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September 2022

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2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health

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2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Significant advances in scientific knowledge and the commercialization of oral health products have contributed to the improvements in the oral health of millions of people across the world over the past four decades. This period has seen the introduction of more advanced toothpastes with optimal levels of fluoride to prevent caries, as well new oral care products that address a range of people’s needs, including prevention of early periodontal disease (gingivitis) and reduction in tooth sensitivity. GSK Consumer Healthcare is at the forefront of innovation in oral care and in fostering oral health education with the aim of helping billions of people around the world to achieve better oral health.

Herein, we review the remarkable progress that the dental industry has made in preventing and treating oral conditions and the continuing burden of these diseases worldwide. We also discuss the role that industry can continue to play in positively influencing oral health outcomes, both through scientific research as well as partnerships with patients, dental professionals, academia and non-governmental organizations.

The Burden Of Oral Disease

The act of twice daily toothbrushing has increased from around 30–62% of people (varying by country) in the mid-1990s to around 50–72% of people in 2010. However, despite oral diseases being considered largely preventable through such a simple self-care intervention, their incidence continues to remain stubbornly high. Caries and periodontal disease are amongst the most prevalent non-communicable diseases globally.

Lifestyle choices (including a worrying growing consumer trend to choose non-fluoride toothpastes), the continuing shift in diets towards foods that are high in refined sugar (or contain hidden complex sugars), repeated snacking and a trend towards more acidic foods and drinks that can dissolve the mineral structure of enamel are challenging oral health worldwide.

The Impact Of Poor Oral Health On The Individual

The World Dental Federation (FDI), an organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that represents dental professionals around the world, defines oral health as “multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex [head, face, and oral cavity]”.

This 2016 definition encapsulates a change from oral health being the absence of disease to one that includes physical, mental and social wellbeing – factors important in people’s day-to-day life. Oral health is a significant component of quality of life and is an important indication for people’s health status. The impact of oral diseases on quality of life can include physical, social and psychological factors such as pain, discomfort, functional limitations, social life, eating, exercising, insomnia, irritability and low self-esteem.

[2]Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. It encompasses a range of diseases and conditions that include dental caries, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oro-dental trauma, noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancers of the lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers worldwide, with nearly 180 000 deaths each year.

Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with the leading noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars, all of which are increasing at the global level. There is a proven relationship between oral and general health. It is reported, for example, that diabetes is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. Moreover, there is a causal link between high consumption of sugars and diabetes, obesity and dental caries.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00517-5 ↑

  2. https://www.who.int/health-topics/oral-health#tab=tab_1 ↑

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Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile

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Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping to closing spaces and replacing teeth. And dentists have a large selection of tools and techniques for improving the look of your smile.

Before deciding to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to know the benefits and risks and what you can expect during the process. Make sure you’re clear about what it will cost, how much experience your dentist has with the procedure, and whether any special maintenance will be needed afterward.

Teeth Whitening

Over time, teeth can become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming foods and beverages such as coffee and tea. Using a chemical process, your dentist can bleach your teeth in one of two ways. They can do an in-office procedure, or provide you with a system to use at home.

Your dentist can create a custom mouthpiece tray that ensures the right amount of whitening solution reaches your teeth. You may find whitening at home more convenient. But it can take 2 to 4 weeks or longer depending on the strength of peroxide used. In-office whitening can take place in one or more 1- to 2-hour visits.

Keep in mind, your teeth can become stained again if you continue exposing them to the same substances that originally stained them. Because whitening products are not meant to clean teeth, it is still important to continue practicing daily oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash daily.

Bonding

Bonding may improve how your teeth look if they have excess space between them, or if they are chipped, broken, stained, or cracked.

Dentists also use bonding materials to fill small cavities or to protect the exposed root of a tooth.

The dentist can usually do this procedure in a single office visit by applying an etching solution followed by tooth-colored materials — sometimes composite resins — directly to the tooth’s surface where needed.

Although bonding can last for several years, it is more likely than other types of restorations to chip or become stained or just wear down.

[2]Before You Start Treatment

Before you start any cosmetic dental procedures, it is important to see a dentist to check your whole mouth thoroughly. This is to:

  • Treat any disease first. Your health is the priority.
  • Find out what is causing the unsatisfactory appearance of your teeth.
  • Talk about the range of treatment options.
  • Work out a realistic plan that suits you.

What Is Important To You?

Before You See Your Dentist, Think About:

  • What you like and don’t like about the appearance of your teeth.
  • Any symptoms you may have, such as pain or difficulty eating.
  • Treatment you have had in the past and whether you were happy with it or not.
  • What you would like to change. Bring a photo if it helps; for example, how your teeth used to look before they were chipped.
  • How much time and money you would be prepared to invest. If you have private health insurance, check what sort of dental treatment is covered.
  • How much effort you would be prepared to put into looking after your teeth at home in the future. Most cosmetic dental treatment requires extra care at home to prevent tooth decay, gum disease or other problems. Cleaning the area well and having a healthy diet is essential.

It may be useful to write your thoughts down.

