Tooth Decay

Symptoms of Tooth Decay in Toddlers

Tooth decay is one of the most common tooth problems in toddlers. In dental decay, cavities are formed on the outer layer of the tooth. These cavities are formed due to the collapse of hard dental issues which lead to a mild tooth decay. Rarely does tooth decay go unnoticed. If so, it may rupture the surrounding nerves and tissues of the gum.

Cause of Tooth Decay in Children

Bacterial infection is a main cause of tooth decay. Bacteria’s reside on the surface of the tooth and gets it nourishment from the foods and drinks consumed by toddlers. These bacteria produce acids and fluids that may affect the coating of the tooth and a visible change in the colour and texture of the tooth will be easily noticed. The bacterium harms the enamel of the tooth over time and decay becomes inevitable.

Risk Factors for Tooth Decay

Heredity dental health may impact the toddler’s oral hygiene. Consumption of sweetened and starchy foods in the form of chocolates or natural sweeteners may increase the risk of tooth decay in your toddler. If teeth are not brushed regularly, it will lead to tooth and gum damage in a matter of months. Frequent snacking will increase the amount of time the teeth are in contact with acids; this will lead to tooth decay.

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

The intensity of the symptoms may vary from child to child. The symptoms may occur individually or in combinations. The symptoms of tooth decay are enlisted below:

Toddler may face difficulty while chewing or swallowing the food. A noticeable jaw inflammation may manifest. Bad breathe may be a result of tooth decay due to plague. Bleeding while brushing due to hyper sensitivity. Gum inflammation especially at the root of the tooth. Pits and holes at the central pit of the tooth. Spots on the tooth of white, gray, black or brown in colour. A broken tooth is more susceptible to tooth decay. Swollen glands may be a sign of tooth decay. Tartar may irritate the gums leading to gingivitis in toddles if left ignored.

Diagnosis of Tooth Decay

The most obvious sign of tooth decay is hyper sensitivity and tooth ache. However, your toddler may not be able to communicate these issues to you verbally. The parents would need to check for visible signs to monitor and gauge any sign or symptom of tooth decay.

10 Reasons to Quit Smoking Right Now

Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of death in the world. Each year, more than 450,000 people die from diseases related to tobacco use. Smoking can lead to lung cancer, stroke and heart disease, among other health problems, and can shorten your lifespan by up to 14 years.
The good news? It’s never too late to quit smoking — and when you do quit, your body quickly begins to restore itself from all the damage caused my the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. See how your health — and life — improves in the moments, hours, months and years after you finally quit.

20 Minutes: Your Blood Pressure Drops
The nicotine in cigarettes decreases the amount of oxygen in your blood, and causes your arteries to constrict, meaning your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. As a result, smoking causes a rise in blood pressure; high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease.
After 20 minutes without a cigarette your heart rate drops and your blood pressure begins to return to normal levels.

2 Hours: Circulation Improves
Your circulatory system is made of blood vessels that pick up oxygen from the lungs and distribute it to your muscles and organs. The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage your blood cells and blood vessels, disrupting this oxygen-delivery process, increasing your risk of diseases of the blood vessels and heart. This damage can also increase your chance of a blood clot, resulting in heart attack or stroke.
When you’ve been cigarette-free for two hours, your circulation begins to improve.

8 Hours: Damage From Chemicals Reverses
Every time you inhale cigarette smoke, more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds—including cadmium (a component of battery acid), acetone (found in nail polish remover) and arsenic (used in rat poison)—flood into your body. Within seconds of your first puff, these harmful gases (plus others, like formaldehyde, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide) begin to irritate the sensitive membranes of your eyes, nose and throat.
As the smoke passes into your lungs, carbon monoxide (the same gas found in automobile exhaust) is immediately transferred to your blood, where it binds to oxygen receptor sites and kicks oxygen molecules out of your red blood cells. This means less oxygen makes its way to your brain and other vital organs.
After eight hours smoke-free, the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in your blood return to normal, and the damage caused by carbon monoxide (and the other chemicals found in cigarettes) begins to reverse

24 Hours: Heart Attack Risk Drops
Nicotine and the other chemicals in cigarette smoke can put major stress on your heart. Smoking increases your risk of atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty plaques build up in your blood stream. That plaque hardens, blocking your coronary arteries and increasing your risk for coronary heart disease. Over time, coronary heart disease can lead to chest pain, irregular heartbeat and even heart attack. Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers.

48 Hours: Regain Your Sense of Smell and Taste
Cigarette smoke deadens the millions of olfactory nerves in the back of your nose, diminishing sensitivity to smell. And because your sense of smell is directly correlated to taste, when you smoke, your sense of taste diminishes as well.
After 48 hours without a cigarette, all traces of nicotine have left your body, and your olfactory nerves have begun to regrow, sharpening those previously-dulled senses.

