Is your dentist’s technique causing tooth decay?
Among the dentists we are so honored to call our friend is Dr Ellie Phillips. In her excellent book, Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, Dr Phillips puts forward a premise that the method dentistry uses to probe for potential decay may in fact increase the risk of tooth decay.
What happens to your teeth when they decompose?
As the decay process continues unhindered, the crystal matrix continues to demineralize until ultimately, the scaffolding itself breaks down and a hole in the crystal occurs. Pit and Fissure Cavity – The first insult to the tooth almost without exception Occurs in the chewing surface of the tooth.
Does the dentist’s probe for tooth decay increase the risk?
In her excellent book, Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, Dr Phillips puts forward a premise that the method dentistry uses to probe for potential decay may in fact increase the risk of tooth decay.
Why do my teeth feel like they are being pulled out?
The problem occurs when the dentist pushes too much into an area that otherwise could be remineralized with proper home care and compromises the crystalline structure of the tooth. A demineralized area is already compromised.
Why is my tooth sinking?
Ankylosis occurs when a tooth fuses to the surrounding bone and slowly begins to sink or submerge into the nearby gum tissue. Normally, small fibers called the periodontal ligament hold a tooth in its socket, but with ankylosis, this connection is absent, and the tooth becomes directly attached to nearby bone.
What does it mean when a dentist puts a tooth on watch?
When your dentist tells you, “We're gonna watch this,” it means your cavity is forming on the hard layer of your tooth. The good news is, if your cavity is still located on this layer of your tooth, it can actually re-harden and you likely won't have to fill it!
Can a dentist tell if a tooth is dying?
Diagnosis. A dying tooth may be identified during a routine dental appointment that includes X-rays. It may also be identified if you see your dentist because of pain or concerns over discoloration. You should always see your dentist following any tooth injury, or if you have any signs of a dying tooth.
What is tooth Pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is swelling and infection of the gum tissue around the wisdom teeth, the third and final set of molars that usually appear in your late teens or early 20s.
Why do dentists poke your teeth?
In short, it helps us to see and more accurately detect early signs of decay on your teeth, before a cavity forms. Our dentist in Coorparoo pokes at your gums to check for signs of gum disease.
What does it mean when a dentist says buckle?
If your dentist says you have a buccal, it points to a cavity that needs filling.
How do I know if my tooth is rotting?
SymptomsToothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.Tooth sensitivity.Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.Visible holes or pits in your teeth.Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.Pain when you bite down.
Can a dying tooth be saved?
A root canal is the only way to save a dead tooth and involves removing the pulp and cleaning the site to prevent infections. Once the pulp has been removed and the area thoroughly cleansed, a filling will be placed in the opening and the roots will be sealed. Extraction.
What are the symptoms of tooth nerve damage?
Signs of Dental Nerve DamageA dull ache near the gum line.Discomfort when eating.Pain following exposure to hot or cold temperatures.Acute pain targeting a single tooth.Pain that radiates throughout the mouth.
What does pericoronitis look like?
The dentist will diagnose the condition by examining the wisdom teeth and checking for signs and the appearance of pericoronitis. The dentist will look to see if the gums are inflamed, red, swollen, or draining pus. They will also look to see if there is a gum flap in the affected area.
What is Ludwig angina?
Ludwig angina is a bilateral infection of the submandibular space that consists of two compartments in the floor of the mouth, the sublingual space and the submylohyoid (also known as submaxillary) space (figure 1). It was first described by the German physician, Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig in 1836.
Can brushing teeth help pericoronitis?
It's normal to experience a short-term case of pericoronitis that lasts for three to four days when teeth first erupt, explains the BJGP article. If this happens, there are several actions you can take at home to ease your symptoms and improve your oral hygiene: Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day.
How do you get your dentist to like you?
5 Tips to Impress Your Dentist at Your Next CheckupDrink Water. Staying hydrated is critical for the health of your body and mouth. ... Brush Your Teeth & Your Tongue. ... Floss Daily. ... Chew Sugar-Free Gum. ... Use a Nightguard to Combat Bruxism.
What happens on your last braces appointment?
