Brushing our teeth removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from all tooth surfaces,
except in between the teeth. Unfortunately, our toothbrush can’t reach these areas
that are highly susceptible to decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.
Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building
up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.
Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing
colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins
(acids) that cause cavities and irritate and inflame the gums. Also, when plaque
is not removed above and below the gumline, it hardens and turns into calculus (tartar).
This will further irritate and inflame the gums and will also slowly destroy the
bone. This is the beginning of periodontal disease.
How to floss properly:
Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers,
leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between
teeth using a sawing motion.
Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gum line. Gently
move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.
Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.
Daily flossing will help you keep a healthy, beautiful smile for life!
Professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis) includes-
Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left
on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus
forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on
the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The
bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the
start of periodontal disease!
Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during
tooth brushing and scaling.
Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving a healthy smile. Your
personal home care starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks
you eat, and correctly using the various dental aids that help control the plaque
and bacteria that cause dental disease.
Tooth brushing – Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before
going to bed at night) with a soft bristle brush and toothpaste.
Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small,
circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums. Brush the
outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth. Use the tip of the brush to clean
the inside of the front teeth. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen
your breath.
Electric toothbrushes are also recommended. They are easy to use and can remove
plaque efficiently. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums
and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.
Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and
under the gum line.
Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing and after
meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter mouth wash
for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist on its appropriateness
for you.
Use other dental aids as recommended by your dentist : interdental brushes, rubber
tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses,
etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.
A dental implant is a tooth root placed in the gums. These are made of highly compatible
titanium alloy with surface treatments which get bonded biologically with the gums
and jaw bone allowing rigid fixation.
Their highly noble characteristics lead to biocompatible adaptation in the human
body.
If you’re feeling somewhat self-conscious about your teeth or simply want to improve
your smile, cosmetic dental treatments may be the answer to a more beautiful, confident
smile. Cosmetic dentistry has become very popular in the last several years, not
only due to advances in cosmetic dental procedures and materials, but also because
patients are becoming increasingly focused on improving their overall health.
There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to improve your teeth and enhance
your smile. Depending on your particular needs, cosmetic dental treatments can change
your smile dramatically, from restoring a single tooth to having a full mouth make-over.
Ask your dentist how you can improve the health and beauty of your smile with cosmetic
dentistry.
Cosmetic Procedures:
Teeth Whitening: Bleaching lightens teeth that have been stained or discolored
by age, food, drink, and smoking. Teeth darkened as a result of injury or taking
certain medications can also be bleached, but the effectiveness depends on the degree
of staining present.
Composite (tooth-colored) Fillings: Also known as “bonding”, composite fillings
are now widely used instead of amalgam (silver) fillings to repair teeth with cavities
and also to replace old, defective fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are also used
to repair chipped, broken, or discolored teeth. This type of filling is also very
useful to fill in gaps and to protect sensitive, exposed root surfaces caused by
gum recession.
Porcelain Veneers: Veneers are thin custom-made, tooth-colored shells that
are bonded onto the fronts of teeth to create a beautiful individual smile. They
can help restore or camouflage damaged, discolored, poorly shaped, or misaligned
teeth. Unlike crowns, veneers require minimal tooth structure to be removed from
the surface of the tooth.
Porcelain Crowns (caps): A crown is a tooth-colored, custom-made covering
that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size.
Crowns protect and strengthen teeth that cannot be restored with fillings or other
types of restorations. They are ideal for teeth that have large, fractured or broken
fillings and also for those that are badly decayed.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are artificial roots that are surgically
placed into the jaw to replace one or more missing teeth. Porcelain crowns, bridges,
and dentures can be made specifically to fit and attach to implants, giving a patient
a strong, stable, and durable solution to removable dental appliances.
Orthodontics: Less visible and more effective brackets and wires are making
straightening teeth with orthodontics much more appealing to adult patients. In
some cases, teeth can be straightened with custom-made, clear, removable aligners
in place of braces.
Thanks to the advances in modern dentistry, cosmetic treatments can make a difference
in making your smile shine!
Since teeth whitening has now become the number one aesthetic concern of many patients,
there are many products and methods available to achieve a brighter smile.
Professional teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment
used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance
the beauty of your smile.
As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel wears away, eventually revealing a darker
or yellow shade. The color of our teeth also comes from the inside of the tooth,
which can become darker over time. Smoking and fluids such as coffee, tea, and wine
can also contribute to tooth discoloration, making teeth yellow and dull. Sometimes,
teeth can become discolored from taking certain medications as a child, such as
tetracycline. Excessive fluoridation (fluorosis) during tooth development can also
cause teeth to become discolored.
