Archive for March, 2009

Invisiline Braces

Invisiline braces are the most advanced and the most comfortable to use in which it is not fixed to the teeth and can can be taken according to patients’ wish but the invisiline dentists suggests that it has to wear at least 20 hours a day.Invisiline braces are the much transparent compared to the other traditional braces so the patients can wear it without any embarrassment.

The term Invisiline braces are correctly spelled as invisalign braces. Eventhough the cost of invisalign braces are much higher it is the best substitute for people who find wearing traditional braces are abashing.

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admin on March 13th 2009 in Invisible Braces Reviews

Drinking With Invisalign Braces

Despite the fact that the Invisalign treatment had got greater advantage than the traditional braces,the patient who is in the process of Invisalign treatment had to be careful in handling these braces.Invisalign braces are not permanent and can be taken according to the patients’ wish but most of the Invisalign dentist suggests that it has to wear as often as possible since the more you wear them the more work they will do in the 2 to 4 weeks that you are wearing them.The best thing to do is to only taking the invisalign braces out when you want to brush and eat.

Drinking water or other clear fluids with the braces inside your mouth won’t make much health issues for the teeth but you have to be careful when you are having alcohol,tea,coffee,soda beverages etc.The aligners had got much retaining capacity than the teeth which will make this liquid substances to hold back in the teeth itself which will affect adversely to your teeth.

The best suggestion is to avoid the above mentioned products when you are using Invisalign.However you can use them by taking out the aligners to avoid the liquid sticking to your teeth.

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admin on March 9th 2009 in Teeth Braces

Invisalign Treatment-Its Procedure,Merits And Demerits

Invisalign treatment is the advanced technology which helps in closing the gaps between the teeth and also for properly aligning the bended or dislocated teeth.Invisalign system uses the methods like 3 dimensional modelling,modern computer technology.With the help of these methods the aligners are clear and transparent thus the name “Invisible Braces”.The aligners are perfectly fit to the teeth which gradually helps to change the teeth’s position.

What is the Procedure for Invisalign Treatment?

  • Most Orthodontic treatment including invisalign treatment starts by taking the impression of your teeth.The Invisalign dentist will also take some pictures of your teeth from different angles.
  • In the Invisalign laboratory with the help of a CT scanner a three-dimensional model of your teeth will be taken.
  • With the help of most modern patented software,a simulation is made from their present to the final preferred position by making the 3D model of your teeth as the base.
  • The simulation is made for designing aligners and it is built as per the customer’s specifications.Then the teeth’s position is altered every 2 weeks as it gradually starts to move.
  • The custom-made aligners are sent to the Invisalign dentist so that you can witness the expected teeth movement in due course.
  • The invisalign dentist will give you strict instructions for using the aligners.Usually the aligners have to wear 20 hours a day.
  • Apparently,you have to make regular appointments with the invisalign dentist to know the current position of your teeth alignment.

The advantages of this Invisalign treatment is that the treatment period is usually shorter and you can brush normally by removing the brace.It is virtually invisible to other people so that you can attend functions without any abashment.The efficiency of this treatment is at the peak since the teeth movements are decided by the computer.The most important advantage of Invisalign braces are that it is more comfortable because there is no sharp brackets or metal wires which can cause wounds in the cheek or tongue.The risk of tooth decay is remarkably less in this invisalign treatment since they don’t have brackets that can catch the plaque.The disadvantages of these invisalign braces is that it doesn’t have long term track records like other traditional braces and this cannot be used for tooth straightening cases.Patients under 14 years of age cannot be treated using invisalign braces.

The cost of Invisalign treatment ranges from $3000 to $6000.


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admin on March 4th 2009 in Teeth Braces

Developmental variations of the teeth.

Each tooth has three parts:- the crown, the root, and the pulp cavity. The crown is the exposed area of the tooth, which is outside the gum. It is covered with a hard substance called enamel. The ivory-coloured internal part of the crown below the enamel is the dentin. The root of a tooth is embedded in the jaw and covered by a bony tissue called cementum. The pulp cavity in the centre of the tooth contains the blood vessels and nerves.

Teeth usually appear 5 to 8 months after birth. Baby-bottle syndrome may result in decay of all of the upper teeth and the lower posterior teeth. This syndrome occurs when an infant is put to bed with a bottle of sugar water, milk or fruit juice. The carbohydrates in the solutions cause demineralisation of the tooth enamel, which leads to tooth decay.

By the time children are 2 years old, they usually have all 20 of their temporary teeth. At about age 6 or 7, children start losing their deciduous teeth, and these are gradually replaced by the 33 permanent teeth.

The incidence of periodontal disease increases during pregnancy because the rise in female hormones affects gingival tissues and increases its reaction to bacterial plaque. Many pregnant women experience more bleeding from the gingival sulcus during brushing and increased redness and the swelling of the gingiva (the gum).

