Eating Disorder and Dental Health

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Good eating habit definitely makes for good oral health, but what about eating disorders? The harmful habits and lack of nutrition that are typical of compulsive eating, starvation or purging can have severe consequences on dental health. These eating disorders can cause temporary or permanent damage to teeth and mouth.

People with eating disorder can hide their problems from family and friends but this isn’t hidden from a dentist. 90% of such cases show signs and symptoms which are first visible in mouth. Dental health refers to overall functioning of body and is especially pertaining to health of teeth and gums. Your teeth just don’t help you in talking, eating or biting, but your teeth can also speak about your overall well-being.

Dentist are becoming first line of defense when it comes to identifying their patients with any eating disorder. Here dentist approaches their patients in an effective and non-judgmental manner when talking about concerns regarding eating disorder.

How does eating disorder damage your teeth?

Nutrients that promote oral health include calcium, iron and vitamin B. If your nutrition levels are poor, gums and other soft tissue often tend to bleed easily. Insufficient calcium levels lead to tooth decay and cause its brittleness. Insufficient vitamin B can commonly cause bad breath and lead to development of ulceration in mouth. Insufficient iron levels too can lead to ulcerations. Gums can become red and swollen like almost glossy looking which is a sign of gingivitis.

The mouth can be extremely dry due to dehydration and lip can become reddened, dry and cracked. Glands producing saliva may swell and individuals can experience dry mouth. Frequent vomiting leads to production of acid which at time regurgitates and flows over all teeth. This leads to loss of outer covering of tooth because of the acidic reflux making the teeth brittle, translucent and weak. At such times eating or drinking hot or cold food becomes difficult. In extreme cases tooth nerves gets exposed and cause infection, or discoloration of tooth.

Purging can lead to scratches, redness and cuts inside the mouth. Such damage is like a warning sign for dentist as usually soft palate doesn’t get bruised easily. Such patients also have bruises on knuckles too because of the pressure applied by fingers in order to purge

On the other hand excessive eating disorders also has its own dental effects. A frequent binge and purge cycle can cause enlargement of salivary glands. This makes the glands painful which causes emotional distress. Strong stomach acid badly destroys the teeth, making them decay prone and sensitive. Such teeth are prone to fracture and loose its original shape and size.

Signs of an eating disorder in mouth

Dental professionals can help millions of people by understanding the etiology of eating disorders, recognizing the warning signs and intervening them at appropriate time. A routine dental check-up can be of great help to look up for these signs. Dentist can also show if the person is relatively new or a chronic purger. Some of these signs are:

Tooth decay
Erosion of teeth
Sore throat
Dry mouth
Cracked lips
Enlarged parotid gland
Difficulty in swallowing
Sensitive teeth
Bleeding gums
Decreased saliva production
Teeth appearing translucent
Fractured and brittle teeth

Treatment for eating disorders affecting oral health

Encourage patients to maintain meticulous oral health with regular brushing and flossing and regular dental visit. A confidential relationship has to be maintained between dentist and patient and patient should feel that dental office is a safe place to disclose their problems and accept the therapy.

Patient should be honest with their purging behaviors with the dentist. Immediate rinsing of mouth with water or sugar free mouth rinse is recommended. Brushing should be done an hour after food as actually scrubbing teeth can lead to more seepage of the acid.

Patients with dry mouth should constantly moisturize their mouth to prevent any form of tooth decay as less saliva production makes teeth vulnerable to decay.

Fluoride rinses or desensitizing or remineralizing agents may be prescribed according to the need.

Good oral hygiene

Rinse your mouth with tap water after vomiting
Brush from gum line towards top of teeth. This allows for bristles of brush to reach between the teeth. Use flexible toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste.

We can help you

Intervention by family or a dental professional can spur someone to seek eating disorder treatment. Early detection can ensure a smoother and successful recovery for overall health as well as oral health. The key is to direct individuals with eating disorder in direction of professional help

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today! or just drop into our Dental Clinic at RR Nagar in Bangalore

Did you know this about your child’s milk teeth?

