September 2012 - The Dental Place

September 25, 2012

Wisdom teeth may no longer serve any useful purpose in the mouth, but they nonetheless form part of our biological makeup, and almost everyone will experience the ingress of wisdom teeth.

The third molar is the largest of all teeth in the mouth, and while useful to our ancestors, the evolution of humans has resulted in smaller jaws and jawbones, and as such our jaws are often too small to accommodate the wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth can cause a host of issues within the oral cavity when they fail to properly emerge into a patient’s mouth, and many people will suffer from an impacted wisdom tooth. For some, impacted wisdom teeth cause no real issues, but for others, they can lead to intense pain, infection and more.

Some wisdom teeth become trapped in the gum tissue, usually because another tooth is preventing the wisdom tooth from properly emerging. Occasionally, part of the wisdom tooth will protrude through the gum tissue, creating pockets where bacteria can collect. Over time the bacteria can decay and erode into the tooth, downwards into the jaw bone, creating abscesses and tumours, and causing discomfort due to infection.

These bacteria can also begin to spread and affect the jaw bone tissue, leading to the weakening and loss of otherwise healthy teeth.

Wisdom teeth can cause a host of issues within the oral cavity when they fail to properly emerge into a patient’s mouth, and many people will suffer from an impacted wisdom tooth.

Wisdom teeth that do make it through the gum tissue can crowd and impact on other teeth, exerting pressure that may cause damage to other teeth, making them more susceptible to decay.

For most people, wisdom teeth begin to grow in their late-teens, and most dentists will recommend that they be removed by their mid-20s. Although some people will experience no problems as a result of impacted wisdom teeth, those who do but do not seek treatment could be creating complications in treatment should they require to be removed at a later stage.

Regular dental x-rays in a person’s teens can provide a dentist with a pretty accurate picture of the chances of impacted wisdom teeth developing, and the likelihood of requiring extraction. The procedure for extraction of wisdom teeth is relatively straightforward and usually performed under local anaesthetic.

If you are considering having your wisdom teeth removed in the Arlington TX area, contact The Dental Place to schedule an informative consultation.

September 15, 2012

Did you know that having lost or missing teeth for a prolonged spell is not only detrimental to your smile, but can also have an adverse effect on your physical and emotional wellbeing? You may not think it, but your teeth work collectively as a unit to efficiently help with biting, chewing and swallowing food; and to help with speech.

But, when a tooth is lost, the efficiency of the remaining teeth becomes compromised. Implant dentistry can, however, restore lost efficiency through dental implant treatment.

Regardless of the reason for the loss, when a tooth is missing, it compromises the strength of the remaining teeth in that they begin to shift position. This shifting of teeth is called malocclusion and can lead to bite realignment, and further tooth loss as teeth become loose due to a lack of support from neighbouring teeth. This in turn has the potential effect to alter dietary intake and render some foods off the menu as a result.

In addition to teeth shifting, tooth loss results in additional pressure being applied to the jaw joint in order to compensate for the loss of the teeth. This additional pressure can lead to temporomandibular disorder, which is a debilitating condition affecting the jawbone and the pain suffered can spread to other parts of the body.

Tooth loss can also have emotional effects, altering a person’s confidence in their own smile and can lead to depression, as smiling and laughing, and even speech can become an issue.

An implant dentist can address all these issues through the use of dental implants. These implants can replace the lost tooth, helping to restore function and confidence, and avoid the numerous issues that accompany a lost tooth, such as loss of jawbone mass and gum tissue, and the associated potential health issues a prolonged missing tooth can cause.

Teeth play a major role in a person’s ability to communicate through smiling and speech, and also the body’s ability to ingest and digest food, and to maintain bone mass and facial structure. We might take them for granted, but having a healthy and complete set of teeth can have a profound positive effect on our physical and mental wellbeing, and cannot be underestimated.

For more information about dental implants, contact The Dental Place in Grand Prairie TX at 972-264-5795 to schedule your professional consultation.

September 4, 2012

Dentures are a cost-effective and popular solution to the problem of missing teeth. Dentures help to stabilize surrounding teeth, provide support to the bite and help retain confidence in a person’s smile.

Dentures, like your other teeth, require regular care in order to keep them in good condition, and your dentist can help in this regard, providing advice on how to care for your dentures. A good level of care helps to maintain healthy teeth and mouth, as well as prolonging the longevity of the prosthetic.

The first thing to remember about caring for your dentures is not to handle them needlessly; and on those occasions when you do have to handle them, such as removing them or putting them in, care should be taken not to drop them. Wherever possible, stand over a sink or other receptacle with a folded towel or other cushioning item, or even a sink full of water when placing or removing dentures. Should you then drop your dentures, at least there is an impact cushion that should help limit or negate any impact damage that might occur.

Dentures, like your other teeth, require regular care in order to keep them in good condition, and your dentist can help in this regard, providing advice on how to care for your dentures.

Like natural teeth, dentures attract plaque and so must be cleaned and brushed regularly in order to remove food debris and other matter that might coat the dentures or the denture plate. This can also help prevent staining of the denture. Brush using a soft-bristled brush designed specifically for dentures, ensuring you clean all surfaces while taking care not to damage the denture attachments. If you can, rinse your dentures after every meal.

When not being worn, place dentures in a solution to soak. This gives your mouth an opportunity to rest, while the cleansing action of the solution helps to remove any plaque or food debris from the dentures. Before replacing your dentures, brush and clean your mouth and tongue to remove bacteria.

Soaking dentures also helps dentures to remain pliable and so preserve their shape. Dentures that become warped may not offer a comfortable fit, or may feel loose when worn. Repairs to dentures should not be attempted; instead, speak to a dentist who will handle the required repairs, or if needed, take the necessary steps to replace dentures.

For more tips on how to care for you dentures, contact our knowledgeable and professional dental team serving Arlington TX today.