dentist

Treating Prognathism 

Richard CardenasLeave a comment

If you’ve ever seen your kid’s jaw look unaligned, it might be due to the upper or lower parts of the jaw protruding out. This is called prognathism. This is called a sort of overdevelopment of one of the jaw parts, so they’re mismatched, unable to fit correctly. 

This can be a bit frustrating to tell a kid, since they might not understand why their jawbone is so misaligned. But once you have a unique conversation with them, along with a dentist, they’ll be able to get the help that they need to treat prognathism, and the ideal treatment plan for this.

Some may call this an overjet, or an overbite.   If the lower parts of the drawer are producing, this is called underbite. For the most part, it isn’t just the dentist they’re working with, but also the orthodontist, and also maxillofacial surgeons to manage, and fix the issues at hand.

Causes for Prognathism 

While it may just be a genetic reason, it could also be due to various things. Overdevelopment is usually a genetic defect, and a rare condition that underlies all of this. 

One of them is Crouzon syndrome, where the bones within the skull permanently fuse, so it affects the structure of the face.

There’s also nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, which is a genetic defect that does affect the skin, bones, and your overall nervous system.

Gigantism is another reason, where the child may grow too much, especially height, and that’s due to the imbalance of hormones.

The other one is acromegaly, which is an excessive growth period, but this won’t likely occur until a child reaches adulthood.

When you should see a Professional 

Prognathism isn’t always a problem, but there’s definitely some cosmetic problems that come with the extended jaw that may impact the face shape during birth.

But, if the over or underbite is affecting their jaw shape, and causes problems with biting, chewing, or even talking, then you’ll definitely want to see a pro. The same goes for when a child or adult can’t do normal activities, as this won’t naturally go away unless you do something about it.

Treatments 

Treating this problem involves working directly with the orthodontist, a dentist, and also oral surgeons. 

The dental team might also involve a doctor if the problems of the jaw are related to gigantism and Crouzon syndrome. 

According to the American association of orthodontists, having children seeing orthodontists sooner, rather than down the line, may impact the course of treatment for jaw alignment that’s not normal. 

They do want their child to see an orthodontist as early as seven if they have this condition, as this will be enough time for the professional to look at this.

Before you start any prognathism forms of treatment, the dental team will work with you and the child, in order to ensure that everyone’s on the correct page. 

Communication of this is vital to successful outcomes, since the child will have a tailored course based on their needs. So don’t be shy when working with them and asking questions. a child’s health, especially with this condition is top priority. 

Once they figure out the metal history and all of the nitty gritty, they’ll then look at x-rays and bite imprints.   They then will recommend either orthodontic treatment, or a mouth guard. 

In rare instances, they may recommend orthognathic surgery, where they move the jaws into alignment. But this isn’t usually done until the growth of the jaw stops.   They may use braces before surgery, and then after that in order to ensure that the ideal alignment is it. 

Pre-Implantitis and the Protection of implants 

Richard CardenasLeave a comment

Dental implants are wildly successful, with a rate of up to 95%.   There are many replacement options for missing teeth, but this takes the cake. However, just like your own natural teeth, you do need to care for implants so that they last. 

Peri plantains is an infection of the areas around an implant, and they can develop when you’re not careful with the implants and give them what they desire. 

First, what’s a dental Implant 

Dental implants are made to replace your teeth.

There are multiple parts, which include an artificial root made of titanium, and a crown that sits atop this. 

They’ve become a very popular dental prosthetic option, with multiple advantages. 

They include: 

  • Offering you a chance to have a functional bite and an option to chew. 
  • They don’t come loose or slip, unlike of course, dentures. 
  • They look like natural teeth while not developing the activities that are there 

But dental implants are not immune to the buildup of plaque. 

In fact, the accumulation of plaque at the base of your implant is what causes peri-implantitits.   According to the American academy of periodontology, this s a gum infection that happens around your implant, and deteriorates the ties used, along with the bone that surrounds this implant. 

So how common is this? well, about 40% of the implants that are over five years old are susceptible to this. 

When you don’t treat this, it does lead to implant loss, which you have to be careful with. 

Caring for your implant 

The benefits of implants are that they last a few years, and they can save you the expense and disruption of some of the conditions that may happen. 

Now to prevent the inflammation of the area around your implant, you just have to have a good hygiene routine. 

This includes: 

  • Brushing and flossing twice daily. 
  • Depending on where the implant is and the number you have, use interdental brushes or water flossers to help with this 
  • Talk to the dentist and routinely check for healthy gums and bones 
  • Stop smoking. If you do smoke, this increase the chance of implant failure 

If you have diabetes or gum disease, there is a stronger chance of peri-implantitits developing, so talk to your dentist about further steps to take 

You can also prevent further decay on your natural teeth if you do prevent this on the implants. 

Symptoms and Treatment 

Now, if you’re worried you might’ve developed this, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

  • The gums will be tender and inflamed. 
  • They might bleed when you brush 

If you’re worried, you should talk to your dentist to figure out the concerns, and to report all changes during dental visits. If you do develop these symptoms, don’t hesitate to tell your dentist in order to resolve the infection and avoid the instances of implant failure. The treatments of this do vary based on what’s being treated, the implant type, the severity of this, and other small notes. Every treatment has benefits and drawbacks, so find out from our dentist what is right for you. 

Some are more effective when they work well with other treatment options for you too. Some treatments have some good benefits too, and they do work well. 

Antibiotics are the first option, as this can help right around the implant. 

Sometimes, you might need to use mechanical removal. There is also laser therapy for destroying the bacteria at the source. 

Finally of course, there are surgeries that are used as a last resort. 

