Plaque

Your teeth are covered with a sticky film called plaque that can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque contains bacteria, which following a meal or snack containing sugar can release acids that attack tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in cavities. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar. This makes it more difficult to keep your teeth clean.

When tartar collects above the gum line, the gum tissue can become swollen and may bleed easily. This is called gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.

Treatment

Scaling and root planning is a deep cleaning below the gum line used to treat gum disease.

Why Do I Need It?

If gum disease is caught early and hasn’t damaged the structures below the gum line, a professional cleaning should do. If the pockets between your gums and teeth are too deep, however, scaling and root planning may be needed.
This deep cleaning has two parts. Scaling is when your dentist removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gum line, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Your dentist will then begin root planning, smoothing out your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. Scaling and root planing may take more than one visit to complete and may require a local anesthetic.

After Care Tips

After a deep cleaning, you may have sensitivity for up to a week.
To prevent infection, control pain or help you heal, your dentist may prescribe a pill or mouth rinse. Your dentist may also insert medication (subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline) directly into the pocket that was cleaned.

Your dentist will schedule another visit to see how your gums have healed and measure the depth of your pockets. If they have gotten deeper, more treatment may be needed.

Good dental care at home is essential to help keep gum disease from becoming more serious or recurring.

Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft brush

Clean between your teeth daily

Eat a balanced diet

Avoid eating tobacco

see your dentist regularly

Cold sores are small sores, or blister-like lesions, that appear on the lips, chin, cheeks, inside the nostrils, and less frequently on the gums or the roof of the mouth.

They usually cause pain, a burning sensation, or itching before they burst and crust over.

There is no way to cure or prevent cold sores, but steps can be taken to reduce their frequency and duration.

• The herpes simplex virus strain HSV-1 normally causes them.
• They usually clear within 7 to 10 days without treatment.
• The virus is highly contagious and can be passed on through close direct contact.

Symptoms can include:-

• lesions, blisters, or ulcers on the tongue or mouth
• mouth or tongue pain
• lip swelling
• possible swallowing difficulties
• sore throat
• swollen glands
• high body temperature
• dehydration
• nausea
• headaches

There may also be an infection of the mouth and gums, known as gingivostomatitis. This lasts for 1 to 2 weeks, and it does not recur.

Pharyngotonsillitis, an infection of the throat and tonsils, may occur when the primary infection affects adults.

A cold sore will develop in several stages when it recurs.

• A tingling, itching or burning sensation around the mouth often indicates the start of a cold-sore outbreak. Fluid-filled sores, often on the edges of the lower lip, tend to follow this. Glands may start to swell.
• The sores often appear in the same place each time. Pain and irritation develop alongside the cold sore.
• The sores break and ooze.
• A yellow crust forms on top of the sores and scabs off to uncover pink skin that heals without scarring.

Most cold sores disappear within a week or two.

Diagnosis

The signs and symptoms are usually clear enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis, but they may also order a blood test.

In some cases, the doctor may take a sample of the fluid scraped from the cold sore to detect the presence of the virus.

Treatment

Most cold sore outbreaks clear up within 1 to 2 weeks without treatment.

Some ointments and antiviral medications may shorten the outbreak’s duration and alleviate discomfort and pain.

The Importance of Seeing Your Dentist During Pregnancy

Just as you have doctor visits for prenatal checkups, it’s also important to visit your dentist for prenatal dental care. Your dentist can help discuss changes in oral health during pregnancy and what to look for. There is a connection between your health during pregnancy and your baby’s health, so visiting your dentist during pregnancy is essential.

Your Teeth: What to Expect When Pregnant

During pregnancy, the changing hormone levels can leave your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque, both of which create tender gums during pregnancy. This can put you at greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Here are a few dental issues to monitor during pregnancy:

• Gum inflammation is more likely to occur during the second trimester. Your gums may be swollen, tender, and may bleed a little during brushing and flossing.
• Plaque buildup during pregnancy is common, but brushing and flossing regularly can help
• Although pregnancy does not cause periodontal disease, pregnancy can exacerbate this condition, which can result from untreated gingivitis.
• Pregnancy tumors are overgrowth’s of tissue appear that on the gums, most often during the second trimester. They are non-cancerous growths believed to be related to excess plaque. They may bleed easily and will usually disappear after the baby is born.

