Overview Of Dental Care

The dental field includes conservative care (scaling, treatment of caries, root canal, etc.) and surgical care (extraction, etc.). They are reimbursed at 70% by health insurance . Then there are prosthetic acts , free of charge , and orthodontic treatments  relating to orthodontics. 

Descaling

The purpose of scaling is to remove dental plaque  (made up of pieces of food and bacteria). Using a small sharp instrument, the dentist removes visible tartar and the one hidden under the gum tissue. The latter can indeed be the cause of inflammation of the gums ( gingivitis ), which leads to loosening of the teeth (retraction of the gum).

If the scaling technique is not painful , the rubbing effect on the teeth can be unpleasant . Also, when your gums are sensitive or you do not perform scaling often, you may experience  pain or even  bleed your gums  in the days that follow. If the pain persists for more than a few days, do not hesitate to talk to your dentist. 

It is recommended to have a scaling at the dentist every six months to a year. 

Treatment of cavities (filling)

Filling is  the most common treatment performed by the dentist. It helps to treat cavities .

When decayed,  the tooth gradually demineralizes  , becomes hollow and  nerve damage should be prevented . The treatment consists of removing the demineralized part of the tooth and replacing it with a filling . This can be of two kinds:

A very resistant amalgam with a metallic appearance;

A kind of tooth-colored resin , more aesthetic, called composite.

The choice between amalgam and composite depends on the location of the decay and its extent. 

Devitalization

When the decay is  too deep , and once  the dental pulp has been reached,  unfortunately we can  not keep the tooth alive . To prevent the pain (and the inevitable toothache ), it is necessary to devitalize the diseased tooth  (remove the vital tissue of the tooth, therefore the nerves). Devitalization is performed under local anesthesia.

Once the tooth has been stripped of its pulp tissue, cleaned properly and its canals have been perfectly prepared, the dentist will then apply to  block the canals . Finally, he will  reconstruct the shape of the tooth in  order to restore it to its natural use. In general, it is rare that a devitalized tooth is left as it is because it is then much more fragile.

Note : the price of a root canal varies depending on the tooth: incisor, molar, canine, etc.

Sealing the furrows

The fissure sealing  is a painless technique without anesthesia allowing prevent cavities in children but also in adults.

In fact,  80% of caries begin at the level of the furrows,  these chewing surfaces of the teeth which are real food traps. Deep, difficult to access when brushing, they  promote the development of bacterial plaque . The solution therefore consists in  covering said grooves with a protective resin.  This technique is mainly intended for children in order to avoid cavities, but can also be performed on healthy teeth in adults. 

Extraction of a tooth

Dental extraction is part of surgical care, reimbursed in the same way as conservative dental care. This act is also called a  dental avulsion.  A tooth is pulled out  for various reasons: excessive decay due to  decay , infection; dental loosening; fracture, poor implantation ( wisdom teeth ),  orthodontic treatment …

If it is still feared, thanks to  modern anesthetics  and  analgesics , this intervention  is no longer painful.

Dental prostheses (crown, bridges, etc.)

The fitting of a  dental prosthesis  is not part of conservative dental care, but prosthetic acts. Unlike dental care, whose prices are agreed, those for prosthetic acts are free of charge:  there is therefore a greater variation in prices  depending on multiple factors (cost of the prosthesis, materials, costs and charges related to the practice … ). 

A dental prosthesis is  a tooth or a set of artificial teeth  replacing an absent, missing or damaged tooth. Indeed, it is always preferable to replace missing teeth, to  avoid the appearance of cavities, infections or the displacement of other teeth.

There are several types of prostheses:

The fixed dental prosthesis , which is sealed or glued to the tooth: it can be a  crown , an  implant , a bridge, a dental veneer , an inlay / onlay;

The removable dental prosthesis , which is a device that can be removed. It can be partial (replacing certain teeth, or just the upper or lower jaw) or total (called “dentures” ). 

Dental appliances

Braces are part of orthodontic care  relating to orthodontics .  They correct, for aesthetic or functional reasons, the position and alignment of the teeth,  by exerting a slight pressure on them. Treatment can last  from a few months to two or three years.  The  sooner the problem is treated, the less time it takes, although it is quite possible to have braces in adulthood . 

The dental apparatus consists  of anchors attached to each tooth and connected by an arch . The appliance is generally  metallic,  but there are more and more  very discreet appliances, such as, for example, transparent arc appliances or  appliances placed behind the teeth ( lingual orthodontics ) .

Orthodontic treatments must be carried out before the 16th birthday to be reimbursed by Social Security. Prices range  from 600 to 1000 € / semester . Depending on the type of material used, the amount can be much higher, if you install ceramic fasteners for example.

Consultations and fee overruns

Consultations with a dental surgeon or an approved dental practitioner are  covered by the Health Insurance and reimbursed at 70% on the basis of conventional rates. Fee overruns are possible in certain cases: 

If the doctor has a permanent right to overrun (DP)  ;

If the dental doctor practices in sector 2;

A special requirement on your part  (consultation outside the usual office hours, etc.). 

Fee overruns are  not covered by Health Insurance.