All posts by SD Team

Tooth Whitening and Tooth Sensitivity

General Dentistry, , , , ,

We all have come across instances when we happen to accidentally look in a mirror at a public place and notice the yellowish tinge of our teeth; or occasions when we end up discouraged by comparing our discoloured teeth with those of a front-page celebrity. Don’t we?

What we fail to understand is that these yellowish splotches on our teeth may be present due to varied reasons and, areas remediable as our everyday caries. Discoloured teeth can be a cause of our contemporary habits such as smoking, or tobacco chewing; due to plaque accumulation or having dark-tinted drinks including coffee, tea, wine or cola. It might even be due to ageing or some internal causative factors.

Because of these widespread causes stained, discoloured teeth are very common and hence the market is filled with multiple treatment options. One may choose to give those household tooth whitening quick fixes a try, or use those Over-the-counter teeth whitening strips and gels that are readily available these days. However, the most effective and prescribed method remains professional teeth whitening procedures performed by a trained dentist.

Teeth Whitening Procedures and its variations

If you have healthy, unrestored but yellowish teeth, you are an ideal candidate for an In-Office teeth whitening procedure. Most of the techniques involved use a bleaching agent on your teeth such as Hydrogen Peroxide, for a period ranging anywhere between 25-60 minutes. The results are dramatically whiter teeth in just a single sitting.

With teeth whitening procedures emerging as the most sought after cosmetic dental procedure many high standard technologies have come up to ease the process and provide esthetically superior results. Know more about the most popular ones below:

Philips DASH Teeth Whitening

An easy to use teeth whitening technique that does not involve the use of any kind of light. It delivers superior results on extrinsic stains, giving you a dazzling smile within 60 minutes.

LASER Assisted Teeth Whitening

Incorporating LASERS into a conventional whitening procedure means instant results with the promise of a safer, non-irritating and painless process. The materials are specially bioengineered and provide no damage to either your tooth or the surrounding gums.

ZOOM Teeth Whitening

It is the latest advancement and most in-demand whitening procedure all over the globe. It uses the Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp that hastens the whitening process to transform stained teeth into attractive pearly whites.

Tooth Sensitivity associated with whitening procedures:

Teeth that show discomfort to water or even a whiff of air, are most commonly noticed after whitening procedures. This potential side effect is due to the use of a bleaching agent as an active ingredient, which is known to cause teeth sensitivity in some people post-whitening procedures. However, the effect is usually short-lived and goes away with time. The discomfort does not create any permanent damage to the tooth structure.

How to Deal with Tooth Sensitivity?

Here are some ways to protect those stunning bright teeth after the whitening procedure:

Stay away from temperature variations: Avoid drinking Hot beverages or cold drinks as these would elicit a strong sensitivity reaction. Stick to room temperature food items after a whitening session. No ice cream after this one!

Talk to your Dentist:

Most of the sensitivity issues begin at your gumline, hence informing your dental professional about your prior gum disease is very essential to prevent discomfort later on. The gums should be well-healed before the whitening session begins.

Get those Cavities Filled:

If you have any carious tooth your dentist will advise you to get them filled before initiating the whitening process as these may result in painful sensitivity and hinder your daily chores.

Takeaway

Professional whitening procedures are the way to go if you dream of a bright, blemish-free smile. Most modern-day, technology-backed procedures hardly invoke any side effects as the light-driven is well controlled and does not without unnecessarily harming your gums or tooth structure. So leave your apprehensions at bay and get an appointment to attain that million-dollar smile and pearly white confidence that comes with it.

Tooth Crown – Is This Treatment for you?

General Dentistry, ,

It is very common to find one’s tooth damaged. This may occur due to decay, trauma or own habits such as clenching. Earlier the only solution to a badly damaged tooth was to get it extracted. But with advancing times come better technologies and better remedies. Now, not only you can save a damaged tooth but also get it treated with such high-end tools that one can hardly differentiate between a natural tooth and a prosthesis. One such popular treatment option is a tooth crown. These are tooth-shaped ‘caps’ that are customized according to each patient’s size and requirements. They are placed over a damaged tooth, an Implant post or cover-up a gap due to a missing tooth, as a part of a dental bridge.

A dental crown is seated over the visible portion of your tooth with the aid of dental cement and they serve to protect or restore the physical appearance and function of your teeth. They are made of a material such as metals, resins or porcelain.

Who Requires a Dental Crown?

You are a suitable candidate for a Crown placement procedure if:

  • You have a cracked, chipped or severely abraded tooth.
  • You have a large cavity such that the tooth is weak even after a filling.
  • Your tooth has undergone a root canal treatment procedure which can render a tooth more fragile.
  • You are missing a tooth, as a part of a dental bridge.
  • Your tooth is serving to hold and support a dental bridge in place.
  • You are getting a Dental Implant placed.
  • Your tooth is misshapen or badly discoloured.

Special Types of Crowns

¾ crowns and Onlays: If you still have some solid and supportive tooth structure remaining your dentist will recommend you these crowns as a more conservative treatment choice. Onlays and ¾ crowns will not cover your entire tooth as a conventional crown does, instead only the affected portion will be treated and crowned.

