November 2014 Entries

What To Expect For a Root Canal

11/05/14

Many people must visit their local dentist to check if they need a root canal. Having this procedure done is imperative to the health of the oral cavity and the person. When a root canal is in place, the inner parts of the tooth is exposed which can cause much pain. If action is taken quickly, the issue as well as further problems can be eliminated.

The Importance of Root Canals
Having this procedure done to the patient will put a stop to the immense pain and throbbing caused by the exposition of the tooth. A professional dentist will target the nerve that is causing the pain. The nerve that is exposed can cause infection around itself, which causes pain with different temperature foods.

Precautionary Steps
For the process to take place, a dentist must first find the root of the problem and the affected area. An x-ray is one method that your local dentist will use to discover if the problem exists. If the dentist finds something that looks out of the ordinary, he or she will begin the root canal.

The Process of a Root Canal
The patients that are partaking in a root canal will receive anesthesia that will cause the affected area to be numb. This enables the dentist to be able to perform the process without causing the patient any pain. Having little to no pain is what any dentist will aim for.

As soon as the anesthesia is given, the process will start with a small hole being drilled into the root of the tooth. The hole that is created will allow the dentist to utilize the nerve in which the infection can be removed. The special coarse file that is used will clean the area upwards and downwards to fully get the infection out. Depending on the size of the infection, the dentist may use a large file to be sure that the canal is fully cleaned out.

Certain cleaning fluids or water are administered into the canals in order to properly clean the particles from the tooth. As soon as the particles are removed, the dentist will then begin to fill the hole. If the affected areas infection is unreachable, the dentist may also prescribe medication to prevent and combat the infection. Once this process is completed, a filling will then take place. Lastly, the patient can choose a crown or a cap to hide the traces of the procedure.

Once everything is finished, the dentist will advise the patient to care for their teeth a certain way. Being able to floss and brush adequately will provide confidence that everything has worked. If these processes are not performed, the situation can worsen, and another procedure will have to take place.

Being able to care for your teeth and to prevent problems can help you be in good oral health. Regularly visiting your local dentist will allow you to have a healthy and carefree visit every time you are admitted. 

The Causes and Treatments of a Dental Abscess

11/12/14

What is a dental abscess? What causes it and how do you treat it? If you continue reading, these questions will be answered so that you will have a better idea of what to expect before visiting the dentist.

The major signs that a dental abscess is forming or has formed are usually a throbbing pain that can cause your gums and face to swell as well as a tender tooth and high temperature.

A dental abscess is a formation of pus that contains dead tissue, white blood cells and bacteria. They usually form on the sides of the mouth or next to the tooth. The two types of dental abscesses are:

Periapical- This is the most general type of abscess that forms in the center of the tooth. This abscess causes the enamel of the tooth to decay and erode which allows bacteria to invade the root of the tooth that leads to an infection.

Periodontal- This abscess stems from gum disease. The gum will become separated from the tooth itself, causing open space that will fill with bacteria and eventually develop into an abscess.

An abscess can be self-medicated by taking medication such as Ibruprofen or Paracetamol. When it finally comes to visiting a dentist, they will create a small hole in the tooth or cut the abscess to drain it. In some cases an antibiotic will be prescribed to further combat any infection that resides.

Another method of treating the periapical abscess is to have a root canal. This will help rejuvenate the tooth. If infection is still visible, the tooth will then have to be extracted.

Another method of treating the periodontal abscess is to drain the pus, smooth the surface of the root, and treat the space of gum between the tooth so that infection fades.

When the abscess is finally treated, the tooth will then be saved. If complications ensue, the abscess can possibly pop onto the skin of your face and create a channel that can discharge pus. These complications are very slim but they can happen and they can cause life threating problems such as, a dental cyst, Sinusitis, which is an infection of the sinuses, Osteomyelitis, which is an infection of the nearby bone, or a Cavernous sinus thrombosis, which causes blood clotting of the blood vessels in the brain.

These abscesses can be prevented by keeping a high oral hygiene which includes flossing and tooth brushing often as well as a healthy diet with minimal sugar.

