A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge.

Advantages-

1. Long term fixed replacement of missing teeth without cutting adjacent teeth (done for fixed bridges or FPD).
2. Dental implants can restore oral health, form and function of the dentition, improve esthetics.

When you should consider getting dental implants?

Implants can be placed anytime after tooth loss depending upon other factors;

Replacing a single tooth  If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it.

Replacing Several Teeth   If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them.

Replacing All of Your Teeth   If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them.

BENEFITS

• Next best thing to healthy, natural teeth. Strong and stable, a dental implant restores a lost tooth so that it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Other options can lead to bone deterioration, and may interfere with eating, smiling, speaking and other activities of everyday life.

• Built to last. Dental implants are a long-term solution.
• Retain your natural face shape, and smile.
• Protect healthy bone.
• Keep your teeth in your mouth – not in a cup. You don’t have to keep your removable dentures in a cup.
• They are in your mouth comfortably.
• Speak easy.
• Eat your favourite foods! Taste and enjoy the foods you love without hesitation. You can bite naturally, eat virtually anything you want and, unlike removable dentures that can feel uncomfortable, you can experience the full taste of the food you eat with dental implants, too.

• Cavities can’t occur in an implant-restored crown, or replacement tooth

• Keep teeth in place – silently.

• Protect your healthy teeth.

• More predictable than other repair and restoration methods.

Sjögren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that reduces the amount of tears in the eyes and saliva in the mouth.Immune cells mistakenly attack and destroy healthy cells in the glands that produce tears and saliva.  As a result, people with Sjögren’s syndrome have dry mouth and dry eyes.

Sjögren’s syndrome affects 1 – 4 million people in the United States and occurs in all races and ethnicities.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome are:

• Dry mouth. Your tongue and your throat will feel dry and chewing and swallowing may be difficult or painful.
• Dry eyes. Your eyes may burn or itch or feel as if you have a piece of sand in your eye. Vision may be blurry or you could be bothered by bright light.

Sjögren’s syndrome can also affect other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as:

• Joint and muscle pain
• Dry skin
• Rashes on the skin of hands or feet
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Vaginal dryness
• Dry cough that doesn’t go away
• Fatigue that doesn’t go away

If you have Sjögren’s syndrome you may only have mild symptoms of dry eyes and mouth, or you could experience cycles of mild symptoms followed by more severe symptoms.

Diagnosis

A doctor diagnoses Sjögren’s syndrome using your medical history, a physical exam, and the results from clinical or laboratory tests. Depending on what the doctor finds during the medical history and physical exam, he or she may want you to take more tests or refer you to a specialist.

Treatment

There is still no cure for Sjögren’s syndrome. Treatment can vary from person to person, depending on what parts of the body are affected. Moisture replacement therapies such as eye drops and ointments may relieve dryness in the eyes. There are saliva substitutes and prescription drugs to help increase saliva production. Simply drinking small sips of water regularly throughout the day may also help. If you have joint pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may offer some relief. If symptoms are severe, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs may be prescribed.

Salivary glands are located in the mouth. There are three pairs of large salivary glands. Parotid glands are found in front of and just below each ear. Submandibular glands are below the jaw. Sublingual glands are under the tongue. There are also hundreds of smaller glands. These glands make saliva (spit) and empty it into the mouth through openings called ducts. Saliva makes food moist, which helps chewing and swallowing and the digestion of food. Saliva also keeps the mouth clean and healthy because it contains antibodies that kill germs.

If the salivary glands are damaged or aren’t producing enough saliva it can affect taste, make chewing and swallowing more difficult, and increase the risk for cavities, tooth loss, and infections in the mouth.

Causes

Obstruction

Infection

Tumors

Diseases such as HIV-AIDS, and autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, can make the salivary glands inflamed and painful. Diabetes may also cause enlargement of the salivary glands. Alcoholics may have salivary gland swelling, usually on both sides.

Symptoms

Problems with salivary glands can cause them to become irritated and swollen. You may have symptoms such as:

• a bad taste in your mouth
• difficulty opening your mouth
• dry mouth
• pain in your face or mouth
• swelling of your face or neck or under your tongue

Diagnosis

A doctor uses your medical history, a physical examination, and laboratory tests to make a diagnosis of a salivary disorder.

