Articles

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
23rd August 2014

This is the final piece looking at the topic of Oral Surgery. I want to look at a couple of procedures that are general performed in the setting of a dental office and then briefly look at more involved procedures that would be performed in hospital by an oral surgeon, possibly under general anesthetic.

Gum/ Periodontal Surgery including Crown Lengthening
In cases of periodontal (gum) disease where bone has been lost, a deep pocket between the gum and the tooth can develop which can be difficult for the patient to keep clean. One option is to reduce the depth of the pocket surgically. This is a simple, inexpensive procedure that enables easier cleaning and maintenance of the teeth and gums, which so reduces the chance of recurrent periodontal disease.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
9th August 2014

In this second article looking at the topic of oral surgery I will continue to focus on surgery that is still generally performed within a dental clinic setting either by specialist oral surgeons, periodontists or expert general dentists.

Dental Implants
Dental implants are metal (titanium) screw-like fixtures that are secured into the jaw bone and replace the missing root of a natural tooth. Titanium has a unique property in that bone will fuse with it, thus fixing the implant firmly and permanently into the jaw-bone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the implant that has the appearance of a normal, natural tooth. A single implant stands alone and it not attached to teeth on either side (unlike a bridge). Two or more implants can be used to carry a bridge in a situation where several teeth in a row are missing and implants can also be used to hold a denture in place.

PUBLISHED TCI WEEKLY NEWS
12th July 2014

The link between the health of your gums and your overall general health is a topic that has been discussed by dental professionals and doctors for a while now. Indeed, I have previously written in this column about the link between gum and heart health. Now a new study, recently published in Australia, not only supports the premise that good, basic gum hygiene treatment reduces furring of the arteries, which in turn decreases the risk of heart disease but concludes that even as little as one non-surgical gum treatment can make a difference.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
28th June 2014

With the rising popularity of general cosmetic procedures for the entire body, there has also been an increase in cosmetic dental procedures and new technologies are in development to enhance this area. There has recently been discussion in the UK press about a new technology in development which is hoping to replace traditional fillings and works by encouraging the teeth to repair themselves. Sounds like a good idea, I think! This idea is still in development (at least three years from launch) but it’s an interesting concept to consider and one that may benefit the health of the teeth as well as the aesthetic appearance.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
14th June 2014

Geriodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental diseases and problems specific to old people (approximately 65yrs +).

There are a number of things that can be different about geriatric dentistry to regular dentistry. This is especially true if the patient suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, has had a stroke or has any other physical disability.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
31st May 2014

The Journal of the American Dental Association reports that up to 39% of dental injuries are sports related, that these injuries are twice as likely to occur in a male as a female and the most common dental injury is to the upper front teeth (incisors).

There are a number of ways the teeth can be damaged whilst playing sports-

– Hard object contact- a stick or hard ball/puck hitting the teeth generally results in a tooth being chipped
– Soft object contact- eg. elbow, knee, foot- this is more likely to result in tooth displacement

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
17th May 2014

Suffering with a dry mouth is not the same as being thirsty and has different underlying causes. The reason I want to look at the topic of dry mouth is because it can have a negative impact on the health of a patient’s teeth and gums.

We need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and help to digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth and with patients experiencing a dry mouth there is an increased risk of gingivitis (gum disease), mouth infections and fungal infections such as thrush. When we don’t produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Other symptoms include frequent thirst, sores in the mouth or split skin at the corners of the mouth, cracked lips, a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth or tongue, a red, raw tongue, problems speaking or difficulty tasting, chewing/ swallowing and bad breath.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
3rd May 2014

From time to time I have patients enquiring about tongue or lip piercings or teeth grills. For clarity, these are not procedures that a dentist would perform but I thought it was a topic worth discussing in order to outline the potential problems that can occur. As a general rule if you are going to have this type of work done always use a practitioner who has strict hygiene standards, where all tools are sterilized and the environment is clean and tidy.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
19th April 2014

Pacifiers, soothers or dummies are often used with babies or young children as soothing devices to calm them and help them get to sleep. From personal experience as a dad myself, one of my children as a baby was particularly attached to his dummy at night time, so I know the benefits it can give both baby and parent.