It’s important to have your teeth evaluated by your dentist to determine if you’re
a good candidate for bleaching. Occasionally, tetracycline and fluorosis stains
are difficult to bleach and your dentist may offer other options, such as veneers
or crowns to cover up such stains. Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth
enamel, it is also important to evaluate any old fillings, crowns, etc. before bleaching
begins. Once the bleaching is done, your dentist can match the new restorations
to the shade of the newly whitened teeth.
Since teeth whitening is not permanent, a touch-up may be needed every several years
to keep your smile looking bright.
If you don’t get your missing teeth replaced timely, it would lead to:
1. Deformation of dentition
2. Widening of tooth gap
3. Induction of dental caries/gum disease
4. Looks older than the actual age
5. Resorption of gingival bone when left untreated for a prolonged period of time(difficulty
wearing denture)
6. Diminished digestive function due to inability to chew well
Any of the following can be used to replace missing teeth:
1. By using removable dentures
2. By use of fixed bridges
3. By use of dental implants
Have you noticed that the edges of your teeth are sharp, worn or chipped? Do you
have a headache or sore jaw when you wake up? If so, you could be grinding your
teeth while you sleep without even realizing it.
Teeth grinding, called bruxism by dentists, is a condition that affects millions
of people, most commonly caused by environmental factors such as stress. A mild
case of teeth grinding may not require treatment, rather simple stress relieving
techniques and lifestyle changes.
Chronic, long term teeth grinding, on the other hand, is serious and can lead to
major problems including jaw disorders, headaches and damaged teeth.
Signs and Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
1. Worn, flattened, fractured or chipped teeth
2. Tooth sensitivity
3. Jaw pain or tightness in the jaw muscles
4. Earache, Headache
5. Facial pain
Teeth Grinding Causes
1. Stress is the most common cause of teeth grinding. Patients who have stress induced
teeth grinding may benefit from biofeedback, yoga, anxiety medication, or other
methods of stress relief. Other teeth grinding causes may include:
2. Malocclusion (improper alignment of teeth)
3. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
4. Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease
5. Anxiety, anger, or tension
Treatment For Teeth Grinding
1. One of the first steps in teeth grinding treatment is to stop the patient from
grinding or clenching the teeth. In most cases, a mouth guard or night guard is
used to stop teeth grinding. Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard is a customized, removable
appliances made to fit over your teeth and prevent teeth grinding. Mouth guards
are typically worn at night, though some patients do benefit from wearing mouth
guards during the day particularly in high stress situations such as while driving.
2. The next step is to correct the source of the problem, be it malocclusion, environmental
factors, or TMJ disorder. Chronic teeth grinding often leaves teeth worn, chipped
or broken. Once the harmony is restored to the bite and teeth grinding is prevented
with a mouthguard, the next focus is on repairing damage caused by teeth grinding..
Rubber dam is a thin sheet of latex or nitrile , used in dentistry to isolate the
operative site(one or more teeth) from the rest of the mouth. It can be used at
the time of root canal or filling of teeth. With use of rubber dam complete isolation
of the teeth from saliva, blood or gingival fluid exudate is possible. It also prevents
rest of the mouth from source of infection, as in root canal treatment. And protects
the tooth to be treated from, bacteria of saliva.
Rubber dam protects patients from swallowing or inhaling instruments.
First 24 hours after the dental procedure, soft and cold room temperature(semi-solid)
food/liquids are to be consumed.
No spitting/gargling is to be done for first 24 hours
Brushing is to be avoided on that part
Most importantly, ice application with a handkerchief is to be done on the side
of the face(from outside)where tooth has been removed. This will reduce the postoperative
pain and swelling
Mild swelling/pain for 2-3 days may happen but is taken care of with the medicines
One may resume normal food/other activities from the 3rd day in most of the situations
Prevention & Early intervention is the best way for the painless dentistry.
Invasive dental procedures can also be painless by using latest instruments and technology
like:
LA gel / Spray
Thin needle
Conscious Sedations
Dental caries is an irreversible progressive microbial disease of multifactorial
origin, that causes demineralization of calcified tissues of the teeth and destruction
of organic structure of tooth.
Your tooth is so strong that it needs a diamond drill to pierce it. At the same
time it can be destroyed by chocolates.
Yes, the sugar present in your food can react with bacteria present in plaque which
in turn produce acid. This acid if remain in contact of tooth surface for longer
time, will cause demineralization resulting in cavities formation.
Dental caries have several types, depending upon how extensive they are or which
surface they involve.
A filling is enough if the caries are limited to enamel or dentin. If they extend
in pulp, you will need a root canal treatment.
