Category: Dental

Types Of Dental Surgeries

Posted on by William Hurst

What are the different types of oral surgery?

– Tooth Extraction

You are probably familiar with this type of surgery. It involves the extraction of a decayed tooth that can no longer be saved.

If your dentist thinks that he can still save your tooth, he may do a root canal or tooth restoration. A root canal involves removing the infected nerve in place of the tooth. Tooth restoration involves restoring the tooth by using a crown.

– Removal of an Impacted Tooth

An impacted tooth is a molar or wisdom tooth, which does not surface completely.

When a wisdom tooth is too large, there may not be sufficient space in the gum line to contain the third molar. The wisdom tooth cannot surface to take its place with the other molars. It stays trapped (or impacted) between the jaw bone and the gum tissue. When this happens, the area is likely to become inflamed and painful. The gums, bone and adjacent teeth may become infected. The infection can spread. Cysts or tumors may develop. All these potential problems make it imperative for you to see a dentist about your impacted tooth.

– Dental Implants

If you have lost a tooth, you may want to consider having a dental implant to replace it. A dental implant provides both support and stability to a new denture.

You need to have certain qualities to be a good candidate for dental implants. You must have strong immunity to infections. You must have sufficient bone density to accommodate the dental implant. You must practice excellent dental hygiene.

Surgeries for Jaw-Related Diseases and Injuries

If your teeth are misaligned, you do not have to go through a surgical procedure to correct the improper alignment. You can use braces or orthodontic appliances to address the problem.

In the case of unbalanced jaw growth, however, surgery seems to be the appropriate solution. An oral surgeon uses surgery on your lower or upper jaw (or both) to achieve better functioning and positioning. A healthy and well-balanced jaw alignment prevents eating, swallowing and breathing problems.

TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder can cause headaches and face pain. It is possible to address some cases of TMJ by oral medications, physical therapy or splints. Cases that are more severe, however, may require surgery.

– Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

When the nasal cavity and the mouth of a fetus fail to properly develop during the early stages of fetal growth, the infant may be born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. An oral surgeon can repair the problem through surgery.

– Facial Reconstruction

An accident may result to fractured jaws and broken facial bones. An oral surgeon can use surgery to reconstruct the face.

– Biopsy

When tumors or cancer are suspected, oral surgery is usually undertaken to test sample tissue for cancer cells. Benign cysts and lesions are also removed through surgery.

– Surgery for Sleep Apnea

You can gain relief from sleep apnea through medication. However, if the problem is caused by oropharynx or jaw problems, medication will not be effective. The problem will have to be addressed through surgery.

Top Risk Factors That Increase Tooth Decay

Posted on by William Hurst

A lot of risk factors contribute to the occurrence of tooth decay. It is not just caused by improper brushing of teeth, which increases the growth of bacteria. This dental issue is also a result of the foods you eat, specifically anything with high starch and sugar content. The information below will also provide you more insight on what further contributes to decaying teeth, and what makes you more at risk of this issue.

Tooth decay occurs because of two things: a diet that is high in starch and sugar, and the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Once the latter combines with your saliva and food, it formulates plaque, which turns into tartar. The presence of bacteria in the mouth also leads to dissolving your teeth’s structure, causing the development of a hole or cavity.

Starchy foods aid in formulation of cavities by increasing the stickiness of plaque that turns to tartar if not removed on your teeth within two days. With the help of the bacteria present in the plaque, sugar is converted into acid, which is what causes the holes in your teeth.

Other than these, diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome, any disease that involves dry mouth, and genetic factors like the ones listed below, make you more susceptible to tooth decay.

1. The size and shape of your teeth may leave you more at risk of developing cavity. In this case, people with small teeth with several deep grooves and pits are more likely to suffer from cavity formation. These spaces or grooves cause the formation of plaque, making it difficult to reach and remove.

2. The enamel serves as your teeth protection against cavities. If your teeth are covered with thin enamel, it will not take long for cavity to damage your teeth, and break through.

3. The position of your teeth, and the way you bite also play a role on how much you are at risk of developing cavities. If your teeth are not properly positioned, you become more at risk of plaque accumulation. In the same way, a poorly aligned bite may lead to wearing down your enamel rapidly, leaving the soft dentin unprotected.

4. The time your tooth erupted also contributes to how much you are at risk of tooth decay. Experts state that people whose permanent teeth erupted earlier are more at risk of cavities. They explained that people at that stage have not developed proper oral hygiene practices yet.