Temporary Crowns: As the name suggests, these crowns are used for only a short duration. They are employed to cover your prepared tooth while a permanent crown is being made. Such temporary crowns are placed using an easily removable adhesive on the first of the two scheduled appointments for crown placement.

Same-Day Dental Crowns: Your whole smile can be redesigned within an hour, using next-generation technology to design and produce customized Crowns. These crowns are delivered on the same day with unmatched quality, ensuring that the patient receives the fastest and best treatment available.

Alternatives to Dental Crowns

If you or your Dentist feels that the Dental crowns are not the appropriate treatment option for your case, then you may opt for any of the following therapeutics:

Dental Implants: These are the best options for those that have lost single or multiple teeth with a resulting gap in their mouth. These should also be considered if the decay to the tooth is extensive and a filling or an RCT won’t cut the mark.

Dental Fillings: These can be preferred if the damage due to decay is not severe and some tooth structure can be salvaged to support a filling.

Veneers: Dental Veneers can be a suitable choice if the tooth is discoloured, chipped or has other cosmetic concerns.

To Wrap

You may have a couple of choices when it comes to dental treatments, but it will ultimately boil down to your functional and esthetic requirements. You should have a detailed and uninhibited conversation with your dentist with regards to your requirement and dental needs.

Types of Tooth Cracks and Their Treatment

cosmetic dentistry, , , , ,

A crack in the tooth can be an unwelcome and sometimes painful experience. Our tooth may crack due to a physical injury, or chewing down hard food substances; It may even fracture due to our deleterious habits such as night clenching and grinding or just simply from ageing or a previous Root canal treatment. Worried about a similar crack in your tooth? We have got you covered below on all the necessary information.

Types of Tooth Cracks

Craze Lines:

These tiny hairlines, or more specifically, micro-fractures that can be commonly seen in adult front teeth. These cracks are present only in the first layer of teeth and usually do not produce any pain or an aesthetic problem. Prognosis is very good, provided parafunctional habits (bruxism, clenching) and excessive forces while chewing are avoided.

Fractured Cusp:

When a portion of our tooth’s chewing surface breaks off, oftentimes around a dental filling, it is called a fractured cusp. These cracked segments may completely separate at the time of the trauma but the damage does not extend up to the innermost soft tissue (pulp) and hence does not cause much pain. However, you may experience some sensitivity or pain while chewing down your food, depending upon the depth of the crack. Overall, this tooth has a good prognosis.

Cracked Tooth:

Such a tooth will have a crack-line extending vertically from the chewing surface towards the root of the tooth. Prompt diagnosis is essential to save the tooth before the crack gradually spreads and opens up under biting forces.

However, the crack may sometimes extend beyond the gum-line, involving the tooth root. In such scenarios, the tooth will have to be extracted due to a questionable prognosis. Having said that one need not very about functional or aesthetic loss as the gap can be covered up with a safe, painless and precise dental Implant placement procedure that will last you a lifetime.

Split Tooth:

This is a scenario where the crack has propagated beyond the gum-line to the extent that two distinct split fragments of the tooth can be noticed. If the crack-line is extensive it is unlikely that the entire tooth can be saved. However, depending upon the position and involvement of the crack some portion of the tooth might be recoverable after an endodontic treatment by your dental professional.

Vertical Root Fracture:

Such a fracture begins in the lower portion of the tooth, below the gum-line and travels upwards. These fractures are mostly symptomless, hence may go unnoticed until discovered during a routine check-up. There are chances that the fracture may ultimately lead to infection of the surrounding gum or bone, thereby causing great discomfort.

Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth:

Your dental specialist may use a variety of tests to confirm the crack in your tooth:

• Your dental history and thorough clinical examination of the oral cavity
• run a pointed tool called dental explorer on the tooth surface to ‘catch’ any crack
• Use a dental dye to make the crack more visible
• Perform a bite test that involves biting down on an apparatus with the tooth in question
• Fibre optic Transilluminstion: transmitting a narrow and focused beam of light through the tooth to detect any cracks or fractures

Treatment of Tooth Cracks:

Depending upon the type and extent of tooth crack the treatment may vary such as:

No Treatment: If the tooth in question has hair-thin craze lines and they do not present any esthetic concern, your dentist will suggest no remedy other than avoiding biting down on hard foodstuffs and taking good care of your teeth

Bonding: When the tooth is only slightly chipped such that its physical appearance is the only concern then your cosmetic dentist will repair and shape it with a tooth-coloured material that exactly simulates your adjacent natural tooth in colour, shape and function.

Dental Crown: Sometimes a tooth may have a fractured cusp or a broken segment. In this scenario a Dental crown is recommended that encases the broken tooth like a cap and restores its functionality and appearance.

Endodontic Treatment: In cases when the fracture line extends below the gum-line and the tooth elicits symptoms of pain and sensitivity a Root Canal Treatment is a good option to save the tooth.

The Bottom Line

Ending up with a cracked tooth may not be as catastrophic as it appears. Several advanced procedures are available to save that chomping apparatus and that beautiful smile.

However, it should be noted that while cracked bone might heal completely, a cracked tooth will never have a hundred per cent resolution. Thereby, good oral hygiene, avoiding hard foodstuffs, or wearing a nightguard to prevent bruxism, may go a long way in saving the tooth and protecting that smile, after a dental treatment of the crack.

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.