2 Weeks to 3 Months: Lung Function Improves
Cigarette smoke affects your lungs’ natural cleaning process. Smoking damages the cilia (hair-like organs that sweep fluids and foreign particles out of your airways), making it more difficult for the lungs to rid themselves of the chemicals cigarette smoke leaves behind. This damage to your lungs also spurs higher levels of mucus production in an effort to clear away the toxins from cigarette smoke.
Starting two weeks after you quit smoking, and in the months beyond, you'll notice an increased ability to perform physical activities without feeling sick and winded. Within two months, your lungs no longer need to over-produce phlegm to flush out toxins. When your lungs are cigarette smoke-free and functioning better, your risk of lung infection dramatically decreases.

6 Weeks: A Boost to Your Immune System
Smoking weakens your immune system, putting you at a higher risk for infection. With a compromised immune system, your wounds may take longer to heal and scars may heal badly. Cigarette smoking also puts you at greater risk for many bacterial and viral infections, like influenza or pneumonia.
Six weeks after you stop smoking, your immune system becomes stronger and better able to fight off infection, because all traces of nicotine (an immune system suppressant) have left your body.

1 Year: Your Risk of Heart Disease Falls
The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage your heart and blood vessels. Smoking can cause platelets in your blood to clump together, increasing your risk of blood clots, and can also trigger spasms in the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart. Plus, smoking reduces “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and allows “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) to enter the walls of your arteries more easily, where it can develop into plaque.
Plaque buildup in your arteries can lead to coronary heart disease — the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. By keeping cigarette-free for one year, you cut your risk for heart disease in half.

10 Years: Lung Cancer Risk Cut in Half
In the United States, smoking causes 90 percent of all lung cancer cases. Every time you inhale cigarette smoke, cancer-causing chemicals fill your lungs, increasing your risk for lung cancer. Nicotine also paralyzes the cilia in your lungs, making it harder for them to remove tar left behind by cigarette smoke.
10 years after you give up cigarettes, your risk for dying from lung cancer is cut in half. Once you hit the 15-year mark, your risk of death from any smoking-induced condition is close to that of a non-smoker.

5 to 15 Years: Stroke Risk Reduced
The same plaque build-up in your arteries that can put you at increased risk for heart disease can also block the flow of blood to your brain and cause a stroke.
Quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of stroke — after 5 to 15 years without cigarettes, your risk of stroke is the same as someone who has never smoked.

Quit Smoking Today: Long-term Benefits
Smoking takes a toll on your health — both inside and out. Smoking can lead to premature aging, saggy and discolored skin, and bad breath. When you quit, nutrients and oxygen travel through your blood to your skin more easily to keep you looking healthier (and younger, too!).
Giving up on cigarettes doesn’t just improve your heart and lung health; it also reduces your risk of other disease, like diabetes, and other cancers, including cancer of the mouth, throat or stomach.
Ready to quit? Check out these best ways to stop smoking today and butt out for good!

 

World Oral Health Day

Today World Oral Health Day

 -The date marks the anniversary of the FDI World Dental Federation and their groundbreaking

International Conference on Primary Health Care, which was held on September 12, 1978. In

addition the date honors Dr. Charles Godon, the FDI founder, who was born Sept. 12, 1854

  We hope that awareness of the importance of oral health can be elevated through the worldwide

recognition of this day .The dentists of the world are committed to helping each and everyone in

achieving optimal oral health through prevention and the highest possible standard of care.

Full-Mouth Rehabilitation and Bite Management of Severely Worn Dentition

Creating a beautiful smile for a patient is extremely rewarding for the 

dentist as well as for the team, and this should never be taken for granted. 

We are blessed with the ability to change someone’s self esteem, confidence 

and, possibly, the course of their life. 

Full Mouth Reconstruction is the systematic approach to restoring all (or nearly all) of your teeth at the same time. There are different reasons for needing this full-mouth restoration treatment.


Examples are

* teeth that are severely worn down multiple missing teeth
* a deep bite (the top teeth bite too far down over the bottom teeth)
* patients who want instant orthodontics (using  porcelain veneers,bridges , or other restorations on all of the teeth to ideally reshape and reposition the teeth)
* severe decay in all or most of the teeth
* severe erosion of the enamel
* congenital disorders that cause missing teeth, missing enamel, or poorly-formed teeth
* traumatic injury to the mouth/teeth

Simple Overdenture Technique without using implants (using root )