If your doctor suspects your pain and inflammation are the result of an obstruction in one of the glands, he or she may order X-rays or ultrasound to identify where the obstruction is and what might be causing it.

If a mass is found in the salivary gland, your doctor will suggest a CT scan or an MRI to get a better look at the problem. Your doctor might also use a fine needle aspiration biopsy to explore further. A lip biopsy of minor salivary glands may be needed to identify certain autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren’s syndrome.

Treatment

Salivary disorders are treated according to what is causing them, using medical or surgical treatments.

Tooth decay (dental caries) is damage to a tooth that can happen when decay-causing bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth’s surface, or enamel. This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

When decay-causing bacteria come into contact with sugars and starches from foods and drinks, they form an acid. This acid can attack the tooth’s enamel causing it to lose minerals.

This can happen if you eat or drink often, especially foods and drinks containing sugar and starches. The repeated cycles of these “acid attacks” will cause the enamel to continue to lose minerals. Over time, the enamel is weakened and then destroyed, forming a cavity.

Symptoms

In early tooth decay, there are not usually any symptoms. As tooth decay advances, it can cause a toothache (tooth pain) or tooth sensitivity to sweets, hot, or cold. If the tooth becomes infected, an abscess, or pocket of pus, can form that can cause pain, facial swelling, and fever.

Diagnosis

Tooth decay can be found during a regular dental check-up. Early tooth decay may look like a white spot on the tooth. If the decay is more advanced, it may appear as a darker spot or a hole in the tooth. The dentist can also check the teeth for soft or sticky areas or take an x-ray, which can show decay.

Treatment

Dentists commonly treat cavities by filling them. A dentist will remove the decayed tooth tissue and then restore the tooth by filling it with a filling material.

Helpful Tips

• Use fluoride, a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing, and even reverse, or stop, early tooth decay. You can get fluoride by
  • Brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
  • Drinking tap water with fluoride.
  • Using fluoride mouth rinse.
• Have good oral hygiene routine. Brush teeth twice a day and regularly clean between teeth with floss or another interdental (between-the-teeth) cleaner.
• Make smart food choices that limit foods high in sugars and starches. Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Do not use tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco. If you currently use tobacco, consider quitting.
• See a dentist for regular check-ups and professional cleanings.

What are Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges?
Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.

How do Crowns Work?
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:

• Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

How do Bridges Work?
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.

How are Crowns and Bridges Made?
Before either a crown or a bridge can be made, the tooth (or teeth) must be reduced in size so that the crown or bridge will fit over it properly. After reducing the tooth/teeth, your dentist will take an impression to provide an exact mold for the crown or bridge. If porcelain is to be used, your dentist will determine the correct shade for the crown or bridge to match the color of your existing teeth.

Using this impression, a dental lab then makes your crown or bridge, in the material your dentist specifies.

How Long do Crowns and Bridges Last?
While crowns and bridges can last a lifetime, they do sometimes come loose or fall out. A bridge can lose its support if the teeth or bone holding it in place are damaged by dental disease. Most important is to practice good oral hygine. Keep your gums and teeth healthy by Brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily.

Bridges and crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, by a dentist or prosthodontist. Crowns are used most commonly to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth or cover an implant. Your dentist may recommend a crown to:

• Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
• Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to shift resulting in a bad bite. This can also lead to gum disease and TMJ disorders. Bridges are commonly used if you’re missing one or more teeth. They cover the space where the teeth are missing and are cemented to natural teeth or implants surrounding the space.

Types of Dental Crown Materials
There are four different types of materials used for dental crowns:

1. All ceramic (porcelain-based).
2. Porcelain fused to metal.
3. Gold alloys.
4. Base metal alloys.

Care

While crowns and bridges can last a lifetime, they do sometimes come loose or fall out. The most important step you can take to ensure the longevity of your crown is to practice good oral hygiene. Keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily. See your dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleanings.

To prevent damage to your new crown or bridge, avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects.

Procedure

All ceramic and porcelain fused to metal crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. A bridge is mounted onto a space where teeth are missing and is attached onto adjacent teeth. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which is best for you, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.

