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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and it causes gums to become red, inflamed and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is caused by poor oral hygiene that produces dental plaque accumulation on the tooth surfaces and it´s a reversible condition if treated on time.
Many factors may contribute to the onset of this condition such as; diabetes, smoking, age, genetic predisposition, sistemic diseases, stress, inadequeate nutrition, pregnancy, subtance abuse, pharmacological agents and HIV.
If gingivitis is not treated, it often becomes into periodontitis. Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis shows destruction of the tooth supporting structures due to la migration of bacteria under the gum line. When this happens tooth become loose and their prognosis become poor.
Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, warning signs of gum disease include the following:
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
- Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
- Loose or separating teeth
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Sores in your mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change in the fit of partial dentures
Millions of people don’t know they have this serious infection that can lead to tooth loss if not treated.
Adding these habits to your daily routine can help.
Brush your teeth. Brushing after meals helps remove food debris and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Don’t forget to include your tongue, bacteria loves to hide there.
Floss. Flossing at least once a day helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth and along the gum line that your toothbrush can’t quite reach.
Swish with mouthwash. Using a mouthwash can help reduce plaque and can remove remaining food particles that brushing and flossing missed.
Know your risk. Age, smoking, diet and genetics can all increase your risk for periodontal disease. If you are at increased risk, be sure to talk with your dental professional.
See a periodontist. Get a periodontal evaluation every six months.
There are different types of periodontal disease and therefore treatments can vary. Nevertheless the treatment is focused in eliminating dental plaque and calculus and taking control of local and sistemic factors that contribute to disease progression.
A dental implant is a very small but strong post made of biocompatible metals (titanium), or ceramics, which is inserted into the jaw bone in place of the missing tooth root.
Most dental implants procedures are performed in the dentist´s office and ocasionally in a hospital setting under local anesthesia or sedation. Each surgical procedure is different depending on the clinical situation as well as the preferences of the patient and dental practitioner.
Dental implants can used when:
- A single tooth is missing.
- Several teeth are missing.
- All teeth are missing.
Dental implants are strong and stable and allow you to eat most foods, depending on the type of implant restauration.
If you feel that dental implants could be a viable option for you, contact your dentist to Schedule an oral exam. It is not acceptable to proceed with implant treatment if there are áreas of untreated disease of teeth, gums and bone, as these can affect the success of your implants and it´s integrity.
Healing times for implants vary depending on the quality of the patient´s bone and are often extended in cases where performing adjuntive procesures is necessary. In general, dental implants require 4 – 6 months for the bone to heal.
Despite decades of clinical and scientific reasearch, dental implants do not have a 100% success rate. However, the success rates have improved dramatically and a 90% success rate are reported.
A dental crown is a fixed restoration which completely covers teeth damaged by decay, fractures or extensive damaged restorations.
The aim of a dental crown is to recover dental integrity, aesthetics and masticatory function avoiding future damage and loss of teeth.
A dental bridge is a fixed partial restoration that is used to replace one or more missing contiguous teeth by leaning on the previously prepared healthy teeth.
The aim of fixed bridges is to recover aesthetics, masticatory function and occlusion, avoiding involuntary dental movements.
There are many materials with which crowns and bridges are manufactured, each with specific characteristics and particular benefits for the needs of each patient.
The most used materials for the elaboration of crowns and bridges are:
- Ceromer (composite)
- Metal
- Metal – Ceramics
- Ceramics
- Zirconia.
All materials provide excellent functional and aesthetic results.
To define the type of material that is best in each case, it is necessary to make a previous assessment on the characteristics of the tooth the type of bite and the needs of each patient.
Dental veneers are thin porcelain layer customized for each patient, which are placed ine front of the teeth with the aim of improving their appearance.
The aim is to modify the shape, size or color of the teeth, being used more frequently to correct aesthetic problems associated with:
- Coloration or Pigmentation.
- Open spaces (gaps).
- Teeth in bad position.
It is a removable device made of acrylic and personalized for each patient, which adjusts to the surface of the teeth in order to improve the occlusal stability.
The aim of an olcusal guard is to provide space to the occlusion by isolating the contact relationship between the teeth, resulting in:
- Teeth and restorations protection against excessive wear and fracture.
- Reduction of the parafunctional activity of chewing muscles (bruxism or tightening).
- Occlusal and joint stabilization.
- Elimination of occlusal interference.
- Provide rest to the masticatory muscles and joint.
- Distribution of forces between teeth
A dental prosthesis or denture is an artificial replacement for all or some missing teeth usually this type of prosthesis can be removable.
When all teeth are replaced they are called total prostheses or total dentures and rest on the gums if replace only some teeth are called removable partial dentures or partial dentures which rely on the remaining teeth and gums.
The stability and retention of these prostheses can be compromised according to the amount of bone present or the position of the supporting teeth but this can be improved with dental implants.
With both prostheses, excellent functional and aesthetic results are achieved. Each has specific indications and different characteristics that vary according to the needs of each patient.
In order to determine the type of prosthesis that is better in each case, it is necessary to make a previous evaluation about the characteristics and needs of each patient