Simple Overdenture Technique,

MPLANTS have, in the last 15 to 20 years, paved the way to restoration of the edentulous and partially edentulous mouth. However, many patients cannot afford the time or money required to complete this treatment successfully. Making an Overdenture (OVD) using a simple ball-and-socket type of attachment for extra retention is a proven and easy alternative treatment to implants. The Flexi-Overdenture® attachment is based on the patented split-shank Flexi-Post® for the highest retention of the post in the root and the fewest problems. The ball-and-socket attachment delivers high retention for full and partial dentures, providing a simple, inexpensive overdenture at chairside. The Flexi-Overdenture supports a nylon attachment that is incorporated into an overdenture (Figure 1). Alternatively, and for great ease of replacement, a threaded version of the nylon attachment can be threaded into an EZ-Change® metal receptacle (keeper) that in turn is incorporated into the denture (Figure 2). The post allows the dentist to utilize remaining roots to support the retention of a denture. FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 The Steps for Placement of the Flexi-Overdenture Try to retain two canine teeth in each arch for the abutments for the OVD. If canines are not available, try to use bicuspids next. However, any tooth—even just one tooth—will provide additional retention for the OVD. Determine the optimum post size by placing the plastic template over an undistorted x-ray. There should be at least one millimeter of lateral tooth structure at the most apical placement of the post. After determining the correct post size, prepare the post hole, using a sequence of Gates Glidden drills followed by the color-coded primary reamer exactly correlated to your post size (Figures 3 and 4). FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 After using the correct primary reamer, prepare the countersink/root facer preparation with the countersink/rootfacer drill (Figure 5). FIGURE 5 Try placing the post that corresponds to your preparation. It should be fully seated (Figure 6). If the post does not seat fully, shorten the apical end of the post the appropriate amount for full seating (Figure 7). FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7 Coat the internal surface of the post hole and the shank of the post with Flexi-Flow Auto® reinforced composite cement and place the post into the root. Let set for four minutes. Place the nylon cap on the ball of the Flexi-Overdenture attachment. Make sure that the colored rubber band is on the ball of the attachment. The rubber band blocks out the undercut of the ball (Figure 8). Mark the top of the nylon cap with a disclosing paste and place the denture over the root (Figure 9). FIGURE 8 FIGURE 9 Remove the denture, noting where it has been marked with the paste (Figure 10). FIGURE 10 Relieve enough acrylic from the denture to allow the denture to sit passively over the nylon cap (Figures 11 and 12). FIGURE 11 FIGURE 12 Once you have confirmed that the denture is sitting passively supported only by the ridges, place a doughy mix of acrylic into the relieved site, place the nylon cap over the acrylic and keep it in position until the acrylic hardens (Figure 13). Remove the denture and relieve the excess underlying acrylic (Figure 14). FIGURE 13 FIGURE 14 The denture now has the added retention supplied by the ball-and-socket attachment provided by the Flexi-Overdenture attachment. Over time, the nylon attachment will wear, out reducing the amount of retention it provides. The nylon attachment can be replaced by drilling out the old attachment and cold-curing a new one in. To reduce the time and effort necessary for replacement, Essential Dental Systems, Inc., has developed the EZ-Change attachment for rapid replacement of the worn nylon attachment. To incorporate it into the denture do the following: Instead of the nylon attachment, place the EZ-Change attachment, which consists of a metal receptacle (keeper) and a threaded nylon attachment within it (Figure 15). The two components of the EZ-Change attachment are incorporated into the denture in the same manner as the original nylon cap. When the nylon attachment now wears out, it is a simple matter to use the EZ-Change wrench to unthread the worn-out nylon cap from the metal insert and thread in a new one (Figure 16). No cold-curing is necessary, the entire process taking only a few seconds. FIGURE 15 FIGURE 16 The ball-and-socket is very user-friendly for the patient. It snaps in easily, the patient can both hear and feel when the ball is seated, and there are no components to bend or break. This is a viable and time-tested alternative technique for those who cannot have implants.This technique is much more economical as compared to implant supported denture.

Fear of undergoing Dental Treatment.

Many patients experience anxiety while undergoing dental procedures. Some individuals even skip out on their dental needs simply because they are too afraid to receive the dental care they require.
Sedation dentistry provides an opportunity for patients to receive dental treatment while completely and safely asleep. Dental phobia is a common occurrence in many dental patients which ultimately handicaps individuals from preventing and treatment oral health problems. The Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation reports that 30% of patients deny themselves the dental care they require for fear of undergoing treatment.
Sedation dentistry is safe, comfortable, anxiety-free, and best of all can allow you to receive the dental care you need minus the apprehension. With sedation dentistry apprehensive patients will find themselves smiling more and fearing less. Don’t compromise your oral health for fear of treatment.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

A sedative is a drug that is administered to the body to create a relaxed, calm state similar to sleep. In dentistry, sedation can be used for a variety of procedures to help the patient feel more at ease during treatment. Traditionally the options for sedation have been limited to the inhalation of nitrous oxide (more commonly known as laughing gas) or intravenous sedation where the sedative is injected via needle through the blood vessels found in the hand or arm. However, today’s dental technology brings with it the option of oral sedation requiring no needles at all. Patients who chose to undergo oral sedation are prescribed a pill (Halcion) which they are to take one hour prior to their visit. When they arrive at their ‘ dentist, they will be awake but feeling relaxed and very drowsy. The patient is then immediately escorted and seated in the dental chair where their vital signs are monitored throughout the entire appointment. Patients will not be permitted to drive after sedation. When the patient is fully awake they will feel stress free and relaxed.

