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| What
are Implants? |
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IMPLANTS are used to replace a single tooth, many
teeth on one side, or all the upper or lower teeth.
The most common implant used today is the osseointegrated
implant. This implant is placed in a hole which
is drilled into the patient's lower or upper jaw.
Depending on the number of teeth being replaced,
one or more implants are placed in the bone. If
necessary a substructure is fabricated and then
a crown, bridge or denture is securely fastened
to the substructure or implant. Implants are useful
for patients that have tried but can't wear conventional
dentures. Patients who have lost a tooth, two teeth
and don't want to cut the teeth down to make a bridge,
would also make good candidates for Implants. In
either case the patient has to commit to good oral
hygiene. Implants are usually placed in outpatient
settings(under local anesthetics) and have a healing
phase of 3 to 9 months. |
| Why
do my gums bleed all the time? |
This
normally happens when there is an inflammation
or infection of the supporting structures of the
teeth, i.e. the surrounding gum tissue or supporting
bone. It is caused by a sticky, colorless film
that is constantly forming on your teeth.
This film is called plaque. If this film is not
cleaned off the teeth with proper brushing and
flossing the bacteria in the plaque cause an inflammation
of the gum tissue called gingivitis. The symptoms
of gingivitis are red, swollen, tender, or bleeding
gums. If you have any of these symptoms it would
be wise to contact a dentist as soon as possible.
If left untreated it progresses to periodontitis.
Periodontitis occurs when the plaque starts to
calcify and become calculus or tartar. This then
migrates under the gum tissue causing pocketing(gaps
between teeth and gums) around the teeth and starts
to destroy the bone tissue. If left long enough
the entire supporting structure is destroyed and
the tooth or teeth are lost. “This
entire phenomenon is painless , so normally we
do not find the need to contact Dental Surgeon.”
Unfortunately, this disease is found in
3 out of 4 adults over 35. The symptoms of periodontitis
are loose or shifting teeth, gum tissue separating
from your teeth, longer appearing teeth, and/or
pus or an unpleasant taste or odor coming from
your mouth.
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| Will
cleaning and polishing of teeth lead to loosening
of teeth? |
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Not at all !!!!! In fact it will increase life span
of your teeth, gums and bone. In our country we
lose more no. of teeth because of lack of basic
cleaning concepts. Ideally one can get scaling and
polishing done betn 6-12 months depending on an
individual. So, eating well balanced meals, avoiding
snacking (especially sweets), regular brushing,
flossing and regular check-ups should limit your
risk of getting gum disease. |
| What
is Root Canal Treatment? |
| ROOT
CANAL TREATMENT is needed when a tooth's nerve and
associated blood vessels are irreversibly damaged.
They may be damaged by trauma, which may fracture
a tooth, or by having deep decay that has infected
the nerve. The end result is the same , an infection
that leads to an abscess at the base of the tooth.
Usually there is a throbbing pain in the tooth especially
noticeable when lying horizontal, i.e. in bed at
night. There also may be a swelling in your jaw
and it may be painful to chew on. Your tooth can
usually be saved at this time. If the abscess remains
too long the tooth dies and the bone around the
tooth is destroyed. The tooth must be removed if
this happens. A dentist can save a tooth by removing
the diseased nerve tissue, cleansing and then filling
the nerve chamber with a rubber like material. This
procedure can be done in one to three or more visits
depending on the condition of the nerve. If there
is an abscess antibiotic therapy may be used. |
| Why
should I replace my missing tooth? |
| GOD
has been kind in giving us 32 teeth. So many a times
we feel that even if few are missing it does not
matter. It is not so. There are several reasons
that you want to replace a missing tooth or teeth.
A tooth has many functions some being to chew, to
speak, to keep the facial muscles and tissue in
a proper position, to smile, and to keep the other
teeth from shifting. Once a tooth is lost this whole
balance is disrupted and it leads to various problems.
Once a tooth is lost the neighboring teeth start
to shift. This may take some time to notice for
our eyes but it happens fairly rapidly. After a
few years the size of the opening has closed dramatically.