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

The most common myth about baby teeth is that, they need not be treated as they will fall off and will be replaced by permanent teeth! But the fact is that baby teeth are equally important as permanent teeth and require appropriate oral care. Let’s look at some of the primary reasons why your baby’s teeth should be tended to, and what is the Importance of Baby/Primary/Milk Teeth.

Mastication (Chewing)

Function of baby teeth is to help in chewing food and to function till the eruption of permanent teeth. If proper oral hygiene is not maintained, allowing milk tooth to decay leads to pain, discomfort and abscess. Because of this children can resist eating, affecting their overall growth

Smile and psychology

Children upwards of age 4years, are also esthetically concerned when it comes to the appearance of teeth. Thus any discoloration of teeth is likely affect them psychologically. Milk teeth are important to maintain child’s psycho-social well-being as well. Healthy baby teeth are an immense boost to a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Facial Development

Milk teeth are an important factor affecting normal growth of jaw bone and helps in molding shape to face. They help in appropriate development of adjacent structures thus allowing enough space for the permanent teeth to erupt. Either loss or extra primary tooth affect the occlusion of future permanent teeth indirectly affecting the facial profile of an individual.

Prevention of abnormal growth

Milk teeth are space saver holding spaces! Lets look at another important issue which is the prevention of abnormal growth of teeth and how to maintain natural space for permanent teeth. When permanent teeth are developed enough, they can erupt into the oral cavity, where the milk teeth were holding space for permanent teeth. This prevents malocclusion. Premature removal of primary teeth because of decay or ill-maintained space may cause permanent teeth to erupt in improper positions. This results in crooked teeth, chewing difficulties, facial asymmetries, TMJ problems, and last and most important, decaying of teeth.

Speech

Milk teeth help in the development of speech, especially front teeth. Certain sounds are produced when tongue contacts the upper front teeth and certain sounds are produced when tip of upper front teeth comes in contact with lower. In absence of front teeth children find difficult to pronounce sounds like “th” and “f”. Without healthy, properly-aligned teeth, the child may face problems of articulating words and clarity in speech.

Prevention of fear of Dentist

As long as milk teeth are healthy no painful treatment is required to save tooth from decay. Once the tooth becomes badly infected, it leaves the dentist with only extraction or pulpectomy as an option which has to be done under local anesthesia. At this stage child will be more anxious due to painful and long procedures.

So, visit the dentist as soon as the first tooth comes in the oral cavity and build the habit of visiting the dentist once in every 6 months right from childhood.

It would doubtlessly help in avoiding and reducing not only dental problems but general growth-related problems as well. Healthy milk teeth can also lower the financial burden for parents in future for complicated procedures.

Our dentists are dedicated to providing exceptional oral healthcare so that the little ones’ dental appointments will be non-traumatic and stress-free. Our Pedodontists make sure the child is comforted and ready for treatment by communicating in a kind and compassionate manner.

Call us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment with our Pediatric dentistry Specialist.

General and Preventive Dentistry Gum Care

Gum Disease link to COVID-19 Complications

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Periodontal disease,

commonly known as gum disease, can cause bleeding gums, bad breath, and if left untreated lead to tooth loss. A study by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)*, a leading organization of periodontists, or gum disease experts, found that gum inflammation is not just a symptom of gum disease, but also of COVID-19. This inflammation also known as Systemic inflammation is linked to many other respiratory diseases.The study found that individuals who suffered from gum disease and contracted the corona virus were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care, and almost 9 times more likely to die as compared to those without gum disease.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums in an effort to avoid developing or worsening periodontal disease is absolutely crucial in the midst of a global pandemic like COVID-19. Gum diseases is one of the most common chronic diseases across the globe. Roughly about 90% of adults have some or the other form of gum disease. With appropriate care and frequent dental checks, gum disease can be easily prevented or managed at an earlier stage.