Teeth turn yellowish in colour as a part of the aging process. Teeth are normally off-white. With age, the enamel thins and the yellow-gray colour of the inner portion of the teeth begins to show. In addition, coffee drinking and cigarette smoking can stain the teeth. Commercial teeth whitening products and whitening treatments offered at dental offices are available to consumers who desire whither teeth for cosmetic reasons.

Lack of fluoridated water and preventive dentistry during their developmental years caused tooth and gum problems in older adults. As a result, some elders may have few permanent teeth left, and some have dentures. Loss of teeth occurs mainly because of periodontal disease (gum disease) rather than dental caries (cavities),: however, caries are also common in middle-aged adults.

Some receding of the gums and a brownish pigmentation of the gums occur with age. Because saliva production decreases with age, dryness of the oral mucosa is a common finding in older people.

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admin on March 2nd 2009 in Dentistry and dental treatment

Infection of other body structures due to unhygienic oral care

Infection of the mouth can spread to neighbouring structures leading to the following:

  • Parotitis:- Inflammation of the parotid gland.
  • Sinusitis:- Inflammation of the sinus cavity.
  • Otitis media:- Inflammation of the middle ear.
  • Adenitis:- Inflammation of the lymph glands especially adenoids.
  • Tonsillitis:- inflammation of the tonsils.

Systemic Infections
The streptococci which are a normal inhabitant of the oral cavity enter into the pulp cavity of the teeth. Pus is formed in the pulp cavity that becomes a focus of infection and spread to the distant parts of the body via blood stream causing various systemic diseases such as the following:

  • Rheumatic arthritis:- Inflammation of the joints.
  • Bacterial endocarditis:- Inflammation of the endocardium.
  • Nephritis:- Inflammation of the kidneys.
  • Gastritis:- Inflammation of the stomach.
  • Anorexia:- Loss of appetite.


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admin on March 1st 2009 in Dental Problems

Common problems of the oral cavity

The oral cavity is an ideal place for bacterial growth by providing warmth, moisture, food supply from the residual foods on and between the teeth and a protected environment. The number of bacteria in the mouth depends upon the degree of cleanliness of the mouth. A neglected mouth can cause various types of infection in the oral cavity.

Halitosis:- It is the offensive odour of breath. It may be an early indication of either poor oral hygiene or health problem, such as gastrointestinal tract disorder. An offensive breath odour caused by inadequate oral hygiene can be alleviated with cleansing of the teeth and oral mucosa. If the origin of the halitosis is systemic, oral hygiene will not remove the odour.

Dental caries:- It is a destructive process causing decalcification of the enamel and dentin with resulting cavitation of the tooth. When the enamel barrier is breached, cavities are developed. Dental caries is a disease of the calcified structure of the tooth.
Bacillus acidophilus, a normal inhabitant of the mouth cavity acts on the carbohydrate material that has been left on the surfaces, pits and fissures of the teeth. Lactic acid is produced which dissolves the tooth structure and form cavities in the teeth. When these cavities reach the pulp, pain ensures and the pulp cavity dies. Once the decay has started there is no cure.

Dental plaque:- It is a soft thin film of food debris, mucin and dead epithelial cells that is deposited on the teeth and provides a medium for the growth of bacteria. Freshly deposited plaque is transparent unless it is stained brown by tobacco, coffee or tea. When old dental plaque is present the teeth appear dull with dinges and yellowish cast.

Calculus or tartar:- When dental plaque remains on the teeth it becomes hardened (calcified) and forms calculus or tartar. Tartar is a yellowish film of calcium phosphate, carbonate, food particles and other organic matter deposited on the teeth by saliva. Calculus must be removed by using dental instruments. Calculus is the primary cause of gum diseases and dental caries.

Bottle mouth syndrome:- Infant’s dental caries can be caused by allowing the infant to go to bed with a bottle filled with a liquid other than water.

Periodontal diseases or pyorrhea:- It is the pus formation in the sockets of the teeth. This is the common cause for loss of teeth in people over 40 years of age. It develops in four stages.
First stage: Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums usually manifested by the primary symptom of bleeding from the gums. It is an early stage of periodontal disease. Gingivitis may result from waste products and toxins from organisms in the mouth which may cause initial injury. Then, when plaque and bacteria accumulates they form calculus which contains more micro organisms and causes further gingivitis. Those at increased risk of gingivitis include people who breathe through the mouth, diabetic people who use orthodontic devices (e.g. braces) and people who experience hormonal fluctuations (adolescents, pregnant women and those taking oral contraceptives).
Second stage (Periodontitis): Chronic gingivitis causes the inflammation to spread and destroy the underlying bone causing Periodontitis.
Third stage: Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis develops which causes mobility of the teeth, purulent discharges and tissue atrophy. It may pain severely.
Fourth stage: In this stage there is destruction of the teeth supporting structure. The periodontium atrophies so that the gums appear to have receded completely away from the tooth. Without adequate supporting structures, the tooth may become very loosely attached or falls out.

