Tooth decay has been a major issue in dentistry since its inception. One of the goals of dentists is to repair dental caries, or holes in teeth. These cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acidic waste as a byproduct of the process of metabolizing sugars on the teeth. These acids can break down the hard mineral part of teeth. Cavities are usually accompanied by pain and can, in some instances, lead to infection and loss of teeth.

Dental caries are one of the most common issues affecting people’s teeth. Recently, dental research has made some advancement in their study. One recently developed approach to the repair of cavities is known as minimal intervention dentistry. Traditional dentists have dealt with cavities in a variety of ways, but the invasiveness of dental work was assumed as a given in the process of repairing dental caries. The cause of cavities was not fully understood, although dentists have repaired them for centuries. Therefore, tooth reconstruction was largely seen as a necessarily symptom-based procedure.

The difference with minimal intervention dentistry is that the goal is to keep as much of the original tooth as possible while at the same time understanding the underlying causes of tooth decay. Recent research has led some dentists in the direction of rethinking their approach to dentistry. This conceptual shift can be said to be part of a trend in the medical research community of medicalization, or the process by which a medical viewpoint is applied to various problems.

Minimal intervention dentistry medicalizes tooth decay by applying disease pathology and tracing its origins. Viewing cavities as a symptom of an underlying disease means that they treat the disease instead of the symptom. Teeth are still filled and reconstructed as in traditional dentistry, but the idea is to cure the disease and prevent future cavities. These dentists take a minimalist approach when it comes to the actual fillings.

It is important to view the development of a cavity as part of a larger process. The beginning of a cavity is called a lesion. This is an area in which the tooth has been damaged by acids, but the area can still be repaired without a filling. The minimalist approach is to begin a process of remineralization, reversing the process of demineralization. Fluoride treatments, which are widely used by dentists to strengthen teeth, can also be used to start he remineralization process in damaged teeth.

While minimal intervention dentistry is not seen as a controversial subject in mainstream dentistry, it has still not been widely adopted. The research has been published, but its effect on dentistry in practice has not caught on. However, the concepts are relatively new, and only time will tell if it becomes a commonplace.

Minimal intervention dentistry is a new way of viewing dentistry, but these shifts in perspective take some time to develop. To view it as an example of an overall trend of medicalization suggests that it may have the impetus to make its way into regular dental practice.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Let’s talk about teeth! We’ve all heard those famous last words from our dentist: “This won’t hurt a bit.” Then the drilling starts, you know the rest!

Even so, be extremely glad you are getting your dental treatments today in 2009 instead of back about five hundred years ago in 1509, when a toothache or tooth extraction required you to visit the local tooth barber-puller in the busy market place.

Back then, your treatment for a toothache meant you would have to lay on your back on the ground with your head between the tooth barber’s knees. Next he would pour in your mouth a mixture of herbs and urine to kill all of your tooth worms. Back then a worm was thought to bore a hole in teeth, causing toothache, cavities and rot. Then, with a combination of demon purging incantations, and also invoking the supernatural help of Ea, god of the abyss, the tooth barber applies a mouth-burning wad of beeswax and acid to all of your teeth. Finally, to stop your toothache, one or more of your teeth would be pulled out of their sockets using knives, thumbs and fingers. He would pull, push and cut until the bad tooth was literally torn out of the gum.

In ancient Egypt as early as 2500 B.C. mummies from that time reveal that rich Egyptian high society suffered much loss of teeth. It is believed the cause; in spite of the morning ritual of “teeth cleaning” was because the rich people there ate large quantities of sugar in their food.

Around 2000 B.C. magic and superstition were replaced by a more rational medical philosophy. But that did not last very long, and soon the belief in the toothache demon and tooth worms was slowly revived. Incense, willow leaves, sina plant, myst liquid and sweet beer were used to fumigate and anoint the mouth of the one who had the toothache.

Some of the ancient Chinese recorded nine kinds of gum disease thought to be the result of “excessive sexual intercourse.” In China toothaches were often treated with arsenic pills placed next to the offending tooth to kill the pain. Of course, the result was that the arsenic killed: nerves, nearby tissue, and sometimes stopped the toothache by killing the patient.

The Hindus, left written texts of the history of dentistry in their culture as it was around 4000 and 3000 B.C. They describe the anatomy of the mouth, pathology, treatment and oral hygiene. Interestingly they also believed toothworms to be the cause of cavities and toothaches. Even so they paid careful attention to the practice of a daily tooth cleaning ritual using the frayed end of a small twig from an aromatic plant. A paste of honey, oil and other ingredients was suggested to be used during the daily cleaning of teeth. They also developed a wide variety of tools for extracting teeth.

Hippocrates (around 460 B.C.) is thought to be the first to insist that medicine should not include magic and priestly incantations. His “humoral theory” explained that four bodily fluids were the main elements of both health and disease. He was an advocate of bloodletting, that later was to be used as a standard of medical practice right up to the twentieth century. He wrote in great detail about teeth, gums and tooth decay. He was one of the first to suggest that tooth decay was caused by the corrosive action of food and other debris found to be trapped between already weak teeth. 