Some of the first signs of gum disease is spotting of blood on the toothbrush or when spitting while brushing. If left untreated, this could also lead to bleeding while eating, which is bound to leave a bad after taste within the mouth. Another common sign of gum disease is bad breath, which could easily be mistaken for other dental issues.

With the COVID-19 outbreak, it has become increasing difficult for individuals to even obtain basic health care procedures. Of these, dental issues are not prioritized among majority of the population. With the mobility of general public limited, due to the concern of spread of COVID, visits to the dentist could also be limited.

Some precautions that one can take to prevent gum disease are:

Brush twice a day carefully with a fluoride toothpaste, with a manual or electric toothbrush
Clean between the teeth after meals using an interdental brush
Floss between the teeth if the gap between the is too tight
Use mouth rinse if needed, on top of cleaning to reduce inflammation
Refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy diet and remain stress free
Diabetics, should ensure control of blood sugar

If you predict that you have gum disease or would like to get a preventive dental checkup, schedule an appointment with our dentist at Credence Dental. We at Credence follow all protocols of COVID-19 to ensure the best health and hygiene for our patients and doctors. Call us if you would like to know more about the precautions we undertake to prevent the spread of COVID.

Call or Whatsapp us today at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment

*Source : perio.org

General and Preventive Dentistry

Mucormycosis or Black Fungus: Easy Oral Practices to prevent Fungal Infection

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

COVID-19 outbreak has left the entire world in a disarray, and specially now, when India is combating the second wave. As time has lapsed since the first outbreak of COVID, there have been many versions of symptoms as the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated and evolved. One such lethal complication being observed in patients in India in recent times, who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are gradually recovering, is a fungal disease called Mucormycosis or black fungus. With increasing number of cases across India, it has triggered panic among the public.

According to research and data, the Mucormycosis has a common occurrence amongst a certain category of COVID infected patients, such as patients who were prescribed steroids for prolonged periods, those who were hospitalized for extended timelines, patients who were on external oxygen support or ventilators or who have been on medication for illnesses such as diabetes.*

The black fungus can turn fatal, if not diagnosed and treated at the right time.~

Doctors believe mucormycosis, which has an overall mortality rate of 50%, may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients. Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 and appear to help stop some of the damage which occurs when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive to fight off coronavirus. But they also reduce immunity and push up blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients. It’s thought that this drop in immunity could be triggering these cases of mucormycosis.

Let’s understand the causes and symptoms of Mucormycosis

Causes and Symptoms of Mucormycosis

According to Ministry of Health (MoH)**, people who are recovering from COVID-19 or recovered from COVID-19, are more likely to be affected by the infection. Symptoms of some fungal diseases can be similar to those of COVID-19, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Laboratory testing is necessary to determine if a person has a fungal infection or COVID-19. Some patients can have COVID-19 and a fungal infection at the same time. People with severe COVID-19, such as those in an intensive care unit (ICU), are particularly vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. Those patients who are under Oxygen therapy in the ICU, are exposed to moisture because of the use of a humidifier. Thus most hospitals use sterile water when the patient undergoes Oxygen Therapy.

These fungal co-infections are reported with increasing frequency and can be associated with severe illness and death. Awareness of the possibility of fungal co-infection is essential to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment in order to help prevent severe illness and death from these infections. The easily recognizable symptom of the black fungus includes discoloration of the oral tissues, tongue, gums, stuffy nose, swelling of face, heaviness below the eyes, discomfort, fever and headache.

If you’ve recently recovered or recovering from COVID-19 or are caring for a COVID patient on the path to recovery, follow these simple oral practices followed to reduce the chances of contracting the Black Fungus:

Maintain Pristine Oral Hygiene

While being treated for Coronavirus infection, the entire respiratory system, starting from the mouth houses millions of bacteria and fungus. Added to this steroids and medication are enablers for bacteria and fungus to thrive. This could cause problems in the sinus cavity, lungs and in severe cases, the brain also. By taking care of your mouth, just by brushing at least twice a day and maintaining this schedule would ensure flushing out, of these bacteria and fungus. Brushing thrice or even after every big meal is good.

