Category Archives: Teeth
Lips Speak Volumes
Your lips frame your teeth, drawing attention to, and even enhancing your smile. That may be why women who don’t usually wear makeup often wear lipstick. Men are also paying attention to their lips. In one study, 30% of men used lip moisturizers at least once daily.
Lip cosmetics may enhance the frame, but cosmetic dentistry can complete the picture. Non-surgical dental techniques like bonding and veneers can actually plump out tissues and reduce lines and fine wrinkles for women and men, adding the appearance of volume to lips. Teeth whitening can safely add sparkle and glamor to any smile.
So whatever your gender, consider enhancing your smile!
Oh Those Thumbs
Most dentists agree that thumb-sucking does not pose a serious problem for children until the arrival of permanent teeth. Still, the thumb-sucking habit concerns parents.
Dental problems occur when constant pressure is created by the thumb pressing against teeth. The pressure can distort tooth position and alter the shape of the hard palate. However, not all types of thumb-sucking lead to problems. For example, children who such their thumbs vigorously and for long periods are more likely to have problems than those who suck their thumbs placidly and rarely.
Thumb-sucking is a habit that is difficult for some children to break. Sometimes thumb-sucking in older children is a sign of an underlying problem such as disruption in the family or difficulties at school. In this case, parents should focus on the underlying problem rather than the thumb-sucking. Children should be praised for not sucking their thumbs. Parents should avoid negative comments such as “Get that thumb out of you mouth.”
Finally, let your dentist help you. Dentist will monitor any changes caused by thumb-sucking and will be able to suggest methods to help your child get past this prickly patch of life.
Wisdom Teeth Fast Facts
Wisdom teeth are third molars. Normally people have three permanent molars that develop in each quadrant of the mouth; upper, lower, right and left. The first molars usually grow into the mouth at around six years of age. The second molars grow in at around age 12. The third molars usually will try to grow in at around age 18 to 20 years. Since that is considered to be the age when people become wiser, third molars gained the nickname, “wisdom teeth.” Actually, they are no different than any other tooth except that they are the last teeth to erupt, or grow into the mouth. They are just as useful as any other teeth if they grow in properly, have a proper bite relationship, and have healthy gum tissue around them. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
What is an impaction?
When wisdom teeth are prevented from erupting into the mouth properly, they are referred to as impacted. Teeth that have not erupted are not necessarily impacted. It may be that it is still too early in someone’s dental development, and if time passes they might grow in properly. A dentist must examine a patient’s mouth and his or her x-rays to determine if the teeth are impacted or will not grow in properly. Impacted teeth may cause problems. Impacted teeth can result in infection, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or formation of a cyst or tumor from the follicle, which is the tissue which formed the crown of the tooth. Many dentists recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems.
Erupted wisdom teeth
Erupted wisdom teeth may also need to be removed. The dentist may recommend this if the tooth is non0functional, interfering with the bite, badly decayed, involved with or at risk for periodontal disease, or interfering with restoration of an adjacent tooth. Once again, every case is different and only your dentist can determine if there is a reason for you to have a tooth removed.
When should wisdom teeth be removed?
The following symptoms may indicate that the wisdom teeth have erupted and surfaced, and should be removed before they become impacted– meaning, the teeth have surfaced and have no room in the mouth to grow. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- pain
- infection in the mouth
- facial swelling
- swelling of the gumline in the back of the mouth
Many oral health specialists will recommend removal of the wisdom teeth, as early removal will help to eliminate problems, such as an impacted tooth that destroys the second molar. Third molar impaction is the most prevalent medical developmental disorder.
What problems are often associated with impacted third molars?
- bacteria and plaque build up
- cysts development (a fluid filled sac)
- tumor development
- infection
- jaw and gum disease
What is involved in the extraction procedure?
Wisdom tooth extraction involves accessing the tooth through the soft and hard tissue, gently detaching the connective tissue between the tooth and bone and removing the tooth.
