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What are the Procedures for Treating Gum Disease?

May 25th, 2012 / / categories: Gums /

Gum disease almost always occurs due to the presence and accumulation of harmful bacteria in the oral cavity. These opportunistic bacteria produce acids that are harmful to the tooth structures as well as the soft tissues. In case of soft tissues, these bacteria can cause anything from simple swelling or inflammation of the gums, to loss of attachment and gingival recession. Some of the most common forms of gum disease seen all over the world include gingivitis, periodontitis and acute ulcerative necrotizing gum disease. Some forms of gum disease are also associated with the presence of some systemic disorders or hormonal changes and may not be related to the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth.

Maintaining ideal oral health and hygiene:

It is said that prevention is better than cure, and rightly so, because best treatment of gum disease is a good oral health and hygiene regime that can prevent the development of any gum and tooth related diseases. It has been seen that people who maintain good oral hygiene with proper brushing, flossing, as well as regular visits to the dentist are less prone to carious attacks and gum disease than those with poor oral hygiene conditions. The very first sign of cavitations and gum disease is the presence of plaque which contains bacteria. Regular brushing can prevent this layer of plaque from accumulating onto the tooth surface and gingival margins, thus preventing diseases before they can develop.

 

Importance of flossing:

It is important to keep in mind that the use of ADA approved toothpastes and mouth washes is essential in order to maintain good oral hygiene conditions. To prevent and treat gum diseases, toothpastes containing fluoride must be used to help in eliminating bacteria, and inducing remineralization. Flossing is also very important because brushing alone cannot remove plaque and food debris that may have accumulated in the inter-dental spaces. It is usually the inter-dental and sub-gingival plaque that becomes the leading cause of the development of gum diseases. It is for this reason that brushing along with regular flossing is considered the ideal method of maintaining ideal oral health.

Smoking as a leading cause of gum disease:

Studies show that excessive smoking is also one of the leading causes of gum diseases, thus in order to prevent the development of gum diseases, it is important to quit smoking.

Scaling and root planning:

In case of excessive accumulation of calcified plaque, known as calculus, it is important to immediately consult a dentist who will advise scaling. Scaling is the most effective dental procedure for the removal of calculus and plaque, which has accumulated in areas that cannot be accessed using a toothbrush or floss. Scaling can help restore the health and integrity of the gums and can prevent any further complications which may include gingival recession leading to tooth mobility. Root planning and surgery are options which are advised in cases of severe gum disease. Root planning refers to a procedure whereby the bacteria and plaque accumulated at the roots of the teeth is cleaned and removed.

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What is involved in a Dental Implant procedure?

May 21st, 2012 / / categories: Implants /

What are dental implants?

Teeth can readily become damaged due to carious lesions, wear, and fractures. They can also develop an unsightly and non-uniform shade owing to discoloration and staining resulting from a patient’s habits including excessive smoking etc. Dental implants offer an effective and quick solution for the replacement of missing teeth, or those that might require extraction due to excessive loss of tooth substance by deterioration or fracture etc. Once used only for the purpose of replacing missing teeth, dental implants now constitute a major portion of all cosmetic dentistry practiced being performed by dentist all over the world.

What does a dental implant procedure include?

To summarize the procedure, there are four basic steps that are involved in the placement of a single implant. The steps included in a dental implant procedure have been enlisted as follows:
a. Bone grafting – This procedure varies with patients and may not be required in younger patients with amply amount of bone substance present in the jaw. Older patients frequently require bone grafts prior to the placement of the implant.
b. Titanium post implant – After the bone has been grafted, a titanium post is implanted into the bone
c. Placing the implant – The next step is the placement of the implant on top of the titanium post
d. Placement of the crown – The final step in the procedure is the placement of the artificial tooth, or the crown on the implant in the oral cavity.

Depending upon the expertise of the dentist performing the implant surgery, and the patient’s jaw condition, the dental implant can either be placed in a couple of days to weeks. This is because in case of older patients who are prone to bone resorption, the bone substance may not be enough for the placement of the titanium post into the jaw. In this case, bone material is grafted into the jaw, and the patient is recalled once this bone material has become calcified and can offer ideal mineralization to hold a titanium post.

Why are dental implants expensive?

Dental implants and their surgery are considered to be perhaps the most expensive among all dental practices being performed today. This is because the cost of the material that is used in the placement of dental implants is high. For instance the titanium post alone on an average can cost up to $1000 to $2000, and the crown or the artificial tooth that rests on the implant can cost up to $1000. The bone grafting procedure on an average costs $750, whereas the dental implant itself ranges between $500- $800. This makes the average cost of getting on dental implant about $4000 to $5000. Apart from this, there are some dentists that include a consultation fee prior to the placement of the dental implant which has to be paid independent to the surgery. One must also consider the fact that the cost of getting a dental implant is not covered by majority of all health insurance companies owing to the fact that it is included in cosmetic dentistry.