Oral Rinsing

We understand that it might not be practically possible to brush every often. A simple work around would be to use a mouth wash to rinse the oral cavity. This would rid your mouth of remnants of large food pieces and in addition oral rinsing would also leave you with a refreshing breath.

Disinfect Tongue Cleaner and Tooth Brush

It’s a good practice to disinfect the tongue cleaner and tooth brush after every use with an antiseptic mouth wash. If you are infected with COVID-19, keep your tooth brush in a different holder from the others. If you’ve recovered from COVID, then discard your old tooth brush and tongue cleaner.

Drink Warm Water Frequently

Warm water is a good medium to clean and rinse the mouth frequently. It would clean the digestive canal and push the bacteria or fungus out of the system.

These are simple oral tips that you can practice while staying at home and reduce the risk of being affected with black fungus or Mucormycosis. In case you have any queries, call your dentist right away.

Our team is available for Online Dental Consultation and we would be happy to answer any questions or discuss any issues you may have.

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today!

Sources:

* https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57027829

~ https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/icmr-issues-advisory-saying-black-fungus-in-covid-patients-can-turn-fatal-if-left-untreated-1800599-2021-05-09

** https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/covid-fungal.html

Hoenigl M. Invasive fungal disease complicating COVID-19: when it rains it poursexternal icon. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 5

Lansbury L, Lim B, Baskaran V, Lim WS. Co-infections in people with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysisexternal icon. J Infect. 2020 May 27

Gangneux JP, Bougnoux ME, Dannaoui E, Cornet M, Zahar JR. Invasive fungal diseases during COVID-19: We should be preparedexternal icon. J Mycol Med 2020 Jun

Song G, Liang G, Liu W. Fungal co-infections associated with global COVID-19 pandemic: A clinical and diagnostic perspective from Chinaexternal icon. Mycopathologia. 2020 Jul 31

Koehler P, Cornely OA, Böttiger BW, Dusse F, Eichenauer DA, Fuchs F, et al. COVID‐19 associated pulmonary aspergillosisexternal icon. Mycoses. 2020 May 15

General and Preventive Dentistry

Can a Tooth Abscess be Treated with just Antibiotics?

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Have you experienced a nagging pain in the gums, just around the root of the tooth?

This must be a tooth abscess! An abscess is simply a collection of infected fluid around the root of the tooth. The abscess has a spongy feeling when touched and can be quite painful at an advanced stage. In order to understand the formation of a tooth abscess, it is important to know the cause.

What is a Tooth Abscess?

When there is a puncture to the tissue complex on the gums around the tooth, it serves as a doorway for the microbes in the mouth. As these microbes accumulate within the pocket, around the root of the tooth, they stagnate and become infected. This is a tooth abscess.

An abscess is a collection of infection fluid that forms as a result of bacteria infiltrating tissue complex after an injury. A dental abscess can be detected near the root of a tooth. To comprehend the formation of a dental abscess, it is essential to first know what caused it.

How does a Tooth Abscess Occur?

If oral hygiene precautions are not followed, microorganisms might find their way onto the tooth’s surface. These microorganisms have the ability to release acids that can eat away at the tooth’s hard tissue layers (enamel and dentin). When a tooth begins to deteriorate, the deeper the decay is, the more painful it becomes. The enamel and dentin protect the pulp, which is located at the center of the tooth. When the decay reaches the pulp, the pain intensifies as the nerves and blood vessels in the pulp feel it. The microorganisms infect the entire pulpal chamber, and the pulp in the roots becomes infected very quickly.

