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Tooth Grinding and Dental Veneers

cosmetic dentistry, ,

Dental Veneers are one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures. After all, they can truly transform one’s smile and appearance. Notwithstanding these superior results, veneers are not a suitable choice for every seeker of esthetic smile and one such category is people with Bruxism or nighttime grinding. The combination has turned out to be a big no as bruxism can wear down the porcelain veneers leading to a treatment failure. Therefore before you fix that veneer appointment know more about the relation between them below.

What is Tooth Grinding?

In this condition, a person would unconsciously clench, grind or gnash their teeth when they are either awake or asleep. This condition can have psychological or behavioural associations along with issues such as anxiety and insomnia. These grinding causes wear of both natural and porcelain teeth, producing fractured, worn or blunt edges. Effects of clenching will also be evident on facial muscles, tissue or other structures around the jaws leading to TMJ disorders, jaw stiffness, sore gums, sensitive or loose teeth or the more evident jaw popping/clicking.
Causes of Tooth Grinding

Although the exact cause cannot be pointed out, the medical community links tooth grinding with psychological, genetic or some physical factors. Some probable causes are:

• Stress or anxiety
• Anger issues
• Insomnia
• Improper alignment of teeth
• Some medical conditions

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Veneers are thin-shelled, custom–fabricated dental restorations that are made from the highest-quality porcelain and are used to cover the front surface of teeth to alter their shape, size, shade or colour. Veneers can create a sparkling smile and transform your discoloured, chipped or misaligned teeth in the most natural-looking way. They can cover up a variety of dental concerns such as:

• Broken, cracked or chipped tooth
• Stained and discoloured teeth
• Irregularly aligned or shaped teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Sensitive teeth

Dental Examination before Veneer Planning

Teeth Grinding is a condition that should be addressed before any Veneering treatment can be initiated to ensure that your investment in veneers and the bright smile lasts lifelong. This involves:

• Examination of every tooth in detail to ensure that they are sound enough to receive porcelain.

• If any teeth are found to be damaged by night grinding they are restored before use of Veneers.

• Examination of your Temporomandibular Joint, to rule out any jaw movement discrepancies.

• Prescribing exercises to restore the TMJ to its complete functional state or to relieve the pain.

• Fabricating a custom-made mouthguard to prevent any further damage to your brand new Veneers or your existing teeth.

The Breakdown: Are Veneers the suitable treatment for individuals with bruxism?

The bottom-line remains that although porcelain veneers promise high durability and strength, chronic teeth grinding will affect the results and damage those porcelains. Before jumping onto the porcelain treatment one must discuss the issue with their cosmetic dentist in advance.

Depending upon the extent of damage and severity of the condition your dentist may suggest alternatives like full-coverage crowns that ensures the same translucency and functionality as any veneer. However, in this age and time of advanced technology, your case may be suitable for high-strength porcelain that will help you achieve the same results that you desire. Conclusively, consult your dentist to know if porcelain veneers are the most suitable solution for enhancing your smile.

Suffering from Uneven or Discoloured Teeth? Go for Dental Veneers

cosmetic dentistry, ,

Yes, you read it right. Those disproportionate or yellowish teeth can now be corrected. The advent of Cosmetic dentistry has ushered in a new era of dental esthetics that allows you to achieve the sparkling, perfectly aligned teeth that you desire. Most of these smile-enhancing procedures involve the use of Dental veneers. These veneers can transform the size, shape and shade of your teeth to give you a new smile within a day.

What are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are thin-shelled, custom-fabricated dental restorations that are milled from the highest-quality porcelain and are employed to cover the front tooth surface. They are the most in-demand cosmetic dental procedure. Veneers can create a beautiful smile and transform your discoloured, chipped or misaligned teeth in the most natural-looking way.

What Dental concerns can Veneers fix?

