Dec 25, 2009

FAQ About Dental Sealants

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Sealants

A dental sealant is a professionally applied material that is put on the surface of the teeth in order to prevent decay caused by bacteria. Dental sealants are usually placed on the surface of the back teeth (molars) because they are the ones that suffer the most damage. Dental sealants can effectively separate bacteria from the enamel off the back teeth thus preventing the interaction of bacteria with the fissures on the surface of the teeth.
When and Why Should a Child get dental Sealants?
Children as well as teenagers should use dental sealants in order to prevent tooth decay. There are two stages in which dental sealants become crucial in order to prevent tooth decay caused by bacteria which interacts with enamel; at or around age 6 the first set of permanent molars start to erupt, when this happens it is necessary to apply a sealant to prevent caries from damaging the tooth; at age 12 and same process has to be repeated in order to protect the second set of permanent molars which is known to erupt at or around this age.
Who should use dental sealants and are they a replacement for fluoride?
Adults can also benefit from the protection of dental sealants, obviously some adults are more vulnerable to tooth decay than others so a dentist will be old to assess the situation and prescribe the best solution.
Obviously the best candidates for dental sealants are children and teenagers because their oral structure and started to develop but as we just mentioned adults can take advantage of this type of protection to prevent tooth decay and future complications.
Even though dental sealants are a terrific way to prevent caries and damage to permanent teeth they are not a substitute for fluoride. Fluoride contains all the minerals and substances necessary to strengthen your teeth and restore the vitality of your Enamel; sealants are just able to protect the condition of the teeth they are not able to enrich and strengthen them therefore these are not substitute products but complements.
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Dec 17, 2009

Technological Advances in the Field of Dentistry

To the casual observer it may appear as though is nothing has changed throughout the years in the field of Dentistry however, it is not true. In the past few decades technology has made it possible and more convenient for dentist and for people to achieve better results in half their oral concerns treated in a timely manner.
Because of technological advances in the field of Dentistry it is now possible to perform cosmetic procedures in patients who have lost a tooth or have severe problems concerning the shape and position of their teeth. Let's go ahead and look at some of the technologies that are used today in order to provide a better service to people who are concerned about their oral health and the appearance of their smile.
CAD/CAM technologies:
These stand for computer assisted design and computer assisted manufacture, the use of these technologies have made it possible for dentists to work closely with computer software in order to design and manufacture complex pieces such as porcelain veneers, inlays, bridges and other oral fixtures which were extremely difficult to design and manufacture without the help of computers.
CAT scans:
This has become a standard technology used today by dentists who perform dental implants, by using CAT scans implantologists are able to get a clear picture of the density and condition of the jawbone before they actually thrilled it in order to put in place a special screw which will be used as the base for an implant.
Air abrasion:
This technology is used instead of the traditional and much feared drill in order to perform a cleaning, many patients get extremely anxious and nervous when they see or hear a drill, an air abrasion can provide the same benefits as its older version while preventing the patient from being frightened.
When a patient becomes extremely anxious and the treatment ahead is known to be very painful (root canals and implants) a dentist can't apply a certain degree of sedation which will help the person relax and feel more at ease throughout the entire procedure, some of the substances used are laughing gas and insomnia drugs. There have been a lot more changes to the field of Dentistry because of technology, for more information visit your local library or take some time to chat with your dentist, you might be surprised what you find out.
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Dec 10, 2009

Jaw-Dropping Advances in the Field of Dentistry

Almost immediately after a person has heard the word "dentist" the first thought that comes to mind is the peculiar environment of the dentist office and the horrible sound of the dentist drill. Luckily for all of us things have changed for the better in the past 10 to 20 years, dentist offices have been built in order to provide a more inviting and comfortable atmosphere and the much feared dental drill is well on its way to be replaced by an instrument which seem at first sight might remind you of a scene from the movie Star Wars.
There is one well-known replacement to the dental drill, this replacement is the machine which uses air in order to penetrate the tooth during operations such as a root canal, this procedure is not referred to as drilling but as air abrasion.
The second option which is currently being developed is be referred to as a plasma needle. As the name implies this is a pen-like device that uses a mixture of helium, air, plasma and electrons in order to create a steady needle which works at a high enough temperature which allows it to penetrate the tooth and cauterize open blood vessels at the same time, the best part of this plasma needle is that it is virtually painless.
The physicist who invented the needle, Eva Stoffels-Adamowicz, suggests that this technology can be used not only in dentistry but during complex surgeries in order to remove cancerous tissue in a way that is virtually painless to the patient. Asian researchers who are interested in this technology have started to experiment with the idea and have also found a way to regulate the temperature and intensity of the needle by releasing a set amount of electrons into the plasma mixture.
Seen at first sight the plasma needle looks exactly like the lightsabers from the movie Star Wars, in a way we can say that reality is finally catching up the fiction by bringing to life the type of technology which will be useful not only the field of dentistry of medicine in general and will also gradually eliminate the fear of the dentist that keeps many people from getting the help they need.
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Dec 4, 2009

What are Dental Implants and When Are They Used?

Imagine that you are thirty years old and have lost all of your teeth. You could get dentures, but dentures always seem to have that fake look to them. You want something that looks and feels natural; the perfect answer here is dental implants. Most people who lose their teeth, whether it is one tooth or twenty teeth, would prefer not to wear dentures, especially the younger generations, and since dental implants are natural looking and do not fall out they are the perfect solution to maintain the natural look of your teeth.
Dental implants are a type of cosmetic dentistry. Dental implants are an artificial tooth root that is surgically screwed into your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth or broken teeth, but in order to have an implant you have to have enough bone left to be able to screw the implant in. You can have one dental implant or an entire mouthful depending on the situation.
What dental implants can do?
• Without affecting neighboring teeth a dental implant can replace one or more teeth
• Can eliminate the need for a removable partial denture because it can support a bridge
• Can make dentures more secure and comfortable because it can provide support
Types of implants:
• Endosteal: This type of implant is in the bone and is the most common type of implant used. Screws, cylinders or blades are surgically placed into the bone to hold the replacement tooth.
• Subperiosteal. This type of implant is placed on top of the jaw bone with the metal framework’s posts coming out of the gums to hold the replacement tooth. These implants are not as common and are used on patients who can not wear conventional dentures or who have minimal bone height.
The procedure to receive dental implants is a multiple step process. The first part of the process is to place metal anchors into the jaw bone and to allow the bone to fuse to the anchor. The next step is to place an extension in the anchor. The third and final step of the process is to attach a prosthetic tooth, also known as a crown, on the extension.
Despite the steps involved many people use dental implants because they find that implants look more natural than dentures or bridges. People also prefer dental implants because they are a more stable solution than dentures or bridges which can become loose over time or slip out of place while talking or chewing. Implants are screwed into your bone which allows them to act just like normal teeth. They can wear out after a period of years, but tend to last longer than dentures or bridges.
The dental implant procedure is like any other dental surgery, except you are going to have more than one period of recovery. The first part of the procedure is to expose the jaw bone so that the implants can be placed. Once the implant is placed the dentist will put in a cover screw and the area is closed with stitches. Placements in the lower jaw can need about three months to heal, while placements in the upper jaw need about six months to heal. The second part of the procedure is uncovering the implant, removing the cover screw and place a temporary crown into the implant. This allows the tissue around the implant to be trained to grow around the final tooth. The healing process from this surgery takes about two months.
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