Questions To Ask

During your appointment with the dentist, talk about your concerns, using the list above as a starting point. Your dentist may take some x-rays and do some other tests. Ask your dentist about:

  • What options are available – the pros and the cons.
  • What results can be reasonably expected.
  • Costs – time and money, and payment options.
  • Possible side effects or complications.

If it is a simple procedure, it may be done on the day. If it is a complex procedure, you may need to time to think about your options, or see specialists over multiple visits. Together, you and your dentist can come up with a plan that suits you.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry#1 ↑

  2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cosmetic-dentistry-and-teeth-whitening ↑

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Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!

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Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Do humans need teeth to live longer and is an absence of teeth, or having a certain degree of tooth loss, associated with a shorter lifespan? If so, is the association manifested through specific disease processes? Understanding both, the strength and the mechanisms of any association relies on the presence of scientific evidence to support or refute the notion of an association. In addition, a better appreciation of the interplay between the mouth and the rest of the human body can further our ability to identify how certain oral conditions might impact mortality and can guide interventions that will yield the greatest systemic impact.

Poor oral health has been found to be associated with poor general health, lower quality of life and high morbidity. The eventual outcome of periodontal disease and dental caries, the two most common dental diseases is loss of the affected teeth and hence the number of teeth or tooth count is a proxy to the cumulative oral health status in a person.

There is evidence to show that number of teeth might be associated with mortality. Various mechanisms proposed include, effect of tooth count on masticatory ability and hence ability to maintain adequate nutrition; associated bacteremia due to oral infections that might have caused tooth loss. Various reports have also shown that periodontal disease, tooth loss and overall poor oral health are more prevalent in individuals from lower socioeconomic strata, who are less well educated, and who have poorer and/or less frequent access to care.

The relationship of dental condition and human mortality remains poorly understood. Such circumstances also are observed with greater frequency in individuals who have other chronic conditions including coronary artery disease, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis or who have addictions/habits like smoking, that, unless managed successfully, are associated with shorter life spans. A review by Polzer et al. examined association between number of teeth and all-cause as well as circulatory mortality.

In this systematic review, we describe and summarize the current evidence describing the association between tooth count and mortality from any cause.

[2]Teeth are required for chewing, grinding, speech, aesthetics, structural stability, and for the well-being of an individual. Maintaining a good oral health is a key source for social, economic, and personal development of individuals. With the loss of teeth, the above purposes are impaired resulting in physical and physiological, psychological disturbance to the individual.Treatment plans are formulated based on oral examination, and clinicians view point. Conversely, now, equal importance is given to other factors such as patient’s demand for treatment and self-reported oral status. There is a direct relationship between the number of teeth present and total satisfaction with oral status. With the developments and awareness in dentistry and improvement in oral health with decreasing edentulousness in many countries, a higher number of people tend to retain more teeth until later in life.

[3]Tooth loss could result from caries, periodontal disease, trauma, infection, malignancies, or failed endodontic treatments and can present adverse consequences on the remaining dentition and on the patients’ general wellbeing.

Drifting of adjacent teeth and supra-eruption of the opposing teeth to the edentulous space in their study which looked at positional changes of adjacent teeth to edentulous spaces. Also, Kini and Muliya6 observed in a case report supra-eruption of a first mandibular premolar into the space left by an upper first premolar whose coronal tissue had broken down although the whole tooth was not lost.

In addition to the drifting and supra-eruption mentioned above is a possible facial/oral asymmetry or collapse that may result following loss of teeth. Martins-Junior and Marques showed that premature loss of a lower right deciduous canine in an 8-year old patient resulted in deviation of the lower arch from the midline to the affected side just as Tallgren et al8 reported facial collapse in patients with teeth and alveolar bone loss.

Mastication as a consequence of tooth loss are known by many patients and this may be why people in this class of condition impose dietary restriction upon themselves and thereby incurring health risk. In addition, loss of posterior teeth has been associated with impaired chewing and inadequate nutrition, the patients having the tendency to over-prepare food in an attempt to make it soft thereby loosing important nutrients.

Some studies recorded more than one consequence of tooth loss at a time. Failure to replace a posterior missing tooth may disrupt balance in stomatognathic system and trigger chains of adverse reaction such as drifting, rotation or supereruption of teeth. The consequences of these loss of teeth on the patient include altered speech, ineffective mastication, loss of self confidence, concern about appearance, and feeling of bereavement, while a study reported higher likelihood of developing ischemic stroke among study subjects with periodontal disease and less than 24 teeth in the mouth compared with those with more than 25 teeth.

Despite the enormous adverse effects of tooth loss on functional, social and psychological wellbeing of the patients as well as on the remaining dentition, many patients in our environment do not replace their missing teeth. This could be due to poor awareness that failure to replace missing teeth may cause the remaining dentition to further deteriorate. Studies have been done on socio-psychological effects of tooth loss on patient but there is dearth of information on patients’ awareness of the consequences of tooth loss on the remaining dentition.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1883195817300816 ↑

  2. https://www.novyimir.net/gallery/nmrj2609%20f.pdf ↑

  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201933/ ↑

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How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath?

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How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath?

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath?.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is usually perceived as a sign of bad oral hygiene. To understand if you can get rid of bad breath permanently, you and your doctor and dentist will first need to look at its probable causes.

What Can Cause Bad Breath?