As a conclusion, various factors may increase your risk of suffering from tooth decay. However, a proper hygiene developed at an early stage may serve as your best defense against this dental health issue. If this is not applied early on, you still have one last shot, which will need the help of the experts in the field.

What To Do If Dental Implant Becomes Loose?

Posted on by William Hurst

The healing process after a dental implant surgery varies from one person to another. In some cases, a dental implant can become loose from its designated position. When this occurs, the first step is to have it removed.

Reason for Dental Implant Failure

The main and the most common reason for a dental implant becoming loose is its failure to integrate with the underlying bone in the oral cavity. Do not wait for the implant to settle into its place in the gums because this could mean that further bone damage can occur.

For a dental implant to be successful, it needs to be incorporated as part of the normal bones found under the gums, just like in a normal tooth. Other causes that attribute to bone integration failure are bacterial contamination, infection, bone grafting issues, surgical technique used, and the personal healing process.

Loose Dental Implant Replacement

If you had loose dental implants removed in the past, you are still eligible to have a new dental implant. Dental implant replacement may take a long time since you will be back to square one.

1. The loose implant will be extracted. The implant site should be cleaned, and any dead gum tissue should be removed.

2. A new bone graft is inserted in the tooth socket to make sure that the bone does not recede from the gum line. Bone graft healing may take weeks to months.

3. After a minimum of 4 months, the implant site is rechecked for signs of bone growth. If the graft has successfully linked to the gum tissue, and is strong enough to support a dental implant, a new implant procedure can take place.

4. However, if there is no sufficient bone growth, a new bone graft procedure is performed. The site is allowed to heal, and will be rechecked after a couple of months. This is to ensure that there will be ample bone tissue growth when a new implant is procedure is performed.

Dental Implant Reminders

If your dental implant becomes loose or is not healing properly, make sure to call your oral surgeon immediately to know the next steps that you need to take. You can prevent a lot of things if you take the advice of a medical professional.

Dental implant procedures can be time-consuming and expensive. That is why you need to take all the necessary steps to ensure that your body is at an optimal healthy level prior to, and during the treatment period.

Do not despair if your dental implant becomes loose. There is a simple and clear cut process to remedy this. Focus on staying healthy, and maintaining good oral health hygiene, instead. In just a few months, you will have a full set of teeth, and no one will notice that it is just a dental implant.

What To Do If Dental Implant Becomes Loose?

Posted on by William Hurst

The healing process after a dental implant surgery varies from one person to another. In some cases, a dental implant can become loose from its designated position. When this occurs, the first step is to have it removed.

Reason for Dental Implant Failure

The main and the most common reason for a dental implant becoming loose is its failure to integrate with the underlying bone in the oral cavity. Do not wait for the implant to settle into its place in the gums because this could mean that further bone damage can occur.

For a dental implant to be successful, it needs to be incorporated as part of the normal bones found under the gums, just like in a normal tooth. Other causes that attribute to bone integration failure are bacterial contamination, infection, bone grafting issues, surgical technique used, and the personal healing process.

Loose Dental Implant Replacement

If you had loose dental implants removed in the past, you are still eligible to have a new dental implant. Dental implant replacement may take a long time since you will be back to square one.

1. The loose implant will be extracted. The implant site should be cleaned, and any dead gum tissue should be removed.

2. A new bone graft is inserted in the tooth socket to make sure that the bone does not recede from the gum line. Bone graft healing may take weeks to months.

3. After a minimum of 4 months, the implant site is rechecked for signs of bone growth. If the graft has successfully linked to the gum tissue, and is strong enough to support a dental implant, a new implant procedure can take place.

4. However, if there is no sufficient bone growth, a new bone graft procedure is performed. The site is allowed to heal, and will be rechecked after a couple of months. This is to ensure that there will be ample bone tissue growth when a new implant is procedure is performed.

Dental Implant Reminders

If your dental implant becomes loose or is not healing properly, make sure to call your oral surgeon immediately to know the next steps that you need to take. You can prevent a lot of things if you take the advice of a medical professional.

Dental implant procedures can be time-consuming and expensive. That is why you need to take all the necessary steps to ensure that your body is at an optimal healthy level prior to, and during the treatment period.

Do not despair if your dental implant becomes loose. There is a simple and clear cut process to remedy this. Focus on staying healthy, and maintaining good oral health hygiene, instead. In just a few months, you will have a full set of teeth, and no one will notice that it is just a dental implant.