Macrodontia is a type of localized gigantism in which teeth are larger than normal for the particular type(s) of teeth involved. The three types of macrodontia are true generalized macrodontia, relative generalized macrodontia, and macrodontia of a single tooth.

Complications

The usual complications of macrodontia are associated with crowding, malocclusion and impaction unless treated.

Single tooth

A single tooth is larger than the rest. This is unusual and could be the result of fusion and germination that cause enlarged crowns.

Causes:-

Generalized macrodontia is usually attributed to some hormonal imbalance (e.g., pituitary, gigantism).

Genetic components are also responsible for macrodontia.

Treatment

Before treatment the correct diagnosis must be made which is easily done by a radiograph. It can be seen in concerned tooth/teeth will be larger than normal that can be seen clinically in the mouth or whilst they are still unerupted.

Teeth affected by macrodontia are contoured, aligned or extracted.

• Contouring involves shaving the tooth down to change shape and size. However, the result is minimal change as this could be dangerous for the dentin and dental pulp.
• Aligning involves the use of braces to straighten and make space for larger teeth to grow.
• When extracted, they are replaced with an implant or bridge. This is done in cases in which the patient suffers from pain that cannot be treated by other methods.

Teeth with macrodontia can go through treatment using a technique that does not harm the dental pulp. This is done using a tooth coloured filling material (composite resin).

From guessing dentistry to precision dentistry has changed the way dental treatments were done. Application of microscope in the field of dentistry has been very recent. It lets the dentist to visualize familiar structure in the totally different way, with finest details that were earlier concealed from the naked eyes. It is an indispensable device which is connected with high resolution video camera to project the magnified images on the LCD monitor that clients can also see. It allows dentist to get a better view of the patient’s oral cavity, thereby improving the overall results of the treatment, while limiting trauma and increasing precision.

A microscope in dentistry has wide spectrum use, idea of this technology is to remove as little of the natural teeth as possible while removing all of decay, it permits complex system of canals to be recognized, managed and identify in a safe manner. It also makes easier to handle cases that in past would be impossible to resolve without magnification, such as retrieval of broken pieces of an instruments during dental procedures from root canal, management of stones and calcification in the root canals, visualization of accessory or multiple canals, missed canals in a tooth and a better prognosis for re-treatment’s.

It also facilitates the on demand documentation of the treatment (both video and photographic)

How does microscope enables dentist to provide better patient care?

The microscope gives increased precision and a higher level of confidence that all decay has been removed. Importantly, it enables better diagnosis and effectively communicates these to patients.

What are its other advantages?

The biggest advantage is during re-treatment. To perform a re-treatment can be as simple as the removal of gutta -percha from a poorly obturated canal to more complex, delicate and time consuming procedures, like removing screw posts, separated instruments, silver points, amalgam pins, carbon fiber posts, or re- pairing a perforation or obturating an im-mature open apex.

Mucocele:-

A mucocele is a harmless cyst or bump in your mouth. You can get it if a tiny tube (duct) that moves saliva gets damaged or blocked. This most often happens if you repeatedly bite or suck on your lower lip or cheek.

Causes :-

Where does a mucocele come from?

It centers on a small salivary gland, which makes saliva in your mouth

Symptoms :-

Mucoceles often show up on the inside of your lower lips, your gums, the roof of your mouth, or under your tongue. Those on the floor of the mouth are called ranulas. These are rare, but because they are larger, they can cause more problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing.

Treament of Mucocele:-

Treatment is based upon the severity of the mucous cyst. Sometimes cysts may not require treatment and will heal on their own over time. Superficial cysts often resolve on their own. To prevent infection or tissue damage, do not try to open or remove cysts at home. Frequent or recurring cysts may require further medical treatment.

Treatments used in mucous cysts that are not very severe include:

Laser therapy. This treatment uses a small, directed beam of light to remove the cyst.

Cryotherapy. This treatment removes the cyst by freezing its tissues.

Intralesional corticosteroid injection. This treatment injects a steroid into the cyst to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.

To prevent recurrence — or to treat especially severe cysts — your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the cyst or even the complete salivary gland.

Even after healing, the only way to ensure a cyst will not come back is to have it surgically removed. Avoid habits like lip or cheek biting to help prevent future cysts.

A space maintainer is an appliance that is custom-made by a dentist or orthodontist in acrylic or metal material. It can be either removable or cemented in a child’s mouth. Its purpose is to keep the space open to allow the permanent tooth to erupt and come into place.

