In a recently published study, published in the journal “Osteoporosis International” it has been found that “osteoporosis increases the frequency and severity of chronic periodontitis in elderly women”. In the study it has been found that once the osteoporosis was treated the gum disease had improved as well. The conclusion of the research was that “Elderly women with osteoporosis have a greater chance to present periodontitis, with higher severity than those with normal BMD. Osteoporosis treatment provides protection for periodontitis.”
This research is another example of the far reaching effects of gum disease on our health and well being. If you suffer from bleeding, pain or sensitivity in your gums, please contact us. We are open 6 days a week and will always be happy to help you, call Tooronga Family Dentistry first for your concerns about gum disease. Phone number 98227006.
Archives for March 2016
Emergency tooth pain and after hours dentist.
In my more than 25 years of experience in treating tooth pain and providing exceptional emergency dental care, I found that usually tooth pain is caused by one of these common tooth problems:
- Tooth holes leading first to pain when having hot or cold food and then the pain becomes constant.
- Gum infection, which leads to teeth becoming loose or much bleeding.
- Knocked teeth causing them to chip or break.
- Chewing on a piece of stone causing a fracture.
- Wisdom teeth who are trapping food.
When suffering from pain or a knocked tooth it is important to come and have the teeth checked immediately in order to avoid more damage and stop the pain. We are open 6 days a week and will always try our best to accommodate those who are suffering a dental emergency as soon as possible. As you come I will examine the teeth first, to determine the source of pain, since it is not uncommon that a painful tooth will play tricks, making you feel the painful sensation in a different jaw or reaching the ear or the head causing headaches. Once I have established the cause of pain I can provide you with immediate relief and a plan to treating the cause of it.
What can you do till you see us?
If you suffer from a toothache:
You can try to obtain relief by rinsing the mouth with water and removing the debris from any obvious cavities. Use dental floss or brushes to remove any food that might be trapped within the cavity or between the teeth. If swelling is present, place a cold pack on the outside of the cheek and remove it periodically to avoid a cold sore. Take pain relief if necessary, using pain medicines that you know and are familiar with. Please notice that, no pain relief tablets will have any effect, if they are applied directly to the tooth, they must be swallowed first. There are many websites that give advice of various potions or remedies that can kill that bacteria if they are directly applied to the teeth, like aspirin tablets, strong alcohol beverages or baking soda. These substances are harmful and usually cause more trouble. The best remedy is to have your teeth examined.
For a knocked out tooth:
It is important to collect the tooth and if it is dirty, rinse it with milk holding it by the crown. If you do not have milk, use water for a few seconds only, or have patient suck it clean. Try and place the tooth back in the socket it came out of. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, wrap it in clinging wrap or place it in a cup with milk or in the patient’s mouth next to the cheek, if he is old enough not to swallow it. It is important to see a dentist within 30 minutes if you can. Time is critical for the long term survival of the tooth.
Broken tooth:
Try to clean the area with warm water, cold water may cause pain. If a blow broke the tooth, try to find all the fragments and collect them, bring them moist to us, many times we can reconnect them back to the tooth. Place a cold pack on the face next to the injured tooth to try and reduce the swelling. Some times broken tooth parts may be lodged in the lips or cheek, try to rinse them out, or wait for us to remove them. Come to see us as soon as possible.
For cuts in the tongue or lip:
There may be much bleeding since there are many blood vessels there. The fastest way to stop the bleeding is by applying direct pressure to the bleeding area with a clean cloth and your fingers. If the bleeding doesn’t stop readily or the cut is wide, your will need to see us or go to the emergency room at a hospital.
Braces or retainers:
If a piece of wire from your braces has come loose and is causing irritation, you can try and cover the end of it with a small cotton ball, a piece of gauze or some soft wax. If a the wire is stuck in the cheek, tongue or gum tissue, DO NOT attempt to remove it yourself since you can tear these tissues. You should contact your orthodontist to have it fixed, if he is unavailable come and see us.
We are open 6 days a week and will always be happy to help you, call Tooronga Family Dentistry for your dental emergency. Phone number 98227006
Tooth injuries to be careful about while your child is growing.