You might need a root canal treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:
Dental pain in the tooth, radiating to ear, head and jaw Prolonged sensitivity &
pain to hot or cold liquids Inability to eat on the affected side.
Blackish brown discoloration of the tooth & fracture of a part of tooth
Food lodgement with or without pain(absence of pain may be because tooth is dead)
Sometimes when tooth pulp is exposed due to trauma resulting in partial fracture
of tooth , you may need RCT
A crown covers the entire tooth. More of the tooth, not just the weak portion is
removed in order to fit the crown. This puts the tooth at a higher risk for future
root canal work/fracture
An onlay requires only the removal of the weak areas of the tooth.
The onlay is then bonded to the healthy tooth.This leaves a larger and healthier
tooth structure intact.
Dental fluorosis (also termed mottled enamel) is an extremely common disorder, characterized
by hypomineralization of tooth enamel caused by ingestion of excessive fluoride
during enamel formation.
Care for your baby teeth Starts from prenatal Counseling that includes healthy diet
Oral Health Counseling at birth is best way to prevent Nursing bottle caries
As soon as the first tooth erupts the care starts.
Preventive Dental Treatments start from 3 years, which includes topical fluoride
application and use of pit and fissure sealants.
Corrective measures need to be taken as soon as needed.
Top tips for keeping baby teeth healthy
Assist most children can't clean their teeth adequately until they can write!
Don't use adult toothpaste before the age of six.
Brush teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bed time.
A unique pattern of dental decay in young children due to prolonged and improper
nursing/feeding habit. when babies have tendency to sleep with milk bottle in mouth,
which allows fluid to accumulate in mouth for a longer period of time.
All the maxillary teeth are involved rapidly, mandibulr anterior teeth are usually
spared because of protection by tongue and cleansing action of saliva due to presence
of the orifice of the duct of sublingual glands very close to lower incisors.
The child who has nursing caries has an increased risk of developing caries even
in permanent dentition.
Yes!
Use of fluoridared tooth paste, fluoridated water have dental caries protecting
effect.
Better home care and effective plaque control by proper brushing, improved nutrition,
decrease in amount and frequency of sugar, avoiding sticky and refined food can
help prevent caries.
Routine dental check up, timely professional care and early intervention, preventive
measures like, fluoride varnish, pit and fissure sealants can help.
Pit and fissure sealants are a way to prevent caries and protect the tooth.It is
a thin plastic coating placed in the pit and fissure of the teeth to act as barrier
to decay. These are applied in posterior teeth, particularly molars with deep fissures
or grooves that are very difficult to clean. These sites are most susceptible to
developing decay.
Sealants can prevent pit and fissure caries initiation. They can also arrest caries
progression by providing a physical barrier that inhibits micro-organisms and food
particles from collecting in pits and fissures.
If not taken care of , it can affect the permanent teeth as well.
Studies reveal that dental caries are very common and most common cause of nutritional
deficiency, and decreased chewing efficiency in children.
Following treatment of affected decayed teeth there is more rapid weight gain and
increased growth velocity
It also affects psychological and social confidence in children
Besides natural teeth act as natural space maintainers and help keep space for permanent
which prevents malalignment
Healthy teeth develop good speech.
When it comes to the health of your teeth, you really are what you eat. The foods
you choose and how often you eat them can affect your general health and the health
of your teeth and gums.
X-rays are indispensable in diagnosis of dental diseases. Any changes in structure
of tooth or bone can be seen with help of X-rays. Following conditions need X-rays
Diagnosis of dental caries
Diagnosis of fractured tooth
To know the exact position and root morphology of wisdom tooth in jaw
Distance of nerve or vital structures from tooth
To see any pathology beneath the root of tooth(periapically)
To notice the effects of treatment periodically
For diagnosis of cyst/tumors, extent of bone resorption
For orthodontic treatment
Before placement of implant
Diagnosis of gum diseases/ pyrrhoea
To see the arrangement of permanent and deciducous teeth
Dental diseases are commonly seen and if not treated they do not resolve themselves
and tend to progress.
Regular check up can lead to early diagnosis of any disease and help stop its progression
to a more severe stage.
It can lead to diagnosis of diseases like oral cancer or certain jaw cysts which
can otherwise be ignored by patient .
A timely diagnosis and treatment stops progression of dental caries, prevents further
bone loss in pyorrhoea hence increase the life of teeth
Early and less complicated treatment with better prognosis/outcome.
It all depends on individual case factors. For a given situation, where healthy
natural teeth are present on both sides of a missing tooth a fixed one is a better
choice to make, as it does not have to be removed on a daily basis and it is of
the same size as previous natural tooth being replaced.
