FAQ:
Here you will find information on a wide variety of topics

Endodontics

What does endodontics mean?

Endodontics refers to the treatment of the diseased interior of the tooth (endon – “inside”, odon – “tooth”), usually root canal diseases.

What does the team of Dr. Gerdes and colleagues do for you?

The cause of such a disease is bacteria that enter the tooth’s interior through defects in the tooth substance (such as caries) or injuries. If the dental pulp in the root canals is inflamed or has died, it often has to be completely removed by root canal treatment.

What causes root canal diseases?

Prevention is the secret tip! Take care of your teeth properly and regularly. A professional prophylaxis, i.e. a dental cleaning every six months, including a check-up by a doctor in our practice, helps to identify even small defects. This prevents nerve inflammation – and root canal treatment is not necessary in the first place.

In the event of dental injuries, please call us immediately to make an appointment so that we can check whether your dental nerve is affected as soon as possible.

What can we do for you during endodontic treatment?

As a specialized referral practice for endodontics, we have successfully performed a wide variety of root canal treatments.

Our dentists Dr. Andrea Gerdes and Jovana Medugorac have specialized training and several decades of professional experience in endodontics – a prerequisite for safe and precise work.

Dr. Andrea Gerdes and Jovana Medugorac offer you root canal treatments with a dental microscope in order to free even the smallest root canals from bacteria and inflamed tissue.

Ongoing training for the dentists ensures a consistently high level of treatment in accordance with the state of the art.

In the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen, we will advise you in detail about the procedure, costs and prognosis of success before the treatment, which depends on the severity of the disease. You will receive the consultation protocol in writing. This way you can make a well-informed decision about treatment

What is the procedure for root canal treatment in the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen?

First you will receive a local anesthetic.

We isolate the tooth in question with a rubber dam (cofferdam).

The root canals are cleaned and disinfected with hand-operated and machine-operated files, irrigation solutions and ultrasound.

The resulting cavity is then carefully sealed three-dimensionally with a very well-tolerated bioceramic material.

Sometimes the teeth need to be crowned later.

Depending on the number of roots and the degree of difficulty, one to two sessions are required.

After a few days of healing, your tooth will be functional again.

What do you need to know if your dentist has referred you to us?

Please bring any existing X-rays with you or send them to us in advance by email if the referring practice has not already sent them in advance.

Feel free to bring in-ear headphones and a playback device with you, as you can usually listen to music during the mostly longer treatment – our patients often fall asleep in the dentist’s chair during the treatment.

Your family dentist will then receive a detailed treatment report with your X-rays and microscope photos.

After our treatment, your tooth is ready for immediate filling or crowning by your dentist.

What are the advantages of a dental microscope during root canal treatment?

Since the root canals are very branched and sometimes difficult to find, we use a dental microscope in the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen in addition to the most modern endodontic instruments, materials and techniques. Magnifying glasses are usually not sufficient to treat the root canals. It enables us to identify all root canals and completely clean them of bacteria and inflamed tissue and to treat your tooth painlessly and preserve it in the long term, even in complicated cases. Previously frequently performed surgical root tip resections are thereby avoided.

What should you do in the event of dental injuries, e.g. due to an accident?

In the event of dental injuries, please call us immediately to make an appointment so that we can check whether your dental nerve is affected as soon as possible.

If something has broken off the tooth, bring the broken part with you if possible.

What can you do yourself to avoid root canal diseases?

Take care of your teeth properly and regularly, including the interdental spaces, and come for a check-up every six months. This allows even small defects to be detected before they develop into nerve inflammation.

In the event of dental injuries, please call us immediately to make an appointment so that we can check whether your dental nerve is affected as soon as possible.

CMD: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Teeth Grinding

What does CMD mean?

CMD – Craniomandibular dysfunction (cranium – skull, mandible – lower jaw) means: Malfunction of the skull-lower jaw system. So a dysfunction of the chewing system. This includes

the associated muscles, nerves and ligaments

the skull with the upper jaw attached to it

the movable lower jaw

the temporomandibular joints

How does CMD manifest itself?

Pain and clicking in the temporomandibular joint

restricted mouth opening

tense chewing muscles

Headaches

Pain in the face and neck area and in the spine

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

What are the causes?

Clenching or grinding of teeth (bruxism), caused by stress or pressure in everyday life

incorrect bite

Displacement of the articular disc (discus)

Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint capsule

How can we help you?

The dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen, which specializes in CMD and bruxism (teeth grinding), uses comprehensive functional diagnostics and manual structural analysis (MSA) according to Prof. Axel Bumann to determine which parts of your chewing system are damaged and which therapeutic measures are right for you

Physiotherapeutic treatment often helps. For this we work with specialized manual therapists and osteopaths

An individually made, comfortable bite splint can help to decouple the bite and relieve the temporomandibular joints and muscles

In some cases, the bite must be restored with new crowns or dentures. We have developed special processes for these very complex and time-consuming reconstructions and are experienced in their implementation

An important key to success is the close cooperation with our specialized partner, the dental laboratory Zahnprojekt.

Since the symptoms and causes of temporomandibular joint problems can be so different, specialization in this area is important. This is the only way we can make the right diagnosis and find the right therapy for your specific problem. At the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen, we specialize in the treatment of craniomandibular dysfunction, including other specialist disciplines.
We first specifically examine the existing complaints in the joints and muscles using manual structural analysis (MSA) and create an exact diagnosis. This enables us to recommend a suitable, individual treatment for your symptoms.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is the technical term for so-called teeth grinding or teeth clenching.

What is a bite splint, also called an occlusal splint, and what is its function?

A bite or occlusal splint is made of transparent plastic, removable and is individually made for the respective patient to protect the tooth substance from abrasion and to relieve the temporomandibular joint.
After a three-dimensional scan in the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen, this is created by our specialized laboratory and then adapted to you.
It is, so to speak, a protective shield and serves to relax the jaw muscles. As a rule, this occlusal splint is worn at night.
Our patients report that they usually get used to wearing the occlusal splint at night very quickly, sleep better and more relaxed and often have reduced headaches.

Periodontitis Treatment

What is periodontitis / periodontitis?

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) occurs in many people – often initially unnoticed. If left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis (disease of the tooth-supporting apparatus). The cause of gingivitis and periodontitis is bacterial plaque.

How do gum diseases and periodontitis develop?

Gum diseases and diseases of the tooth-supporting apparatus develop through bacteria that organize themselves into a so-called biofilm. If the bacterial plaque is not removed by domestic oral hygiene and professional teeth cleaning, it solidifies due to the incorporation of minerals and can no longer be removed by brushing your teeth yourself. This leads to inflammation of the gums, which can turn into inflammation of the entire tooth bed (periodontitis), in which the connection between tooth, gums and bone is destroyed. This creates a gum pocket that offers an ideal habitat for further colonization by bacteria. In advanced periodontitis, the bone can even be damaged to such an extent that the tooth loosens.

How is periodontitis / periodontitis avoided?

Proper oral hygiene is essential to prevent gingivitis and is also a prerequisite for the success of periodontitis treatment at the dentist. In the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen, we specialize in periodontology – in addition to root canal treatments and CMD – and are happy to develop an individual therapy plan with you if required.

What is important for your therapy success?

We at the dental practice of Dr. Andrea Gerdes & Kollegen in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen treat even the smallest gum inflammations to prevent major damage.

Our periodontitis therapy concept begins with a detailed diagnosis using a meaningful, computer-aided measurement of the gum pockets and tissue loss, as well as a bacterial test to determine periodontitis germs.
Professional teeth cleaning and, if necessary, special modern disinfection procedures remove already hardened plaque and bacteria, even in the gum pockets and under the gum line. This cleans and smoothes the tooth and root surfaces, to which the gums can reattach. Your personal oral hygiene is the most important factor for the success of periodontitis treatment. You will receive professional support from our well-trained and highly dedicated prophylaxis assistants.

We guarantee close-meshed support from our qualified and dedicated prophylaxis team. We recommend regular professional teeth cleaning (PZR) and supportive periodontal therapy (UPT)
Ongoing internal and external training measures for our prophylaxis assistants and dentists ensure a consistently high level of treatment.
Good and regular communication between the dentists and the prophylaxis team is a prerequisite to be able to react promptly to changes in the course of gum inflammation, if necessary

Your cooperation is required

Contact us if you have difficulties with oral hygiene or with individual aids. Together we will find the right one for you.

The success of the treatment depends on your cooperation – we will show you how to implement the necessary prophylaxis measures at home

How is aftercare carried out for gum diseases or periodontitis / periodontitis?

As part of the aftercare of periodontitis diseases, we carry out biofilm management using the air-polishing-flow method. This allows even root surfaces lying under the gums to be smoothed excellently. We also offer you regenerative treatments to regain lost tissue around the tooth.