Ever seen or feel cracks or sensitivity on teeth?? Thought about the reasons??

 DENTAL WEARS 

Dental attrition, abfraction, abrasion, tooth erosion and root resorption are different types of wear on teeth.

 But what exactly are they? What are their causes?

Dental abfraction : is a loss of tooth structure, usually due to continued trauma to the teeth caused by excessive force on them due to a bad bite. When tension zones are generated, microfractures are produced that in the long term can cause the loss of enamel, dentin and cementum.

Tooth abrasion:

Abrasion is a loss of tooth structure due to the contact of the teethwith abrasive elements, such as the use of a toothbrush that is too hard or brushing that is too aggressive.

Tooth attrition:

Attrition is wear of tooth surfaces due to contact between them. This process occurs frequently in bruxist or squeezing patients. 

Tooth erosion:

Erosion is the destruction of the tooth surface caused by external elements, usually chemicals and/or acids, such as those contained in carbonated beverages. An excessive consumption of them can cause the loss of enamel.

Esophageal reflux and bulimia:

In people with gastroesophageal reflux or those who suffer from bulimia, the frequent contact of gastric acids with the surface of the teeth, cause them to progressively erode.

Root resorption:

Root resorptions are defects in a tooth that can affect the enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp, usually caused by trauma, orthodontic treatment, cysts, impacted teeth, systemic, idiopathic or genetic diseases. Resorptions can be external or internal.

Dental Implants! Good or bad??

 Is your dental implant troubling you?? Can implant fail??

Peri implantitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues surrounding a dental implant and that can lead to its loss.

Although implants are not exposed to cavities as normal teeth, they require adequate maintenance as gingival inflammation and even infection and bone loss can occur. If this happens around natural teeth it is called periodontal disease, but if it affects the implants it is called periimplantitis.

The origin of a periimplantitis is usually the accumulation of plaque and calculus around the surface of the implant. This causes the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the implant and the resorption of the bone in which the implant is located. In another cases, the cause may be the wear of an improper bite or a poor implant placement.

In any case, the lack of oral hygiene and tobacco use are risk factors. The proper care and maintenance of dental implants is important for their function and good health.

Your dentist should explain the proper techniques to keep the implants clean and healthy. It is important to have a correct routine brushing and flossing technique. They  can also teach you other tools that can help to keep your teeth and implants clean and healthy, such as interdental brushes and irrigators, among others.

How to treat periimplantitis:

As most times the origin of peri-implantitis is linked to dental hygiene problems, the most common treatment for this problem is to remove the affected tissue and decontaminate the implant.

Once the surface of the implant is completely clean, if possible, the space left by the reabsorbed bone may be filled with biomaterials. In cases where bone filling is not possible, the area will be sutured, leaving part of the surface of the implant exposed to the oral environment, which will require specific hygienic measures.

There are more serious cases in which the progress of peri-implantitis is greater. In these situations, the treatment is the explantation of the implant and placement of a new one, if possible.

Dental implants are not exempt from proper maintenance just like natural teeth, so it is recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice a year.

MYTHS Vs REALITY

 Some common Myths and their reality related to dental diseases 

Myth 1 -cavities are reversible 

Reality- some of the cavities are reversible if only the cavity has reached the enamel part of the tooth. If the cavity has gone beyond the dentin and reached the pulp where the nerve supply and blood supply of teeth is present then it cannot be reversed. It will require fillings or root canal treatment.

Myth 2- fruits and beverage like sodas will whiten ur teeth 

Reality- fruits like oranges and lemons are acidic , they have low ph level . But some of the fruits contains chromogens which actually removes the yellowishness of teeth. But the reality is because of the low ph level, the surface of teeth gets weakened and it may crack . So fruits juices and diet cokes may be healthy for ur body but they are not healthy for ur teeth . Best alternative for teeth is milk and water or any product which has moderate ph level.

 For whitening u can visit dentist for in office whitening like bleaching or can do home bleaching.

Myth 3- braces are just for crooked or crowded teeth not for adults and is age related

Reality- braces has both functional and aesthetics reasons . Some people have proclined teeth, crowding, open bite etc . They can go for braces . And is not age related children’s whose teeth fall out at early stages, may have crowded or proclined teeth in future. Or adults who don’t want to go for braces because of looks or who found braces ugly can go for aligners . They are not visible and can be easily wearable and has the same effect like braces.

Myth 4- a knocked out or accidentally broke or come out teeth is gone for good

Reality- a knocked out teeth can be saved . It can be reimplemented by the person himself or if he /she is unable to do ,they can put that teeth into a glass milk or in saliva or mouth within 1hr of accident happened. And visit the nearby dentist as soon as possible for re implantation. Tooth can be saved later on .

Myth 5- fillings last forever 

Reality- it totally depends on how u maintain ur oral hygiene. If the oral hygiene is good then fillings can do last for long. But if hygiene is poor then a new cavity might develop near the fillings or in between the tooth’s. So maintaining oral hygiene is very important.