Bad breath can result from multiple causes and can even be a warning sign of an illness. The possible causes include:

Poor Oral Hygiene:

Not brushing your teeth daily or not flossing them daily, not cleaning your dentures can give rise to bad breath.

Certain Foods:

Ingestion of raw garlic and onion are known to cause bad breath. This is due to the substances that they released after their breakdown in the stomach that reach the lungs via circulation.

Tobacco:

Apart from their own odor, smoking and chewing tobacco can cause gum disease and lead to bad breath.

Infections In Your Mouth:

Dental conditions, such as tooth decay, can cause you to have bad breath.

Diseases Of Your Nose Or Throat:

Conditions like sinusitis and rhinitis can cause post-nasal discharge and cause you to develop bad breath. Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) can also lead to bad breath.

Decreased Salivation/Dry Mouth:

You may have decreased salivation due to disorders of the salivary gland or medical conditions, such as xerostomia (dry mouth), which may be caused by several factors like certain medications, aging, use of alcohol and tobacco, and cancer therapy. Sleeping with your mouth wide open can also cause dry mouth and lead to bad breath.

Medications:

Medicines like antihistamines (used to relieve allergies) and the ones that cause you to urinate frequently (diuretics) can cause dry mouth and lead to bad breath.

Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) or problems with your digestion

Diabetes

A foreign body (such as a piece of food) lodged in a nostril (commonly seen in children)

[2]Home Remedies For Bad Breath

Drink Water

Whenever you feel your mouth getting dry, drink water (not juice or soda because those can dry your mouth out more).

Saliva helps keep your mouth clean and prevents smelly bacteria from thriving.

Rinse With Warm Salt Water

Gargling salt water is a natural way to stop bad breath.

Create a mixture of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to every 8 ounces of warm water. Swish a swig of the mixture around your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat as needed.

Chew On Cloves

Cloves help freshen your breath instantly and fight off bacteria that cause cavities.

Simply suck on or chew a few cloves a few times a day.

Side note:

Don’t use clove oil or powdered cloves because they may cause burns.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Onion or garlic breath? Get rid of these bad breath odors instantly with apple cider vinegar (ACV)!

Add a generous splash of ACV to a glass of water and switch it around your mouth. Gargle for 30 seconds, then spit it out.

Eat Fruits And Veggies

Did your know fruits and vegetables help freshen your breath?

Apples, celery, and carrots act as natural toothbrushes and help remove odor-causing bacteria from your teeth.

Oranges (vitamin C) help increase saliva production to fight bad breath.

Make Your Own Alcohol-Free Mouthwash

Did you know alcohol dries out your mouth? And did you also know most over-the-counter mouthwashes contain alcohol?

As we mentioned earlier, dry mouth is associated with bad breath. That’s why store-bought mouthwashes don’t work for everyone!

Luckily, you can make your own alcohol-free mouthwash at home, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

Tea Tree Oil

There are a few ways to use tea tree oil to freshen your breath:

Apply a few drops of tea tree oil on your toothpaste and brush your teeth.

Skip the toothpaste and brush with tea tree oil (this doesn’t substitute for brushing with toothpaste)

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in warm water and rinse your mouth with it.

Floss Your Teeth

Flossing removes plaque buildup, bacteria, or food stuck between or on your teeth, which is often the culprit for bad breath.

Pro tip:

When flossing, hug the floss around each side of your tooth.

Clean Your Tongue

Tongues can harvest all sorts of bacteria, making your breath smell bad.

To clean your tongue, gently scrub it with your toothbrush! Make sure to rinse your toothbrush and mouth afterward.

Chew Gum

Gum helps stimulate saliva production, which helps clean your mouth of stinky bacteria and leftover food particles.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.medicinenet.com/how_can_i_permanently_get_rid_of_bad_breath/article.htm ↑

  2. https://www.croasdailedentalarts.com/blog/at-home-bad-breath-remedies/ ↑

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Are Dental Implants Safe For You If You Have Diabetes?

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Are Dental Implants Safe For You If You Have Diabetes?

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Are Dental Implants Safe For You If You Have Diabetes?”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Peri-implant disease is characterized by plaque-induced inflammation of the oral soft tissue as peri-implant mucositis which can progress to peri-implantitis condition with peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL) involvement. Nearly half of all implant cases followed up to 19 years reportedly developed peri-implant mucositis with those without maintenance care progressing to peri-implantitis. Current treatment approaches for peri-implantitis is especially challenging in metabolically compromised patients such as in diabetes. Hyperglycemia is considered an important risk factor for peri-implant diseases especially peri-implantitis which adversely affects bone metabolism. Diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by destruction of hepatic cells in type 1 diabetes and impaired insulin function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, microvascular complication of T2DM contributes to impaired immune response and bone remodeling leading to delayed healing and potentiating peri-implant infections.

Similar to the heterogeneity of clinical evidence on dental implant survival, the research on association of peri-implant diseases in patients with diabetes in particular those with poorly-controlled glycemic profile is inconsistent and largely scarce with majority of relevant studies only emerging in the last four years. The evidence for the impact of diabetes on survival of dental implant has been discussed in part one of this series. In this second part we aim to focus on the evaluation of clinical evidence for the main complications of implant therapy as peri-implant diseases in patients with diabetes, in particularly poorly-controlled diabetes.

