by Southland Dental Care on October 6, 2010
Tongue piercings.
A teen’s idea to be different and a parental and dental nightmare.
If you’re considering allowing your child to get a tongue piercing, you may want to consider not just the cost of the piercing and the stud but all the dental work down the line.
If your child continuously plays with the tiny barbell-shaped stud, pushing it against her upper front teeth, he or she may eventually force a gap between those teeth – a fraction-of-an-inch gap that may cost thousands of dollars in orthodontic bills to straighten!
The habit of pushing the metal stud between upper front teeth is sometimes referred to as “playing.”
Most people with pierced tongues never remove the barbell because the tongue is so vascular that leaving the stud out can result in healing of the opening in the tongue. It makes sense that constant pushing of the stud against the teeth would move them or drive them apart.
Now, a basic principle of dentistry is that force, over time, moves teeth.
Basic treatment for gapped teeth can be a fixed braces appliance to push the front teeth back together.
Tongue piercing can result in serious injury not just to teeth but has also been associated with hemorrhage, infection, chipped and fractured teeth, trauma to the gums and, in the worst cases, brain abscess.
by Southland Dental Care on September 27, 2010
Dental implants are a better alternative to the regular and ordinary dentures when it comes to missing tooth replacement and restoring your smile and self confidence. Dental implants will not slip or fall off your gums – putting you in an embarrassing situation.
They are more comfortable and feel like your natural teeth. With implants, you will have no more eating and taste problems and restrictions. You’ll be able to talk clearly with dental implants unlike with dentures – especially those that don’t fit you well.
You must also be aware of the possible dental implant problems that may occur after the process.
Peri-implantitis
Peri-implantitis is the most common dental implant problem. It is caused by presence of bacteria and other organisms in the area. This can lead to bone loss and can cause the implant to fail. It is characterized by inflammation or swelling of the tissues surrounding the dental implants.
This kind of dental implant problem can be treated by cleaning and making the implant surface smooth to remove plaque buildup, rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash, taking amoxicillin or other kinds of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, and keeping good oral hygiene. In some cases, the implant will be extracted to allow the area to heal and regenerate before a new one will be planted.
Nerve Damage
This is usually due to the dentist’s fault. The dentist must have placed the implant very close to a nerve. In some cases, implants are placed precisely on top of the nerve resulting to unbearable pain. When this happens, the dental implant should be removed or extracted right away to stop the pain. While waiting for the process, you can ask your doctor to give you a pain reliever if the pain is too much to bear.
Breakage.
The implant will have the tendency to bend and break because it is basically made of titanium or other metals. The only remedy or solution for this case is replacing the implant with a new one.
Loose or unsteady implant
This problem could occur if the technique used in placing the implant is not right. This can also be caused by poor osseointegration or failure to integrate the implant with the bone material. Excessive force from teeth grinding or biting can also make the implant wobbly.
Go to your dentist so he or she could check your dental implant problem. There are some cases in which extraction or removal of the implant is not necessary. The problem can be fixed by the dentist without having to remove dental implants.
Infection is a dental implant problem caused by the implant device or the first process of inserting the device into the jaw bones. The gums around the implant and the bone area where the implant was placed are usually affected by infection. There are some cases where the teeth near the dental implant are also affected by the infection. Like in peri-implantitis, antibiotics and antiseptics can also be taken or used.
To avoid dental implant problems, make sure to follow your dentist’s advice and instruction prior to and after the operation. The best way to keep your mouth healthy and reduce the risks of bacteria buildup and infection is to maintain a good oral hygiene!