Veneers are routinely used to correct the following dental concerns:

• Broken, cracked or chipped teeth
• Misaligned or irregularly shaped teeth
• discoloured or stained teeth because of:impingement of pigments from food
• excessive childhood fluoride intake
• injury to pulpal tissue
• stains due to drugs
• sensitive teeth
• gaps between teeth
• abraded or worn-out teeth

Procedure for Dental Veneers

The process for dental veneers is very precise but the use of international grade equipment and digital tools make it a comfortable and fast single-visit procedure:

A Digital Smile Designing software provides 3D analyses and contouring of your teeth. It determines the facial proportion and aids in designing the perfect, most natural-looking smile for you. The tool will give you a glimpse of the treatment outcome before the process begins.

  • After the 3D smile designing, The teeth are isolated from gums and lips to mildly prepare them to receive permanent restoration.
  • A digital scanner is used to record the impression of your teeth without the hassle of conventional impression material.
    The Impressions are fed into a highly advanced CEREC milling system.
  • Superior quality ceramic materials such as Zirconia or Emax are used to fabricate your dental Veneers. The use of these materials results in high-strength and supremely translucent veneers that exactly simulate your natural teeth, giving aesthetically appealing results.
  • On receiving the final product the fit and colour are verified. Subsequently, the veneer is bonded on the tooth surface with special cement.
Perks of Dental Veneers

– The ceramic is stain resistant thereby giving a lifelong blemish-free smile.
– the materials are highly compatible with oral tissue meaning no allergic reactions
– the amount of teeth preparation required is very less hence very little tooth structure is removed resulting in strong and better-looking teeth at the same time
– A enhanced, natural-looking Smile is crafted.

The Wrap

Dental Veneers can transform your smile and looks within a single day. The Crooked, discoloured teeth can be converted to a visually appealing dentition. Porcelain Veneers give you the confidence to smile uninhibitedly whenever you like using the most advanced technology and finest materials. So contact a dentist without any delay and get the bright, flawless teeth, everyone would envy.

Undergoing Dental Implant Surgery to Improve Your Smile

Implants dentistry, , ,

Every individual wishes to have a natural and perfect smile. But, many individuals suffer from different dental problems like decaying, yellowing, chipping, etc. that makes the smile lose its charm. In some cases, extensive decay may lead to teeth loss that causes hindrance in many day-to-day activities like talking, eating, etc. It may also have an impact on the aesthetics of an individual as a toothless smile is not very appealing. In such instances, dental implants come as a savior giving the natural and beautiful smile back. Dental implants have gained immense popularity in replacing a missing natural tooth.

Procedure to Place an Implant

Consultation and Planning Phase

● The dentist does a thorough evaluation of the oral cavity and plans the procedure before placing an implant to ensure the success of the procedure.
● The bone condition and the missing space are evaluated.
● A 3D x-ray called CBCT that gives a 3D image of the jaw helps in better planning and determining the best course to place an implant.

Procedure

● The dentist needs adequate bone at the site of implant placement to ensure better stability.
● If there is inadequate bone, the dentist carries out a bone grafting procedure that requires about six months to heal.
● Once, the healing is done properly and there is adequate bone, the dentist goes forward with the process of implant placement.
● A titanium post is placed in the bone with the help of special tools and drills.
● After placing the implant, a healing cap is given over it.
● The gums are stitched.
● The implant is left for about 3-6 months for it to integrate with the adjoining bone. This process is called osseointegration.
● Once the healing is done, an abutment is attached to the implant with the help of a screw and a customized dental crown is placed above it.

Dental implants, once placed properly, give many benefits. The smile of the patient improves and gives a comfortable and natural look. If proper care is taken, the implant can last for years. A dental implant is a process that turns out in positive results for patients who have missing natural teeth. In order to truly enjoy the perks of dental implants, the patient requires to take good care of them and not to mistreat them or use them roughly.