Diabetes And Peri-Implant Disease

Implications Of Glycemic Control On Peri-Implant Immune Response

Altered host response combined with environment inducive to excessive bacterial-plaque accumulation due to hyperglycemia is likely to contribute to more pronounced progression of peri-implant disease in patients with diabetes than metabolically healthy individuals. The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to impaired bone metabolism and poor osseointegration of implants together with the intricate signaling cascade influenced by hyperglycemia have been comprehensively discussed elsewhere. Given that there is lack of predictable therapies for management of peri-implant diseases in general, understanding host response at the bone to dental implant interface could provide important indicators or biomarkers for early diagnosis and design of tailored-therapies in management of metabolically compromised patients. Furthermore, evidence of inflammatory response modulators may help to identify patients with diabetes at increased risk of developing peri-implant disease.

Several lines of evidence indicate specific cytokine levels (eg IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-ɑ) in peri‐implant crevicular fluid of patients with peri-implantitis compared to that of healthy patients markedly influence the host response leading to bone loss. In particular, in patients with poor glycemic control, high expression of IL-8 and TNF-ɑ has been detected in peri-implantitis sites compared to well-controlled diabetes patient and healthy individuals. In addition to the potential inflammatory mediators of peri-implantitis, in patients with peri-implantitis high levels of the matrix metalloproteinase collagenase MMP-8 has been detected in active peri-implantitis with progressive bone loss14 and considered an early indicator of peri-implant inflammation. MMP-8 belongs to the family of metal-dependent neutral proteases and has a dual role in immune protection as well as inflammatory pathogenesis. Similarly, in patients with diabetes significantly elevated salivary MMP‐8 concentrations compared to healthy patients and independent of periodontal inflammation has been detected. However, it is not known whether MMP-8 levels are different between healthy and poorly-controlled diabetes patients with peri-implantitis and more research is needed to determine diagnostic value of MMP-8 in diabetes. A recent cross-sectional study of diabetic patients with different glycemic profile found abnormal levels of bone metabolism biomarkers vitamin D and osteocalcin in T2DM patients with poorly-controlled glycemic profile and concluded that hyperglycemia was an independent risk factor for these biomarkers.

  1. https://www.dovepress.com/should-quality-of-glycemic-control-guide-dental-implant-therapy-in-pat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCIDE ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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6 Tips For Quick Recovery Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction

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6 Tips For Quick Recovery Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “6 Tips For Quick Recovery Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Pain, swelling and trismus are common complications associated with third molar surgery. These complications have been reported to have an adverse effect on the quality of life of patients undergoing third molar surgery. Inflammatory complications after third molar surgery still remains an important factor in quality of life of patients at the early postoperative periods. Oral surgeons should be aware of the different modalities of alleviation of these complications to make postoperative recovery more comfortable for patients.

Surgical excision of a normal tissue in order to create a ‘window’ for evacuation of inflammatory exudates needs a second thought. In surgical practice, it is quite unusual to excise normal tissues without associated pathology except in few occasions such as excision of malignant conditions or benign lesions with high recurrent potentials, where some margin of normal tissue is taken along with the lesion to ensure adequate clearance. Thus, excision of normal mucosa as a means of evacuating inflammatory exudates appears to deviate from good surgical principles and should be discouraged. In addition, the process of tissue excision may add to the surgical trauma and may presumably result in prolonged operation time and delayed healing.

[2]Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix composed of cells, cytokines, and growth factors, which may be liberated from blood at specific times and act as a resorbable membrane. Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of PRF for bone healing in oral and maxillofacial implant surgery. Our study assesses the impact of PRF on postoperative complications following the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Based on the outcomes of our study, implanting PRF into surgical extraction sites can be helpful in reducing postoperative pain and improving soft tissue healing. The use of PRF in extraction sockets is simple and biologically safe. The beneficial effects of PRF support its possible application in the field of dental surgery.

[3]Oral Examination

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, our doctors can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or future potential problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist, or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

If you do not have enough room in your mouth for your third molars to fully erupt, a number of problems can happen. Impacted wisdom teeth should be removed before their root structure is fully developed. In some patients it is as early as 12 or 13, and in others it may not be until the early twenties.

What If I Don’t Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed As A Teenager Or Young Adult?

As wisdom teeth develop, the roots become longer and the jaw bone more dense.When it is necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth in your thirties, forties or beyond, the post-operative course can be prolonged and there is a higher complication rate. Treating these complications is often more difficult and less predictable than with a younger patient. Healing may be slower and the chance of infection can be increased. If your impacted wisdom teeth are not removed in your teenage years or early in your twenties and they are completely impacted in bone, it may be advisable to wait until a localized problem (such as cyst formation or localized gum disease and bone loss) develops. In general, you will heal faster, more predictably and have fewer complications if treated in your teens or early twenties.

What Happens On The Day Wisdom Teeth Are Removed?