In Rome, around 450 B.C. the leading citizens could have the gaps in their teeth filled with gold shell crowns which at that time was a new method of creating artificial replacements of missing teeth. They were rather crude false teeth only good for show, not to be used when eating. The gold shells inserted in the mouth and  fastened to nearby healthy natural teeth with gold wire and materials such as bone, boxwood, and ivory were carved to look like teeth and affixed to the gold shells.

It is believed that a tooth drawer named Celsus during the years between 25 B.C. and A.D. 50 filled the first cavity. The fillings were made of lint and lead. The purpose of the filling was to strengthen the empty shell of the tooth so the tooth puller would not shatter the tooth when it was squeezed with his forceps during extraction.

Now let’s skip ahead to the years between 1460 and 1520 when an Italian surgeon named Giovanni d’Vigo advised preparation of the teeth before filling them with careful excavation and shaping of the cavities. They did this with: trephines, files, and scalpels. Next, the teeth were filled with gold leaf. At the same time, to prevent infection, arsenic was used to kill the tissue. This procedure was still in use until Novocain was introduced in the twentieth century.

The first time the term dentista (dentist) was used in print was when Ambrosise Pare, who was a military surgeon in the French army, wrote it in his journals about 1590. Later, in 1683 while using the then newly invented microscope, a Dutch tooth-drawer changed the world’s view of teeth, mouth and other oral concerns with his reports of his discoveries and explanations of what he saw and learned about teeth and gums when using the microscope.

Then, in France, in 1728, Pierre Fauchard wrote of his experiences and discoveries in dental surgery. He also warned against dangerous methods then used to treat toothache in many of the city’s unclean and shoddy tooth barbershops. Fauchard was also quite adept at using silk, linen and metal threads to fasten artificial teeth and bridges(false teeth) in place. Because he explained his methods freely to other tooth surgeons, his bold thinking and methods helped advance dental practice in many ways.

Now, skipping ahead to today in 2009, as you know, dentistry has become an accepted profession where reliable and safe operations are performed every day all over the world. If you have a toothache, your dentist will first ease your pain with an injection of Novocain, then he will use a high speed, water-cooled drill to repair (or remove) your aching tooth. 

Should you need to have one or more of your natural teeth removed, your dentist has the knowledge and skills to do that operation as painlessly as is humanly possible. When dentures are required to “fill the gap” your dentist knows exactly how to satisfy your need using modern acrylic plastics. The result will be the most natural looking false teeth ever produced. With your new dentures in your mouth you will understand clearly how your mouth has gone from near disaster to near perfection so you can again: smile, laugh, chew your food, and speak clearly.

A modern denture will have everything needed for your oral comfort while eating: stability, support and good retention. Because of these three benefits, your confidence in your denture will give you peace of mind as you meet people, smile, talk and chew your food.  In addition, the denture will be durable enough to last for years.

But, keep in mind that your new denture will eventually get loose due the natural shrinkage of your now toothless jaws and gums. When this happens you will find it necessary to stop that looseness by “filling the gaps” with your choice of (1) the addition of an expensive acrylic plastic liner bonded to the upper part of your denture by your dentist, or (2) you can a use a new patent pending denture liner that is: soft, flexible, washable, re-usable and removable: the new Weber Denture Liner. For more information you are cordially invited to go to the following website.

This is  Part 2 of  the “History of False Teeth and Dentures”  series.  A new Part 3 will be published in the near future.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Keeping Check of Bad Habits

A lot of bad habits can affect oral health in a negative way, and some of them even lead to serious issues that people may not realize. A number of these habits are biting ice, biting their nails, chewing sticky sweets or hard candies, clenching their jaw, grinding their teeth, brushing their teeth too roughly, sipping coffee and drinking red wine, as well as smoking.

Going to the dentist regularly will enable him/her to inspect the patients for any oral issues resulting from the above mentioned, or other habits that they themselves may not have observed.

When the dentist informs them about the effects of such destructive habits, this will let them change their lifestyle to avoid the damage even more. Regular dental visits will let them repair the existing problem, and let their oral health look at its best.

Check Problems Beneath the Surface using X-rays

The most critical reason to visit a dentist twice a year is to check teeth and jawbone with an X-ray. With the help of X-ray images, dentists can see what lies underneath the surface of the mouth, then detect and diagnose issues that are not seen by the naked eye.

Such issues include impacted teeth, those that grow but are blocked from protruding through the gums – like, for instance, wisdom teeth.

Other issues that can be detected are damage to the jawbone, bone decay, cysts, tumors, swelling, and all these can only be seen by means of X-ray imaging. It is very critical to look for the signs of any serious oral problems right away so they can be treated in the proper way.

When it comes to destructive oral diseases that have no symptoms but advance fast, the best way to remain on top of health is to have checkups and undergo x-rays twice a year.