Final Orthodontic Exam Your orthodontist will check your X-rays, bite alignment, and the overall health of your teeth and gums. If everything is satisfactory, they'll move forward with removing your braces. If there are any concerns, you'll schedule an appointment to return to the orthodontic office at a later date.
Can u eat before cavity filling?
It is recommended you do not have anything to eat or drink (except for water) at least 5 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth, which can irritate you during a cleaning and give your dentist a little extra work to do.
What is incipient decay?
What Is an Incipient Lesion? Repeated exposure to bacterial acids in your mouth eventually causes tooth enamel to demineralize, and these areas of early decay are called incipient lesions or caries.
What happens when a dentist pushes too much into an area that otherwise could be remineralized with
The problem occurs when the dentist pushes too much into an area that otherwise could be remineralized with proper home care and compromises the crystalline structure of the tooth. A demineralized area is already compromised.
What is the structure of teeth?
Similar to a honeycomb structure, our teeth are actually composed in a crystalline structure. Minerals and proteins bound together in a crystal matrix structure form our teeth. And just like a crystal, the strength of the surface relies on the strength and integrity of the whole. If one part of the crystal is compromised, ...
How does a cavity develop?
The development of a cavity generally occurs slowly through the process of demineralization at a certain spot on a tooth. As the demineralization continues, more and more minerals are liberated from within the crystalline structure of the tooth. However, unlike the analogy of digging a hole, beginning decay occurs by washing away the strength ...
What are the three types of cavities?
The three types of cavities. Pit and Fissure Cavity – The first insult to the tooth almost without exception Occurs in the chewing surface of the tooth. Smooth surface cavity – Normally between the teeth (you know, when the dentist says you aren’t flossing enough). Root cavity – Occurs at or below the gum line on the root of the teeth.
Is tooth anatomy alive?
Tooth Anatomy 1.0. Our teeth are living crystals. Each tooth has a flow of blood and nerve into, throughout and back out of each one. Despite our cultural understanding that our teeth are ‘just’ bone (which is of course alive too), the fact is teeth are alive. Furthermore, many of you already know that although our teeth feel smooth, ...
Why do we brush our teeth in the morning?
Many are naturally compelled to brush in the morning in order to curb bad breath, but it’s all too easy to neglect nighttime brushing as we climb into bed exhausted. “By the end of your day, you have the most amount of food debris stuck on and in between your teeth.
What are some common oral hygiene mistakes?
10 common oral hygiene mistakes, according to dentists. Brushing too hard, using floss picks and other mistakes that put the health of your mouth at risk. Most of us brush away bad breath in the morning, but nightly brushing — when the most amount of food debris is stuck on and in between your teeth — is just as important. gilaxia / Getty Images. ...
How to tell if you're scrubbing too hard?
Signs that you’re scrubbing too hard include a frazzled brush head in as little as one to two months, increased sensitivity, and a receding gum line. If you can’t break the habit, Dr. Chern recommends using an electric brush with a pressure indicator.
Why don't I floss?
Problem #6: Not flossing because you see blood. “Patients tell me all the time that they don’t floss because their gums bleed when they do. I tell them to floss more instead,” says Dr. Sinensky. “Unhealthy gums — usually caused by bad oral hygiene — will bleed easily when they are touched.
Does mouthwash remove plaque?
Mouthwash disinfects the oral cavity, but it doesn’t effectively remove oral debris .
Is it bad to leave work early to go to the dentist?
Leaving work early to get to the dentist is, well, a pain — but it will save you real pain in the long run. Seeing a dentist regularly ensures your teeth and mouth are healthy. If you wait until you feel pain to see the dentist, there’s a strong likelihood you’re dealing with a serious issue versus one that could have been addressed effectively — and less expensively — much earlier.
Is flossing better than flossing?
While using floss picks is better than not flossing at all, they’re not as effective as traditional string floss or water flossers. “Most people don’t even use the picks to their fullest potential [and instead] ‘pop’ them through the contacts and move on to the next space,” says Dr. Irina Sinensky, a dentist for NYC's Dental House. In addition to not being thorough enough, “this can also spread bacteria from one location to another. It’s the up and down cleaning motion of each root surface that is recommended,” she says.