Most people prefer to be unaware of the experience when they have their wisdom teeth removed and usually decide to be sedated. You will be provided with appropriate anesthesia options at your consultation. All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize your comfort. Our office staff has the training, licensing, and experience to provide the various types of anesthesia. These services are provided in an environment of optimum safety, utilizing modern monitoring equipment and a well trained experienced staff. The Surgical Care Team, the office facilities, and the doctors are inspected on behalf of the Board of Dental Examiners on a regular basis.

On the day of your procedure, you will take medications to help minimize post-operative pain and swelling. We ask that a parent or responsible adult accompanies you to the office and plans to stay with you the rest of the day. The procedure will take about 30 to 60 minutes and you will probably be in the office for 90 minutes. Recent advances in medicine and technology allow patients to undergo wisdom tooth removal in a manner, which promotes rapid healing and minimal post-operative discomfort. State of the art sterilization and infection control techniques are used at all times.

On the morning or afternoon of your surgery, it is essential that you have nothing to eat or drink (excluding prescription medications with a sip of water) for at least 6 hours (preferably longer). This does not mean you should try to fit in one “last meal” exactly six hours before your surgery. Having anything in your stomach can increase the risk for serious anesthetic complications, including nausea and vomiting. Your procedure will be rescheduled if you have not heeded these guidelines. We may provide you with a prescription for pain medication at your consultation appointment, which for your convenience, can be filled in advance. When you are seated in the surgical room, we will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible. If you are going to be sedated, we usually will place an IV in your left arm. This is a quick and nearly painless procedure that ensures optimal delivery of your medication. Local anesthesia is given to you afterwards to ensure comfort, and allow adequate time to travel home and rest. You will be sleepy for a significant portion of the day.

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3261018/ ↑

  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1658361221000421 ↑

  3. https://www.uthscsa.edu/patient-care/dental/services/wisdom-teeth-removal ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Ignorance Of Dental Pain

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Ignorance Of Dental Pain

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Ignorance Of Dental Pain”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Oral disorders such as dental caries and periodontal disease are worldwide public health problems. The “Global Burden of Oral Conditions in 1990–2010” report showed that oral conditions continue to be highly prevalent, affecting about 3.69 billion people. In this report, untreated dental caries in the permanent dentition was identified as the most common of all the evaluated disorders, having the highest worldwide disease load, affecting 35% of all age groups. Severe periodontitis was the sixth most prevalent condition (11% of world population) and untreated caries of the primary dentition was the tenth (9% of world population). Severe tooth loss was the 36th most prevalent condition, affecting 2% of the world’s population]. A number of studies from around the world state that 60–90% of schoolchildren suffer from dental caries.

In Latin America, dental caries is among the most frequent untreated health conditions among preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents, who have limited access to restorative dental treatment. In Mexico, dental caries is the primary public oral health problem; for example, at 12 years of age between 70 and 85% of schoolchildren exhibit caries in the permanent dentition, with a high prevalence of untreated cases. Dental caries is also the main cause of dental death in various age groups, presenting a serious challenge to the oral healthcare system due to high care costs.

Oral and dental diseases can cause pain, suffering, functional deterioration, and diminished quality of life. The high cost of treatment constitutes a substantial burden to the national health system and for individual households. Families often opt to pay directly for dental care in an effort to maintain adequate oral health among household members. In developed countries, oral health treatment represents from 5 to 10% of health expenses. This treatment is unavailable or extremely limited in many developing countries, where affected teeth are often not treated or merely extracted, making them the main source of pain. For decision-makers in different countries, especially in the “developing” ones where the burden of disease is high, it is necessary to consider oral health as a priority and having recent epidemiological data is essential.

The experience of pain, considered a normal consequence of organ or system disorders, is a ubiquitous public health concern. Untreated dental caries generally leads to dental pain. Although dental pain can seriously affect peoples’ daily life, negatively affecting quality of life, few epidemiological studies on oral health include questions on dental pain. Orofacial pain, and especially dental pain, can cause sleep loss, diminished work effectiveness or academic performance, absence from school or work, weight loss, and avoidance of certain foods. Some researchers treat it as a predictor of dental health service use (usually curative or emergency). In this type of care, teeth receive nonregressive treatments that can predispose them to loss over time; it can also raise the probability of an edentulous old age.

General medical practitioners are often called upon to manage acute dental pain in emergency situations, for example, out of hours or in rural Australia, where it may not be possible for a dentist to provide immediate treatment. Common acute oral problems are usually easy to diagnose. Simple management can alleviate pain and further discomfort until a dentist can be called upon.

Most problems can be identified by the history and examination. Several dental conditions have typical symptoms with different types of pain.

[2]Which Tests Can Assist In Diagnosis?

There are several simple tests that may assist in diagnosis of dental pain.

Pulp Sensitivity Test

Dry ice, or an ordinary ice stick (made in a plastic or glass tube), is placed on the cervical third (neck region) of the tooth crown. A response to the stimulus indicates that the pulpal tissue is capable of transmitting nerve impulses. No response may indicate pulp necrosis.

Percussion Test

Using an instrument handle, the tooth is tapped in the longitudinal axis. A painful response suggests possible periapical inflammation.

Probing

Placing a fine, blunt probe gently into the gingival sulcus surrounding the tooth enables the health of the gingival tissues to be assessed. Bleeding and/or sulcus depths greater than 3-4 mm indicate gum disease.

Mobility Test

Holding a tooth firmly on the buccal (cheek) and lingual sides between the fingers enables mobility to be assessed. All teeth have a small amount of mobility (

Palpation

Careful palpation around the area of concern may reveal tenderness and the type and extent of swelling.

Radiographic Examination

If it is possible to obtain a screening radiograph, such as an orthopantomograph (OPG), this may assist in the diagnosis and localisation of the cause of the pain. The radiograph should show clearly the apical and periapical structures of teeth and associated tissues. The relationship of the maxillary molars and premolars to the floor of the maxillary sinus can be examined, and radiographs may reveal recurrent caries or periapical radiolucencies associated with an established infection

  1. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2017/7431301/ ↑

  2. https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/management-of-acute-dental-pain-a-practical-approach-for-primary-health-care-providers ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Wisdom Tooth Removal: What Happens When You Ignore Impacted Teeth For Long?

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Wisdom Tooth Removal: What Happens When You Ignore Impacted Teeth For Long?

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Wisdom Tooth Removal: What Happens When You Ignore Impacted Teeth For Long?”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Well, the unfortunate news is that 9 out of 10 people will have at least one impacted wisdom tooth requiring removal. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at wisdom teeth – what are they exactly and what happens if you leave them untreated.

Wisdom Teeth 101

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the very last teeth in the jaw to develop, and are located in the back most part of your mouth. These teeth often appear during what has been called the “Age of Wisdom”; that time of life between the ages of 17 and 25 years old.

Looking back in our human history, wisdom teeth didn’t give us the hassles they do today. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors primarily ate a diet of raw vegetables and meat which required large, strong jaws to chew – their third row of molars were helpful! Then, with the emergence of agricultural farming practices, our diets changed significantly. Early farmers had a much softer diet of cooked foods that didn’t demand as much chewing strength. Our skull and jaw sizes responded to these dietary changes by getting smaller. But while our jaws got smaller, our teeth size and number did not similarly decrease. So now most of us are left with the unfortunate situation of having relatively small jaws that just don’t have the room needed to best accommodate our wisdom teeth.

When Can I Keep My Wisdom Teeth?

We’re not all built the same, and truthfully some jaws can still accommodate wisdom teeth just fine. In these relatively few cases, wisdom teeth can “erupt” (that is, come completely through the gum) without any pain, disease, or other dental problems. In these cases, your oral surgeons may not recommend immediate extraction, but rather will recommend strongly that you stick to regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist, that you maintain excellent oral hygiene practices at home, and receive periodic x-rays to evaluate the ongoing health of your wisdom teeth.

When Do My Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Extracted?

When a wisdom tooth doesn’t fully erupt through the gums, it is called an ”impacted” tooth. An impacted tooth is one that is unable to fully enter into the mouth through the gums because there just isn’t enough room. An impacted tooth can cause a whole host of problems, including:

  • Difficulty maintaining adequate brushing, which can lead to tooth decay and infection.
  • Damage to neighboring teeth.
  • Pain from pressure of the tooth overcrowding.
  • Systematic infections and illnesses that can affect the heart, kidneys and other organs when oral bacteria travels from the mouth into the bloodstream.
  • Fluid-filled cysts or tumors can form that can lead to hollowing of the jaw and damage to surrounding nerves.

[2]When Your Dentist Recommends Extraction

It’s imperative that you see a professional dentist for your impacted wisdom tooth. He or she can let you know when extraction would best be completed. You don’t want to wait to see a dentist when it comes to impacted wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth are essentially trapped inside your jawbone. Leaving them alone could mean incurring jaw pain or even complications that would make extraction more difficult. If there are complications during your extraction, not only could the procedure be more expensive, your recovery time could take longer.

Signs to look out for with impacted wisdom teeth include pain, swelling, bleeding, or bad breath, which could mean you have an infection. Your dentist or oral surgeon can help you decide when the best time to extract your impacted wisdom tooth is.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Ruin Orthodontic Work

Impacted wisdom teeth are more than just nuisances that you need to get out. They can cause some major problems if left alone, even if there’s only one of them. If you’ve had any previous orthodontic work done, impacted wisdom teeth can ruin it.

These wisdom teeth can push against your rows of teeth, making them crowd together and pushing them forward. Teeth can quickly become misaligned and you may even need a second set of braces after the removal if you wait too long.

  1. https://tahoeoralsurgery.com/blog/2018/dear-doctor-what-happens-if-i-ignore-my-wisdom-teeth ↑

  2. https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/how-long-can-i-ignore-my-impacted-wisdom-tooth/ ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Invisalign Braces: A Perfect Smile Makeover

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Invisalign Braces: A Perfect Smile Makeover

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Invisalign Braces: A Perfect Smile Makeover”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]If you’re discontented with the shape of your grin you tend to hide your pearly whites. For teenagers and adults universally, few things are more annoying than being told to “say cheese” for a photo. To put it in simple words, you are upset over crooked, misaligned teeth. Even though a lot of us have the choice of getting fitted for braces, many people directly find themselves picturing metal wired over teeth and abruptly feel that developing that perfect smile might not be for them in any case.