A while ago, a boy had his front teeth fractured when the batman in his cricket team swung the bat backwards. It may seem a freak accident but evidence shows that many children unfortunately have similar accidents. It is estimated that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports and about 80% of the injuries affect at least one of the front teeth. Damage to the tongue or cheek is common, too.
Since even “minor” injuries can cause serious and costly damage. If you enjoy sports or other high-risk activities, it is important to wear a protective mouthguard. The use of mouth guards among football players, for example, is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year. A custom-fit mouth guard is the best option, since it will feel comfortable and not get dislodged in the important moment of impact. Another option is a “boil-and-bite” mouth guard which can be bought from the chemist and sporting-goods store, but it may not fit or be to bulky and cause muscle fatigue and damage to the TMJ.
Depending on the type of sport you participate, in addition to the mouth guard, you may need a helmet. It is a must for activities that involve speed or impact. These include hockey, skating and bike riding. The helmet should fit correctly and it should be designed for the sport you are playing.
In the unpleasant instance that your child’s teeth or mouth are damaged, it is important to get them inspected as soon as possible. Please collect all the fragments of the tooth or teeth that have come out and keep them in a moist environment, cold milk is a good medium.
If your teeth have been hit or you would like to know more about the how to protect your teeth, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.
What is a Maryland bridge?
A bridge, is needed when one or more teeth are missing. In order to have a bridge there is a need to sacrifice much of the neighboring teeth to make room for it. But at the University of Maryland, a different design was made, where instead of cutting much of the adjacent teeth, the bridge can be secured with “wings” that are cemented to the adjacent teeth. A Maryland bridge has the great advantage that, only very little tooth material is needs to be removed, but there are 2 problems as well.
The first problem is created by the metal framework needed for the bridge. It can lead to a change in the translucency of the teeth supporting the bridge. The outcome is that those teeth seem to darken slightly, and they will no longer match the color of the other front teeth. When I make a Maryland bridge the dental technician takes these changes into account or we can make a bridge, to prevent this phenomenon or we plan for a bridge that does not have the metal framework called an “Encore bridge”.
The second problem is that the connection between the bridge and teeth may weaken over time, leading to the need to have the Maryland bridge re-cemented.
If you would like to know more about the options to have a missing tooth or teeth replaced, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.
Stem cells to regenerate teeth.
A recently published study has used stem cells from miniature pigs to grow tooth roots. The biologically engineered roots were transplanted into other miniature pigs. To compare the outcome of the biologically engineered roots to that of dental implants, titanium implants were inserted in the same animals. After 3 months from the date the implants were placed the teeth were fitted with crowns. When the outcome of the implants and bio roots were compared, it was found that while all dental implants were successful only 22% of the bio roots were.
This study shows that dental implants are still the proven solution for missing teeth.
If you would like to know more about dental implants and the different solutions to replace missing teeth, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.
How to keep your teeth for life.
Today dental science has reached a point where it is possible to maintain your teeth for life. There is no secret or difficulty involved. Follow these simple four steps: brush, floss, rinse, and visit us regularly and you will have a healthy mouth for life.
Brush
You should brush your teeth twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once at night. Three times a day will not hurt. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and light pressure so you don’t scrub away your gums or tooth enamel. Brush for a minimum of two minutes, and carefully clean all tooth surfaces. It is important to keep your toothbrush clean. Research shows that electrical tooth brushes clean better then manual ones.
Floss
Flossing or inter-dental cleaning is equally important and should be done at least once a day. The gaps between the teeth allow bacteria to build-up and turn into plaque, or calculus. Removing the food particles which are trapped between your teeth prevents the bacterial development. Use floss or inter dental brushes gently, so you do not cut your gums. Since there are many different types of floss and inter dental cleaning tools, in your periodical exam I will be happy to help you find the one that work best for you.
Rinse
There are many brands of mouthwash solutions to choose from, which can fight decay or gum disease on top of freshening your breath. It is important to choose the one that will benefit you most and give you the right protection. I will be happy to tell you what to look for when making you choice.
Have a periodical examination
It is important to have a regular visit to the dentist twice a year. Some patients may need to come less while other will benefit from more frequent visits. At the dental exam I will note down your present condition and compare it to your last visit. This way I can monitor the condition of you gums, the wear of you teeth, the lesions on your cheeks and the restorations that you have. If there are changes, I can help you make adjustments to your lifestyle and support you in keeping your teeth for life.
If you would like to know more about the importance of daily tooth cleaning and how to keep your teeth and gums healthy, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.
Easing your allergies with latex free dentistry.
People who are allergic to latex may find an hour after they have been to the dentist, that they suffer from a runny nose, scratchy throat or the arms are covered with red hives.
An allergy is a hypersensitivity to a material. It is common to have allergies to different materials and since latex is a natural protein elicits an allergy in many people. If you have this allergy,it is recommend that you avoid direct contact with any materials that contain latex.
In the dental practice the most common use of latex, is the examination gloves. If an allergic person comes into contact with the latex, usually it will cause a rash in the skin around the mouth, a runny nose or itchy eyes, but it can also trigger more severe symptoms, including asthma and a difficulty to breathe.
We routinely screen patients for a latex allergy and we use nitrile gloves and latex free masks to avoid any discomfort that may result due to an allergy. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006, for further details about latex allergies and the way to protect you.
What is a coronectomy?
The need to remove wisdom teeth arises from the lack of space in the jaw for their eruption. This phenomenon leads them to be trapped in the jaw and be in contact with the nerves and arteries there. The relationship between the roots of the wisdom and the nerves can complicate the wisdom tooth extraction. Since if the nerves or arteries are wrapped around the roots they can be damaged during an extraction, leading to a partial or full loss of sensation in the lower lip. One of the solutions to prevent the possibility of damage to the nerves, is to remove only part of the wisdom tooth and leave the rest in the jaw, this procedure is termed coronectomy .
Even if it may seem to be, an incomplete treatment, research has shown that for the patients it had been done, it turned out to be very good. In the research, the complications following full removal of the wisdom teeth and coronectomy in difficult conditions were compared, it has been shown that those patients who had the coronectomy, had fewer complications.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or Tooronga Family Dentistry on phone number 98227006, to make an appointment for further details about your wisdom teeth.
What is root resorption?
- Injury to a tooth, which can be due to trauma, the healing process around the tooth cuts into it.
- Inflammation in the pulp, leading to “internal resorption”.
- Gum disease, the inflammation cells mistake the tooth for a foreign object.
- Orthodontic treatment: The braces apply pressure to the tooth and bone and lead to loss of root length.
- Pressure from the eruption of an adjacent tooth, like canines and wisdom teeth or pressure from a tumor can lead to the resorption of adjacent teeth.
What is tinnitus?
It is estimated that about one in every five people is affected by tinnitus, which is sensation of a ringing noise in the ears. But tinnitus is not a condition in itself; it is a sign for an underlying problem. The underlying problem could be hearing loss, injury to the ear, or a blood pressure disorder. But another common cause to tinnitus, involves the jaw joint or the temporomandibular joint- TMJ. This version is related to injuries to the head or neck area and is called “Somatic tinnitus”. The symptoms of somatic tinnitus may include changes to the sound volume, hearing disruptions, headaches, memory loss or an increased likelihood of being depressed and sad.
Usually tinnitus isn’t serious and it is more common in more mature people. For that reason, many don’t seek help for it. It is worth mentioning that tinnitus seems to worsen with age, so while symptoms might not be an issue one year, they may be more significant and distracting the next. If your tinnitus is caused by the misalignment of the TMJ or an injury to the mouth, it is a condition that can be corrected with dental treatment. It is possible to relieve your symptoms by realigning the jaw or adjusting your bite. Sometimes it is an abscess in a tooth or gum infection that radiates pain to the ear and is causing a “referred pain”. To help with your symptoms we might also recommend some oral hygiene or lifestyle changes, such as dietary adjustments to help you get better.
If you’re experiencing tinnitus-like symptoms and have pursued various other reasons for it without success, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006. We will carefully analyze your situation, to see if the is related to the condition of your teeth.