Advantages Of CEREC Crowns
January 15, 2012
A crown is a dental restoration, usually used when the tooth is decayed almost beyond repair or it is broken. Crowns can be made from many different materials. The procedure can be messy, this is how it works: The dentist takes an impression of your tooth and then sends it to a laboratory where the crown in made. A temporary crown has to be worn until the real crown is ready. A temporary is usually made from some kind of plastic. This is not so durable, it can brake, it may not fit perfectly, you can experience sensitivity on your tooth and it can fall off easily. Well, having a crown made takes a long time and sometimes it can be very uncomfortable. If one of your front teeth needs to be replaced, it can be very embarrassing to walk without a tooth or having a weird looking plastic temporary crown. However, researchers try to improve different technologies every day, and they succeed most of the times.
There is a new technology that allows you to shorten the period of getting a crown. Actually, instead of waiting two or three weeks, your crown can be ready in fifteen minutes. Sounds great, right? You don’t have to make another appointment to get the crown. You can get it over with in just one stay. Did you hear about the CEREC technology? Thanks to this innovative procedure, the long process of getting a crown is over. Actually, CEREC is the leading company on this technology. The whole process is pretty simple. A picture is taken of your mouth and teeth with the help of the computer. After the image is ready, it can be manipulated in any way. The software is similar to Photoshop, but it is in 3D. After the model of the crown is ready, a machine mills it from porcelain. You only have to wait for about fifteen minutes. After the crown is ready, it is fitted and sealed on your tooth and you are good to go. There are many advantages of the CEREC technology. Besides the significantly reduced waiting time, the material of the crown is also better for your health. Sometimes regular crowns are made from metal, which can be allergenic. A CEREC crown is more comfortable, you don’t have to wear a temporary crown which might be unpleasant. Also, you will save some money in a long term. It is true that a CEREC crown is expensive.
However, the dentist has less work to do with it, so you won’t be charged as much. The pure porcelain used in this technology is white, so this type of crown is much more aesthetic than one made from some kind of metal. The CEREC technology is not that common, yet. You will have to check if it is available in your dentist’s office.
How To Avoid Oral Cancer?
December 19, 2011
Cancer is a serious disease; many people get it and die each year. Oral cancer occurs in 37000 people a year in the USA. As long as it is discovered in an early stage, there are good chances that it can be cured. Oral cancer needs the same treatment as other forms of cancer: surgery and chemotherapy. This type of cancer can appear basically anywhere in the mouth, on the tongue, lips, or mucous membrane. It is a growth that can have many different looks, it damages the tissue and it might bleed. There are some symptoms that might be the signs of oral cancer. Pain, lumps in the mouth, discoloration of the tissue, weight loss and other health problems are just some of the possible symptoms.
Oral cancer can occur at anyone, but there are some factors that increase this chance. One of the worst habits that has a high chance of causing oral cancer is smoking. Whether you are smoking cigarettes, pipe or just use tobacco, you are exposed to getting oral cancer. Drinking a lot of alcohol is also bad for the mucous membrane in your mouth. Other risk factors are an unhealthy diet and drinking very hot beverages. Cancer might also be hereditary. If you have people in your family who had cancer, there is a higher risk for you to get it.
There are some things you can do to prevent oral cancer. First of all, oral hygiene is very important in maintaining healthy teeth, gums and mouth. Dentists advise to brush your teeth at least twice a day. In addition, floss your teeth or use a mouthwash daily. A regular visit to the dentist will help you prevent a lot of problems or discover them while it is not too late. You can check your mouth yourself on a regular basis. Just take a mirror and take a look if everything is alright. If you realize that something is not right, go to your dentist as soon as possible. Maybe it is nothing; however, it is best to check it.
Another tip to prevent oral cancer and many other health problems is having a good diet. Pay attention on what you eat! There is that saying, “you are what you eat”, which has a lot of truth. Keeping healthy diet, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and less fat is half way for a healthy life. Some vitamins, such as vitamin A, B and E are essential for a good oral health.
Try to give up bad habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. This might be really hard for some people, but in the end it is worth it. Remember, by giving up smoking and drinking you only do good to you. Smoking can lead not only to oral cancer but a lot of different diseases as well.
Painless Teeth Repair Using Peptide Fluid
November 7, 2011
Remember those uneasy moments when you were standing in front of dentist’s office, listening to the sound of the drill and wondering why your heartbeat is so fast? Many people experience pain during dental treatments and because of that they are afraid of even thinking about going to the dentist. For this reason they tend to neglect their oral health and visit the dentist only when the pain in unbearable. How would you feel if I told you that all that pain will remain history? Our world is going faster and faster, new techniques are born every day, new problems are solved in every minute. It was time to discover a painless way of treating decayed teeth, right?
First, let’s see what tooth decay means and how it can be treated. Tooth decay is a normal process; it can happen even if you clean your teeth properly. I guess there are only a few people who didn’t have this problem. The bacteria that are in your mouth and on your teeth produce acids that destroy the enamel of your teeth. This is why it is essential to maintain a good oral hygiene. Washing your teeth every day helps you getting rid of these bacteria. The little pores caused by the damage of these acids grow and grow until the cavity reaches the root of the tooth causing severe problems. You should know that if you neglect a decayed tooth, there is a possibility that it can’t be saved, it has to be pulled out. The usual treatment of a decayed tooth is drilling it and filling the hole with a kind of material that seals the tooth.