The microorganisms present in abscessed teeth can easily survive in the presence or absence of oxygen. Apart from cavities/rotting, the microorganisms can also create an abscess through a tooth that has had previous treatment but has not been fully sealed or a tooth that has been cracked. Hence, it’s critical to get rid of harmful microbes. This is done by root canal treatment being performed by a dentist.

Antibiotic therapy in combination with dental treatment

When a patient arrives with swelling, discomfort, and redness around the tooth, an abscess must be drained. The abscess is cleared by drilling a hole in the tooth and allowing the abscess to drain. The root canals are irrigated with liquid medications that eliminate all of the debris and biofilms left behind by the bacteria. A medicament is administered within the canals to prevent the tooth from becoming infected again. The dentist will advise the patient to take antibiotics for 3 to 5 days during the course of this procedure, which can be finished in a single sitting or span up to three sessions.

Antibiotics for dental abscesses are ones that target a wider spectrum of germs and have no or minimal side effects when consumed. Some of the most commonly prescribed treatment modalities for controlling the spread and eradicating the microbes include amoxicillin, metronidazole, cephalosporins, and clindamycin. The dosage for each one of them differs depending on the pharmacological effects they have on the body. Antibiotics are prescribed to the patient based on their age and the presence or absence of a systemic illness and history of drug allergy.

Can antibiotics only treat dental abscess?

If a patient visits the dentist with an abscess, just prescribing antibiotics will not provide a long-term treatment. The swelling may subside temporarily, and the patient may believe that his or her condition has improved. However, because the abscess’s core cause has not been treated entirely, the microorganisms may get dbol legal a base on the decaying, fractured, or exposed surfaces of the teeth, resulting in a re-infection.

Does antibiotic therapy help with tooth abscess pain?

When a tooth abscess is diagnosed and treated promptly, it has a very good prognosis. If left untreated, the abscess might spread to the surrounding teeth, resulting in septicemia. Certain areas of the face may get infected and bloated, necessitating the scheduling of procedures to drain them. Antibiotics are effective at preventing the spread of bacteria. However, they should never be used as the only means of removing an abscess. As a result, a visit to the dentist is needed upon the occurrence of a dental abscess.

What are the possible treatment options to treat dental abscess?

RCT, Incision and drainage or both with oral or IV antibiotics.
Extraction, if abscess does not respond to RCT/Incision and drainage

Complications of dental Abscess

Space infection involving multiple tissue spaces around head and neck
Ludwig’s Angina
Osteomyelitis
Septicemia

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today!

General and Preventive Dentistry

Oral Health Tips for a Healthy Mouth during the Festive Season

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

The pandemic has indeed left us all yearning for family get togethers and rejoicing with friends, after the first and second lockdowns. There is no better time than now, when the festivals are back and there is a lot of excitement and energy floating in the air!

This is one of the most wonderful seasons in India with all its cheer and festivity. There are many traditions and regions within India, and the numerous festivities prevail, there is one thing in common – mouth-watering dishes and delicacies across all regions. All ages, whether old or young, relish finger-licking food and await festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra and Diwali, to hoard on sweets.

Yes! We are all geared up for the festive season and took care of all COVID measures.

But having a healthy mouth during the festive season is one such need that people tend to ignore. Many of us have a tendency to overindulge in sugary foods and sugary beverages during festivals. This can lead to a series of problems such as tooth decay, bad breath, or food trapped between the teeth.

So how can one keep their teeth healthy during festive seasons?