Dental Hygiene during Pregnancy

Here are daily dental hygiene some tips to keep in mind while you’re pregnant:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss gently once a day.
• Visit your dentist regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.
• Ask your dentist about an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help combat the increase of plaque.
• If you have morning sickness and vomiting, rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water. This will help keep stomach acids from attacking your teeth and causing decay.
• Eat a diet rich with calcium, B12 and vitamin C to help keep gums healthy.
  

Overview

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called “TMJ,” are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.

Some estimates suggest that TMJ disorders affect over 10 million Americans. These conditions appear to be more common in women than men.

Causes

Trauma to the jaw or temporomandibular joint plays a role in some TMJ disorders, but in most cases, the exact cause of the condition is not clear. For many people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reason.

Symptoms

A variety of symptoms may be linked to TMJ disorders. The most common symptom is pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint. Other symptoms include:

• radiating pain in the face, jaw, or neck,
• jaw muscle stiffness,
• limited movement or locking of the jaw,
• painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth,
• a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

Diagnosis

There is no widely accepted, standard test now available to correctly diagnose TMJ disorders. Your doctor will note your symptoms, take a detailed medical history, and examine problem areas, including the head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness, clicking, popping, or difficulty with movement. The doctor might also suggest imaging studies such as an x-ray.

Treatment

Conservative Treatments

Because the most common jaw joint and muscle problems are temporary and do not get worse, simple treatment may be all that is necessary to relieve discomfort. Short term use of over-the-counter pain medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen; the use of a stabilization splint, or bite guard, that fits over upper or lower teeth may provide relief.

Irreversible Treatments

Surgical treatments are controversial, often irreversible, and should be avoided where possible. There have been no long-term clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatments for TMJ disorders.

Self-care practices that may help ease symptoms of TMJ:

• eating soft foods,
• applying an ice pack,
• avoiding extreme jaw movements like wide yawning, loud singing, and gum chewing,
• learning techniques to relax and reduce stress,
• practicing gentle jaw stretching and relaxing exercises that may help increase jaw movement. Your health care provider or a physical therapist can recommend exercise

Dentists use lasers in a variety of procedures involving the inside of the mouth, be it to remove overgrown tissue, to reshape the gums, or to whiten teeth. Sometimes, laser dentistry is ideal for children who become anxious or afraid when having dental work done.

Treatments done by laser dentistry

1. Canker sore and cold sore pain treatments
2. Treating root canal infections
3. Treating gum disease
4. Removing gum inflammation
5. Gum reshaping
6. Biopsies
7. Exposing wisdom teeth
8. Removing throat tissue that causes sleep apnea
9. Regenerating damaged nerves
10. Removing benign oral tumours

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

• Dentists choose laser dentistry because of distinct benefits that make the procedures go more smoothly, and also reduce discomfort and healing time for patients.
• Patients are less likely to require sutures
• Anesthesia may not be necessary
• The laser will sterilize the gums, making infection less likely
• Less damage to gums shortens the healing time
• Patients lose less blood than traditional surgery

The Types of Lasers Used in Dentistry

The two main types of lasers dentists use during laser procedures are hard tissue and soft tissue lasers. Each laser uses a different wavelength that makes it appropriate for cutting into that specific type of tissue.

Hard Tissue Lasers

These lasers can very accurately cut into your teeth, removing small amounts for shaping purposes or in preparation for procedures. Hard tissue lasers are used for:

• Detecting cavities.
• Dealing with tooth sensitivity.
• Preparing teeth for dental fillings.

Soft Tissue Lasers

These lasers are ideal for cutting into soft tissue and sealing the exposed blood vessels at the same time. This is the reason you don’t bleed very much during laser dentistry and why healing is quicker after laser dentistry. Soft tissue lasers are used for:

• Lengthening crowns.
• Dealing with restricted tongue movement.
• Reshaping the gums to create a more pleasing smile.
• Removing folds in oral soft tissues caused by dentures.

Whether you’re having laser gum surgery or hard tissue work, expect an easier procedure and a shorter recovery time.

