Archive for the ‘general dentistry’ Category

Don’t let diabetes affect your teeth with help Everton dentist

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Diabetes affects thousands of people in the UK each year and if you are one of them you may know that diabetes can affect your nerves, kidneys and heart but you may not have been told how it can affect your teeth. Diabetes can have very negative effects on your oral health because it lowers your resistance to infection and also slows recovery time.

Dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, fungal infections and taste impairment are all associated with diabetes and its effects on the health of your mouth. If you are a diabetic, it is important to let your dentist know when you were diagnosed and any medication you may be taking.

If you are a diabetic the chances of suffering from a serious problem of tooth decay or disease are greatly heightened so you must contact your Everton dentist if you notice anything unusual about your teeth. This could include bleeding gums, swollen or tender gum tissue, persistent bad breath or bad taste or any change in your bite.

It is also important, even more so than for none sufferers, that you make regular visits to the dentist to check for the first signs of dental problems. Dentists recommend that everybody should see a dentist every six months but if you have diabetes it may need to be more often. In addition, it is important to keep up a very strict routine of oral hygiene, brushing and flossing correctly for the suggested time each day and making sure your teeth are free from plaque and tartar.

Consult a Bootle Dentist for Jaw Joint Disorders

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

The jaw joint is also known as temporomandibular joint and consists of two bones – the upper temporal bone and the lower mandible separated by an articular disc. One of the most common problems that affect the jaw joint is temporomandibular dysfunction. In this condition, the jaw muscles become more tense than normal. Sometimes you can experience jaw problems if you have undergone tooth extraction, especially those present at the back of the mouth.

People suffering from temporomandibular dysfunction experience an aching pain especially around the ear and in the cheekbone. You may also experience jaw locking, inability to open the mouth properly, cracking sound in the joint and headache. This disorder can be caused due to various reasons like;
• – this is the grinding or clenching of teeth especially during sleep at night
• Excessive nail biting
• Holding things tightly between the teeth
• Fatigue
• Anxiety or stress

If you notice any of these symptoms, consult a Bootle dentist for the right diagnosis. After taking your history, the dentist will perform a physical examination of the teeth and jaw. Treatment methods will vary according to your specific problem; you will be advised to wear a mouth guard if you are indulging in too much grinding or clenching using your jaw joint. Some dentists recommend certain physiotherapy exercises for the jaw which will give immense relief if done properly.

You may also be prescribed painkillers if the pain is unbearable. Applying a heat pad or hot water bottle may also give relief from pain. If excessive clenching of the teeth is due to stress or anxiety, your dentist can teach you relaxation techniques which will be extremely useful to minimize the jaw joint disorder. In very rare cases, you may require surgery for your jaw joint.

Your Everton Dentist Can Take Care of an Impacted Tooth

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Even though an impacted tooth may not bother you for years, it may start to erupt at any time. If it only breaks part way through the gum, you may wind up with an increased number of infections and other problems. For example, you may wind up with jaw pain and swollen lymph nodes. If you are having issues with an impacted tooth, your Everton dentist can usually extract it right in the office.

As you may be aware, wisdom teeth are the ones most likely to become impacted. Unfortunately, if there is an active infection, you may need to take an antibiotic in order to resolve this issue. Fortunately, once the wisdom tooth is removed, you will not have any further problems.

Typically, most people find that removing an impacted wisdom tooth is a fairly painless procedure. The dentist will numb your mouth, as well as do everything possible to remove the tooth as quickly as possible. While you may not enjoy having wisdom teeth pulled, you will feel much better afterward. Without a question, if you have a wisdom tooth that is partially erupted, it will be in your best interest to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Aside from increasing the risk of oral infections, impacted teeth often push on others that have erupted. This can knock them out of line, even if you had braces years ago. Depending on the situation, you may need to wear braces again for a short time if an impacted tooth created a misalignment. That said, if you take care of impacted teeth before they cause these kinds of problems, it will be to your advantage. If you have not discussed impacted wisdom teeth with you dentist, it may be best to to make an appointment as soon as possible.

A Merseyside Dentist Can Make Custom Mouth Guards

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Unfortunately, many people that work in the construction industry, or other forms of blue collar labour often wind up with mouth injuries. Regardless of whether you got hit by a beam, or you fell down, the damage to your mouth can be extensive. For example, aside from knocking teeth out, you may also wind up with torn gums, cheek damage, and tongue abrasions. Each one of these problems can be avoided when you have custom mouth guard created by your Merseyside dentist.

Regardless of whether or not your teeth are perfectly straight now, you will not want to create more problems by having one broken or irreparably damaged. While some tooth fractures can be treated with crowns, it is no substitute for an undamaged tooth. Therefore, if you do not have a custom mouth guard, you should consider getting one as soon as possible. At the very least, when you wear one of these devices, you can have peace of mind knowing that your mouth will not be damaged as a result of injury.

When a tooth is knocked out, it may be impossible to save it. For example, if your dentist puts it back into the bone socket, it may not heal properly. In some cases, the bone will actually re-absorb the roots. This, in turn, will eventually cause the tooth to fall out. As may be expected, if this happens, you will most likely need to replace the tooth with an implant. On the other hand, if you want to avoid all of these problems, it is a fairly easy matter to purchase a custom mouth guard. Typically, you will find that this will also be much cheaper than all of the dental problems that may occur if you have some type of injury to your mouth.

You Can Obtain Flurosis Treatment From Your Kirby Dentist

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Even though fluoride is very important for dental health, excesses can cause damage under certain circumstances. In particular, when children between the ages of 1 and 4 are exposed to too much fluoride, it can cause spotting and pitting of the enamel surface. Unfortunately, this condition may not be noticeable until permanent teeth begin erupting. It is still very important to take your child to a Kirby dentist in order to make sure that you can reduce the risk of this condition developing. At the same time, if you are older and have flurosis, you can obtain treatment for you condition.

Typically, children wind up getting too much fluoride when they drink from natural water supplies that have naturally high levels of fluoride. If you are not aware of the fluoride content of a well or spring, it will be best to have your water tested. This condition can also develop if your son or daughter has a habit of swallowing toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fortunately, your dentist can teach you how to manage these issues when you bring your child to routine dental exams.

Once natural teeth come in, it is possible to remove the external signs of flurosis. In mild cases, this can be accomplished by bleaching the teeth in order to create a uniform colour. Typically, your dentist will make use of air abrasion in order to reduce pitting and other imperfections caused by excess fluoride during childhood. Depending on the situation, you may also need to have veneers installed.

There is no question that flurosis is an unsightly condition. Even if you have perfect oral hygiene, brown and white stains can make your teeth look awful. Regardless of whether or not you are planning to have a smile makeover, you should include getting treatment for flurosis.