Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Archives for June 2018

At what age does Gum Disease start?

Gum disease symptoms for most of us will start to show in our thirties. But if oral hygiene is not up to standards most of us will have some form of gum disease earlier in life since gum disease can start at any time or any age. There are young adults at the age of 12 or 13 that can show loss of bone and gum infection. But there are other factors that play a part in the onset and progression of gum disease for example men (56.4%) will be more affected than women (38.4%) and those who smoke have a higher risk too (64.2%).

Other factors that can put the average Australian at risk of developing gum disease include diabetes, stress, AIDS, certain medications, and even female hormonal changes. Sometimes, it can even just be in your genes, since genetics  play a main role in determining how the body will respond to a gum infection.

What Causes Gum Disease to Develop?

Gum disease begins with plaque or dental biofilm that stays on your teeth for too long. Plaque can be removed by regular brushing and flossing, but if it stays on the teeth longer than 2 or 3 days, it can turn into calculus, which hardens under your gum line. Once calculus forms there will be a need to remove it with ultrasonic or hand scalers.

While the plaque and calculus are attached to the teeth, the baceria in them release toxins that inflame and irritate the gums. Once the inflammation begins, you’ll usually notice your gums are swollen, tender, and/or bleeding, especially after brushing or flossing. This condition is the beginning stage of gum disease, called gingivitis.

If left untreated, the infection will spread to larger parts of the gum tissue and will lead to pocket development between gums and teeth . Those pockets fill up with more plaque and bacteria. Leading to the advanced stages of gum disease, where supporting bone loss occurs, called periodontitis.  The more the gum disease advances, the deeper infections can go, which can lead to tissue and bone loss and eventually teeth will need to be remmoved.

What You Can Do to Fight Gum Disease 

To ward off the risk of gum disease be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly. It is important to keep your regularly scheduled dental cleaning appointments and not smoke. If you have more questions about the condition of your gums or if you would like more information about gum disease, please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Why do I need straight teeth?

“Do we really need straight teeth? Surely, we will not die from crooked teeth!”

Although this is true, having straightened teeth has many benefits for your long-term dental health.

Firstly, appearance matters to all of us. Having perfectly straight teeth gives us the confidence to smile. However, besides being aesthetically more pleasing, straight teeth prevents you from developing bad breath, loss of teeth and mouth ulcers.

How does this occur?

Badly aligned teeth increase the likelihood that bacteria form around your teeth as they have more surfaces to grow on, which could lead to tooth decay or gum disease. If there are spaces around your teeth or if it is too crowded, this puts a strain on your gums and your chewing pattern may be disrupted. If both your top and bottom teeth meet in an uneven way some may wear more than other resulting in abnormal chewing and loss of tooth enamel over time. Additionally, straight teeth are easier to clean and maintain with flossing and brushing.

Fortunately, correcting crooked or wide-gapped teeth can be done by the use of braces. The braces will guide the teeth to a harmonious and esthetical position that will show in a great and heathy smile. If you have misaligned teeth or if you would like more information about tooth alignment, please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Why do I have a black line at the base of my crown?

Many times a dark line appears next to a tooth with a crown on it. It is common for these black lines to form just at the base of the crown or on the gums surrounding your crown. Typically, no pain is felt as this should only be a cosmetic problem or there may be bleeding around the crown. If pain is present, please schedule an appointment for an examination, as soon as possible. Whether it is an individual crown, a bridge or a tooth that had a root canal treatment, the main causes of its unsightly appearance most commonly are:

  • Having a porcelain-fused to metal PFM crown with receding gums. As the gums recede it reveals the metal part of your crown.
  • Staining by the metal of your PFM crown. There are many metal alloys that can be used to make a crown. The difference between them is the amount of noble metals( Gold, Silver and Paladium) and base metals that they contain. The more base metals the crown alloy contains, the higher are the risks that your gums that come into contact with the metal will go dark.
  • A cavity is forming  between your crown and gums.
  • A tooth that had been treated with a root canal treatment sealant that contains silver.

To eleiminate the dark line around your crown you have the following solutions:

  • Replacing your old crown with a full porcelain crown to get rid of the black lines related to the old crown.
  • If a cavity is present, it would be important to remove any decay and fill the caivty.

if you have a dark line spoiling your smile or if you would like more information about it, please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.