What used to be a fantastic smile is a gapped hole
smirk. Some just prefer not to smile big anymore
because they are self-conscious of their looks.
The cheeks or the lips can appear sunken in. You
may speak differently and sound differently. What
once was a stable bite is now changing. What once
was a self cleansing tooth arrangement is now a
plaque trapping nightmare. Chewing can be more difficult
and tooth decay becomes more prevalent. These are
just some of the effects of losing a tooth. This
situation can cause TMJ problems and can cause headaches
and other discomfort. To minimize the possibility
of problems the missing tooth should be replaced
promptly. There are a many ways to replace that
missing tooth or teeth . |
| Can
I do anything to align my crooked teeth? |
| Definitely.
We can align your teeth with the help of Orthodontic
Treatment, popularly known as BRACES. |
| What
is the proper age to start Orthodontic Treatment? |
This depends on the problem presented by an individual.
Previously it was presumed to start Orthodontic
Treatment only after all permanent teeth have erupted
in the mouth i.e. around 12 years.
This is far from true. If patient has skeletal(jaw
mismatch) problem then earlier we start better it
is for both the orthodontist and the patient. Younger
the patient, more resilient and elastic are the
tissues so it is easier to bring about necessary
changes. |
| What
is the duration of the Treatment? |
| It
can take from 12 to 24 months. Patients are supposed
to visit Orthodontic office at an interval of 4-6
weeks. Initially 2-3 quick visits are reqd. when
braces are fitted. The whole procedure is absolutely
painless and does not require any anesthesia at
all. |
| Can
I do anything to prevent extra growth of my son's
Chin? Why not? |
| Technically
these cases are known as Cl.III cases. Excessive
growth of chin if treated early can be corrected
satisfactorily. Here problem can either be overgrowth
of lower jaw or undergrowth of upper jaw or combination
of both. This can be determined after analysis of
X-rays, impressions of jaws, and facial photographs.
This cases, if not treated early may require Orthognathic
Surgeries at a later date. |
| How
painful is the entire treatment? |
Perception
of pain is a very relative concept .In general orthodontic
treatment is very patient friendly, as very gentle
pressures are applied to bring necessary changes
without disturbing his/her academic career.
In the initial visits patients can experience mild
pressure when wires are applied. |
| Is
it very necessary to avoid CHOCOLATES? And Why? |
| Definitely.
Chocolates per se are not very important from our
nutrition point of view. We consume them because
we relish them. During orthodontic treatment there
are whole lot of wires and appliances on teeth,
which if patients are not careful can lead to carious
teeth and gum problems. In addition to that if chocolates
and any sticky foodstuff sticks to teeth it can
multiply the effect. We want that your teeth should
serve you for lifetime, which is possible only if
patients are co-operative in maintaining oral hygiene. |
| Why
I need to wear plates after treatment is complete? |
| Our
teeth are surrounded by gums, periodontal ligament-
which consists of elastic fibres,and bone. During
the course of orthodontic treatment lot of remodelling
of all these tissues take place. Elastic fibres
are stretched during treatment which if not given
sufficient time to settle down may partially try
to revert teeth to their original positions. To
avoid this phenomenon called RELAPSE, patients are
given removable plates called RETENTION PLATES which
is mandatory to wear as per the instruction of the
Orthodontist. |
| Is
it necessary to maintain space of missing milk teeth? |
Milk
teeth are supposed to preserve space till the time
permanent teeth erupt. In other words they are reserving
space for permanent teeth which start erupting from
the age of 6 years till the age of 12-13 years.
Wisdom teeth erupt anytime between 17-25 years generally.