Why do my teeth ache?
Nasal or sinus congestion. The roots of your upper teeth are very close to your sinuses, so any extra pressure, congestion, or an infection in that area might be responsible, especially if several of your teeth ache rather than just one.
How to get emergency dental care?
Where to find affordable emergency dental care 1 Dental schools. Dental and dental hygiene schools offer services for a reduced price. But you may need to ask in advance if they provide emergency dental care. 2 Community health centers. You can get free or reduced-cost dental care at a community center funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Health Care. 3 Medicaid. Adults who are enrolled in Medicaid, which is a state-run healthcare program for people living on a low income, can usually access emergency dental services. But more comprehensive services vary from state to state and may be limited, depending on where you live. 4 Medicare. If you qualify for this federal program that covers adults over 65, you may be able to access certain kinds of emergency dental care. 5 Veterans Affairs dental insurance program (VADIP). Veterans can apply for dental coverage benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You might also seek out a local VA dental clinic for emergency care.
How do you know if you have a cracked tooth?
Other symptoms of a cracked tooth include a sensation that feels like something’s caught between your teeth (even if it isn’t), and pain when eating and drinking. But some people don’t experience any symptoms at all.
What does it mean when your tooth hurts when you bite it?
Affordable dental care. Takeaway. If you’re noticing pain in a tooth when you bite down or when you touch the tooth, it could be a sign that something’s wrong. You may need treatment to alleviate the pain and possibly address underlying causes.
Why do my gums pull back?
When your gums begin to pull back from your teeth, they expose more of the tooth surface and can even leave part of the root exposed. This can make your tooth very sensitive and even painful to touch. It’s more common in adults over 40.
What to do if you have recessive gums?
If so, you may need to take an antibiotic, use an antibiotic mouthwash or apply an antibiotic gel on your gums. In severe cases, your dentist may recommend flap surgery or graft some tissue to help the gums regrow.
What to do if your crown falls out?
The most likely fix is a replacement filling or new crown. While you’re waiting for the new filling or crown, your dentist might suggest taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Call your dentist right away if the crown or filling falls out.
Why do you need to switch out fillings?
The fillings would need to be switched out only if they've begun to corrode and shrink away from the tooth surface , which creates openings for bacteria to settle in, Schwartz says. And removal can be risky.
How often should you check your mouth for cancer?
At every visit, or at least every 6 months, your dentist should check your mouth for signs of oral cancers, Lowenberg says. You might think they're rare, but oral cancers linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV) have increased threefold over the past 2 decades, according to the American Association for Cancer Research.
Can you fix a tooth that has decay?
There's a better, cheaper way to fix a tooth that has decay or is broken or cracked. "With the dental materials available today, it's possible to restore a tooth using bonded restoration, which molds a composite to the affected tooth," Lowenberg says, as long as you still have at least 50% of the remaining tooth.
Does insurance cover dental X-rays?
Similarly, be skeptical of services the dentist recommends simply because they're covered by your insurance. "Just because it's covered doesn't necessarily mean it's necessary," Schwartz says. In general, insurance covers models of the mouth, X-rays, and deep cleaning below the gum line (whether needed or not).
Can digital X-rays be used for dental cavities?
They're using old technology. Film is so 10 years ago. "Digital X-rays are more exact than old-fashioned radiographs, allowing dentists to diagnosis cavities that couldn't be detected on traditional X-rays," says Marc Lowenberg, DDS, a cosmetic dentist with Lowenberg, Lituchy and Kantor in New York.
Is dental gear made in the USA?
Their gear is not made in the USA. If you’re in a position to get dental restorations, crowns, veneers, inlays, fixed bridges, implants, dentures, orthodontic appliances, or other custom dental gear, ask the dentist where it will be manufactured.
Is long term restoration covered by dental insurance?
The opposite is also true, however. "So much of dentistry, especially some of the most definitive long-term restorations, are not covered by dental insurance, so make sure you aren't getting what's covered in place of what's best.". 6. They're a household name—but not in a good way.