by Bay Dental | Nov 22, 2016 | Tooth Health
When a tooth fractures it can often be restored and saved, but not always. Some fractured teeth require removal so we should try to minimize the risk. How Teeth Fracture and Solutions for Treatment and Prevention 1. Traumatic injury- For example: sports or accidents Solution: Unfortunately we can do little about accidental trauma. Sports injuries to the teeth can be reduced by wearing a protective mouth guard. 2. Substantial weakening after a root canal treatment Solution: A weakened root canal tooth can have a crown placed on it. 3. Overloading the tooth structure with forces the tooth is not strong enough to support Details: When a tooth is overloaded with force, it either fractures in the crown or the root of the tooth or chips away at the midpoint between the crown and root. Solution: A night guard can help prevent this. 4. Very large fillings leaving very little supported tooth structure Details: Large fillings leave very little remaining tooth structure. This is problematic. What tooth structure is left is weak and brittle. It frequently fractures during normal chewing. Solution: Placing a crown or onlay on the tooth makes it stronger. 5. Decay (caries) Details: Decay (caries) expands and grows under the enamel of a tooth. The enamel is undermined by the decay and will eventually fracture into the decay. Solution: The solution here is to get a filling. Read The Most Common Reason People Think They Visit the Dentist (and What to Do About It) for more about caries. 6. Teeth with a post in the root canal Details: Teeth with posts...
by Bay Dental | Nov 22, 2016 | Tooth Health
Decay (cavities) is probably the most common reason people think they visit the dentist. Decay (medical term: caries) starts with acid levels in the mouth dissolving tooth enamel. This dissolving of enamel happens more frequently in areas where plaque (bacteria) resides. These areas are most commonly: Pits and fissures (chewing surfaces of back teeth) in between the teeth where the teeth contact each other Around rough areas such as pre-existing dental work Along the gum line of the teeth To prevent decay we must: Reduce the acid (plaque) Reduce retentive areas where plaque collects Make the tooth stronger and more resistant to dissolving acid Caries (cavities) can be minimized throughout a person’s life by strengthening the tooth structure. This means: Fluoride systemically throughout childhood, either by drinking fluoridated water or fluoride supplements (ages as early as 6 months). Using topical fluoride; either varnish or rinse and toothpaste (varnish is better for high decay rates) Re-mineralizing products to reverse caries (for seniors and high decay rate) Practicing good oral hygiene to remove plaque; brushing, flossing, waterpik (throughout lifetime) Professional visits with a dental hygienist and dentist (starting 6 months after 1st tooth and throughout lifetime) Sealing small pits and fissures on back teeth so the caries don’t get started in those areas (age 6+) Restore caries when they are small Lastly, restore teeth using durable methods, so that the restored tooth can last a lifetime Practising some or all of these will reduce the chances of one of the reasons teeth get extracted: decay (caries). What If I Already Have a Cavity? “A cavity” once caries has cavitated (broken through...
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