Check Neck, Head and Lymph Nodes

Aside from checking the mouth, tongue and gums for any signs of oral cancer, the dentist also inspects the jaw, neck and lymph nodes seen just below the jawline for visible lumps, swelling or other abnormalities.

In case an abnormality is detected, this may be a sign of a major health problem, and the dentist will inform the patient as well as refer him/her to the right medical professional.

Though swollen lymph nodes do not really hurt or seem extraordinary, when they are properly identified by a specialist, these could be a sign of a certain type of cancer or disease that needs attention as soon as possible.

Foregoing regular dental checkups reduces the chances of checking the neck and thyroid glands. It may only take a minute for the dentist to look for abnormalities, but this could identify a very serious disease that could make a huge difference between life and death.

The job of dentists and dental specialists is not only to repair teeth. They also clean teeth thoroughly to make sure that these – as well as gums – remain healthy, and inspect the mouth for abnormalities that are overlooked, yet could actually be symptoms of serious health issues.

Dental specialists see to it that their patients have strong bones, and help correct habits that may be placing their oral health at risk.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced using bridges, or fixed partial dentures. Today, advances in dentistry have made improved dental implants available to patients seeking to replace missing or extracted teeth.

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, approximately 69% of all adults "have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay." As a result, the majority of people will at some point be faced with the question: dental implants or fixed bridges?

Bridges vs. Implants

To obtain a bridge, a patient must first have existing teeth on either side of a missing tooth. (These existing teeth will serve as anchors for the bridge.) The teeth are reduced in size, and a false (prosthetic) bridge is created that fills the gap with a false tooth. Each end of the bridge is bonded to the existing, reduced teeth. Patients must exercise care when cleaning the bridge site, and bridges generally need to be replaced every 7 to 15 years to prevent decay and to repair any damage to the bridgework.

In contrast, dental implants (or single-tooth implants) do not rely on surrounding teeth. To create a standalone implant, titanium metal is fused with the patient's jawbone using a process known as osseointegration. Once osseointegration is complete, a custom-made dental crown is attached to the implant post. Generally, patients experience a 90-95% success rate 10 years after first undergoing an implant procedure.

Advantages of Implants Over Bridges

Dental implants offer many advantages over bridges or fixed partial dentures, including the following:

o More natural look
o Greater alignment with you natural jaw line
o No damage to surrounding teeth
o Easier to care for and clean, leading to better periodontal health
o More cost effective in the long term, as replacements are not needed as frequently (or, sometimes, at all)
o Placement is more flexible, as the missing tooth area does not need to be surrounded by existing teeth

In the end, dental implants offer significant advantages over bridges in nearly every area, from look to health to cost. Aside from the cosmetic benefits, dental implants can help patients maintain the same speech patterns and chewing abilities they had before losing the affected tooth. Considering all the benefits dental implants can offer, patients have many reasons to say good-bye to bridges forever.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Over time, bacteria and plaque can cause decay in our teeth. If left untreated, that decay can cause gum disease, bad breath, and other serious health concerns in and outside our mouths. This occurrence is known as a cavity, and your dentist will be able to assess and treat all types of cavities with something called a filling. Different types of dental fillings are also used to repair cracked and broken teeth that may have become worn down over the years.

The tooth is first numbed, and then your dentist will drill into the tooth to remove all signs of decay. After which, the cavity left open from decay removal will be filled. There are many different types of dental fillings, appropriate for different situations. There are two types of indirect fillings. The first type, inlays, feature dental work within the cusps of the surface of the tooth. On the other hand, onlays cover more than one cusp, involve much more extensive work, and are often considered partial crowns.

Many practices offer cast gold fillings. While these are expensive, they are very long lasting, and can protect the cavity of a tooth for up to 15 years (sometimes longer). Gold is a very strong metal, and can withstand a lot of chewing and other types of wear and tear. Some people also prefer the look of gold to silver colored metals offered. Keep in mind, these types of fillings are expensive, and may require more than one dental visit to properly fill the cavity. Silver is also widely used because it is long lasting and very strong. On the other hand, silver does not match the natural color of teeth, and a small percentage of patients experience an allergic reaction to this type of metal.

Dentists currently use composites to fill cavities, mostly because they are available in natural tooth-colored varieties. Composites provide a nice bond to the tooth that can support the tooth for long lasting use. Composites can also be used to repair cracked or broken teeth, but some dentists feel they lack the durability of other types of dental fillings. Chipping can occur with this type, and many cost up to twice as much as other filling alternatives.

Ceramic is widely used by dentists because they are the most stain-resistant, natural looking, and longest lasting. Keep in mind, this type of filling can cost as much as gold. Glass, or acrylic, may be offered to you if your filling falls below the gum line. This type of filling is also recommended for young children, because it releases fluoride into the gum line that can further strengthen and protect teeth and gums. Acrylic does not last as long as other options, however, and my need to be replaced or repaired after as little as five years.

Discuss your options with your dentist before deciding on a filling. All of the filling options may not be available at your dentist’s practice, and some of the options may not be the best fit for you. Choose the most practical and natural looking filling for your cavity to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO