Management of Bleeding gums

 https://youtu.be/hQ-ChVpwUN8

 

Dentistry after Covid 19

We all know Covid-19 is a 'Black Swan' Event in our lives.. 
Dentists and Dentistry is in a period of Flux.
Its a time to Reflect, Revive and Restart.

                We being Healthcare providers are at the fore front of this and also at maximum risk to the infection.  Because of this risk, we have had to shut down our practices for a great financial loss to ourselves. Health is definitely above wealth.

            Now that we are now thinking ahead and thinking of restarting our practices in a matter of weeks from now atleast for emergency cases and less aerosol practice, 
the focus has now shifted to how to open up and still feel safe of the infection in our practice.

The guidelines have been issued and are being modified by DCI, IDA, CDC and various other bodies on what to do and what not. 

The only thing left is for us to make a choice - 

- How we should implement it. 
- Is it possible for all practices to implement all the guidelines. 
- Do we have such big practices that we can put up a traige area, changing room and waiting area and what not.
- Also we have different types of clientele. Is it possible for every patient to bear the cost of the new guidelines and that too for every visit. 

Or will it lead to a permanent change on how dentistry is practised. 
Will we see more of group practices or will it pave a way for Dental Insurance to enter in a big way.. 

What all problems will it lead to? Will the virus make a comeback because the guidelines were not followed properly.? Will it lead to persecution of the patient or the practice if a positive case is found out?

Well I guess we will have to wait for all the answers.. 

But Be positive. Remember - Whatever happens, happens for Good. 

Dental Care in times of COVID-19

In these Hard times, when almost half of the world is Locked down in homes, one thing that normally misses our attention is the Dental Care or Oral Health Care. 

That can change quickly if you suddenly have a cavity or pain and you struggle to find a dentist whos working.

Generally speaking - All that is required is to brush twice a day and Floss once. 

Diet Matters

What you eat is Very Important.. 

Avoiding excessive snacking — a habit that’s all too easy to adopt when dealing with the stress and boredom inherent in self-quarantining.

Starchy foods or drinks lead to acid in our mouths, which dissolves tooth surfaces.

The more often our teeth are bathed in these acids, the weaker and softer they become.

Good hydration also is important for oral health, dentists agree.

        Resist turning to unhealthy habits to manage your stress. Overindulging in smoking and drinking can be detrimental to oral health. Smoking inhibits the blood supply to your gums and increases your risk for gum infections. High exposure to alcohol can dry out the cells in your cheeks and gums. Chewing on ice, pen caps, or fingernails as a means of stress management can cause the teeth to chip or break.

Keep your toothbrush clean

If you suspect that COVID-19 is present in your home, disinfect your toothbrush.

Every time we flush the toilet, we generate an aerosol spray.  Most people leave their brushes and other toiletries merely inches away from commodes. Try to flush with the lid closed. Keep your floss pics, brushes, and tongue cleaners covered. Soaking them in a mixture of mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide also keeps them safe.

Dental care emergencies only

As COVID-19 spreads, the Indian Dental Association advised dental offices on March 16 to restrict their operations to emergency procedures only.

Dentists have been prohibited from providing nonemergency services, including aesthetic work, exams, cleanings, and fillings.

This accomplishes three very important things - It preserves the nationwide supply of personal protective equipment for our front-line heroes, prevents the spread of this virus through congregating in dental offices, and eliminates the need for dental emergency patients from flooding into emergency rooms that are better used fighting the virus.

Many dentists including us have turned to Online/Telephonic consultation to counsel patients by phone or video conferencing.

Dentists face one of the highest risks of contracting coronavirus, even greater than nurses or paramedics.  They literally work 6 inches away from our patients’ faces during dental procedures.

As a result, expect your dentist to take additional safety measures if you do have to make a visit for an emergency procedure — for your protection as well as the safety of the dentist and their staff.

Holi tips for healthy teeth

Teeth are often the silent sufferers during Holi, for variety of reasons -  

1. Children and youngsters are prone to falling with their face down while running with friends. Other than your face, your tooth often get the brunt of this fall. 