Sordes:- Brown crust which are formed on the teeth and lips are called sordes. It is a collection of food, mucus and bacteria. Lack of oral hygiene, insufficient intake of fluid in illness, drying of mucus membrane in case of mouth breathing are the common causes of formation of sore and crusts on the teeth and gums.

Cheilosis:- It is the cracking or ulceration of the lips and angles of the mouth. It can occur in riboflavin deficiency. Lack of stimulation of the flow of saliva also can lead to drying of the mouth and cracking of lips.

Bleeding gums:- I can occur in vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), use of hard and stiff brush for brushing the teeth.

Glossitis:- It is an inflammation of the tongue.

Root abscess:- It is pus formation in the root of the teeth.

Cancrum oris:- It is gangrenous stomatitis.

Stomatitis:- It is the inflammation of the mucus membrane of the mouth. This can occur in the following people:§ Those who receive drugs such as anticholinergics that cause decreased salivation resulting in dry mouth.
§ Those who have poor oral hygiene.
§ Those who have an immune deficiency.
§ Those who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer.

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admin on March 1st 2009 in Dental Problems

Oral hygiene

Oral hygiene is important to maintain the integrity of the client’s teeth, gum, mucus membrane and lips. The oral cavity or buccal cavity is comprised of the teeth, tongue and the oral mucosa. This cavity is bounded by the lips in the front, the cheeks on the sides, the mandibles at the floor of the mouth, the palatine bones at the roof and the pharynx at the back. The mouth contains the tongue, the teeth, the gums and the opening of the salivary glands.

Eruption of deciduous teeth (baby teeth) begins approximately at 6 months of age. These deciduous teeth are lost in the childhood and are replaced by a set of permanent teeth (16 in each row) composed of four incisors, two canines, four premolars and six molars.
The teeth consists of three parts:- the crown, the neck and the root. The root is embedded in a socket (alveolus) in the alveolar process of the jaw bone, then the crown projecting upwards from the gum and the neck between the root and crown, which is surrounded by the gum. Each tooth has dentin, enamel, cementum and pulp.

The enamel is the white covering of the tooth.

The dentin is the sensitive portion surrounding the pulp cavity and it forms the bulk of the tooth.

The cementum is the bone-like covering of the neck and root.

The pulp is the soft core of the connective tissue that contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth.
The teeth are held in their sockets by connective tissue called periodontal ligaments. The collagenous fibers of each ligament extend from the alveolar bone into the cement of each tooth, allowing some tooth movement during the process of chewing.
The mouth and the teeth play vital roles in mastication (chewing) and also in digestion, which begins in the mouth as food is mixed with saliva for food breakdown and for further digestion. The muscles of the cheeks aid in chewing. The tongue has got taste buds for discerning different tastes of food, and it also helps in mixing saliva with food. Besides this, the tongue aids in swallowing by moving the food towards the pharynx.

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admin on March 1st 2009 in Dental health care

Parts of teeth braces

parts of teeth braces

  • Appliance:- Anything the orthodontist cements to your teeth to move your teeth or to adjust the figure of your jaw.
  • Archwire:-A fine metal string that is glued to your brackets to move your teeth.
  • Band:- A band is a metal ring that is commonly situated on you teeth to keep intact the parts of your braces.
  • Bracket:- A metal or ceramic material that is attached onto a tooth and helps fastening of the arch wire.
  • Breakaway:- A tiny plastic piece with an internal spring which is used to render pressure on a facebow.
  • Buccal tube:- Buccal tube is a tiny metal component that is attached on the outside of a molar bank. The buccal tube includes slots to hold archwires, lip bumpers, facebows and any other things your orthodontist employs to move your teeth.
  • Orthodontic Chain:- An extendable plastic chain used to keep intact the archwires into brackets.
  • Facebow, Headgear:- They are partially external gadgets used to shape your upper molars and move them back in your mouth thereby rendering space for huddled or protrusive anterior teeth. Commonly, the facebow comprises of two metal components that have been connected together. The inner part which, takes the shape of a horseshoe, goes in your mouth and is cemented to your buccal tubes. The outer part includes two curves that go around your face, and glue to the breakaways or high pull headgear.
  • Ligating module:- A tiny plastic part, shaped like a donut, used to keep intact the arch wires in the brackets on your teeth.
  • Lip bumper:- A lip bumper is used to force the molars on your lower jaw back to render more room for other teeth. The lip bumper includes an arch wire that is affixed to a moulded piece of plastic. You attach the arch wire in the buccal tubes on your lower jaw, and plastic bit rests against your lips. When you eat or talk, you force the plastic piece back that pushes on your molars back.
  • Mouthguard:- An equipment that is used to guard your mouth from injury when you are participating in sports like boxing, cricket, football etc The use of a mouthguard is particularly critical for orthodontic patients, to avoid injuries.
  • Neck pad:- A cloth-covered cushion worn around your neck when you wear your facebow. Usually, the breakaways are fitted to the neck pad to render pressure for the facebow.
  • Palatal Expander: - A device used to widen your jaw.
  • Retainer: - A gadget that the orthodontist provides you to wear after he/she removes your braces. The retainer is fitted to your upper teeth to hold them in the correct position. You wear the retainer at night to ensure that none of your teeth tilt while your jaw hardens and your teeth get strongly cemented to your jaw.
  • Safety Strap:- A plastic strap which forbids a facebow from coming loose and causing injury.
  • Seperator:- A metal or plastic material which helps the orthodontist to render room between your teeth for putting up bands.
  • Wax:- A clear wax that helps to avoid your braces irritating your lips when your braces are worn.
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admin on March 1st 2009 in Teeth Braces