Opportunely, dental treatment technology has advanced a great deal in the past decades. This is since metal braces were the only choice for crooked teeth and wide gaps. Generally, you need to spend months or at times even years wearing conventional braces to unbend your smiles. However, clear braces have now become a very reasonably priced and easily available alternative. Actually, of late more men and women are gradually turning to Invisalign as their teeth alignment solution.

By now you must be wondering to know what is Invisalign?

Invisalign: What Is It?

Invisalign, to put it in simple words, is one of the most accepted, remarkable solutions for uneven smiles and teeth-straightening. The clear braces available for teenagers and adults are designed to abolish spacing issues and teeth crowding simultaneously being almost invisible to the bare eye. This extremely admired progression in dentistry enables active men and women to get the smile they always wanted without the look and feel of conventional metallic braces.

Besides being transparent enough to be nearly invisible, Invisalign clear aligners also offer wearers a few benefits over usual braces. Suitable in its design, it is custom-made to fit match the wearer’s teeth. Most importantly, it is detachable for both brushing and eating. Generally, patients who use these aligners do not have to face any of the obnoxious fitting or uneasiness that happens with traditional braces. With no wires to be troubled about, the Invisalign wearers are capable to go about their everyday lives hardly noticing they’re wearing an aligner whatsoever. Certainly, people find that living with these aligners is both relaxing and easy.

These innovative aligners are admired not just for their user-friendliness but because they offer outstanding results. At times, quicker than metal braces. This is because this technology allows dentists who measure and fit their patients for the aligners to effortlessly check teeth movement as smiles progressively set straight. This means that you’ve made to order Invisalign is fitted to persistently give the required pressure to softly shift teeth into their usual, wished-for placement.

[2]How Can A Smile Makeover Change Your Life?

There are so many advantages and benefits of having perfectly straight teeth that you will definitely consider a smile makeover. Here are a few of them:

Boost’s self-confidence

It is true when they say your smile can impact your self-esteem and self-confidence. Crooked teeth tend to stain more easily and can lower a person’s confidence to smile freely. A smile makeover removes flaws from the teeth and gives you straight teeth that give you the confidence to put yourself out there.

Psychological & Physiological changes

When you smile your body releases three different hormones: dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. These are responsible for making us feel happy, and they also help lower stress levels. In fact, when you smile more often, you attract people more. They make you a more appealing and attractive person to be around. This in turn will have a positive effect on your well-being.

Better oral health

In case of malocclusions like underbites, overbites, crowding, etc., there is a huge chance of more dental issues cropping up due to poor oral health. In this case, a smile makeover not only repositions your teeth to give you gorgeous straight teeth but also helps you build better oral health.

Smile Makeover With Clear Teeth Aligners

There are a lot of dental appliances that already exist on the market. However, with the advancement in technology, the dental world also caught up and took leaps and bounds to make the journey to get straight teeth a fairly comfortable process for the patients. For this, they took the help of 3D technology. Clear Teeth Aligners are transparent/clear/invisible plastic trays that are made to fit your teeth.

How Are Clear Teeth Aligners Better Than Other Options To Get A Smile Makeover?

A common question that comes up when considering orthodontic treatment for a smile makeover is- are clear teeth aligners better than other dental appliances?

The answer is yes, in a lot of cases. Even though all the appliances have the same goal- to give you straight teeth, there are some significant advantages clear aligners have over other dental appliances. So how are they better?

  1. Aesthetically Pleasant: While most dental appliances look unpleasant to the eye, Clear Aligners are barely noticeable which is a major reason for their popularity. It is discreet enough to remain undiscovered which gives the patients the confidence of smiling even while receiving the treatment.
  2. Removable: Giving a big sigh of relief to most patients is the removable nature of the clear aligners. A lot of patients have suffered an insufferable amount of discomfort and pain during their journey to straight teeth. However, with clear aligners, one can remove the aligners and wear them again very easily and comfortably. But, word of advice, do not remove your clear aligners too frequently. Orthodontists recommend that aligners should be worn at least 20 – 22 hours a day for impactful treatment.
  3. Easy Cleaning: Everyone who has ever used braces or expanders knows they are a nightmare when it comes to maintaining oral hygiene. However, with clear teeth aligners, you will not face such an issue ever. This is also due to the fact that they can be removed and easy to clean.
  4. No Lifestyle Restrictions: As clear teeth aligners are easily removable, you can practically eat and drink, and do whatever you want without altering anything in your current lifestyle.
  5. Fewer Clinic Visits: Clear teeth aligners do not require tightening appointments, adjustments, or repairs as frequently as in the case of braces, so there are lesser clinic visits.

  1. https://smilemakeoverofla.com/blog/invisalign-perfect-fit-your-smile/ ↑

  2. https://flashaligners.in/blog/smile-makeover-with-clear-aligners-smile-makeover-with-clear-aligners/ ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Fix Your Smile With Best Smile Correction Treatment

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Fix Your Smile With Best Smile Correction Treatment

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Fix Your Smile With Best Smile Correction Treatment”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[2]Ways To Improve Your Smile

Keep Your Natural Sheen

Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you. A healthy smile isn’t always achieved overnight, but takes a variety of methods to help create and maintain. Here are 10 easy things you can do to help improve the appearance and health of your teeth.