Here are some common problems and tips to maintain oral health during the festive season

Rinse your mouth, right after you eat! This will remove residual food particles that can build up on your teeth which could contribute to dental problems
Sweets are always the best! There is no Indian festivity without sweets, and we’ve been told since childhood that sweets are bad. This is because sweets contain a high level of acid, which is just as bad as sugar and can lead to tooth decay, if left behind in the mouth
Sweets will definitely give you tooth decay. Well, sweets might definitely give you the holiday weight, but they can’t give you decay. A lot of people think that the more sugar you consume, the more likely you get tooth decay. While this may be partly true if you don’t follow good oral hygiene after a meal. The presence of sugary foods for longer duration encourages harmful bacteria to grow in your mouth and these bacteria produce acid which can actually eat away at your teeth. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep foods like sugared gum in your mouth for short time as possible
Love chewing gum? Try chewing sugar-free gum, as it is a good way to reduce the stickiness of food in your mouth
Limit sugar intake from fruit juices and other beverages and If you can drink through a straw, it can reduce the effect on your teeth
Braces can be irksome sometimes, especially when you are consuming sweets and candies, as these can get stuck in your braces and consequently damage your teeth
Denture convenience. For those who use dentures, it is important to ensure cleaning the false teeth and rinse the mouth properly
Do not use your teeth to tear off gift wrapping or to tear the price tag off your new clothes! This may damage your teeth and could chip your teeth
If you are staying away from home for the festivities, make sure you can brush and floss with your travel toothbrush, mini toothpaste, and dental floss

These are some of the common tips that we can suggest. However, staying on top of your dental care can make a real difference! So brushing after every meal or twice a day lessens the chances of tooth cavities and a visit to a dental clinic.

As always, visiting a dentist will cost you the least amount of money at first and you have regular checkups and maintain good oral hygiene, but if you keep putting it off and avoid doing it regularly, it can cost a lot more financially down the road.

In the end, at festivals, we get the opportunity to celebrate our culture and traditions, which is a great thing. Similarly, when it comes to caring for your teeth, all you need is a little bit of care and protection to keep your mouth healthy during the festive season. If you have any queries or need emergency dental care during the festive season.

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today!

Dentures, Crowns and Bridges General and Preventive Dentistry Root Canal Treatment and Endodontics

Removable Denture Care

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Here are some steps that you have to follow after receiving your dentures.

Removable dentures require proper care to keep them clean, free from stains, and looking their best.
For good denture care
1. Remove your denture and rinse after eating.
2. Handle carefully: Be sure you don’t bend or damage the plastic or the wires attached to it.
3. Clean your mouth after removing your dentures.
4. Brush your dentures at least daily: with a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive
5. denture cleaner to remove food plaque and other deposits.
6. Soak dentures overnight: place the dentures in water or a mild dentures-soaking solution overnight.

Schedule regular dental checkups:

Your dentist will recommend how often to visit to have your dentures examined and professionally cleaned. Your dental visit can help to ensure a proper fit to prevent slippage and discomfort, and also to check the health of the denture supporting tissues inside of your mouth.

See your dentist if you have a loose fit

Visit your dentist promptly if your dentures become loose, loose dentures can cause irritation, sores, and infections.

Call us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment.

General and Preventive Dentistry Gum Care

Gingivitis and Periodontitis

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

GINGIVITIS:

Form of gum disease that causes inflamed gums. The cause is poor oral hygiene. Untreated gingivitis can lead to tooth loss and other serious conditions.

Symptoms:

swollen or puffy gums.
Dusky red or dark red gums.
Bleeding from the gums.
Bad breath.
Receding gums.
Tender gums.

WHEN TO SEE A DENTIST

If you notice any signs and symptoms of gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your dentist. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing damage from gingivitis and preventing its progression to periodontitis.

PREVENTION

Good oral hygiene.
Regular dental visits.
Good health practices.

PERIODONTITIS:

Serious gum infection damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth.
Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
Periodontitis is common but largely preventable. It’s usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly improve your chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and can also reduce your chance of developing it.

Symptoms:

Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fit snuggly around teeth.

Signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:

Swollen gums.
Bright red gums with bleeding
Tender on touch.
Receding gums
New spaces developing between your teeth.
Pus between your teeth and gums.
Bad breath
Loose teeth
Painful chewing
A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today!

