The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting the dentist at least once every six months for a professional exam and cleaning. Regular dental visits are necessary for the maintenance of healthy gums and teeth. Your dentist may recommend more frequent visits, depending on the state of your oral health.
Bridges
When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can shift out of position. This can lead to a change in your bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay, and gum disease.
When missing multiple teeth, your dentist may recommend the placement of a bridge. A permanent bridge is one or more replacement teeth anchored by one or more crowns on each side. A removable bridge - or removable partial denture - usually consists of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by a metal framework.
Bruxism – "Tooth Grinding"
Patients are often concerned about grinding their teeth while asleep (bruxism). The first indication of bruxism is usually the noise created by grinding your teeth. Or, you may notice wear on your teeth, which is usually indicated by your teeth getting shorter. One theory is that stress causes grinding. Another theory suggests that pressure in the inner ear is the cause.
The majority of bruxism cases do not require any treatment. If excessive teeth wear - attrition - is present, then a bed-time mouth guard may be prescribed.
Crowns
Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your smile. A crown can be used to cover a fractured tooth, a tooth with an old filling, or a tooth that is severely damaged by decay. Crowns are also used to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped, or to conceal an older dental implant. Types of crowns include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain-metal crown, and the all-metal crown. Your dentist will recommend the crown that is best for you.
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to your dentist. First, the dentist removes decay and shapes the tooth. Then, they make an impression and fits a temporary or transitional crown made of plastic or metal. On the next visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown, fit and adjust the final crown, and then cement it into place.
Emergencies
Toothache: Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse your mouth vigorously with warm water, or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If your face is swollen, apply a cold compression and contact your dentist immediately.
Cut Tongue, Lip, or Cheek: Apply ice to the affected area(s). If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If the bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the emergency room.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth: If possible, find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, and be careful not to touch the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth excessively. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in its socket. Hold the tooth in place by gently biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place the tooth in a cup containing the saliva of the person that lost it, or use milk, but NOT water. The tooth may also be carried in the mouth beside the cheek. The person who lost their tooth must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
Implants
Tooth loss can have an effect on your dental health and personal appearance if not dealt with properly. When you lose one or more permanent teeth, your remaining teeth can drift out of position. This can lead to a change in your bite, decay and gum disease, as well as a change in your personal appearance.
Dental implants are an effective method to replace one or several teeth. Each implant consists of a metal post that is inserted into the jawbone beneath your gums. The bone then grows around the post during a short healing period. Then, the post is outfitted with an artificial tooth, which is similar to your natural tooth. Implants can also support a bridge, replace a partial denture, or secure a fixed denture.
Oral Cancer
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), oral cancer kills more people nationwide than either cervical cancer or skin cancer. Currently, only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years. The good news is that it is now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the benefits of treatment are greater.
Regular dental check-ups are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it. In about 10% of patients, the dentist may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, your dentist may perform a simple test - a biopsy - which can detect potentially dangerous cells when the disease is still at an early stage.
Signs of oral cancer that you may want to be aware of may include:
a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal.
a color change of the oral tissue.
a lump.
a thickening, rough spot, crust, or small eroded area.
pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.
Although oral cancer occurs most often in those who use tobacco in any form, more than 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors.
Remember to see your dentist regularly because they are most the most equipped professional to see a small spot or sore that you may not notice. If you do notice any of the above signs, you should call your dentist as soon as possible.
Root Canal Treatment (Endodontics)
To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, and creates the hard tissues surrounding the tooth during development. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during a tooth's growth and development. However, once a tooth is fully mature, it can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, a blow to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
Signs of pulp damage include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums. Sometimes, there are no symptoms.
When a root canal is necessary, the dentist or endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist to get a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Tooth Eruption
Children's teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32, including the third molars - called wisdom teeth.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco in any form can jeopardize your health and cause incurable damage. Smokeless tobacco, also called dip, chew, or snuff, is often used by teens who believe that it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is an unfortunate misconception. Studies show that spit tobacco may be more addictive than smoking cigarettes and may be more difficult to quit. People who use it need to understand that one can of snuff delivers as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes. In as little as three to four months, smokeless tobacco use can cause periodontal disease and produce pre-cancerous lesions called leukoplakias.
If you are a tobacco user, you should watch for the following that could be early signs of oral cancer:
A sore that won't heal.
White or red leathery patches on your lips, and on or under your tongue.
Pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth or lips.
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue.
A change in the way your teeth fit together.
Because the early signs of oral cancer are not usually painful, people often ignore them. If it's not caught in the early stages, oral cancer can require extensive, sometimes disfiguring, surgery. Even worse, it can kill.
The best advice is to avoid tobacco in any form. By doing so, you will avoid bringing cancer-causing chemicals in direct contact with your tongue, gums and cheek.
Tongue Piercing
You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings, including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscesses, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), receding gums, or scar tissue. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!
Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva, and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.
So follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give your mouth a break – skip the mouth jewelry.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth - or third molars - are the final teeth to develop in the back of your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, which erupt during their late teens or early twenties.
Fixable problems often develop that require the removal of your wisdom teeth. When the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate them, they can become trapped or impacted. Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way from the gum, or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. In most cases, it is recommended that impacted wisdom teeth are removed.
Wisdom tooth surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia in your dentist's or oral surgeon's office, an outpatient surgical facility, or a hospital.
Prevention
Fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element which has shown to prevent tooth decay by as much as 50-70%. For children younger than 8 years old, fluoride actually helps strengthen the adult teeth that are developing beneath their gums. With little or no fluoride, teeth aren’t strengthened enough to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by young children can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a white discoloration (brown in advanced cases) of the permanent teeth.
The two primary sources of fluoride are fluoridated water and toothpaste. Fluoridated water is most commonly found in local tap water. Dentists encourage drinking tap water from the sink because a number of water dispensing refrigerators filter out up to 90% of fluoride found in local water. However, charcoal and carbon type water filters such as a Britta filter retain fluoride levels found in local water while still providing filtered drinking water.
For children beneath 3 years of age, use a smear of fluoride toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) to brush their teeth. For children 3 to 6 years old, use a “pea-size” amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s tooth brushing. To ensure that your child’s toothpaste contains the optimal amount of fluoride, look for the ADA seal of acceptance somewhere on the packaging. Children should not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing, in order to avoid fluorosis. Be sure to follow your pediatric dentist’s instructions on suggested fluoride use and possible supplements.
Awareness of a child's potential sources of fluoride can help parents prevent the possibility of dental fluorosis.
Some sources of fluoride are:
Fluoridated toothpaste.
Fluoride supplements.
Tap water.
Two and three-year olds may not be able to spit out toothpaste when brushing. As a result, younger children may ingest an excessive amount of fluoride when brushing. Toothpaste ingestion during this period of permanent tooth development is the greatest risk factor for developing of fluorosis. Children under 3 years old can use non-fluoridated toothpastes if
they are still receiving fluoride from tap water in order to avoid
ingesting too much fluoridated toothpaste
Excessive intake of fluoride supplements may also contribute to fluorosis. Fluoride drops and tablets, as well as fluoride fortified vitamins should not be given to infants younger than six months of age. After that time, fluoride supplements should only be given to children after all of the sources of ingested fluoride have been accounted for and upon the recommendation of your pediatrician or pediatric dentist.
Certain foods contain high levels of fluoride, especially: powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula, infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and infant chicken products. Please read the label or contact the manufacturer to learn more about the fluoride levels in specific foods.
Some beverages also contain high levels of fluoride, especially: decaffeinated teas, white grape juices, and juice drinks manufactured in fluoridated cities. Soft drinks served at restraurants may also contain fluoride, depending upon the fluoridation levels in their local water supply.
Parents can take the following steps to decrease the risk of fluorosis in their children's teeth:
Use baby teeth cleanser on a toothbrush in very young children.
Use only a pea-sized drop of children's toothpaste when brushing.
Account for all of the sources of ingested fluoride before requesting fluoride supplements from your child's physician or pediatric dentist.
Avoid giving any fluoride supplements to infants until they are at least 6 months old.
Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water before giving fluoride supplements to your child. To do this, check with local water utilities.
Good Diet
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, teeth, bones, and soft tissues in the mouth need a well-balanced diet. In order to promote good dental health, you should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most pre-packaged snacks can lead to cavity formation. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role in cavity development. For example, hard candy and breath mints can stay in the mouth for a long time, which can cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If you must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese, which are healthier and better for your teeth.
People should avoid grazing as much as possible, if you snack
continuously, you should either drink water or brush their teeth
afterwards to help remove as many food particles as possible.
Mouth Guards
Oral injuries can occur if you participate in recreational activities and organized sports. Which makes a properly fitted mouth guard - or mouth protector - an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your smile. A mouth guard should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, injuries to the lips, tongue, face, and jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while you're wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.
Ask your dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.
Seal Out Decay
A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back molars, where four out of five cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.
Cosmetic or Esthetic Dentistry
Bonding
Bonding restores chipped, cracked, miscolored, or misaligned teeth by rebuilding the surface with a resin material. To place the bond, your dentist prepares your tooth with an etching solution. Then, special resin materials are blended in colors carefully chosen to match your own teeth. These materials are applied and then shaped into the right contours. Finally, they're hardened or bonded into place.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are tooth-colored restorations that are used on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They can be placed instead of silver fillings or to replace existing silver fillings.
Veneers
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Porcelain laminate veneers are commonly used to correct teeth that are stained or discolored, badly shaped or crooked, or damaged due to an injury.
Placing a veneer is usually an irreversible process, because it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.
Whitening (Bleaching)
Several options are available to help make your smile brighter and whiter such as In-office bleaching, at-home bleaching, or whitening toothpastes. Ask your dentist which technique is the best suited for you.