If due to some reason milk teeth had to be removed,
then it is mandatory to make SPACE MAINTAINER in
that place to maintain space of permanent teeth. |
| What
is Tooth colored filling? |
| Bonding
is the term used when a dentist 'bonds' a tooth
colored resin onto the tooth to repair a fractured,
worn or chipped tooth, cover up a discoloration
on a tooth, or close a small space or gap between
two teeth. The dentist lightly prepares the tooth
to receive the material and etches the surface so
the material has more surface area to bond to. He
coats the tooth with a bonding liquid and then shines
a light on the tooth to set it. He then places the
putty like material on the tooth and shapes it to
the desired shape and then shines a light on the
tooth again to harden the material. After it is
set he trims and polishes the resin to a luster.
This can be performed in one or more appointments
depending on the number of teeth involved. Bonding
usually lasts from 3 to 5 years and before needing
to be repaired depending on the dietary habits of
an individual. The material can chip off as it is
a plastic resin, and not as strong as your natural
teeth. Proper home care and professional cleanings
will keep your restored teeth healthy. Bonding not
only restores your tooth but also helps to improve
your appearance and self-confidence. People are
sometimes hesitant to smile because of the way their
front teeth look, after bonding they can smile freely
again. |
| What
is teeth whitening procedure? |
| A
popular method for treating moderately stained or
discolored teeth is bleaching. These stains often
can not be removed with regular professional cleanings.
The most popular method of bleaching is the at-home
method. There are a few good products out on the
market that are dispensed by dentists. I do not
suggest to use the off the shelf variety. They can
cause more harm than good. First, the dentist makes
a mold of your teeth and makes a custom mouth tray.
The mouth tray will hold the bleaching material
against the tooth surface without concentrating
the agent on the gum tissue. If the material contacts
the gum tissue to long the gum tissue can be irritated
or even burned. The tray is worn 1/2 hour to 2 hours
per day and a noticeable improvement usually takes
place within 2 weeks. Some bleaching agents say
you can wear them all night but your teeth may get
very sensitive after doing this. You may continue
using the product until you reach your desired whiteness.
Sometimes you can not achieve the desired whiteness
and will have to settle for something less. The
dentist may have you come in periodically to check
the progress and the reaction to the gum tissue,
if any. After you have lightened your teeth, you
may need to periodically (once every couple of months)
bleach them for a session to keep the whiteness.
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| Can
you tell us about Brushing techniques? |
Tooth
brushing will remove dental plaque and other debris
from your teeth. Plaque plays a primary role in
oral disease such as tooth decay and gum disease.
The best way to remove plaque from the tooth surface
on a daily home care basis is through toothbrushing
and some form of "between the teeth" cleaning.
HOW TO BRUSH The following toothbrush technique
is commonly recommended by dental hygienists. You
should see your dental hygienist to ensure that
you are using a technique that meets your needs.
- Use a soft bristled brush (synthetic bristles
preferably because natural bristles tend to
harbor the oral bacteria as the bristles are
more porous).
Be sure it is the right size (generally smaller
is better than larger).
- Place the bristles at a 45 degree angle to
the teeth.
Slide the tips of the brush under the gums.
Jiggle the bristles very gently so that any
plaque growing under the gum will be removed.
Be sure to brush the outside, the tongue side
and the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- For the front teeth, brush the inside surfaces
of the upper and lower jaws by tilting the brush
vertically and making several up and down strokes
with the front part of the brush over the teeth
and gum tissues.
- Brushing your tongue will help freshen your
breath.
- Debris and bacteria can collect on your tongue
and cause bad breath.
Your toothbrush will only clean one or two teeth
at a time.
Change its position to properly clean each tooth.
- To prevent plaque damage, be sure to brush
at least once every day, preferably at bedtime.
- Adding a brush time after breakfast increases
your chances of thorough daily plaque removal.
- Don't rush your brush. A thorough brushing
should take at least 3 minutes.
- Brushing the teeth too vigorously or using
a hard bristled toothbrush causes the gums to
recede and exposes root surfaces.
It also wears down the tooth structure. Both
of these conditions can lead to tooth sensitivity.
- A pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste
is all you need, should you choose to use a
toothpaste.
- Replace your brush when the bristles begin
to spread.
A worn out toothbrush will not properly clean
your teeth.
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