2. Binge eating is prevalent during Holi and this has implications for middle aged and elderly people, who have or prone to cavities. “Good brushing followed by flossing is often recommended

3. Most critical thing is safeguarding your teeth against chemical-laced colors. “Stained teeth can not only affect your looks but may also shatter your confidence. While best way is to avoid getting into a situation like this by being careful, if you do get it, we recommend bleaching, scaling and polishing,

When does a Tooth Need a Crown

               I got the idea for this post from teaching at the dental college. Different instructors seem to have different criteria for when its time to treatment plan a crown. I tend to crown teeth when there is sufficient tooth structure missing to put a tooth at greater risk for a future fracture. If such a tooth needs a replacement filling I usually recommend a crown instead, since this will tend to protect the tooth from the forces involved with chewing and protect the tooth from future harm. While replacing a large restoration with a new filling may be tempting, usually this is not optimal treatment. I believe that larger fillings fail more frequently than smaller fillings and when they do it places the tooth at an additional risk for the need of endodontic treatment or  tooth loss.

                  When treatment planning a tooth with a large failing restoration, I often find  that the tooth structure will not be sufficiently supported by another possibly larger new filling.When this is the case,  it's best to restore the tooth with a crown (or an onlay). I often explain this to my patient and add that when it's time to fix a restoration, it's best to fix it right and choose the best option available.

                  Patients sometimes counter that they cannot afford to  spend the money involved with having a crown made ( or would rather not). After hearing this I often point out that we can go ahead a place a large filling but if it may put the tooth at risk of developing a more significant problem. If their tooth later ends up needing a root canal or even needs to be extracted,  a significantly greater sum will be required.              I add this information because I need to confirm that my patient truly understands the reasons for my recommendation and that I have  informed consent to proceed with placement of a large filling. Often, after some back and forth conversation, my patient may change their mind and  have a crown made instead of a filling , but if  they don't, I can often place the large filling, with a clear conscience!

Honesty is the Best Policy

        I have found my ability and the need to relate honestly is both a virtue and a curse. People who know you well may tend to trust you more if you are known for your honesty, since what they see and hear is what they get.

         People who meet you for the first time, not so much. Often people meeting someone new tend to "judge a book by it's cover, even when the cover doesn't project what's really inside. Personally I prefer to be truthful in my interactions with others. I may sometimes not tell others my every thought ( a sin of omission) but I really try to be truthful in my communications. This has for the most part worked out well but not in every instance.

             My patients who know me well, tend to know that I give them my best and most honest advice. I don't always paint an overly optimistic picture, but they can rely on me to be truthful and they know if I recommend a procedure, I truly believe it is their best option.

                  Sometimes this trait doesn't sit well with new patients who sometimes are hoping for a particular treatment plan that can be accomplished fast and good, in the most economical manner. This can at times happen, but some patients have unrealistic expectations and I will not mislead them into starting treatment with me without a discussion of what is their best option. I may include a second and even third option, but if what they want is something I can't in good conscience offer, I won't do it. These patient's either adjust their expectations or go somewhere else.

                 Sometimes  they tell me how a previous dentist was able to accomplish some dental magic, but to my mind the way that that dentist handled their treatment is not how I want to approach their treatment. Personally I enjoy sleeping soundly at night and dislike treatments that seem to be temporary in nature and may lead to worse problems. After all teeth don't grow on trees and implants are expensive replacements.

Why do my teeth keep breaking?

Some of my patients do seem to break a number of their teeth. There are probably a number of factors in involved. 
        First lets look at back teeth that break or crack. Often the teeth that break have fillings that undermine the existing tooth structure. Even a small filling placed close to the edge ( the mesial or distal of the tooth) can make a crack more likely to develop. Many of these teeth really should  have onlays or crowns placed to protect them.

             Another factor is the occlusion and frequency of night time clenching and bruxism ( many people do this at times while sleeping). Patients that have worn their teeth flatter so that there posterior tooth surfaces meet quite broadly during excursions often apply more force to their posterior teeth. These are people who have "cow bites" (Dentists term). Often when I examine these peoples teeth they have multiple posterior broad wear facets from their forceful grinding and chewing.

