Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog
Cosmetic Dentistry Directory
Monday, June 21, 2010
Gum Disease – Part 2
Last week, this space talked about gum disease and how it begins. Now let’s look at how it progresses. Gum disease does progress indefinitely as long as nobody stops it. Gum disease has two main stages and the early stage is called gingivitis. The later stage is called periodontitis. So far we have been looking at gingivitis.
Symptoms of Gingivitis
When inflammation is not stopped, infection sets in. When plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar. Tartar cannot be brushed off and it becomes stuck to the tooth base, against the gums. The plaque and tartar irritate the gums and bacteria and their toxins (excretions) enter the gum tissue, causing symptoms:
- Bleeding gums
- Gum redness
- Tenderness when touched
- Gum swelling
- Mouth sores
There will probably also be an unpleasant odor.
Tooth Destruction
As bacterial acidity eats into tooth enamel, cavities form. As bacteria spread down on to the tooth roots and their acidity eats through the root, decay enters the tooth’s interior space – the chamber and the root canal.
In here are the tooth’s nerves, its blood vessels, and connective tissue. When acidity starts to destroy the nerve, you have a toothache. It is a sensory nerve and transmits pain messages to the brain. When the nerve is entirely destroyed, it cannot transmit any messages and the toothache will “stop”. It will not really stop. The decay will continue but now you have no nerve to tell you about it.
A toothache sends most people to the dentist. Decay is far more extensive now that it was to start with and the damaged tooth will need at least a filling, and perhaps a crown. It might even need a “root canal” – a cleaning out of the root canal and filling it with dental cement. You can have a decayed tooth without having gum disease but gum disease will always involve tooth decay.
All of these problems can be prevented by good dental hygiene. It is simply a matter of keeping bacterial numbers down, using whatever products and methods work. Please see Dental Technology: New Materials And Devices for ideas on good dental hygiene.
Next week this space will look at advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis. Meanwhile, if you are in the Boston or Braintree areas in Massachusetts and would like to consult with a highly-trained dentist, please visit Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics. To find a good dentist in other areas, please contact us today or use the map below.
posted by JennyK at 2:41 PM
Friday, June 18, 2010
What is Gum Disease – Part 1
There are always bacteria in the mouth – hundreds of kinds of bacteria. Not all of them are negative in themselves, but they all deposit harmful stuff on the teeth and gums. They live on tiny food particles left in the mouth. That enables them to thrive and multiply and spread into whatever cozy corners they find. They are only single-cell organisms but they digest food and leave excretions on the teeth and gums.
Their excretions are acidic in nature – they have a low pH value. Anything acidic will destroy whatever it comes into contact with, faster or slower according to how strongly acidic it is. Stomach acid breaks down food. Battery acid will burn a hole in metal. Bacterial deposits make holes in tooth enamel. The name for bacteria and their excretions is:
Plaque and Tartar
Plaque is a sticky biofilm and clings to the teeth and gums until you remove it. The goal of daily brushing and flossing is to reduce bacterial numbers on a regular basis. Hopefully that will counteract their perpetual tendency to increase in numbers. And fewer bacteria will mean fewer acidic excretions, which will expose your teeth and gums to less danger of gum disease.
When plaque is left on the teeth and gums long enough, it becomes hard and now it’s called tartar (or calculus). It cannot be brushed off. That is why regular trips to the dentist for cleanings are so important. A dental hygienist has special implements that can scrape off the acidic tartar and restore cleanliness to your mouth.
Tooth Pockets
A popular cozy corner for bacteria is between each tooth and its surrounding gums. Being microscopically tiny, bacteria can slip down there and breed. They leave excretions. It builds up and creates an enlarged space, separating the tooth from its attachment to the gums. This is a tooth pocket and your dentist can measure it. Small pockets are not yet gum disease but as the pockets get larger and bacteria more numerous, early gum disease is gradually established.
- If you have pockets measuring three millimeters or less, you are not yet in trouble;
- If many pockets grow to four or five millimeters, you have gum disease and should get it treated as soon as possible. You probably need some Fresh Breath Treatment too.
