the dental work. Before filling cavities, your dentist will numb your teeth, gums, and surrounding skin if needed, using a special anesthesia gel and solution, to avoid and lessen discomfort during the procedure.
Your dentist will drill to remove the decay/old filling and prepare the tooth to accept the new filling. The restoration is then placed and shaped using the latest bonding techniques, and a blue light is shone onto the material to set it. After filling placement, your dentist will smooth, contour, and polish the filling to ensure you can bite together comfortably, and your tooth looks natural.
Once you’re done, your mouth will probably remain numb for a few more hours. There aren’t any significant risks associated with filling cavities but be sure to keep your dentist’s contact information on hand in case you have any questions or complications. The most common use of tooth fillings is to fill a cavity in the tooth. But tooth fillings can also be used to repair teeth damage caused by teeth grinding (bruxism) or to replace part of a broken tooth.

Cavity Filling Aftercare
Occasionally, you may experience some sensitivity to hot/cold food and drinks after your filling has been placed. However, this should subside in the following weeks. Once settled, you will have to maintain the restoration by regular brushing, flossing, and avoidance of too much sugar in your diet. Don’t neglect your oral care routine. Instead, try products designed specifically to protect sensitive teeth and protect against future tooth decay. However, if the sensitivity persists, it is advisable to return to your dentist for further advice.

When to Replace a Cavity Filling?
Tooth fillings usually last for many years before they need replacement. However, they can wear out over years of chewing. If you clench or grind your teeth, you may need to have tooth fillings replaced sooner.
If you notice signs of wear on your tooth fillings, such as cracks or worn areas, see your dentist to have the filling replaced as soon as possible. Continuing to chew with a damaged filling can cause the tooth to crack and could require additional repair that is more expensive and more complicated than a simple cavity filling. If additional tooth decay develops around a filling, your dentist may choose to repair the tooth with a crown instead of a second cavity filling.

Other Potential Problems with Cavity Fillings
It’s important to know about potential problems, so you can see your dentist promptly to have cavity fillings adjusted or repaired. Possible complications from cavity fillings include:
• Infection: Sometimes a cavity filling will pull away from the tooth to which it is attached, creating a small space. This space can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause additional tooth decay. If you notice a space between your tooth and your cavity filling, visit a dentist as soon as possible.
• Damage: Sometimes a cavity filling breaks, cracks, or falls out. Damage to a filling can occur when you bite down on something hard or if you are hit in the mouth while playing sports. See a dentist as soon as you notice damage to a cavity filling to avoid irritation and infection of the unprotected tooth.

Sometimes permanent teeth are crippled because they can’t be repaired. There are several cases where tooth extraction may be required such as a tooth that is too badly damaged from decay or trauma and cannot be repaired, or in the case of a crowded mouth; sometimes dentists pull teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontia.

There are two types of extraction:

Simple Extraction
Surgical Extraction

• Brush your teeth and tongue for two minutes at least twice a day
• Use a toothbrush gently
• Don’t share your toothbrush with anyone
• Get a new toothbrush every 6 months
• Use floss every day
• Visit the dentist at least once a year
• Avoid tobacco products
• Avoid sugary food and drinks

The prevention of dental diseases is key to oral hygiene. It includes regular cleaning in the clinic (twice a year), daily brushing (at least 2 times a day), daily flossing, the use of antiseptic mouthwashes and tooth-powder, and avoiding snacks and sticky food (like candy). Further, promoting nutrition and diet by reducing the intake of carbohydrates and increasing the intake of fibrous food is essential to stimulate salivory flow and protect against caries.

Dental inlays and onlays are used to restore and strengthen a greater decayed or damaged tooth to its original condition. They are more conservative than dental crowns because they don’t involve the removal of healthy tooth structure. For this reason, inlays and onlays are considered as minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry treatments, and for many dentists and patients are preferred over other types of restoration. A crown, although not a bad procedure, involves the removal of healthy tooth structure (more than needed) and can increase the risk of tooth fracture and the need for a root canal treatment.
Inlays and onlays are usually fabricated in a dental lab and are then fitted and bonded to the damaged tooth by the dentist. This type of restoration is called an indirect filling because unlike traditional dental fillings they are not molded into place during your dental visit. However, using CEREC SIRONA technology, inlays and onlays can be provided in a single visit.

What is the Difference Between an Inlay & Onlay?
Both inlays and onlays are preformed in a lab before being bonded to the damaged or decayed tooth. The difference in use depends on the amount of tooth structure that has been lost to wear or decay. Your dentist will help you decide which is most appropriate for you.
An inlay fits within the grooves that are within the cusps of your teeth. An onlay, the larger of the two, fits within the grooves but wraps up and over the cusps covering more of the tooth’s surface. An onlay is used when the damage is more extensive, and the restoration covers the entire chewing surface including one or more tooth cusps.

The Inlay & Onlay Procedure
The procedure to place an inlay or onlay is the same, and both require two dental visits unless an in-office milling unit (CEREC SIRONA CAD/CAM Dentistry) is used. The first dental visit will involve the preparation of the tooth, which includes the removal of the decayed or damaged portion. Because the procedure is conservative, the dentist will only remove as little tooth structure as possible to restore your tooth. The area is numbed by a local anesthetic before being removed by a drill. After the decay and damage have been removed, a mold of the tooth is taken and sent to the dental lab. If your dentist has a milling unit in their office, they can avoid the use of a temporary restoration. A temporary restoration is placed on the tooth until the inlay/onlay comes back from the lab.
The single visit restorations are typically made by machines such as the CEREC that enables the dentist to make porcelain crowns and inlays/onlays quickly and bond them in a single appointment. The permanent restoration involves the cleaning of the tooth to prepare for the new inlay/onlay. The inlay/onlay will be placed to ensure a correct fit before it is bonded to the tooth. If the fit doesn’t interfere with the patient’s bite, it is permanently attached to the tooth using special cement or bonding then polished for appearance.

