Management of Bleeding gums

 https://youtu.be/hQ-ChVpwUN8

 

Why Dental Diagnosis are sometimes In-Exact.

              Even after after taking x-rays and performing a thorough clinical examination of a patient in pain, it is not always possible to make a definitive diagnosis in just one visit. Sometimes there are multiple possible causes for a patients discomfort. Often a patient having pain originating from one quadrant has multiple restorations and more than one can be  experiencing pain.

             Just last week a patient came in after a trip to Chennai complaining of pain. She hadn't slept all night. My clinical examination showed that the pain was coming mostly the area around lower back tooth , which had previously had a root canal, post and crown. The mesial papilla of the tooth  was swollen and painful. It had a pocket of 5-7 mm, and No drainage.  Clearly her pain could be due to a failing root canal or a fracture of one of her roots or also because of side teeth fillings. The x-rays taken were non conclusive.
                     To make the diagnosis more complicated the Patient had a bad cold and throat infection and fever. So the pain could have been worsened by Sinusitis or general malaise of the patient, which would definitely get better within 2-3 days with medication.

             I placed the patient on Antibiotics and it was decided that the best course of treatment was to do nothing more for the present but to speak with her in the following week to see if she was experiencing any improvement. If there was no improvement he could then check her again to see whether there was an actual tooth problem that required treatment.

                  Although patients in pain often want immediate relief, sometimes the best way to handle  a problem is to do nothing. This is especially true when the dentist is not sure what is causing the problem and there is a possibility that the symptoms will go away if the patient is given enough time. If the problem persists for more than a week or two , the patient should come back to the dentist in order to have him better diagnose the cause of the symptoms and often the source of the problem may become more apparent if given additional time.

What are the best ways to maintain a healthy mouth?

This article attempts to explain some of the habits that people can develop that will help insure the ongoing health of their mouths. I will list my top ten list. Most of the these are no brainers, but still i see people not following them but here goes.
1.Take responsibility for your mouth!
2.Brush and floss your teeth on a daily basis
3.Schedule regular checkups and cleanings at the dentist
4.  Ask the hygienist or dentist to check your brushing and flossing technique
5.Do not chew on bones and ice cubes 
6.Wearing a night guard is usually recommended for patients.
7. Refrain from excessive drinking of carbonated sodas
8.Diet plays a large role in keeping our teeth healthy.
9.Do not wait until you have pain to visit your dentist
10.Find a good dentist (meee) and try to stick with them

Clearly there are many additional habits that play a role, including ., not smoking, and controlling acid reflux, I invite readers to add to this list with their own suggestions in the comment section.

BAD TEETH RUNS IN FAMILY

            Patients commonly explain that 'Bad teeth run in the family" and also they say that Since childhood their teeth condition has been very bad…  The implied message is that they themselves are not to blame for the state of their mouths.

To be very blunt, "bad teeth" are almost always a result of bad habits..

              My grandmother & grandfather wore two full dentures by the time they were middle aged… Although I do not know for sure, I believe the choices they made and maybe their lack of a good dental IQ are the reasons for their extensive tooth loss… And my parents do have some problems, but now since they have been under my strict care, things are better..

                 Although I am far from perfect, I do not smoke; I brush regularly with a tooth brush, floss and get regular cleanings. These habits are most likely responsible for overcoming any 'genetic predisposition' that might lead to tooth loss.

              While genetics obviously plays a role in determining the likelihood of developing all sorts of health problems, so do a person's habitual patterns of behaviour.

                 While "crooked" or misaligned teeth are most often genetically influenced, the actual health of the teeth and gums is more affected by how we take care of them, than any other factor.  Brushing at least twice per day, flossing regularly, not using tobacco products, and limiting sugar intake are key elements in oral health.  It is also generally accepted that seeing your dental professional at least twice per year for examination and cleaning is necessary to prevent dental health issues.  This routine will also allow your dentist to "catch" problems when they are small, easier to treat, and less costly in the long run.

Remember a Stitch in time saves Nine…. 

Some Common Queries

I have decided to post some of the common queries which are regularly asked by the patients and also they get confusing answers while they keep asking the general population...

So lets get started.

What does it mean when someone says "I never have any cavities"? 

                    As a practicing dentist I sometimes encounter new patients, who have loved their previous dentist and are especially proud of how their teeth 'never need work'. 

                   I often hear this remark with a sense of dread; Although it can mean they have great teeth, it sometimes can be a tip off that their prior dentist was not detecting some dental problems. In such a situation, It can be awkward telling them the bad news, and I am always concerned that my potential new patient will not believe me If it turns out that they do have a number of dental problems.

                   After all they trusted and loved their old dentist and I am the 'new dentist in the area'. Often patients do not want to believe bad news and seek a second and third opinion ( often from their friends and family) before having a unwanted dental procedure.

Should Wisdom tooth ever get a Root Canal Done.?

                  The answer is sometimes. If a wisdom tooth has a deep cavity and has a pulpal exposure it can be a good candidate for endodontic therapy if it has erupted in a cleanable position and is in good function. Like other posterior teeth, after having a root canal wisdom teeth should be crowned. In my practice I recommend full metal crowns for wisdom teeth(and second molars), since the chewing pressure they can experience can make porcelain breakage more likely when porcelain fused to metal is used.

                If the wisdom tooth is not fully erupted or difficult for the patient to clean, then root canal is not the best option for dealing with a compromised pulp. Instead extraction is the best option. In this event, often the opposing wisdom tooth is extracted as well, since without an opposing tooth present, it may extrude over time.

Hope these are helpful for you... any more queries or any comments on these are surely welcomed...

Every day i shall be trying to post some query or other.. so Follow this blog regularly and follow the good dental habits too... 

3 Common Causes of Teeth Grinding

When someone is suffering from teeth grinding they clench their teeth unconsciously, especially while sleeping. This disease or habit is both noticeable in children as well as in adults. The latter group is given more attention than the former because it is believed that children have milk (i.e temporary) teeth. It is adults that are usually the group that is the major concern of the dentists and other professionals that have to do with this type of teeth issues because their teeth are permanent. If care is not taken a sufferer can grind away the outer covering of the teeth almost completely. This result, I want to believe you will agree with me, is not good in health and socially for the affected person.

1. Stress

Stress is a cause of 'Bruxism' (teeth grinding) that is regarded as one of the most common causes. Most doctors are of the belief that stress is a primary cause of this teeth problem especially during sleep. Stress is most likely to disrupt a persons sleep cycle. When this disruption of ones sleeping cycle occur the affected person might end up clenching their teeth unconsciously and intermittently while sleeping. Because this explanation is the most common research is being carried out extensively on this area to find out more facts

2. Aggressive Personality

This cause is related to frustration and suppressed anger which represents another cause of this disease or habit. This has a cause that involves enormous emotions in the form of expressed anger. The person concerned here lets out his frustration and anger towards their intended subject. This person might unconsciously expressing teeth clenching in the process

3. Abnormal Teeth Alignment

When the lower and upper teeth are not properly in alignment with we have a situation called Malocclusion. This is a physical cause of teeth grinding.

The abnormal alignment of the teeth in this situation usually results in involuntary grinding of the teeth when they make contact. Though this is a realistic cause of this dental problem, or habit, clinical studies is yet to confirm it