treatment concepts

---

The concept of prevention in dentistry is to avoid or reduce the degree of forth coming intervention, such as treatment for cavities, gum disease and more. Key to preventive dentistry is to maintain optimal oral hygiene through daily brushing and regular dental visits. Preventive treatment must be coordinated according to the needs and condition of the individual.

The term "periodontium" refers to the surrounding structures of the teeth, including gum and bone. Periodontal therapy is achieving periodontal health through professional cleaning by removing plaque and calculus (commonly referred to as "tartar"). Regular periodontal treatment is the least invasive and most cost-effective method of maintaining healthy periodontium.

Dental visit for a child is not only an imperative milestone to promote child's dental health, but also serves as educational resource for parents. Early oral examination aids in detection of decay and aberrant habits to allow appropriate intervention in a timely manner. Additionally, parents are educated in proper home oral health care, cavity prevention and habit modification to avoid major dental treatment in the future.

Each discipline of dentistry plays an important role in pain management ranging from endodontics (root canal treatment), oral surgery (extraction), restorative dentistry (broken tooth), periodontics (sensitivity and mobile tooth) to TMJ (temporomandibular joint problem). Some cases may be simple and straight forward, but sometimes, treatment may require multidisciplinary approach.

Rebuilding lost tooth structure is one of the most commonly performed disciplines in current dentistry. It may be as simple as adding a small filling material, to integrating a dental implant into the bone to support the crown. In order for successful outcome, restorative treatment should be tailored to meet the needs of each patient.

The most important aspect of current dentistry is involvement of the patient in the decision making process. Building trust-based foundation is an essential procedure when it comes to establishing doctor-patient relationship. Patient must be clearly informed about risks and benefits of various treatment options, as well as financial considerations.