Category: Blog

Dental Onlays are used when a tooth is too damaged to just repair but not damaged enough to require extraction. Capping a dental problem with a crown may require removing more of the healthy tooth than is necessary, and the dentist will use the onlays to avoid having to do so. This helps you avoid excessive dental treatment that is not completely necessary. Onlays fall in that category between fillings and having a total crown put on your tooth. These onlays will help restore larger cavities without having to crown (cap) the tooth.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other:

Dental inlays and onlays are similar in restoration processes but cover different properties of the damaged tooth. A dental inlay fills in the space created by the decay from the cavity whereas an onlay covers the cusps of the tooth or the layer across the top of the tooth. The inlay goes inside, the onlay goes on top is the essential difference. These are often also known as “partial crowns”.

Direct Responses to Your Dental Problems:

There are two types of dental restorations and those are indirect and direct. The direct restorations are made right in the office by your normal dentist during a regular appointment and indirect restorations are made in a science laboratory. Dental onlays are often qualified as indirect restorations but they may be done in the offices as well sometimes based on your dentists’ knowledge and experience.

The onlay typically involves the following procedures:

Indirect Onlays: your dentist will prepare the tooth in the first appointment by removing any tooth decay. They will take impressions of the tooth and they will ship those to the dental lab to be processed. After a few days, the dentist will get the onlay back but in the meantime, they will give you a temporary filling to allow your tooth to be protected till the onlay is put on. During the second visit the onlay will be cemented into place on the tooth.

Direct Onlays: your dentist will be able to use the same preparation and the tooth will be filled with a composite resin material and the filling will be put into the oven hardened, created into a mold, and applied to the tooth. There is also a high-tech option to make these onlays now through a system called CEREC that is done through 3D computer imagery right in the dental office by simply taking a picture of the tooth and the dentist will create the needed onlays right there in the office. No impressions, fillings, or second appointment needed unless you need touchup work!

In Conclusion:

Whether you think you need a filling or dental onlay there is one certain thing: this is an easier, less invasive option than requiring the removal of part of the healthy tooth to put a crown on it when a less invasive procedure works fine as well!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

Teeth are removed for many reasons including decay that has reached deep root levels, infections that have destroyed the tooth and surrounding bone, and there not being enough room for all the teeth in one’s mouth. Many dentists will also recommend extracting teeth that are only partially erupted as bacteria can enter around a partially erupted tooth and can cause infections which can extend into the surrounding bone and compromise other teeth. This is often done to save removing more teeth later and having pain in the future.

How Are Teeth Removed?

The dentist will remove your entire medical and oral history before removing a tooth and will take any appropriate X-Rays needed to complete the job properly. X-Rays will reveal the length, shape, and exact placement of the tooth so the dentist can remove it more accurately and so they know what they are dealing with before they go into the job.

Before removal, you will receive anesthesia for the tooth so you do not experience any pain. The anesthesia will be local in the mouth where the tooth is being removed from.

What Can I Expect After an Extraction?

It is critical to keep the area clean and ensure you prevent infection after the extraction. You will need to bite down on a piece of gauze to help keep the area dry and allow clotting following the procedure. This will probably last about 30-45 minutes until bleeding completely stops. You shouldn’t smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously, or clean next to the extraction site for 24 hours following the procedure as the area heals.

A certain amount of pain/discomfort can be expected in the area when the anesthesia wears off and at the same time, the dentist may prescribe a painkiller to help with the pain if it is expected to be more severe, or you had more or more one teeth extracted at a time. You should also limit strenuous activity long as your dentist recommends, and also not drink hot liquids or drink through a straw for long as he tells you not to do so.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

impacted tooth, Vector illustration
Toothache, Tooth medical
anatomy

If you hear your dentist tell you that your wisdom teeth will need to come out it is not the time to go fully into panic mode. These third molars can definitely affect your oral health if they are growing in wrong, so having them removed can often be the smartest decision your dentist can help you make.

Why Aftercare is Vital:

Dentists have been removing wisdom teeth for millions of Americans every year for decades according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Besides some temporary bleeding, discomfort, and swelling/bruising after surgery, most people will recover seamlessly without hardly any issues. Nonetheless, dry socket is the most common issue after having these teeth removed.

A dry socket can develop when there are newly-formed blood clots within the socket and it is unintentionally dislodged or removed exposing bone and causing bleeding. In addition to serious pain, your symptoms will include visible bone within the socket, swollen lymph nodes in the neck area, and low-grade fevers.

To prevent potential problems after your wisdom teeth are removed be sure to follow the following tips:

Swelling: put ice on the outside of the mouth intermittently for 20 minutes on and 20 off for the two days after your surgery (during hours you are awake) to help minimalize any bruising and swelling that may occur.

Bleeding: ensure that you keep the gauze pads in place at least 30 minutes after the procedure and do expect some bleeding this is completely normal. If gauze is uncomfortable try moistened tea bags for the same amount of time. This allows the blood clot to set.

Diet: After the bleeding stops then it’s time to drink a lot of lukewarm or cold fluids to help keep yourself hydrated. Some soft foods are ok too like eggs, pudding, Jello, and mashed potatoes. Stay on the soft diet for 2-3 days till clots have solidified and there is no risk of pulling them out to induce dry-socket.

Medications: take prescribed medications or antibiotics from the oral surgeon exactly as directed. If you are taking narcotic-level painkilling medications then you will be asked not to operate machinery or drink alcohol while on the medication.

When May I Need to Call My Dentist?

If your pain is not improving a little bit each day for the first week then call the dentist as something may be wrong. Also, if you experience increased swelling, excessive bleeding that can’t be controlled with pressure, severe/throbbing pain for 3-4 days following surgery, or an elevated temperature that persists. No matter how many wisdom teeth you have removed listen to the dentist’s advice to ensure you recover smoothly.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”