Children may need space maintainers if they lose a tooth early or have a baby (primary) tooth extracted due to dental decay.

Types of Space Maintainers

There are two types of space maintainers for children, removable and fixed.

There are numerous types of space maintainers. They range from the very simple to those with numerous bands and wires.

A removable space maintainer, of course, can be removed. A fixed space maintainer is fixed (i.e., held) to a tooth or to more than one tooth.

• Removable – Removable space maintainers are similar to orthodontic appliances and are usually made of acrylic. In some cases, an artificial tooth may be used to fill a space that must remain open for the unerupted tooth.

• Fixed – There are four different kinds of fixed space maintainers: unilateral, crown and loop, distal shoe and lingual.

Are Space Maintainers Always Necessary?

• Not every tooth that is lost too early requires a space maintainer. If one of the four upper front teeth is lost early, the space will stay open on its own until the permanent tooth comes in.
• If you do not take your child to the dentist regularly — at least every six months — a space maintainer can cause problems. This especially can occur if your child does not brush well. The gum tissue in the space can grow over the wire arm, increasing the risk of infection. If that happens, your child’s dentist may have to remove the gum tissue by surgery.
• If the permanent tooth is about to erupt, the dentist may decide not to use a space maintainer unless your child needs braces and space is a critical issue.

Caring for Your Space Maintainer

The space maintainer may feel unusual at first. But after a few days, your child probably will forget about it.

A removable space maintainer with replacement teeth can affect speech until your child gets used to it.

This photograph shows an example of a fixed bilateral space maintainer.

Caring for Baby’s Gums

You can start caring for baby’s gums right away. But at first, the care won’t involve a toothbrush and toothpaste. Instead, take these steps:

• Get a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.
• Gently wipe down your baby’s gums at least twice a day.
• Especially wipe your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime.

This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from clinging to gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque that damages infant teeth as they come in.

Brushing Baby’s Teeth

When the first baby teeth start to pop up, you can graduate to a toothbrush. Choose one with a:

• soft brush
• small head
• large handle

At first, just wet the toothbrush. As soon as teeth erupt, you can start using toothpaste in the amount of a grain of rice. You can increase this to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is age 3. Brush gently all around your child’s baby teeth — front and back.

You should brush your baby’s teeth until he or she is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise the process until your child can rinse and spit without assistance. That usually happens at around age 6.

Keep on the lookout for any signs of baby tooth decay — brown or white spots or pits on the teeth.

Teething

It can take two years before all of the infant teeth have made their way through your baby’s gums. The process as each tooth emerges is called “teething.”

Teething is uncomfortable. That’s why your baby cries and fusses in the days or weeks before each baby tooth pops up. Babies can display other teething symptoms, too, including:

• drooling
• swollen gums

Here are a few tips to relieve your baby’s teething pain:

Teething rings. Let your baby chew on a clean, cool teething ring or cold washcloth. Just avoid giving your child anything that is small enough to choke on. Also avoid a teething ring with liquid inside that could break open.

Gum rubbing. Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.

What you need to know about Immediate Dentures

The advantage of immediate dentures is that you can walk away with a full smile the same day, immediately following the removal of natural teeth. A set of immediate dentures may be the best solution when complete extractions of your remaining teeth are unavoidable, but it would be inconvenient for you to live without teeth while conventional dentures are created – which can take days or weeks. However, because immediate dentures are inserted right after your dental surgery, the gums and jaw will change shape as they heal so it may be necessary to have an immediate denture adjusted.

What are immediate dentures?

As the name suggests, immediate dentures are dentures that are inserted into a patient’s mouth immediately after their teeth are removed.

Immediate Dentures vs. Regular Dentures

Regular dentures are made for a patient’s mouth from a mold after the teeth have been removed. A dentist lets the patient’s gums heal after the operation and then inserts dentures that have been molded and fit for the oral cavity. It may take some time for the dentures to be ready. Then, there is a fitting and potential adjustment, but once all details have been worked out, permanent dentures provide a long-term solution. Immediate dentures are molded to a patient’s oral cavity prior to extraction and fitted once the teeth have been pulled. The benefits of the immediate dentures procedure are that you will walk away with a full set of teeth. However, as your bones and gums heal, adjustments may be necessary. In some cases, patients must replace this set of dentures with a new set of permanent dentures after their mouth has healed completely. When considering if immediate dentures vs. regular dentures are right for you, you should discuss your needs and priorities with your dentist.