Because of the variety of treatment options available, having trigeminal neuralgia doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doomed to a life of pain. Doctors usually can effectively manage trigeminal neuralgia with medications, injections or surgery.

Symptoms

Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms may include one or more of these patterns:

• Episodes of severe, shooting or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric shock
• Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking or brushing teeth
• Bouts of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes
• Episodes of several attacks lasting days, weeks, months or longer — some people have periods when they experience no pain
• Constant aching, burning feeling that may occur before it evolves into the spasm-like pain of trigeminal neuralgia
• Pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead
• Pain affecting one side of the face at a time, though may rarely affect both sides of the face
• Pain focused in one spot or spread in a wider pattern
• Attacks that become more frequent and intense over time

When to see a doctor

If you experience facial pain, particularly prolonged or recurring pain or pain unrelieved by over-the-counter pain relievers, see your doctor.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may conduct many tests to diagnose trigeminal neuralgia and determine underlying causes for your condition, including:

• A neurological examination.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Your facial pain may be caused by many different conditions, so an accurate diagnosis is important. Your doctor may order additional tests to rule out other conditions.

Treatment

Trigeminal neuralgia treatment usually starts with medications, and some people don’t need any additional treatment. However, over time, some people with the condition may stop responding to medications, or they may experience unpleasant side effects. For those people, injections or surgery provide other trigeminal neuralgia treatment options.

If your condition is due to another cause, such as multiple sclerosis, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.

Causes of Toothaches

Toothaches have many causes, from gum disease to jaw clenching, but tooth root sensitivity can also cause a tooth to ache.

The tooth root includes the lower two-thirds of the tooth, and it is usually buried in the jawbone. But when gum disease develops, the bacteria that cause the disease can also dissolve the bone around the tooth root. The combination of dissolved bone and receding gums means that more of the tooth root is exposed. Without protection from healthy gums and healthy bone, the root often becomes sensitive to hot and cold and to sour foods.In some cases, the sensitivity is so severe that you may avoid very hot, cold or sour foods.

If the root exposure is not severe, try using a special toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth that contains fluoride and other minerals. The extra fluoride and minerals will help to strengthen the exposed root and make it less sensitive.

The best way to manage root sensitivity and to prevent gum disease with a consistent oral health care program of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. Try a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid irritating your gums, which can increase the risk of root exposure and sensitivity

Pregnancy Gingivitis and Pregnancy Tumors

Pregnancy gingivitis is caused by the hormonal changes that increase the blood flow to the gum tissue and cause your gums to be more sensitive, irritable, and swollen This makes it easier for plaque to build up on your teeth and makes you more susceptible to gingivitis.

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase your risk for developing oral health problems like gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and Periodontitis (gum disease). As a result of varying hormone levels, 40% of women will develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy — a condition called pregnancy gingivitis.

The increased level of progesterone in pregnancy may make it easier for certain gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow, as well as make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and exaggerate the body’s response to the toxins (poisons) that result from plaque. In fact, if you already have significant gum disease, being pregnant may make it worse.

Pregnancy Gingivitis Symptoms

Gingivitis is most common during months two to eight of pregnancy. Tell your dental professional when you are pregnant—he or she may recommend more frequent dental cleanings during the second trimester or early in the third trimester to help combat the effects of increased progesterone and help you avoid gingivitis. This extra plaque may cause swelling, bleeding, redness and/or tenderness in the gums. As a result, pregnant women are more likely to develop gingivitis even if they follow a consistent oral health care routine.

Pregnancy Gingivitis Treatments and Prevention

To control the amount of plaque in your mouth and to prevent gingivitis, follow these steps to reduce the bacteria that can lead to pregnancy gingivitis.

Steps to Prevent Pregnancy Gingivitis

• Brush twice a day, preferably in the morning and at night
• Take your time; you should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth
• Be sure to use anti-plaque toothpaste to help protect your teeth from decay and gingivitis
• Rinse thoroughly after brushing to get rid of bacteria in hard-to-reach places
• Remember to floss daily to help avoid the build-up of bacteria
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet; be sure that you are getting enough calcium, vitamins D, C and A, phosphorous and protein.
• Avoid sugary snacks
• Continue to visit your dental professional regularly (once it is safe for the baby)