Cosmetic Dentistry General and Preventive Dentistry

Dental Veneers

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Dental veneers are thin sheets of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over your teeth, providing a natural look. They can be used to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven, or abnormally spaced teeth.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

The anticipated shelf-life of a porcelain veneer is usually between seven and 20 years. Veneers sometimes chip off. In such a scenario, they can be repaired or replaced. Also, in due course of time, the living tooth and gum tissue around the veneers will undergo age-related alterations that may require modifications to your veneers.

What do you expect during a veneer procedure?

Firstly, a small amount of the tooth structure is removed to facilitate placement of the veneer.
An impression of the tooth is taken and forwarded to the dental laboratory.
The dental veneer is custom made to accurately adapt to the tooth surface.
The veneer is bonded/fixed to the tooth with resin cement.

Aside from eating and drinking many activities, habits and even everyday occurrences can result in sensitivity including –

Are veneers prone to staining?

No, they don’t stain. However, you should try to avoid or minimize habits that lead to stainings like excessive tea or coffee consumption, smoking, and look after them with normal hygiene and maintenance procedures.

What is the difference between veneers and crowns?

Crowns completely cover your teeth like a cap, however, a veneer is a thin sheet of ceramic that is placed to the front/visible surface of your tooth with less impairment to the tooth structure.

Will my veneer teeth be sensitive to hot and cold?

Initially, there will be mild sensitivity to hot and cold beverages due to the removal of a thin layer of the tooth surface. This will subside in a few days. Avoidance of hot and cold beverages is recommended for a few days for the veneers to adapt.

How sturdy are veneers? Are there any diet restrictions if I’m wearing veneers?

Porcelain veneers are very strong. Nevertheless, porcelain is a glass and can crack if very strong forces are applied. It is advisable to avoid chewing hard food items like ice, hard nuts, candy, apples, popcorn. The natural teeth are often damaged by these same foods while porcelain veneers are very resilient, they aren’t indestructible.

Am I prone to cavities with veneers on my teeth?

There is no higher or lower prevalence of tooth decay with veneers as long as they receive appropriate care.

Is the procedure reversible?

Because the procedure involves the removal of a very thin layer of tooth enamel to accommodate the thickness of the veneer, the process is not considered reversible.

I have a habit of grinding my teeth at night. Will this damage my porcelain veneers?

Yes, this will gradually damage your veneers just as this habit will grind down natural teeth. Consult with your dentist to provide you with a protective bite guard to wear at night to reduce the stress on your teeth while you sleep.

What are the advantages of dental veneers?

The preparation of veneers is conservative in nature, meaning it requires the removal of minimal tooth structure. They can vastly improve the appearance of your teeth, and gum tissues respond well to dental veneers. The color of the veneer can be custom selected to match the other teeth and these types of restorations are extremely stain resistant.

How do you care for veneers?

The veneers tend to adhere strongly to your tooth, but you have to keep it clean and free from plaque buildup to ensure its ongoing health and resilience. It is recommended to brush thoroughly around all surfaces of the tooth and floss between the teeth daily. Avoid biting hot foods or drinking hot beverages with your veneers as much as possible and drink less sugary beverages. One of the most important things to remember after you get your veneers is to keep up with twice-yearly appointments for cleanings and checkups.

Getting started with veneers

The best candidates for porcelain veneers have one or more issues that make them unhappy with their smile. To make sure veneers are an option, your dentist will examine you for:

Tooth decay
The overall health of your gums
Overly large fillings
Teeth grinding habit i.e. bruxism

Are there any alternatives to dental veneers?

Yes, there are alternatives to dental veneers. The closest substitute to this dental treatment happens to be a composite resin which is a tooth-colored filling substance used to make dental veneers. Dental crowns can also solve the same dental problems as veneers but the latter gives you more natural-looking and lasting results.

Aesthetics of dental veneers

Veneers are aesthetically pleasing. They are designed to mimic the natural tooth; especially the porcelain veneers. Tooth preparation for veneers is conservative. However, the perfection and fitment of the veneers will depend on the dentist and the technique used.