Causes of Toothache Or Tooth Pain That You Must Know

General Dentistry, , , , ,

Toothache is a nightmare for anyone and everyone. It is very difficult to ignore tooth pain irrespective of its severity. A toothache or tooth pain is nothing but a pain that is felt around the tooth. It is generally a sign that is something is wrong with the tooth or the surrounding gums. The severity of tooth pain may range from mildly annoying to excruciatingly painful. Sometimes the pain may be referred pain due to other causes. The causes of toothache or tooth pain may be dental or non-dental.

Dental Causes of Toothache

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay may cause toothache whose severity can range from mild to severe. The cavities may penetrate the enamel and the underlying dentin of the tooth leading to tooth pain. In more severe cases, the infection reaches the pulp of the tooth causing abscess formation and excruciating pain.

Tooth Damage

One of the most common causes of toothache is damage to the tooth structure. A tooth that is chipped or broken due to trauma may lead to tooth pain. In some cases, broken or damaged filling, dental implant, etc. may also cause toothache.

Gum Disease

Gum disease may cause redness and swelling of gums that may contribute to tooth pain and gum pain. Dental pain can be caused due to gingivitis where there is plaque buildup. This leads to red and swollen gums. If remain untreated, it may cause periodontitis, and the inner layer of the gums pulls away from the teeth. There is a pocket formation where food debris and bacteria get collected leading to pain.

Non-Dental Causes of Toothache

In some cases, the tooth pain is not related to the tooth and there can be some non-dental causes that cannot be ruled out.

Cluster Headache

The pressure caused by cluster headache is found to be associated with tooth pain.

Nerve Disease

A neurotic condition known as trigeminal neuralgia is known to cause sharp pain on one side of the face.

Sinus Pain Infection

The pressure of fluid-filled sinuses creates pain in the back corners of the mouth leading to tooth pain. If an individual suffers from sinus infection regularly, then it may lead to tooth pain near the sinus cavities.

Diabetes

Uncontrolled levels of blood sugar may increase the chances of tooth decay leading to toothache.

Vitamin Deficiency

Inadequate vitamin B12 is also known to be associated with tooth pain.

The patient needs to visit the best dentist in order to identify the cause of the toothache. The dentist will help in relieving the pain by giving proper treatment.

Six Smile Enhancing Procedures Offered by a Cosmetic Dentist

cosmetic dentistry, , , , , ,

A smiling face is considered a beautiful face. It is an inexpensive way to improve the looks of an individual. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the aesthetics and appearance of an individual. The field of cosmetic dentistry has become so advanced and popular as it gives an individual a picture-perfect smile. There are different procedures that are offered by cosmetic dentists for enhancing the smile.

1. Teeth Whitening

This procedure is also known as teeth bleaching and allows the dentist to brighten and whiten the discolored or stained teeth. This process can be done at home or in the dental office. But, the at-home kits are usually not as effective as the procedure done by an expert dentist. The process of teeth whitening is painless and quick. There are different in-office teeth whitening brands like Philips ZOOM, LumaLite, BriteSmile, etc.

2. Dental Bonding

This is a procedure that helps in repairing decayed or chipped teeth, closing gaps, and changing the shape of crooked teeth. A durable plastic resin is bonded to the teeth which is the same color as the teeth. It is quicker and less expensive and does not compromise the original structure of the teeth.

3. Dental Veneers

Veneers are a thin shell that is made of composite or porcelain material. They are customized according to the patient and are cemented to the front side of the tooth. They are dyed to match the color of the natural tooth. The process is time-consuming as compared to dental bonding. The porcelain veneers are usually more preferred as they are stain-resistant as compared to the resin veneers and can reflect light more naturally.

4. Enamel Shaping

In enameloplasty or enamel shaping, a dentist reshapes the tooth by filing or removing some part of the enamel for aesthetic purposes. It is an easy way to fix small chips, uneven enamel, and irregular tooth shape. The process is painless and can produce immediate effects.

5. Gum Reshaping

Gum contouring or gingival contouring is a procedure that helps in treating gummy smiles. It can also be done to cure gum recession along with cosmetic reasons. A new gum line is directly drawn in the mouth and the procedure is done under local anesthesia.