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Do you have periodontal disease symptoms and don’t know it?

May 16th, 2012 / / categories: Tips /

Periodontal disease is a common problem all over the world. Some of the most common presentations of gum disease range from simple swelling or enlargement of the gums associated with systemic or hormonal changes, or gingivitis, periodontitis and their different types. It is important to know that periodontal disease progresses over a period of time and can give rise to a number of complications. Gum disease at its severe stage it irreversible, which is why it is essential to eliminate the root cause of the problem before it progresses further.

 

Classical signs and symptoms of periodontal disease:

In order to get to the confirmed diagnosis of the disease and its presence in your oral cavity, it is important to be aware of all possible symptoms and signs that it can present with. Some of the classical symptoms of periodontal disease at early to moderate stages include bad breath, also known as halitosis which seems difficult to get rid of, swelling of the gums along with redness, generalized bleeding of the gums either spontaneously or on palpation, tenderness of the gums, pain experienced during mastication, mobility of the teeth, sensitivity of the teeth, recession of the gums below the gingival margin, and exposure of the root portion of the teeth. If these signs are present in the oral cavity, it is most likely that a patient is suffering from gum disease which may either be periodontitis or gingivitis depending upon the presentation.

 

Some of the most common complications of periodontal disease:

It is very important to consider all symptoms and signs for the presence of periodontal disease mainly because it is irreversible and has a number of complications. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth mobility which eventually results in tooth loss. If multiple teeth are lost as a result of periodontitis, the mastication and speech functions will be compromised. Apart from the functional loss, there is a loss of aesthetics as the facial structures and muscles tend to lose their integrity in order to adapt to the new gaps and spaces that are thus created.

How to avoid periodontal disease:

It is said that prevention is better than cure and there are a number of ways with which the development of periodontal disease can be avoided, the most important of which is the maintenance of an ideal oral health and hygiene regime. Majority of the hum disease occur as a result of the accumulation of plaque on the surfaces of the teeth as well as the gingival margins, thus creating a favorable environment for opportunistic bacteria to produce their destructive effects on the mineralized and non mineralized structures of the mouth. This is why it is essential to brush every day, to floss regularly in order to remove inter dental plaque accumulation, and to visit the dentist regularly so that any problem related to the soft tissues of the mouth can be diagnosed at an early stage.

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Insight to Dental Bridges cost

April 22nd, 2012 / / categories: Bridges /

In many cases, people are affected by the loss of two or more teeth and this often leads to large gaps between the teeth. In dentistry, dental bridges are what replace the missing teeth and close these gaps for restoring function and a better smile. This article looks at factors influencing dental bridge costs and trends. For more information click here.

Insight to Dental Bridges cost

Bridges effectively work to replace teeth that have been lost. This often helps the individual naturally nurture their mouths, giving off great smiles based on the teeth. The costs are variable from one dentist to the other. The following are some of the common factors, which affect the costs of dental bridges in dental patients.

The nature of the operation is one of the most critical factors affecting the cost of dental bridges. In practice, if closing replacing the missing teeth will entail several other dental procedures such as dental implants, then the cost is more likely to go up significantly. The opposite is true if placing a simple bridge is all.

The technique used by the dentist and their lab technician to perform their functions is another popular factor, which affects the costs associated with dental bridges. The more detailed the procedure is, the more teeth that are involved,the more costly is the treatment and so on.

Insurance coverage is an essential process, which normally affects the cost of the procedure. The higher the risk associated with the dental bridge cost, the higher the cover and in line, procedure cost. However, in scenarios where little cover or risk is associated, the lesser the dental bridge operation costs.

The type of material used in the construction of the dental bridge also affects the general cost of the process. For example, a simple metal-alloy bridge instead of a porcelain bridge will cause the costs to differ.

Another important factor is the abutment teeth preparation process. In any case, if the supporting teeth need a lot of preparation before the process is functional and if they need additional restorations prior to crown preparation, the costs associated will be high. The dental costs therefore, increase proportionally depending on the amount of extra work that is serviced.

Lastly, is the location of the dentist involved. Research shows that since this process is carried out in different locations, the costs also differ significantly. For some places, the costs can be presumably lower compared to others because of the exchange rates in different countries and so on.

Trends and current cost levels

The costs of dental bridges in the mouth are overall different from one dentist to another. These variations also affect different patient needs and where they come from. Whereas many of these costs are guided by the above principles, a trending range in most dental bridges as far as cost is concerned can be observed. In many places, the costs range between $700 and $1,500 for every tooth. Since the endeavor is costly, keeping high standards of dental hygiene can help maintain the health of the dental bridges. This can prolong the life of the bridge and keep recurring maintenance costs to a low, according to experts.

Read more about dental bridges at the Wiki entry.