If a dental abscess is suspected, it is important to visit your local dentist to find out more information on what is occurring in your mouth, and to properly treat it as fast as possible.

Finding Oral Cancer at the Early Stages

11/19/14

Many people believe that cancer cells are found by testing your blood count. This can be proven true in some cases but can many times be false.

During a checkup a dentist will look at the patient’s mouth and attempt to find any types of lumps or patches of red or white areas. This is done in the beginning stages to help find the cancer cells at its prime stages which can cause a better chance of fighting it.

Detecting dental cancer at its origin is such a vital task; it makes it important for you to constantly check yourself for anything out of the ordinary. If anything of the symptoms below is noticed, you should contact your dentist or a doctor immediately.

§  A sore that causes irritation and is prone to bleeding

§  Color changes such as white or red lesions

§  Mouth pain that can cause tenderness or tingle

§  A small raised area, or a rough thick area

§  Problems when chewing food, maneuvering your tongue or speaking, as well as trouble swallowing

A main risk that can cause oral cancer is chewing tobacco as well as being exposed to the sun for an extended time. Smoking in combination with consuming around 30 alcoholic drinks a week can cause oral cancer as well. This situation is the norm when diagnosing patients with oral cancer today.

Proper precautionary measures such as watching what you put into your body will help. Certain studies have shown that people who eat a lot of vegetables and fruits can help avert lesions that can develop into cancer. On the flip side they can also hinder your teeth, due to the high amounts of citric acid in the foods.

More than 100 people every day are found to have oral cancer. Studies also show that every house a person will die from the disease. This occurs because the disease is not found until the late stages, and treating it is very tough. To prevent this outcome, detecting the cancerous areas in its early stages is important to defend against it.

The steps needed to detect the oral cancer are easy. All you must do is contact your local dentist and allow them to look at your mouth to see if they find anything out of the ordinary. If something is found, and it is in the early stages, you have an 80% chance of successfully defending against this problem.

The mouth is required to be in healthy standing to be utilized to its full extent. Being able to eat, speak and drink healthily is important to allow a happy life. Detecting this at such an early stage is important to your family and your life.

Different Dentures and Their Benefits

11/26/14

Patients are often hesitant to the idea of getting dentures. When faced with teeth loss, the self-esteem of a person can be slowly but surely degrading. There are many different types of dentures that are available to the general public today and before making any major decisions, a potential patient must be informed about the many kinds that are available.

Dentures are interchangeable teeth that will aid in helping people replace missing teeth. The two different types of dentures that are available today are partial dentures and complete dentures.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures will substitute mostly single or multiple teeth. Usually partial dentures are usually used in a younger person who has suffered from a gum disease or an injury while most of their teeth are still present. These partial dentures have a choice to be attached by using a crown, which is a hidden clasp, or a regular clasp.

Complete Dentures

Complete Dentures will be used mostly by the elderly to replace all of their missing teeth. These dentures are created after the gum tissue has begun healing and there are no teeth visible in the patient’s mouth.

When a patient chooses to have complete dentures made, they can choose either conventional or immediate dentures.

After two to three months that the teeth have been detached, the conventional denture is made and will be installed into the mouth of the patient. The immediate dentures are made in preparation of the removal of the teeth, so that they can be placed in immediately.

By choosing immediate dentures, the patient will not have to wait for the gums to heal. During the healing period the gums and bones in your mouth will shrink which will cause your dentist to adjust the dentures more adequately. While the conventional dentures are being made, a patient should consider immediate dentures as a temporary fix.

When a patient chooses conventional dentures, the dentist must uniquely design them to the patient’s mouth. This means that there will be several visits to develop them perfectly to your mouth. Once the dentures have been made, further visits may be necessary to properly adjust them.

After the dentures are created and adjusted accordingly, you must take care of them like regular teeth. Removing, brushing and cleaning them once a day with a special denture brush. Primarily, the dentures should stay in your mouth over night while the adjustment period is occurring. This will allow them to properly mold into place as well as become more comfortable.