Dental Problems Among Children

A silent plague may be the starting of the damage in your teeth in your younger age which will creep not only to the problems of your health but also leads to the social problems which eventually decrease your self esteem,find it hard for success for your later life,poor social interaction skills.The villain here are oral particles that result in the development of dental carries,misalignment of teeth,halitosis or bad breath etc which will surely have a negative impact on the child’s health and also leads to social problems.Tooth decay due to the oral particles will make the child difficult to swallow and to chew food properly leading to poor digestion and assimilation of nutrients.Bad breath will make the child reluctant to talk and mingle with his peers which will finally demoralize the child.

The plus point is that oral diseases are highly preventable when it is properly cared at the starting stage itself.The parents should have to take initiative to train their kids to eat sugary items in a moderate amount right from small age.The theory behind this tooth decay is that sugar left on the teeth are converted to acid which damage the tooth enamel,causing cavities.There should be regular dental check-ups (Normally once in six months),habitual use of oral hygiene products,proper brushing techniques.Also encourage the children to use fluoride-based toothpastes and mouth washes.The other best beneficial method is to use dental products containing vitamins particularly vitamin B6 which are found to facilitate good bacterias hindering the proliferation of cavity-causing bacterias.A daily habit of having vitamin-c pills will strengthen the gums.

Statistics shows that 90% of the Americans are suffering from tooth decay which apparently reveals that tooth decay is not only the main issue in the developed countries but also in highly industrialized countries like United States.Local government units,day-care centers,child-health organizations etc have to make an opening move to the awareness of this dental diseases among the parents and children.And also these organizations should join to fight against these cavities.Prevention is always better than cure and join the hands to fight against these cavities for a better tomorrow for our children.

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admin on March 1st 2009 in Dental Problems

Important orthodontic words

  • Banding: – The process of attaching orthodontic bands to your teeth.
  • Bonding:- The process of gluing brackets to your teeth using a particular gum.
  • Cephalometric X-Rays: – An x-ray of the head that proves whether your teeth are positioned and are growing properly.
  • Consultation:- An encounter with your orthodontist where he/she talk about and plans out your treatment program.
  • Debonding:- The removal of attached orthodontic brackets.
  • Debanding:- The removal of attached orthodontic bands.
  • Impressions:- The initial step in devising a model of your teeth. You bite into a container filled with a rubber type material, which hardens to form a mould of your mouth.
  • Interceptive treatment:- This is an orthodontic treatment that is ordinarily done when you are 6-10. The aim of interceptive orthodontic treatment is to render orthopaedic intervention, thus making your dental treatment quicker, easier and less painful at a later stage.
  • Ligation:- The procedure in which an archwire is glued to the brackets on your teeth.
  • Ligating:- An adjective used to name the constituents used to attach archwires to brackets. To site an example, a ligating module is a fine plastic piece that goes over the brackets to hold in your archwire.
  • Tightening:- A procedure that occurs every 3-6 weeks during you dental braces treatment. Your orthodontist either makes adjustments and alterations to the strings in your braces or changes the strings.
  • Panoramic x-rays:- An x-ray taken by a machine that rotates around your head to give your orthodontist a picture of your teeth, jaws, patient’s nasal area, surrounding bone from which the orthodontist can deduct necessary information.
  • Photographs:- Extra-oral (photographs of the face) and intra-oral photos(photographs inside the mouth) will be taken throughout the treatment.
  • Wax bite:- A process to estimate how well your teeth come together. You bite a sheet of wax. The orthodontist examines the bite marks left on the wax sheet and relates the upper and lower models of your teeth together.
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admin on March 1st 2009 in Dental terms and definitions