However when fixed teeth are not possible removable dentures can be the option.
Yes!
A loose denture with poor gum support can be fixed firmly with the gums by the help
of anchorage from dental implants.
The chewing efficiency has been documented with scientific research to be way better
than conventional simple denture.
The permanent cap/crown is fixed on to the tooth with a permanent adhesive cement
of the highest standards.
It does not come out while eating or chewing food in most cases. however, one must
avoid highly sticky food like an eclairs chocolate or caramel containing chocolates.
How to wear dentures:
Wet your dentures with water. While wearing, wear lower denture first, while removing
take the upper denture out first
How to use your dentures:
Initially, wear your dentures whole day and remove while sleeping Try and practice
to speak with your dentures
How to eat with your new dentures:
Initially take soft nonsticky diet. Make small bolus of food and put on both sides
to chew Don’t try to bite or chew anything from anterior teeth
How to clean your dentures
Clean your dentures regularly with soft brush and nonabrasive tooth paste Clean
and rinse regularly.
Use denture cleansing tablets twice a week.
Keep a cloth or water filled vessel beneath, while cleaning to prevent breakage
if they fall.
While not in use, keep your denture in a clean vessel filled with water
Important Instructions
If you notice ulcers or any other discomfort while wearing denture,stop using it
and contact your doctor
Don’t wear your dentures at night to provide proper blood circulation and relief
to gums
Initially you can feel increased salivation,gagging,difficulty in sppech while wearing
denture, but with practice it will resolve
Keep your hand over mouth while opening wide or sneezing
Frequently there is not enough space for normal eruption for the as by the time
they come, other teeth would have occupied the space in the dental arch.
They are not easily cleansable because of there remote location and hence lead to
frequent food lodgement ,follwed by decay/infection/dental pain in them.
Frequently there is not enough space for normal eruption for the as by the time
they come, other teeth would have occupied the space in the dental arch.
They are not easily cleansable because of there remote location and hence lead to
frequent food lodgement ,follwed by decay/infection/dental pain in them.
If you notice symptoms such as:
1. Pain/difficulty on swallowing
2. A lump or growth in mouth
3. Inability/difficulty to move tongue or jaw
4. An ulcer that does not heal
5. Altered voice, hoarseness
6. Numbness
7. Red/white plaques or patches on the gums, tongue,tonsil or lining of mouth
8. Loss of taste, Swollen lymph nodes
9. Whenever in doubt, remember an early diagnosis is life saving!
Anyone can get oral cancer, however some factors may increase your liklihood of
developing the disease.
It is more common in elderly
If you have been using or have used tobacco products in past in any form like chewing
or smoking
Heavy alcohol consumption
Betel quid, gutkha chewing
You have any potentially malignant disorder : erythroplakia, leukoplakia,oral submucous
fibrosis,lichen planus
You have a history of cancer in your family
Certain other factors have also been a point of concern regarding oral cancer risk
: long term irritation from poorly fitting dentures, chronic trauma from a sharp
tooth
Certainly Yes! Areca nut in any form is harmful. Be it only eating supari or eating
the combined forms such as Paan (betel quid), Gutkha (sweetened mixture of areca
nut, tobacco) and Mainpuri tobacco.
It is now included under cancer causing substance.
People wearing dentures often complain of the dentures being loose while eating
or speaking and this can lead to embarrassing situations.
With use of a few implants your dentures can be secured so that such a situation
can be prevented.
Placement is a painless procedure as your dentist gives you a local anesthetic.
Healing after surgery is usually also painless and uneventful.
You can resume regular work immediately, just follow the instructions provided by
your dentist.
The first implant was placed more than 50years ago and has worked till now. There
is no reason that the implant shouldn’t last you a lifetime as long as you maintain
them daily and have them checked periodically.
Just as in healthy teeth, implants will stay healthy in a healthy mouth.
A space maintainer is an appliance that is custom made by a dentist or orthodontist
in acrylic or metal. It can be either removable or cemented in a child’s mouth.
Its purpose is to keep the space open to allow the permanent tooth to erupt and
come into place.
Teeth jewellery is a brilliant way to add sparkles to your smile and stand out of
the crowd.
During a painless procedure, a dentist fixes a jewel on the tooth surface with cement.
The jewel does not damage tooth tissues and has no side effects – except for the
increased charm of your smile!
It creates a harmless, non invasive and reversible body fashion. Diamonds are small,
flat and barely felt. There will be no inconvenience when eating or having teeth
professionally cleaned .These are available in various colours and shapes