                Destructive habits , such as chewing on ice cubes, bones and other hard substances can also cause teeth to break. I had one teenaged patient who had no fillings in her teeth but kept breaking her teeth. It turned out she had a habit of chewing on to a pen top (kids do the darnedest things!)

              I have also observed that older patients, whose pulps have receded (no pulps in their clinical crowns) seem to be more likely to experience tooth fracture. This is especially true if the have a deep overbite involving their anterior teeth.

                Some dentists advocate changing the occlusion of patients by extensive tooth equilibration or by reconstructive dentistry. My solution is simpler.  For  most of these situations is to recommend that my patients wear a nightguard while sleeping that will protect their teeth and help eliminate destructive tooth to tooth contacts at night. This seems to be the least invasive choice and to my mind it is a "DO NO HARM" solution to the problem.

Growing Need for Cosmetic Dentistry

                 With the constant growing phenomenon that includes social media, TV, magazines, evolution of technology, more patients think about their image. It results in an extreme desire to have great selfies and an overarching desire to look younger.

For Example when a picture is posted on any social Media, no one wants to look bad. If someone scrolls through their pictures and feels that they have some extra kilos to lose; the individual will feel more pressured and motivated to lose weight to show the world that they look better than before.

This is happening all around us and is being reinforced by the cultural and societal norms of the twenty-first century. Celebrities in magazines and on TV have the desired look of tall and slim, with beautiful features, including their teeth.

          Its said that 47% of the people notice the smile first in a photograph or while talking to a person.

When a photographer takes a photo and asks the subject to smile, people don’t want to be embarrassed or ashamed of their teeth. Nowadays, the average person is more likely to invest in teeth whiteners, as well as cosmetic dentistry for the constant search of perfection.

When someone trips and cracks a tooth, their first instinct is to go running to the dentist in order to fix the broken tooth. In addition, coffee addicts are buying teeth whiteners to remove the unwanted stains on their teeth.

Everyone wants to feel and look beautiful within the definition set by the world around them. Brushing and flossing is not satisfying anymore because individuals do not believe that it does a sufficient job cleaning their teeth. Patients want bright, white, and flawless teeth, and are willing to pay extra to get them.

          Each year, the cosmetic dental industry has an increase in patients and revenue, making it a great option for individuals who have an interest in joining the dental field.

The schooling that is necessary to become a cosmetic dentist may be long and difficult, but the success afterwards makes it worth the while. Cosmetic dentists help patients feel more confident about them, which is something each dentist should pride themselves on.

Do I really require twice a year cleanings?

            This is a question asked sometimes by "self paying " patients. They are worried bout the costs of two check ups and cleanings per year. Although no one "needs" two cleanings a year ( I mean, after all it's not a life or death decision), most dentists recommend this as our standard recall schedule.                     

                That's because we feel this schedule allows us and our patients a good chance of avoiding many dental problems and helps prevent bone loss that if left unchecked can cause their patients to lose teeth. With the cost of a single tooth implant somewhere between 20000 to 50000 , not going twice a year to your dentist might not save  money over the long haul ( Sometimes cheap is expensive and expensive is cheap?).

          Most people understand the importance of having oil changes at the frequency their car manufacturers recommend but sometimes this same logic isn't as convincing  where their teeth are concerned. It should be pointed out that taking care of ones teeth is probably more important than car maintenance. A  car can be replaced with a newer and better model, but really teeth really can not.                     Fortunately  missing teeth can be replaced with dentures, fixed bridges and implants, but these approximations  are not truly as versatile as ones own teeth .

                      Teeth that are well cared for both at home and by the dentist can last a lifetime! Why not "get with the program" and have twice a year cleanings? 

Why does my crown keep falling out?

Maybe it's not that into you.....? :)
              Being rejected by your crown hurts, especially when it was recently made and cost some serious money. Why does it happen? Usually either it has to do with the shape of the prepared tooth holding it or because the crown is ill fitting.