So now the great news: scientist discovered a fluid that might mean the end of drilling and painful tooth treatments. It takes nothing more than applying this fluid on the decayed tooth and it will do its job. The tooth will be as good as new in a short time, no foreign materials and long drillings are needed. This “magic fluid” contains a peptide called P 11-4. Let’s see closer how it really works. The fluid, after it was applied on the decayed tooth fills the cracks and pores and forms a gel. Later this gel holds the calcium and other minerals to regenerate the tooth. The procedure is as simple as this.
This “magic fluid” was tested on some people and the experiment proved that the scientist were right. This fluid does stop tooth decay and it helps regenerate the tooth. Scientists are planning to try the peptide on more people and if the results are as expected, we are looking at a big change in the history of dental treatment. Patients can forget painful drilling and dental treatments won’t be associated with pain. Researchers say that there are only a few studies left until they introduce this new technology to the world. It is possible that in a few years it will be a common procedure in every dentist’s office.
Dental Implant OR Dental Bridge - Comparison Study
October 24, 2011
Dental implant or dental bridge, which is the right way to go? Well, if it comes to procedures like these, there is never one good answer. A lot of aspects need to be reviewed before we can make a decision. So let’s see what the difference is between these two ways of replacing teeth.
Using a dental bridge to replace a tooth was practiced for many years by dentists all over the world. A dental implant is a more modern solution. If one tooth needs to be replaced, dentists use a dental bridge with three units. The middle unit replaces the missing tooth and the other two units on both sides of it are fixed over the natural teeth. This way, both of the natural teeth have to be treated and shaped for the bridge to fit perfectly. A dental bridge is harder to clean, and it needs to be checked now and then. One of the greatest disadvantages of a dental bridge occurs when one of the teeth from the bridge decays or other health problems appear. In this case the whole bridge needs to be remade and fixed which is a complicated procedure and it costs a lot of money. Otherwise a dental bridge is less expensive than an implant and it cost around 2000 dollars in the United States. An implant could cost twice as much. However, a dental implant lasts longer than a bridge if it is properly taken care of.
Most dentists think that a dental implant is the best solution for replacing a tooth. There are some advantages of an implant that support this hypothesis. First of all, it doesn’t require any other tooth to be altered. An implant consists of a “fake” root and a tooth too. This is why it can be treated and taken care of just as if it were a natural one. In contrast with a dental bridge, there is no need for special cleaning techniques. The root of a dental implant lasts forever, which means that you don’t have to worry about it for the rest of your life. However, the crown of the implant may need additional fixing or replacement. Anyway, they last about ten years or even more. Of course, in order for these implants to last long it is important to maintain an adequate oral hygiene. Flossing and brushing regularly will save both your teeth and implants. The price of a dental implant could be pretty high, but in a long term it costs less than a dental bridge. The reason for this is that once an implant is made, you probably won’t have any problems with it for a very long time. Dental bridges are more prone to health issues and the treatments are complicated and expensive.
Dry Socket Symptoms And Remedies
September 29, 2011
A dry socket is a common problem, it is easy to cure but it is essential to go to your dentist right away. This is one of the dental health issues that can be fixed easily. However, if you neglect it, it can have serious consequences.
What is a dry socket? It usually occurs after a tooth extraction. Normally, after a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms over the socket, the place where the extracted tooth was. This way the wound isn’t exposed and can heal nicely. As you know, your mouth is full of bacteria. The food you eat, cigarettes, alcohol and other beverages might stand in the way of proper healing. The blood clot serves as a protecting shield against all these.
The problem starts when this blood clot doesn’t form properly or it is removed accidentally. This way the wound gets exposed and there is a big chance that it will get infected. Usually this is indicated by throbbing pain and mouth odour. Some pain is normal after your tooth was extracted, however, this shouldn’t get worse. If the pain gets worse after a day or two, it is possible that you have a dry socket. There are some clear symptoms of dry socket, on of them is pain. Also, your lymph nodes might swell, which is the clear sign of infection.
If you experience any of these symptoms, go to your dentist immediately. You can look at the site of the tooth extraction yourself. If you see no blood clot or it is very small, you probably have a dry socket. Don’t panic, your dentist will take care of it right away; it is a condition that is pretty common.
There are some ways you can prevent this problem. After your tooth is extracted, try to avoid dissolving or somehow destroying the formed clot. Your dentist probably will have some suggestions on this matter. Here are some tips you should keep after a tooth extraction to avoid developing a dry socket. Don’t drink alcohol and hot beverages for a few days. Wash your teeth gently, avoiding brushing on the site of the extraction. If you use a mouthwash, be gentle with the rinsing. You can keep these pieces of advice for a couple of days, until the wound starts to heal.
There are some habits that might favour the occurring of a dry socket. Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or taking some pills like contraceptives can lead to the development of this condition. Also, a good oral hygiene is important in the prevention of many oral health problems. People who experienced dry socket before are prone to getting it again. Take care of your teeth, wash them daily, use a mouthwash or floss regularly. This way you can prevent most of the dental problems.