The role of Abutments in Dental Implants 

Richard CardenasLeave a comment

When we think about implants, we rarely focus on the nitty gritty. That is, until you’re the one who needs the implant.  Suddenly, you start to look at this and wonder just what abutments are, and why they’re going to be in your mouth. 

If you’re going to replace your teeth, you may wonder what some of the important parts of it are, which we’ll go over here. 

What Abutments are 

Abutments are a connector made of metal, and for dental procedures, they’re put into implants after it’s been healed.  The abutment basically screws directly into the implant, and is the middleman between the implant itself, and the crown, or fake tooth, that’ll be there. 

For those with dental bridges, the crowns are put on two of these abutments, and then are connected to these other teeth that are replaced called pontics, that will sit over the gums. 

Abutments are usually created in labs, made of gold, titanium, zirconia, stainless steel, or even polyester ether ketone.  Placing the abutment is a small procedure, and usually, they’re done with only local anesthesia for pain. 

What are implants 

Well implants are basically metal fixtures that work like tooth roots, and they’re put into the gums and jawbone.  Essentially, they get anchored to your bone through the process of osseointegration where ethe bone gets directly fused to your metal. 

It offers stability to both the abutment and crown, which is on the same level as actual teeth.  It can take up to 12 weeks for these to heal once you get implants. 

If you have a dentist that says that the jawbone isn’t strong or thick enough for support of this implant, then a bone graft might be recommended. In this, oral surgeons take bones from another part of the body or will use synthetic bone in order to attach this directly to the jawbone.  This offers a sturdy support for these replacements until the bone is able to heal tightly around this implant. 

Regardless of Type, you need good Hygiene 

One thing that’s important is regardless of the implant, or a crown or even a bridge, you have to practice good oral hygiene. 

The implants work in the same manner as your regular teeth do, where you’ve got to brush this twice daily, along the gums and then sweep towards where both biting parts of the teeth are. 

Cleaning between the teeth with water flossing or interdental brushes at least daily is important, and you should have tongue scrapers or antimicrobial mouth rinses. 

When you do this, always check with a dentist for a regular appointment, not just for keeping the teeth perfectly right and to get rid of bacteria, but also for the implant’s health.  You should take some x-rays in order to check the bone area around the implant.  You should also look at the gum tissue that’s near this area, ensuring that it’s free from the inflammation which may be there. 

Now that you know a little bit about implants and abutments, you’re in for a treat, and you’ll be able to have good, informed conversations with dentists. Good luck with this, and make sure that if you have replacement teeth, always take care of them like you would with regular teeth, so that they work just like the real thing. With the right care, these replacements can last the rest of your life, which is definitely something to smile about. 

Protect your teeth, and protect them all, so that you can have the best oral health that you can, in the best ways possible. 

What Dental Bonding is 

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Accidents happen, and there are tons of ways a tooth may get chipped, and a few ways to repair it. One of them is tooth bonding, or enamel bonding. It’s cost-effective, and good for minor problems that happen with broken teeth.If you have cracked, chipped, decayed, or problems with teeth coloring, bonding might be the best way to get your confidence, and a winning smile back.

What it’s used for 

Bonding is where you get some composite resin on the tooth’s surface to fix it. It’s simple, not expensive, and a cosmetic procedure that’s done in one visit. With lots of dental issues that bonding can fix, it’s good for discolored or chipped teeth.

It also may choose to close the larger spaces between one’s teeth, changing the shape and making them look longer. They are also used in metallic or amalgam fillings to protect the exposed rooted part with gums that are receded. 

How it’s Done

Luckily, bonding is a very simple procedure that requires just one appointment. 

A composite resin made from plastic is placed on the tooth. It’s perfect to mold there, so if you’ve got a newer tooth, it will fit with the smile. 

Here’s the steps that go with the dental bonding procedure. 

  1. First the dentist will clean the tooth in order to create the best bonding surface possible. 
  2. They apply the resin and then shape that bonding material. 
  3. The bonding is then dried with UV light, and shaping takes place 
  4. It’s polished for a natural look, and then they floss it to make sure that it’s smooth. 
  5. It usually takes thirty minutes to an hour to fix this. but if there’s multiple teeth, it takes multiple visits. Most tooth bonding doesn’t require any anesthesia, so you’ll return to daily activities right after the appointment. 

Risks to Bonding  

There are a few risks to this. The main downside is that it will never be as strong naturally as natural teeth, so there is a chance that these can break off, or chip completely. If you’re going in for tooth bonding procedures, it may be time to kick those habits, including biting fingernails, chewing on pen caps, and ice, as they will impact the resin.

Care for bonded Teeth 

How long your bonding lasts depends on what you need done, and habits orally, so it’s vital to give the teeth that are bonded with as much care and attention as the natural teeth might.

Bonding material is very prone to staining, so make sure that you watch how much you consume coffee, tea, wine, and cigarettes. 

Avoid these foods for up to 48 hours after any procedure. If you do have some sharp edges on the teeth, or they feel weird when you bite down. if they fall off or completely chip, contact the dentist immediately. 

How long they last can be anywhere from three to ten years before needing to be repaired or replaced. If you brush your teeth twice daily and interdental flossing, it does extend that dental bonding effectiveness.

These regular visits also keep the mouth healthy, ensuring that the dental bonding is functional. 

Try to avoid eating hard, chewy candies, and don’t pick at the bonding.   When playing sports, protect your teeth with a mouth guard. If you do grind your teeth at night, try to prevent the grinding and damage with a night guard. 

Tooth bonding is pretty affordable, and usually only requires a single appointment. It’s pretty cheap and is usually under a grand. It’s great to get the confidence that you need.