6. Orthodontic Treatment

This treatment is not only for kids but also for adults. Adults seek orthodontic treatment plans for cosmetic reasons. If the patient has crooked teeth or buck teeth, then this is an ideal choice of treatment.

Wisdom Tooth: Pain, Symptoms, and Treatment

General Dentistry, ,

The wisdom tooth or third molar is generally the last tooth to erupt in the oral cavity. Many people face issues with their wisdom teeth as in several cases, the tooth is impacted and is the cause of tremendous pain. It is important to notice the warning signs of a troublesome wisdom tooth. Some people may experience continuous pain while some may have pain only while eating or touching that particular tooth.

Causes

● Impacted wisdom teeth might be because of insufficient space availability for tooth eruption.
● The mouth is too crowded for the normal eruption of wisdom teeth.

Symptoms

It is not necessary that impacted teeth may always cause symptoms. But, if it shows signs of infections, then there might be the presence of signs and symptoms like-

● Swollen or red gums
● Tender and bleeding gums
● Swelling around the jaw
● Pain in jaw
● Halitosis or bad breath
● A peculiar and unpleasant taste in the mouth
● Trismus or difficulty in mouth opening

Treatment

The dentist examines the wisdom tooth and takes an x-ray. After visualizing the x-ray, the dentist will suggest the best possible treatment plan. It might include:

Medications

The dentist may advise antibiotics to clear the infection present in the wisdom tooth. It is usually advisable to take it at least a week before getting the tooth removed or repaired. It helps in healing the infection and prevents the further spread of infection. If the patient suffers from pain, then the dentist may also prescribe pain medications.

Conservative Approach

Once the infection is treated, the dentist may have a good look and decide on the removal of the tooth of a conservative approach that might help in saving the tooth. The cavity can be filled which helps in avoiding trapping of food and curbing bacterial growth.

Removal

If the tooth is not salvageable, then the dentist might decide to remove the tooth. Minor dental surgery is required to remove the infected wisdom tooth. This helps in reducing the further spread of infection.

It is difficult to prevent the occurrence of impaction of wisdom tooth but it is advisable to do a regular dental check-up at least twice a year. This allows the dentist to monitor the growth and emergence of the third molar and help in preventing any complications.

Save Your Tooth With Root Canal Treatment

General Dentistry, , ,

Nothing can function better than a natural tooth. Regular brushing, flossing, and check-up with the dentist help in keeping the teeth healthy for a long time. But, sometimes, a tooth may get infected or decayed that may require additional care. Many people prefer to get their infected tooth removed as it is easier and cost-effective. But, it is best advisable to save the natural tooth that helps in better functioning. If the infection has reached the pulp of the tooth, then the dentist advises a root canal treatment.

What is the Root Canal Treatment?

The root canal treatment is used to repair an infected tooth and save it. The pulp of the tooth is infected due to decay which is removed during the root canal procedure. The inside of the tooth is cleaned and then filled with a biocompatible material.

Signs for Getting Root Canal

● Sensitivity to hot or cold
● Sharp pain while biting or chewing
● Chipped or cracked tooth
● Swollen or painful gums
● Deep decay reaching the pulp
● Pimples on the gum near the affected tooth

Procedure of Root Canal

The root canal procedure can be performed by an endodontist or dentist. The procedure involves:

Anesthetic

The dentist applies a numbing medication on the gums near the affected tooth. Once the effect starts, local anesthesia is injected into the gums. The patient remains awake during the procedure but will not feel any pain.

Access Opening

The dentist makes a small opening on the top of the tooth to expose the pulp. All the decayed portion is removed and access is made to remove the pulp.

Removal of the Pulp

Once, the infected, pulp is exposed, it is removed with the help of special tools called files. A series of root canal files are used to clean the pulp chamber to the full length of the tooth. Saline or sodium hypochlorite is used to flush out the debris.