Myth 6- dental cleanings are not necessary 

Reality- cleaning is totally necessary if you want ur teeth to last till old age. Many people has misconceptions that after cleaning, teeth become loose. But that’s not the case , reality is cleaning helps to strengthen the gums and teeth . What happens that whenever we eat any food, some of the food particles remain stuck in the tooth surface and they are not visible, we call it a plaque. Because of poor oral hygiene, bacteria and food debris’s forms a large amount of plaque ,which looks yellow or white and forms a hard layer on the tooth surface and gums , it can not be cleaned via brushing. Sometimes it came out on its own , and some people thinks that things as tooth. But they are just full of bacteria’s. These plaques damages the gums and bones through which our teeth are attached tightly, and they become loose. After cleaning , patients might feel that teeth has gotten loose but it will  regain its position with time. So cleaning is important for a long run.

Myth 7- flossing and brushing with toothpaste is not important 

Reality- if u want to maintain ur oral hygiene ,brushing and flossing is very important.

Toothpaste which contains fluorides ,remineralise ur teeth surface . So it’s very important to brush the teeth with a fluoridated toothpaste unless you are not suffering from dental fluorosis.

Myth 8-baby teeth are not important 

Reality- baby teeth acts like a space maintainer for future permanent teeth. If a baby tooth came out early the future permanent tooth gets confuse about the direction and later impaction or teeth might get stuck in the jaws forever because of the lack of space. Baby teeth are also important for speech function. Many kids who lost their front teeth early has difficulty in speaking some words .there speech will get impaired. So it’s very important to maintain the baby’s teeth . How can we do that ? By maintaining proper oral hygiene of kids , proper bushing with kids toothpaste like cheeriogel or kidodent etc toothpaste that are available in the market place can help. Washing or rinsing the child’s mouth after eating chocolates or any sticky food can prevent cavities. Teach or guide your child the importance of brushing and cleaning the mouth, not just teeth or tongue , the whole oral cavity. Because most of the bacteria or germs enters into our body via mouth only. So always brush and rinse with warm saline water twice daily. Making saline water at home is very easy , you just has to warm the water and put half tea spoon of salt in it .

Myth 9- you can loose ur eyesight after removal of teeth 

Reality- the nerve and blood supply of teeth and eyes are totally different. So Nobody can lose their eyesight after extraction of teeth. That’s the biggest myth I have ever heard. Complications like swelling or blood clot that’s hematoma etc may occur due to wrong needle penetration but these are easily manageable and doesn’t harm ur eyes. Actually what happened in ancient time, the instruments which was used to extract teeth was old and traumatic which requires heavy forces to remove the tooth and sometimes they harm the eyes. But now a days technique are best and advance instruments are used, so your eyes are safe.

Myth 10- teeth with root canal can not feel 

Reality - a root canal treated tooth can feel . In root canal treatment, we remove the nerves and vessels that is present inside the tooth ,that is one pulp , the innermost area of the tooth. But the nerves are also present inside the gums and bones through which teeths are attached. So a root canal treated tooth can feel, not as much as normal teeth but it can. It’s like having a dead tooth inside ur mouth. But it can save at least ur teeth and u don’t have to go for removal and after works, which cost more than a root canal treatment.

Myth 11- you will loose all your teeth when you are old

Reality- it totally depends on your oral hygiene . Many of my patients who ages more than 60 has better condition of there tooth than a 20-30 year of age patients. So it’s totally depends on the oral hygiene, how well people maintain there oral health. That’s why awareness and education about oral health is so important and I speak a lot about it in my clinic.

Missing tooth??? What to do and what not to do??

 MISSING TEETH?? CONSEQUENCES AND ACTIONS

Tooth loss can cause several problems if they are not replaced. The opposing tooth can gradually extrude due to having no contact with the opposite. This movement of the tooth can cause undesired contacts with other teeth, which may cause damage to them such as cavities, fractures, intrusions, mobility, gum problems etc. 

Another consequence may be that the adjacent teeth, due to having no contacts, will move to fill the empty spaces. This will cause bad dental contacts, joint problems, difficulties with hygiene and all the problems derived from it.

Treatment options

1.No replacement 

not bothering your cosmetic appearance-maybe it's super far back there and you-can't even tell it's missing or if you don't even notice it's gone because you don't have an opposing tooth to chew ,replace both or sometimes not really functional anyway.

So option one is to do nothing at all just leave the gap alone.

2. Partial dentures 

Dentures does not keep the bone level where it should be so people can get bone loss over time , although it will improve your cosmetic appearance and it can also help you chew too. The only problem lies is you have to remove the denture every night when you sleep so that your gum tissues can get rest.

3 Dental bridge

The best option to replace a missing tooth before implants came along is bridges.

The only problem lies is that you have crown both the adjacent teeth as pillars to make the bridge. So if something goes wrong in the future with one of the two teeth holding the bridge, you will loose the whole bridge supporting the crowns. Plus if you have crowns on healthy tooth you have get root canal treatment done for the particular tooth to get the bridge done again.

4 Dental Implants

The best option is to get an implant done if you can. In a standalone crown, it doesn’t place strain on any other teeth and doesn’t disturb the surrounding teeth and helps the bone level intact. An implant is a screw that directly goes into your bone and after it heals you get a crown.

If you’re eligible always provide health history to your dentist. They will take CT or 3D scan of your jaw before planning and placing an implant .

5. Save the tooth

 Tooth is question and there is an option . To save it with a root canal treatment. Always try to save the actual tooth first before you get an extraction. It’s always best to have your own teething you can, however if the tooth in question and is not treatable then only get it removed. Your dentist will guide you in right direction for decision making and treatment planning.