Call us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment.

General and Preventive Dentistry Gum Care Wisdom Tooth Management & Oral Surgery

Wisdom Tooth Management

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

Wisdom teeth are basically your last tooth or third molar located at the back of your mouth. These teeth can credit to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are malaligned and don’t have room to grow properly and end up creating problems for your other teeth and require removal

Age of wisdom teeth eruption

They usually erupt into the mouth between 17 and 25 years of age. They can, however, erupt many years later.

Symptoms of wisdom teeth growing In

Pain or bleeding gums.
Red or swollen gums.
Jaw pain or swelling.
Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Difficulty opening the mouth
Pain in-front of ears

Reasons for wisdom tooth extraction

Since wisdom teeth are the last tooth to enter your mouth, most often they grow at various angles, sometimes horizontally/Obliquely. So there will be no room for the wisdom tooth to come up, as the other adult teeth have already developed.

Pericoronitis: It is an inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding the partially erupted tooth. Pericoronitis usually affects the wisdom tooth, where gum tissue covering the partially erupted teeth is infected by the food entrapment.
They’re impacted. Because they are so far back in your mouth, they cannot come into the mouth normally. They can be trapped in your jawbone or gums and sometimes they impinge on the nerve below them causing pain. A wisdom tooth that doesn’t erupt can lead to the development of a cyst which can damage bone and gum tissue or even if they erupt, they can cause pressure on the tooth in front of them resulting in crowding of a front tooth.
They come in at the wrong angle. Reduced space may cause wisdom teeth to come through at an angle.They may press against your other teeth causing root resorption of the adjacent tooth leading to pain.
High risk of decay – Wisdom teeth is difficult to reach from brush to clean. Thus harbour bacteria to grow resulting in decay (involving wisdom tooth and sometimes adjacent tooth)
Can complicate with orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth.

The right time for extraction

The sensation of a tooth pushing through the gums can be painful. When there is space for the wisdom tooth to arrive, the pain will reside on its own after the complete eruption of the tooth. But if the pain persists or swelling, pus discharge is noticed contact your dentist.

Procedure

If a wisdom tooth is cavitated and completely erupted into your mouth, it can be grasped by extraction forceps, the tooth can be removed in a conservative approach. But if the tooth is impacted that is causing pain or other dental problems are usually surgically removed.

Extraction is almost always done as an outpatient procedure, so you will go home the same day. The process includes:

Sedation or anaesthesia. You may have local anaesthesia, which numbs your mouth on the operating side only. Sedation anaesthesia doesn’t make you unconscious, it is given to relieve pain during the procedure.
Tooth removal. During an extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon makes an incision/cut in your gums and removes any bone that blocks access to the impacted tooth root. After removing the tooth, the dentist or oral surgeon typically closes the wound with stitches and packs the empty space (socket) with gauze.

Procedure impact

Since local anaesthesia is given during the procedure, you will not feel the pain while extracting the tooth. You are advised to have prescribed antibiotics and painkillers given by the dentist to be taken after the extraction before the power of anaesthesia wears off.

After tooth extraction

It is normal that wisdom tooth extractions may cause some pain and bleed even swelling of the site or jaw. Temporarily, some people have trouble opening their mouth wide due to swelling of the jaw muscles. You will be advised to follow instructions namely taking pain medication and using cold compresses to reduce swelling to care for wounds and managing pain and swelling.

Non-extraction teeth impacts

Wisdom teeth can be retained as long as teeth asymptomatic (pain-free). But as and when the pain persists for a longer duration or cavity has begun, always better to get the tooth removed.

Care for a wisdom tooth that has already there in the mouth

It is crucial to maintain oral hygiene area near the wisdom tooth as it is difficult to reach from the toothbrush. Brush your teeth daily and make sure your brush reaching the last tooth. Visit your dentist once in six months to make sure all your teeth are healthy.

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