Dental instruments are the tools that dental professionals use to provide dental treatment. They include tools to examine, manipulate, restore and remove teeth and surrounding oral structures. Examination instrument allow the dental professional to manipulate tissues during treatment or during dental examinations. Mirror. Dental mirrors are used by the dentist or dental auxiliary to view a mirror image of the teeth in locations where visibility is difficult or impossible. They are also useful for reflecting light onto desired surfaces, indirect vision and with retraction of soft tissues to improve access or vision. Other than showing the interior of the mouth,...
Gum Graft Surgery
Gum graft surgery is the surgical method used for repairing receding gums, especially when roots of the teeth get exposed due to receding gum line. Receding gums can give rise to several problems such as tooth decay, plaque formation, cavities and teeth hypersensitivity. Sometimes receding gums can also lead to complications like loss of the underlying jaw bones that support the teeth. The gum tissues, which are known as gingival actually act as a barrier against bacteria and also protect the teeth from trauma or injury. So, loss of gum tissues or recession exposes the roots and the underlying bones...
Advantages of Dental Insurance
There are many advantages of dental insurance. In fact, dental coverage is so important that some workers are willing to strike or protest in order to encourage their employers to provide this key medical coverage for them. With better dental insurance, a person can afford to have treatments, surgeries and regular checkups to keep the teeth and gums healthy and in peak shape. Dental insurance ensures better oral health. Dental insurance providers often speak about the savings that clients can expect from this type of insurance coverage. When insurance providers speak about basic dental benefits to patients, they mean basic...
Sports Dentistry
Sports dentistry is the treatment and prevention of oral/ facial athletic injuries and related oral disease manifestations. It involves prevention of injury to the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, through the use of properly fitted mouth guards. Contrary to what most people think, sport dentistry is for everyone and not just athletes or those on college teams. This type of dentistry also addresses the prevention of oral cancer by encouraging the cessation of tobacco and smokeless tobacco use. Traditionally, the emphasis on injury prevention has involved educating parents and young athletes as well as professionals about the benefits...
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of pharmacological agents to calm and relax a patient prior to a dental procedure. It can vary from drugs such as tranquillizers, depressants, and anti- anxiety medications to nitrous oxide. Sedation dentistry is a way of keeping the patient calm and relaxed through the use of sedatives. In the past, it was common to administer sedatives through the intravenous method, which is injecting it to the blood vessels of either the arm or hand. Medical advancements in dental technology helped create alternatives for taking in sedatives without using injections which may cause anxiety to...
How to Soothe Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity to extreme temperatures is most often due to an exposed root surface. Below the protective layer on the outside of the tooth is the dentin which contains microscopic canals called tubules. When the dentin loses its protective covering, the tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to stimulate the nerves and cells inside the tooth. There are easy ways to treat this common issue. Use toothpaste that is meant for sensitive teeth. Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block transmissions of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerves and cells inside the tooth from...
Good Brushing Techniques
Regular brushing of teeth is very important because it prevents tooth decay and gum diseases. Brushing removes the bacteria of dental plaque that promote tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing is a simple task but many people do not know how to do it correctly. Skipping around so much and rubbing so hard does not clean teeth, it actually damages the teeth and gums. No matter how good one brushes their teeth; some bacteria will always be left behind. The growth of dental plaque starts again the moment you stop brushing and remove the tooth brush from your mouth. You...
Side Effects of Dental Anesthesia
Dental work often involves the extraction of teeth or cutting into the oral tissue. Due to the painful nature of the procedures involved, dentists use anesthetics to diminish the pain at the time of the operation. Most dentists use local anesthesia, which is the injection of agents that temporarily numb the nerves. Nitrous oxide is also used. It is an inhaled gas that diminishes the pain during the operation. One potential side zithromax effect of dental anesthesia is the development of hematomas. Many dental anesthetics are given via injection. If the needle punctures a blood vessel, blood can seep and...
Relationship Between Nutrition and Oral Health
There is a direct relationship between nutrition and your dental health. The vitamins and minerals that are consumed have the ability to strengthen or weaken your teeth and gums. By consuming a well balanced diet, you can experience the benefits of better oral health. A well balanced diet is rich in fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, meats, dairy products and whole grains. By limiting the amounts of processed and sugary foods, the health of the teeth and gums is enhanced. In oral health, cavities and gum disease, as well as many diseases of the mucous membrane, tongue and salivary glands, are...
Dental Health Terms
Dentists use some common terms to depict totally unrelated things thus making it difficult to understand them. The importance of being familiar with these terms is to be able to follow the dentist during consultations. This article explains a few of the common terms used by dentists. An abscess is a common term that many dentists and doctors use to refer to an infection. The infection can be located in the tooth, a bone or any soft tissue. When there is an abscess, it is important to initially treat the infection before doing anything else to the tooth. It is...