- If pockets grow even larger than five millimeters, you are in danger of losing teeth
On that cheerful note we will pause, and next week, please come to our Cosmetic Dentistry Directory for the next chapter in this story of gum disease.
To find a well-qualified dentist near you, please use the map below or just Contact Us.
posted by JennyK at 1:20 PM
Friday, June 11, 2010
Does Your Dentist Keep You Comfortable?
Most cosmetic dentists have your comfort as a high priority, along with your dental health and your smile’s attractiveness. There are big and small ways your dentist can keep your comfortable while you are in his or her office.
One big way is delivering your anesthetic painlessly (which can be done by first swabbing the gum surface with anesthetic and then using the Wand to deliver the deeper anesthetic). Another is by using air abrasion or a laser instead of a drill. You can read more at Dental Technology: Reducing Pain and Discomfort.
But there are many small ways also – small devices and practices that keep you comfortable in the dental chair. One is disposable dark glasses against the bright overhead light. Your dentist needs that bright light close over your face so he can see clearly and you can keep your eyes closed against it. But having dark glasses gives more protection and you can comfortably open your eyes if you speak to the dentist.
If you have any degree of TMJ (TMD), you will surely appreciate use of a jaw prop. They hold your mouth open, which save your jaw muscles a lot of strain and pain. The dental assistant will provide one that is the right height for your mouth size and the exact dental work being done.
Neck pillows are a great boon if you want to zone out during your dental work. As the dentist pushes against your jaw, your neck stays relaxed and well-supported and you don’t get that “attacked” feeling that some have in the dental chair.
An alarming thing about dental offices for some people is the sound of the drill. White noise headphones can block that out, and can block out all sound in the office, making a pleasant separation between you and your surroundings. If you choose, you can listen to music of your choice. Some dental offices even have movies to watch on a ceiling screen.
If you need a new dentist, please use our “Find a Dentist” navigation above, the map below, or just Contact Us today.
posted by JennyK at 1:03 PM
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bridges vs. Dental Implants For Replacing Lost Teeth
Anyone can lose a tooth at any time – from a car accident or sports accident, for example. Those who neglect their dental hygiene for long enough will develop gum disease, which eventually loosens the teeth so that they fall out.
Traditionally, a dental bridge has been used to replace a lost tooth and this is an excellent solution in some respects. It fills that gap in your smile or in your back teeth and that has the added benefit of keeping the rest of your teeth properly aligned. If the tooth gap were to be left too long, the nearby teeth would drift into the space, losing their good alignment. They need a replacement tooth in that space to hold them in line.
The downside of a dental bridge is that it does not fill the gap in your jawbone where the lost tooth root used to be. That leaves you with a danger similar to that presented by the tooth gap – gum tissue will sink down into that bone space, creating an indentation in your gums. Also, the jawbone tissue may shrink into it, changing your jawline and facial profile, giving it an older look.
Modern cosmetic dentistry offers an alternative to dental bridges – dental implants. These are synthetic tooth roots, positioned in the bone, with a small abutment protruding through the gums. A porcelain tooth is permanently attached to the abutment. This arrangement fills both gaps and gives you a new lease on your dental life.
Caring For Bridges and Implants
A fixed bridge requires the same good hygiene you give your natural teeth every day. Of course, a removable bridge needs daily cleaning with an appropriate solution. Implants themselves require no care, as they are solidly embraced by jawbone tissue and not accessible. The replacement tooth, or teeth, anchored by an implant requires daily brushing and flossing like your natural teeth.
At some point, your bridge will need adjusting as the mouth tissues age and gums shrink. Your implant is a permanent solution and will give you excellent, unlimited service as long as you keep up your daily hygiene and prevent gum disease.
If you are in the Hannibal, Missouri area, please visit Dr. Charles Janes’ website to learn more about bridges and implants. For the names of qualified cosmetic dentists in your area, please contact us.
posted by JennyK at 10:19 AM