Overview

Bell’s palsy is a condition in which the muscles on one side of your face become weak or paralyzed.

Bell’s palsy causes sudden, temporary weakness in your facial muscles. This makes half of your face appear to droop. Your smile is one-sided, and your eye on that side resists closing.

Bell’s palsy, can occur at any age. The exact cause is unknown. It’s believed to be the result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of your face. Or it might be a reaction that occurs after a viral infection.

For most people, Bell’s palsy is temporary. Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months. A small number of people continue to have some Bell’s palsy symptoms for life. Rarely, Bell’s palsy can recur.

Symptoms

Facial paralysis

Signs and symptoms of Bell’s palsy come on suddenly and may include:

• Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days
• Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling
• Drooling
• Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side
• Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side
• Headache
• A decrease in your ability to taste
• Changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce

In rare cases, Bell’s palsy can affect the nerves on both sides of your face

Diagnosis

There’s no specific test for Bell’s palsy. Your doctor will look at your face and ask you to move your facial muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth and frowning, among other movements.

Treatment

Most people with Bell’s palsy recover fully — with or without treatment. There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for Bell’s palsy, but your doctor may suggest medications or physical therapy to help speed your recovery. Surgery is rarely an option for Bell’s palsy.

A post and core crown is a type of dental restorstion required where there is an inadequate amount of sound tooth tissue remaining to retain a conventional crown. A post is cemented into a prepared root canal, which retains a core restoration, which retains the final crown.

When deciding whether or not a tooth requires a post and core crown rather than a conventional crown, the following must be established.

1. Presence of adequate tooth structure
2. Sufficient length of canal to retain a post
3. Curvature and overall anatomy of root canal system
4. Sufficient root (radicular) dentine thickness for post preparation
5. Restorability of tooth

Structure

A post and core consists of two parts :

• The post

The post is a small rod, usually metal, that is inserted into the root space of the tooth and protrudes from the root a couple of millimetres. The post is then used to hold the core or a filling in place.

Because the post is inserted into the root canal, a post and core can only be made for a tooth that has had root canal treatment.

The core

The core replaces missing tooth structure in preparation for making a new dental crown. The core is then utilized to hold a dental crown in place.

Why are post and cores needed ?

A great deal of a dental crown stability depends on the amount of tooth structure that extends into its interior. If very little tooth structure occupies this space, the crown will be easily dislodged, especially by forces directed at its side.

Basically, the core is rebuilding the tooth so it is closer to its original dimensions. Hence, the crown’s stability will greatly increase, and therefore its long-term chances for success are maximized.

Dental Onlays.  Onlays also fit inside the tooth, but extend onto the chewing surface of a back tooth to replace one or more cusps. … It is difficult to determine when inlays or onlays can be used instead of crowns or caps. Ask your prosthodontist if you are a candidate for a tooth-colored inlay or onlay.

There are times when a tooth suffers damage (from decay, for example) that is too extensive to be treated with a simple filling — but not extensive enough to need a full-coverage crown. In these cases, the best option for restoring the tooth may be an inlay or onlay.

Both inlays and onlays are considered “indirect” fillings, meaning that they are fabricated outside the mouth (generally at a dental laboratory), and then bonded to the tooth by the dentist. This is in contrast to a “direct” filling, which is applied directly to the cavity by the dentist in one office visit.

How It Works

The first steps in getting an inlay or onlay are numbing the tooth and surrounding area with a local anesthetic, and then removing the decay. This is done in order to prevent the decay, which is actually a type of infection, from progressing deeper into the tooth.

Once the tooth has been prepared, an impression of it is made (either digitally or with a putty-like material) and sent to the dental laboratory. There, the impression is used to make a model of your tooth for the creation of your inlay/onlay. The final restoration can be made out of gold or a tooth-colored ceramic or resin.

Before you leave the office, a temporary filling will be attached to your tooth to protect it until the permanent restoration is ready. At your second visit, the permanent inlay/onlay will be attached to your tooth with either a resin that hardens when exposed to a special light source, or a type of permanent cement.

Inlays and onlays are strong, long-lasting, and require no greater level of care than any other tooth. Conscientious daily brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings at the dental office are all you need to make sure your restoration lasts for years to come.