Jangchung-dong Area Dental Clinic: Treatment Methods for Old Cavities and Missing Teeth

Hello,

I am Dr. Kim Tae-young, the head director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic in Jangchung-dong, explaining cases personally treated by the head director.

The dentist's office is always a place we dread visiting until we feel pain.

Teeth extracted in the past for whatever reason,

If you're missing one or two teeth, it doesn't cause much daily inconvenience,

so it's not easy to visit the dentist amidst a busy schedule.

Also, slowly progressing cavities, even deep ones,

sometimes show no symptoms,

and some people only notice a cavity when a weakened tooth breaks.

When patients visit our clinic due to such circumstances,

they receive explanations for treatment plans that have been postponed.

Multiple teeth often require treatment,

and since all teeth cannot be treated at once,

the treatment period is inevitably extended.

Today, since one patient had various cases,

let's look at a case that involved a long treatment period.

I want to treat a tooth that broke, fell out, and had a cavity from a past treatment.

The patient worked nearby.

They had been postponing their visit due to difficulty finding time,

but decided to seek treatment when a tooth fell out.

Looking at the X-rays and intraoral photos, various areas requiring treatment are visible:

aesthetic issues due to cavities, missing tooth areas, teeth that have erupted downwards due to the absence of opposing teeth,

and even teeth requiring root canal treatment due to deep cavities.

Treatment was needed for multiple teeth on both the left and right sides.

Since they were only available during evening clinic hours after work, we carefully allocated the number of visits and time.

1. Implant Treatment

First, we performed the implant surgery, which takes the longest.

Unfortunately, one area had only recently been extracted,

so immediate surgery was not possible, and we decided to proceed after the bone had recovered.

Root canal treatment was performed on the marked area.

There were teeth with deep cavities, and due to the absence of opposing teeth,

the tooth had erupted too far down, making it impossible to align the tooth's height

without root canal treatment + prosthetic treatment.

Since root canal treatment required multiple visits,

by the time the prosthetic treatment was completed, it coincided with the period when the implant's stability improved,

allowing us to complete the prosthetic treatment around the same time.

2. Root Canal Treatment and Remaining Cavity Fillings

Around the time the root canal and prosthetic treatments were completed,

we were able to perform the implant surgery for the remaining area.

Since the bone was still soft, we also

waited and proceeded with the remaining cavity fillings.

3. Completion of All Treatments

The very dark cavity area on the front tooth was also treated with resin, matched to the tooth color.

If the area is too large, crown treatment may be necessary,

but since resin seemed sufficient for treatment,

we treated it to match the tooth color as much as possible.

While it may seem short when summarized in photos,

including the waiting time, the treatment period took about half a year.

We had to adjust the number of visits within the evening clinic hours,

so the patient didn't have much free time,

but I believe we achieved good results because they followed the treatment well.

Compared to treatments in other medical fields,

dental treatments often require more visits

and have longer treatment periods,

which can sometimes lead to patients feeling bored and discontinuing their visits.

However, when we see the results, with perfect aesthetic and functional improvements,

and hear patients say they did well by visiting us,

we feel a sense of reward.^^

Jangchung-dong Area Dental Clinic

If dental treatment is delayed,

the number and scope of treatments needed later will increase,

so even if there are no symptoms, if treatment is necessary,

early treatment is important for conservative tooth preservation.

The first snow of 2024 has fallen.

There are many gatherings at the end and beginning of the year,

but I hope you take the time for regular check-ups

and enjoy the festive season.

Thank you!^^

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We believe that proper treatment leads to proper results. Our goal is to be a trustworthy dental clinic where everyone who visits with worries can leave feeling relieved. - Bareunyoung Dental Clinic

Directions: JYJ Building, 2nd floor, 179 Dongho-ro. Right in front of Exit 6 of Yaksu Station, towards Yaksu Market. Village Bus 5 (Yaksu Station), Village Bus 12 (Namsan Town, Yaksu Police Station). Bus stops (Yaksu Heights, Sindang Social Welfare Center, Gaon Library, Geumho Tunnel Entrance). From YuYu Pharma towards Geumho Station.

This post was written directly by Bareunyoung Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and hospital advertising (in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Act). The photos are taken from the same patient, and treatment methods and other side effects (pain, prosthetic detachment) may vary for each patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common reasons for delaying dental treatment?

Yes, many people delay dental visits due to fear or busy schedules. Especially if one or two teeth are missing without causing significant daily inconvenience, or if deep cavities show no symptoms, it's easy to miss the optimal treatment time.

How long does complex dental treatment usually take?

It can typically take about half a year. Various types of treatment, such as implants, root canals, and cavity fillings, are often needed. Since all treatments cannot be done at once and waiting periods for bone recovery are included, the treatment duration can be extended.

Is immediate implant surgery possible for a recently extracted tooth?

No, immediate surgery may not be possible. A recently extracted area needs time for bone recovery, so it's generally recommended to proceed with implant surgery after the bone has sufficiently healed.

Can deep cavities be treated with resin?

Yes, it's possible. If the cavity is too extensive, crown treatment might be necessary, but resin can be sufficient for treatment in many cases. It allows for an aesthetic finish that matches the tooth color.

Can complex dental treatments be received through evening appointments?

Yes, it's possible. If a patient is only available during evening clinic hours after work, a long-term, complex treatment plan can be arranged by carefully allocating the number of visits and time. In this case, treatment was also carried out through evening appointments.

Why are regular dental check-ups important?

Yes, they are very important. If dental treatment is delayed, the number and scope of treatments needed later will increase. Regular check-ups help detect and treat problems early, even without symptoms, which is crucial for preserving your teeth.