Explore the customized treatment and care for Special Care Dentistry at Liv Hospital. From sedation to restorative therapy, learn how we protect your oral health safely.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Treatment and Care
The restorative phase of Special Care Dentistry is a meticulously structured procedure aimed at removing biological threats and promoting tissue repair in a safe, controlled environment. In a professional clinical sense, this involves a transition from standard techniques to specialized medical engineering. At Liv Hospital, we utilize advanced technological platforms to ensure that every move is precise, preserving the patient’s sensory and motor integrity throughout the process. The goal is to restore the mechanical axis of the oral environment, providing a definitive roadmap for patients to regain their functional independence and social confidence.
Prevention is the most effective treatment. For high risk patients, standard toothpaste is insufficient. Special Care Dentists prescribe high concentration fluoride toothpaste (5000ppm).
This prescription paste hardens the enamel and can arrest early decay. Regular application of fluoride varnish in the clinic provides a reservoir of fluoride that releases over time. This aggressive preventive regime is essential for patients with dry mouth or an inability to brush effectively.
SDF is a revolutionary tool in Special Care Dentistry. It is a liquid that can be painted onto a cavity to stop the decay instantly. It kills the bacteria and hardens the tooth structure.
It requires no drilling, no injection, and takes seconds to apply. While it stains the decay black, this aesthetic compromise is often acceptable to avoid the trauma of a drill or the risk of sedation for vulnerable patients.
The Hall Technique involves placing a stainless steel crown over a decayed tooth without removing the decay or using local anesthesia. The crown seals the bacteria inside, cutting off their nutrient supply, and the decay stops.
This technique is scientifically proven and is much less traumatic than a traditional filling. It is ideal for patients who cannot tolerate the sensory experience of drilling or injections but need a durable restoration.
ART is a method of removing decay using hand instruments only, without a rotary drill. This eliminates the noise, vibration, and water spray that triggers sensory overload in many patients.
After removing the soft decay, the cavity is filled with a high viscosity glass ionomer cement. This material releases fluoride and bonds chemically to the tooth. It is a gentle, quiet, and effective way to treat cavities in anxious patients.
Exposing the nerve of a tooth often leads to the need for a root canal or extraction. In Special Care Dentistry, avoiding this is a priority. Stepwise excavation involves removing most of the decay but leaving a layer over the nerve to avoid exposure.
A sedative filling is placed, allowing the tooth to heal and lay down protective dentin. This vital pulp therapy keeps the tooth alive and avoids complex, invasive endodontic procedures that might not be feasible for the patient.
When behavioral techniques and minimally invasive approaches are insufficient, sedation is the bridge to care. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is used for mild anxiety. Intravenous (IV) sedation is used for more profound relaxation.
IV sedation allows the dentist to perform multiple procedures while the patient is in a twilight state. It provides amnesia, so the patient has no memory of the treatment, breaking the cycle of fear.
For patients with severe disabilities, extreme phobia, or extensive surgical needs, General Anesthesia is the treatment of choice. This takes place in a hospital operating theater. The patient is completely unconscious.
Under GA, the dentist performs a “comprehensive oral rehabilitation.” This means doing everything—fillings, extractions, cleaning, sealants—in one session. It is the definitive way to “reset” the oral health of a patient who cannot be treated otherwise.
For patients who cannot brush, gum disease is inevitable. Treatment focuses on reducing the bacterial load. This may involve the use of chemical plaque control, such as chlorhexidine mouthwash or spray.
Regular scaling (cleaning) is performed, often at 3 month intervals. For patients with gingival overgrowth, surgical gingivectomy (removing excess gum) may be required to expose the teeth and facilitate hygiene.
Making dentures for special care patients requires adaptation. If a patient has lost weight due to illness or has uncontrolled muscle movements (tardive dyskinesia), standard dentures will not work.
Dentists may use soft liners to protect fragile tissues or place implants to lock the dentures in place. In some cases of dementia, a “copy denture” technique is used to make new dentures that feel exactly like the old ones, ensuring the patient accepts them.
Treating a patient in their own bed or chair requires portable equipment. The dentist brings a mobile unit that has a drill, suction, and air/water syringe.
Treatment in this setting is usually limited to pain relief, simple fillings, and extractions. It focuses on palliation and comfort, ensuring that the housebound patient is free from oral pain and infection.
Liv Hospital Ulus
Asst. Prof. MD. Begüm Aslan
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Ulus
Dt. Aydan Gürcan
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Ulus
Dt. Melisa Albayrak
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Ulus
Spec. Dt. Ecem Aytuna Yardım
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
DDS. Mustafa Yılmaz
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
Spec. Dt. Begüm Kayalak
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
Spec. MD. Hilal Yüksel Aksakal
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Topkapı
Assoc. Prof. MD. Elif Dilara Arslan
Orthodontics
Liv Hospital Topkapı
Assoc. Prof. MD. Emrah Dilaver
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Topkapı
Dt. Helin Yazgan
Dentistry
Liv Hospital Ankara
Dt. Elif Narin Topgül
Oral and Dental Health
Liv Hospital Gaziantep
DDS. Doğan Tanrıverdi
Oral and Dental Health
Liv Hospital Gaziantep
Dt. Şilan Özel
Dentistry
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
SDF is a liquid that stops cavities. It turns the cavity black because the silver particles oxidize when they kill the bacteria and harden the tooth. It is a sign that the treatment is working. The healthy part of the tooth does not turn black.
If a patient is extremely uncooperative or has a severe medical condition (like a bleeding disorder), even a cleaning can be dangerous or impossible in a regular clinic. The hospital provides a controlled environment where anesthesia can be used to clean the teeth safely and thoroughly.
For patients at high risk of bleeding or infection (like those on blood thinners or with heart defects), we aim for a “bloodless” approach. We use gentle chemical cleaning agents and avoid sharp instruments near the gums to minimize any break in the tissue barrier.
This is called “stepwise excavation.” If the dentist drills all the decay out at once, they might hit the nerve, which would require a root canal. By leaving a small amount of affected (but not infected) tissue and sealing it, the tooth can heal itself, avoiding the need for invasive nerve treatment.
In a domiciliary (home visit) setting, simple extractions can be performed safely if the patient’s medical history allows. The dentist brings all necessary sterile equipment and emergency drugs. However, complex surgical extractions usually require a clinic or hospital setting.
BlogDentistryApr 29, 2026We offer smile makeover treatments including whitening, veneers, and implants to fix discoloration, gaps, a...
BlogDentistryDec 29, 2025A healthy, functional smile is key for our well-being. For those with many severe dental issues, full mouth...
Get instant answers from our medical team. No forms, no waiting — just tap below to start chatting now.
Start Chat on WhatsApp or call us at +90 530 510 67 91