Fissure sealing (also termed dental sealants) is a dental treatment to prevent tooth decay.

The teeth have pits and fissures, which are most vulnerable to tooth decay because food and bacteria stick in them and because they are hard-to-clean areas. Dental sealants are materials placed in these pits and fissures to fill them creating a smooth surface that is easy to clean.

What is Scaling and Polishing?
It’s a quick cleaning of the teeth carried out by the dentist that involves cleaning around the gum line on the back and front of your teeth to remove any plaque (soft, sticky, bacteria infested film) and tartar (calculus) deposits that have built up on the teeth over time. The treatment is finished by a quick polishing of the teeth.
Your teeth are continually soaked in saliva which contains calcium and other substances that help strengthen and protect the teeth. While this is a good thing, it also means that we tend to get a build-up of calcium deposits on the teeth. This chalky substance will eventually build up over time. Usually, it is tooth-colored and can easily be mistaken as part of the teeth, but the color can also vary from brown to black.

Why Do We Need It?
If the calculus (tartar) is allowed to accumulate on the teeth, it will, unfortunately, provide the right conditions for bacteria to thrive next to the gums. The purpose of the cleaning and polishing is basically to leave the surfaces of the teeth clean and smooth so that bacteria is unable to stick to them. Thus, you have a better chance of keeping the teeth clean during your regular home care.

How Is It Done?
The dentist uses specialized instruments to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. The instruments which may be used during your cleaning, and what they feel like, are described below:

• Ultrasonic Instrument: Ultrasonic instrument is commonly used first, which uses tickling vibrations to remove larger pieces of tartar. It also sprays a cooling mist of water while it works to wash away debris and keep the area at a proper temperature. The device typically emits a humming or high-pitched whistling sound.
The ultrasonic instrument tips are curved and rounded and are always kept in motion around the teeth. They are by no means sharp since their purpose is to knock tartar loose and not to cut into the teeth. It is best to inform the operator if the sensations are too strong or ticklish so that they can adjust the setting appropriately on the device or modify the pressure applied. With larger deposits that have hardened on, it can take some time to remove these, so your cleaning may take longer than future cleanings.

• Air Flow Polishing: Once all the surfaces are smooth, the dentist may polish your teeth. Polishing is traditionally done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end. Prophylaxis paste – a special gritty toothpaste-like material – is scooped into the cup and spun around on the teeth to make them shiny smooth.
New dental technology is constantly being developed. The innovative air flow polishing technique uses a machine that cleans and polishes the teeth with a mix of water, compressed air, and fine powder particles. This method is far superior to traditional cleaning methods, which can be time-consuming and uncomfortable.

Is It Going to Be Painful?
Most people find that cleanings are painless, and find the sensations of (tickling vibrations, the cooling mist of water, and the feeling of pressure during “scraping”) do not cause discomfort. Be sure to let your dentist know if you find things are getting too uncomfortable for your liking as he/she can recommend various options to make the cleaning more enjoyable.

Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don’t have enough room to emerge or develop normally. They usually develop in between the ages of 17 and 25, and they’re checked using X-Rays. Most people remove their wisdom teeth for one of these reasons:

• They’re impacted
• They grow abnormally (in the wrong angle) and may press against your other teeth
• Your mouth isn’t big enough
• You have gum disease because wisdom teeth are hard to clean

Being experts in the field of dentistry, we, at Icon Clinic, deliver one of the finest root canal treatment and restoration in Abu Dhabi. We use technologically advanced facilities and modern dental practices for treating our patients.
Book an appointment today for a painless root canal treatment!

What is Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a badly decayed or infected tooth. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form. Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages like:

• Efficient chewing
• Normal biting force and sensation
• Natural appearance
• Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

How Do You Know if You Need a Root Canal?
Root canals are needed for a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, a deep cavity, or issues from a previous filling. Patients generally need a root canal when they notice their teeth are sensitive, particularly to hot and cold sensations. Common signs that tell you whether you require a root canal treatment or not:

• Severe pain while chewing or biting
• Pimples on the gums
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening of the gums

How Is a Root Canal Done?
During a root canal procedure, the endodontist first removes the nerve and the inflamed/infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth carefully, and then fills and seals the space. Afterward, your dentist will place a crown on the tooth to protect and restore it to its original function.

How Many Visits Does a Root Canal Take?
Most root canals can usually be completed in one to two appointments depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances. The first appointment is the procedure itself when the infected pulp is removed. The second (and maybe third) appointment is when the root canal gets cleaned and filled with a crown or other filling to prevent infections. Each appointment lasts roughly 90 minutes each.

After the Procedure
Although you will most likely be numb for 2-4 hours following the procedure, most patients are able to return to school or work directly following a root canal. However, it is advised against eating until the numbness is completely gone. In some cases, for the first few days after a root canal, some patients may experience sensitivity, swelling, or inflammation, while others may experience an uneven bite or a reaction to the medication provided by the endodontist. Regardless of symptoms, a follow-up appointment is almost always needed.

What Not To Do After a Root Canal?
After a root canal, make sure to follow all of your endodontist’s instructions, which most often include avoiding hard or especially chewy foods, brushing twice a day, and being very cautious around the area where the root canal procedure was completed.

Full mouth rehabilitation is the restoration of the form and function of the masticatory apparatus to as near normal as possible.  The most common reasons for doing full mouth rehabilitation is to maintain healthy periodontium, improve objectionable aesthetics, and eliminate pain and discomfort of the teeth and surrounding structures.