Floss Daily

Flossing removes plaque between teeth and out from under the gumlines, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Daily flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gingivitis. When left alone, plaque and tartar build up under the surface of the gumlines. This can cause periodontal disease, which leads to bone destruction and tooth loss.

To floss properly, wrap the floss tightly around your finger and insert in the space between your teeth. Gently slide it up and down under the gumlines two to three times. If bleeding occurs, this is most likely due to gingivitis or gum disease. When flossing daily, the bleeding associated with mild to moderate gingivitis usually stops after about two weeks.

If you just can’t stand flossing, try an oral irrigator. This device sprays water or mouthwash to remove plaque and food between your teeth and below your gumline.

See Your Hygienist Twice A Year

Having routine cleanings every six months helps to promote good oral health and a beautiful smile. When your cleanings are irregular, you can develop periodontal disease. This can cause unsightly swollen, receding, and bleeding gums. It’s also linked to health conditions like heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, premature births, and sleep apnea.

In addition to removing stain and tartar from your teeth, your dental hygienist will also screen for health conditions like high blood pressure and oral cancer. Because many health conditions manifest themselves in the mouth, your dentist and hygienist can make you aware of issues that you should follow up on with your doctor.

Give Up Smoking

Smoking causes staining to your teeth. The stain from smoke is sometimes a superficial stain that can be polished off, but it can also soak deep into the enamel.

Smoking also damages healthy gums, causing them to recede and develop large pockets around the teeth. This makes teeth appear longer and creates dark spaces between them. Smoking also makes it very difficult to reverse gum disease.

Limit Your Coffee, Tea, And Red Wine

Drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine are known for staining teeth. Similar to smoking, these drinks can build up a superficial stain that your dentist or hygienist can polish off. But they can also cause internal staining of your tooth enamel.

Drinking through a straw can help reduce the stain on your teeth and may help reduce the risk of tooth decay. It can also help to rinse your mouth frequently with water so the dark liquid does not sit on your teeth for a long period between meals.

Choose Your Whitening Products Carefully

Depending on your needs, there are a variety of whitening products available: gel pens, rinses, toothpastes, strips, over-the-counter trays, custom trays, and laser whitening. While the choices can be overwhelming, each type can have specific benefits that help you target problem areas. Whitening toothpastes and rinses are good for coffee and tea drinkers. Gel pens are good for touching up small areas, like a tooth that has shifted back and collects more stain. Custom trays and laser whitening provide professional strength whitening and offer the most dramatic results.

Buy A Quality Toothbrush

Top quality electric toothbrushes are clinically shownTrusted Source to remove more plaque and achieve healthier gums than standard manual toothbrushes. Many now feature modes for whitening and sensitive teeth. The toothbrush bodies are made to last for years, while the heads can be changed out routinely as they age, or for sharing among family members.

If you’re not ready to shell out the dough for an electric toothbrush, be sure to purchase a soft bristled manual brush. While medium and hard bristled brushes are readily available on the market, dental professionals adamantly advise against their use. Stiffer bristles and aggressive brushing causes gums to recede and can wear enamel away from the teeth.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Water is the healthiest drink for your smile and your body. It helps flush teeth clean and discourages tooth decay. Tap water is the best choice as it has the recommended dosage of fluoride. Many times bottled water comes from a source where the fluoride levels are not monitored, or contain no fluoride at all. A healthy level of fluoride promotes tooth health and discourages decay.

Frequent consumption of acidic or sugary drinks can increase decay rates dramatically. Athletes are quickly becoming an at-risk group as the effects of sports drinks take a toll on their teeth.

Improve Your Other Health Conditions

Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and bruxism (also known as teeth grinding) can all affect the health and appearance of your smile. When the body is strained by one health condition, it’s more difficult to treat another.

Rather than covering up symptoms, you can help improve your health through preventive methods. Eating right and getting enough exercise can dramatically improve the appearance of your body, teeth, and gums.

Get Dental Treatment In A Timely Manner

Dental conditions never correct themselves on their own. Tooth decay left untreated can easily transform a small cavity into a large tooth abscess. Where a tiny filling may have been all that was needed, it may now require a root canal and a crown.

Treating your tooth decay early means you’ll need smaller and less invasive dental restorations. This helps maintain the structure and stability of the tooth and keeps treatment costs lower. If left untreated, decay can spread to other teeth and may cause infections throughout the rest of your body.

Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day

This is a given, but many people still need to be reminded to brush their teeth at least twice a day. Because plaque can harden into tartar, frequent brushing helps teeth to stay whiter and healthier than in people who brush less often.

How you brush is also important. Angle the bristles toward the gumline at a 45-degree angle, with just enough pressure to make the tissue a lighter color. Gently make small strokes, focusing on only one or two teeth at a time. This will keep your gums healthy and remove the most plaque.

Form Good Habits For A Great Smile

It can take some time before you start to notice changes from whitening or improved oral hygiene. While these changes don’t come overnight, they are certainly worth the time and effort, both for the sake of your smile and your overall health.

  1. https://dentalexpress.in/blogs/news/fix-your-smile-with-best-smile-correction-treatment#site-main ↑

  2. https://www.healthline.com/health/improve-smile#brush-twice-a-day ↑

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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