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Dentistry is the assessment, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (sugical, non-surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders or conditions of the oral cavity or the adjacent and associated structures and their effect on the human anatomy. Dentistry is essential for overall oral health. Other people involved in the oral health service are the dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental technicians and dental therapists. Dentistry normally includes procedures and processes associated with the oral cavity. Typical treatments usually include teeth surgery as treatment for carries or cavities. Ruined teeth can be filled with dental amalgams, dental composites, dental porcelains, precious and non-precious metals.
Wisdom teeth are third molars found at the back of your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two on top, two on bottom. These are the last of your teeth to erupt through the gums and they normally emerge between ages 17 and 21.
At times, wisdom teeth aren’t able to come out normally and become trapped within your jaw. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems, from nuisance pain to serious dental disorders. They often must be surgically removed. Learning more about impacted wisdom teeth will help you decide when to treat them and how to avoid related complications.
Dental x-rays and diagnostic tests on the infected pulp are to be done to determine if root canal is needed.
Before starting the procedure, administration of anesthesia is needed to make it painless.
To protect teeth from germs in the saliva, a rubber sheet is placed around the teeth.
When the anesthesia takes effect, an opening is made in the tooth to remove the pulp tissue and the area cleaned and enlarged.
After cleaning and shaping the enlarged space, a temporary filing is placed to seal it, and a permanent filling will be done as soon as the dentist specifies it.
Here are some tips to follow when choosing a toothbrush:
The head of the toothbrush should be compact so it could be easily moved at different angels.
Synthetic bristles is far superior than natural bristles because their quality and size control is better and does not readily absorb fluids or bacteria therefore it’s more hygienic.
A medium textured toothbrush is better for removing plaque
A lightweight handle is easy to grip
Indicator brushes have blue bristles at the center which lose color with wear and are good for monitoring brushing techniques.
For teeth with braces, orthodontic brushes with groove in the middle are recommended.
Over-brushing – hard brushing will abrade and wear away the enamel layer of teeth and may also cause the gum to recede.
Teeth as tools – biting on hard objects, using teeth as bottle openers can chip their edges.
Overuse of toothpick – using toothpicks create wider gaps between teeth and may cause lesion in the enamel and dentin.
Ice cubes and hard candies – eating these may fracture the molars’ crowns exposing the pulp resulting to toothaches.
Thumb sucking – this interferes which the normal development of jaw resulting to anterior open bite or posterior cross bite.
Tooth grinding –most common cause of wearing away of enamel and dentin.
Infrequent tooth brushing and flossing – brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice a day removes the food debris left between our teeth and this could lead to plaque formation.
Eating/snacking many times a day – it takes about 20 – 40 minutes for the food acid to be neutralized by the saliva and frequent eating gives the saliva less time to act on them.
Sucking citrus/acidic fruits – the ph levels of fruit juices are enough to erode the enamel making it susceptible to dental caries.
Smoking – this causes teeth stains due to tar deposits and more likely to develop gum diseases.
Tooth sensitivity is a short, sharp pain due to temperature, touch and osmotic stimuli. It is usually triggered by hot, cold, sweet and sour food or even by just brushing. It is caused by the stimulation of cells within tubules located in the dentin. When the enamel is worn down or the gum recedes, these tubules become exposed causing it to be sensitive.
Sensitivity is one of the most common complaints of dental patients, but more often they are just temporary discomforts. When pain is very high, see your dentist because this might be a sign of unhealthy tooth.
Brushing isn’t enough to clean all of the plaque from the surface of teeth. Places in between teeth and below the gumline can’t be reached by toothbrush and plaque can build up. Daily flossing helps to remove this plaque.
When left undisturbed plaque can transform into dental tartar(calcified plaque). The calcification process is aided by minerals from saliva and other oral fluids. The transformation of dental plaque into tartar can take place in 24 to 72 hours. Once dental tartar has fully formed on teeth it can’t be brushed or flossed off. Flossing daily cleanses dental plaque away before it transforms into tartar.
Oral Health Care:
Clean your teeth daily and visit your dentist one to two times a year to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. Here are some tips on brushing:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally after every meal.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth using short back-and-forth motions.
Brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Brush your teeth for about two minutes each time you brush.
Brush your tongue.
Avoid harsh scrubbing, to avoid irritating your gums.
Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or if it becomes frayed.
A condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the mouth lining is called oral thrush. They cause creamy white painful lesions, usually on your tongue or inner cheeks. These lesions may bleed slightly when brushing teeth or when you scrape them. They may spread to the roof of your mouth, gums, tonsils or the back of throat.
Oral thrush occurs most often in babies and toddlers, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. It is a minor problem for healthy children and adults, but for people with weakened immune systems, symptoms may be severe, widespread and difficult to control.