                For a crown to be retentive (resist the forces that may tend to remove it) the preparation has to be smooth and only SLIGHTLY tapered. It also has to be long enough to provide enough surface area to grab the cement. If the prepared tooth is too irregular, too short or too tapered, it may not have the proper shape to hold onto its crown.

                 Also, another possibility is that the crown can be cemented with a poor fit. In this case the crown does not hug the tooth well enough for the crown to stay put and since the crown is completely dependent on cement to stay. An analogy would be found in furniture making where most good furniture is made with dovetails, that increase the ability of the furniture to hold the wood together. Without dovetails, the pieces tend to work themselves loose more quickly. 
                 
                The same can be true with crowns, since their success is dependent on having a properly shaped tooth holding them and an intimate contact with it. The space between the crown and the tooth should be minimal (20-40 microns) in order for the cement achieve maximum holding power.

                   Most dentists faced with a permanent crown that comes out will first try to re-cement it. In my practice, I upgrade to a different permanent cement with more holding power. Unfortunately these cements do not always offer a long term solution and I am faced with the option of making the crown over.  When I do so I pay special attention to correcting any shortcomings in my tooth preparation and making sure that I take a perfect impression.

                  I should add a few  additional reasons that crowns can come loose. If the bite is high or just unfavorable, crowns can be more likely to come loose. Crowns do better when most of the occlusion is experienced along a  mostly vertical force vector and without much  of a horizontal component. Anterior teeth with deep over bites can experience a lot of horizontal forces on them and can sometimes be challenging to crown. Also some patients do have habits that are just not that friendly to crowns such as eating stale tootsie rolls or very hard and sticky candies. When chewed often these sweets tend to loosen even well fitting crowns


Dr. Pankaj Malhotra is a Periodontist & Implantologist in DELHI NCR region of INDIA, who maintains a practice in Noida. For more information about his Dental Practice please visit his website at www.dentalclinicnoida.in 

Do You Shop For your Dentist?

Almost every day my dental office gets a call from a potential patient shopping for a dentist. They ask for fees for certain procedures and often that is the end of the conversation. 

             I should note that my fees fall within the usual and customary range considered reasonable but for some persistent shoppers are too high. It seems that the internet has become the new Yellow Pages and potential patients are letting their fingers do the walking. It's not that hard calling a number of dentists and get a sense of the fees for the procedures that they will need. 

          Unfortunately, no information on the quality of the dental work can be gotten from these phone calls and shopping for dental work for some may be similar to shopping for furniture or other consumer goods. However teeth are not disposable and even implant replacements will not last forever.

         When I buy a piece of furniture, if I go to Ikea or any Local store, I expect to get a good price for what I buy, but I do not have the expectation that my purchases will last a lifetime or even ten years. It is asumed that there is a trade off involved with the inexpensive price paid but most of the time shoppers are  happy with their purchases . Many people like buying new furniture and actually like buying new pieces when they either tire of, or have to, replace them as they age.

            Teeth shouldn't be compared to furniture and restorations that are durable and preserve teeth for long periods of time are not always easily accomplished by dentists whose fees are the most reasonable. Although a higher price does not guarantee quality, it does tend to allow a dentist to to spend the time needed to create a thoughtful treatment plan and also the time to execute excellent restorative dentistry.
            I would like to quote a few examples here.. 

People dont mind paying 300 for Rs 30 popcorn in a theatre, but have reservations paying Rs. 300 consultation to a Dentist..

Also people dont mind paying 4000 bucks for a pair of jeans which shall last for 4-5 yrs and being worn for probably 100 times. While a crown of approximately the same value which you wear everyday and use it thrice daily lasts much longer than that..
             I guess the point of this post is to explain that price of services should not  be the primary method in choosing a dentist. Other attributes are quite important including but not limited to  recommendations from their patients, their skill level and their character.

Please contact me at www.facebook.com/dentistnoida
or https://plus.google.com/b/106703722934300581766