Remember: Sedation is NOT an anesthetic and so sedation alone will not provide any pain relieving qualities. A local anesthetic will also be administered in addition to the sedative to ensure patient comfort and safety. The anesthetic will be injected into the mouth after the patient is already sedated so patients will not be bothered or even remember having the injection.

Patients opting for oral sedation must arrive and leave their appointment accompanied by a responsible caregiver providing transportation to and from dental clinic. It is advised that the caregiver also remain with you following the procedure for two to four hours in the comfort of your home.

Why Sedation Dentistry ?

Many patients chose sedation dentistry during extensive dental procedures such as smile makeovers or other restorative treatment requiring multiple appointments. Sedation dentistry allows complex procedures to be performed in fewer visits as the patient does not experience the time frame of the procedure. Patients often feel as though their appointment lasted but a few minutes when in fact it may have taken hours to perform. Some patients may have denied themselves the dental procedures they’ve either always wanted or required for fear or anxiety of undergoing treatment. Sedation dentistry offers the means of achieving and maintaining your best smile possible without the stress. Sedation dentistry allows patients to overcome their fear of dental treatment and so patients are more likely to come for routine care. If you experience dental phobia or anxiety, don’t place your oral health on the back burner. Neglecting to treat any problems you may have, can allow them to develop into more serious complications. Oral health is important. Contact your dentist about sedation dentist.

Sedation or Sleep Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is sometimes incorrectly referred to as sleep dentistry. This term is misleading as the patients never actually ‘sleep’ during the procedure. The effects of the sedative cause the patients to feel the effects of sleep, but in fact they are awake the entire procedure. In sedation dentistry, the body is relaxed and patients are not likely to remember much from the treatment.

Laser Use in Dentistry

Laser technology had entered the field of dentistry by 1994 itself. The lasers used for dental treatment are not the cold lasers, which are used for treating inflammation, headache, and pain, and also used in phototherapy. Though it is useful in treating many dental problems, laser is yet to be fully accepted by the American Dental Association. The treatment mode does have FDA’s acceptance, but not that of ADA, whose standards appear to be more exacting. ADA is still not fully convinced of the efficacy and safety of using lasers for dental treatment.

However, the technology is being used by some in treating the following problems:

• Tooth decay. Lasers are useful in removing the decayed portion from the tooth and readying the remaining enamel for the fresh filling. It is also useful in hardening the filling.
• Gum problems. For removing bacteria during a root canal treatment, and reshaping gums, lasers are useful.
• Biopsy. For removing a lesion, or any tissue from the mouth, lasers are used. Tissue removal sometimes becomes necessary for cancer testing. Lasers are also effective in the treatment of mouth ulcers.
• Teeth whitening. Some teeth whitening procedures nowadays employ lasers. Whitening is basically done by the application of a bleaching solution on the surface of the teeth, but the action of this peroxide solution is enhanced by employing lasers.

The Working of Lasers

All forms of laser appear as light and provide energy in the way in which it is required for different operations. When used for hardening the tooth filling, the laser binds together the filling and the tooth. During teeth whitening, it acts as a source of heat which increases the activity of the whitening agents. In surgical use, sometimes it functions as a vaporizer for annihilating tissues. At other times it functions as a cutting implement.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Laser in Dentistry?

Pros
Compared to the traditional dental drill, lasers:

• May cause less pain in some instances, therefore, reducing the need for anesthesia
• May reduce anxiety in patients uncomfortable with the use of the dental drill
• Minimize bleeding and swelling during soft tissue treatments
• May preserve more healthy tooth during cavity removal

Cons
The disadvantages of lasers are that:

• Lasers can't be used on teeth with fillings already in place.
• Lasers can't be used in many commonly performed dental procedures. For example, lasers can't be used to fill cavities located between teeth, around old fillings, and large cavities that need to be prepared for a crown. In addition, lasers cannot be used to remove defective crowns or silver fillings, or prepare teeth for bridges.
• Traditional drills may still be needed to shape the filling, adjust the bite, and polish the filling even when a laser is used.
• Lasers do not eliminate the need for anesthesia.
• Laser treatment tends to be more expensive since the cost of the laser is much higher than a dental drill. Lasers can cost between $39,000 and $45,000 compared to about $600 for a standard drill.