Sealing of the Canal

Once the canals are thoroughly cleaned, sealing is done. Some dentists may wait for some time to seal the tooth to see if any infection is left behind. A sealer paste and a thermo-plasticized material called gutta-percha are used to seal the root canal. A filling is used to close the open cavity.

Restoration

A root canal is done when there is extensive decay. Hence, it becomes important to palace a zirconia crown above the tooth in order to prevent it from breaking and restore the full function of the tooth.

A root canal is a relatively simple and painless procedure and helps in conserving the natural tooth. With proper care, root canal-treated teeth may last for a lifetime.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction – The Painless Way

General Dentistry, , ,

Wisdom tooth extractions is the last recommendation given by any dentist. Most people fear dental pain and the procedures associated with it. The dentist always tries to preserve the tooth but resort to extraction if the tooth is impossible to save.

Reason for Extractions of Wisdom Tooth

● Severe Infection: If there is a severe infection, then the dentist advises extraction of the third molar.
● Impaction: If the third molar is impacted, then it is better to remove it as it may lead to pain and inflammation.

Procedure for Painless Removal of Wisdom Tooth

It is very important to get rid of the infected tooth as it may pose problems with the other tooth. The dentists make use of advanced dental technology that helps in carrying out the procedure efficiently and the patient does not feel pain during the procedure. Some procedures used by the dentist are:

Less pain at the injection site

Most patients are afraid of the pain caused due to injections. But, now dentists make use of numbing sprays or paste and apply it on the injection site. Once, the area becomes numb, the dentist injects the local anesthesia that causes almost negligible pain.

Avoiding the use of drills

The noise of the drill scares the patient a lot. But, the dentist has started making use of a laser technology system that gives easy access to the tooth and clears away infection. This causes less pain and discomfort to the patient.

Experience of the dentist

The over the years experience of the dentist matters a lot while removal of wisdom tooth. An experienced dentist knows the procedure well with the least discomfort and pain. Hence, it is advisable to get the tooth removed only from an experienced dentist.

Protecting Your Smile with Proper Teeth Care

General Dentistry, , , , ,

A pearly white smile is enough to create a long-lasting impression while a tight-lipped smile has the opposite effect on the person. It is very important to take proper care of teeth in order to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. The dentist in India recommends some tips that help in keeping the teeth and gums strong and give a healthy smile to an individual.

Proper Maintenance of Oral Hygiene

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is very easy and requires just a little bit of discipline. Every individual should brush their teeth twice a day. It is recommended to gargle after every meal either with warm water or alcohol-free mouthwash so that there are no food particles stuck in teeth. Flossing also plays a vital role in maintaining oral hygiene.

Healthy Eating Habits

Some foods help in keeping the teeth healthy. Food like cheese helps in lowering the level of acidity which in turn prevents erosion of enamel. Calcium-rich food helps in keeping the teeth strong and gives strength to the jaw. Apple helps in stimulating the blood circulation to the gums and rinse away the bacteria.

Avoid Sugary and Acidic Foods

Sugary and acidic food is very harmful to the teeth. It causes the enamel to erode and stimulates plaque formation. It is recommended to consume this food in moderation. Sugary stuff should be consumed in a sitting position where the saliva helps in washing away the sugar. Constant snacking stimulates the growth of bacteria that damages the teeth.

Avoid Stain-Causing Substances

Coffee, aerated drinks, and smoking cause stains on the teeth. It is advisable to reduce the excessive consumption of coffee. Smoking should be quit as it not only damages the teeth but also the overall health of an individual.

Regular Visit to the Dentist

It is recommended to visit the dentist every six months. The dentist can examine the oral cavity and check if there is any problem. It is best to treat any problem at an initial stage rather than making it worse. Scaling or cleaning of the teeth should be done every six months so that there are absolutely no deposits in the teeth that may cause gum diseases if left untreated.

Taking proper care of the teeth is very easy and the individual needs to follow a proper oral health maintenance regime. It is advisable to consume healthy food and avoid food that might damage the tooth structure. If the teeth are healthy, nothing can take away.