Month: December 2018

Bruxism or teeth grinding can lead to some serious issues like jaw pain or a headache. Both the adults and children are affected by this. There are some cases of teeth grinding that lead to lockjaws and facial swelling. In children, parents may hear their child grinding their teeth while sleeping. This is referred to nocturnal bruxism. Some people might grind their teeth during the daytime also, especially when they are tensed or anxious.

Bruxism can be severe enough to damage teeth and fracture fillings. Bruxism does not come with any symptoms at all but if not treated well, it leaves behind damaged teeth, tension headache, jaw, and facial pain. A misaligned bite may contribute to being one of the causes of bruxism. Similarly, stress and anxiety make the nocturnal grinding worse.

What should be done to stop yourself from teeth grinding

1. Your dentist might recommend the best solution based on the symptom. You might wear a mouthguard while sleeping to prevent grinding. It can be custom-fit and comes with many options that make it comfortable to wear and easy to clean.
2. Look for ways to reduce stress as it is one of the contributing factors. Changes in lifestyle, counseling and an exercise regimen are all the possible solution.
3. Lessen the intake of caffeine drinks like coffee and tea. Alcoholic beverages also tend to make you grind your teeth.
4. Children should be advised not to chew a pencil or pen.
5. Relax the face and jaw throughout if you consciously grind your teeth during the day.
6. Relax your jaw during the night by holding a warm washcloth against cheeks.

Treatment for teeth grinding
Teeth grinding is observed mostly at night while sleeping. Every situation of this issue is managed differently, but a mouthguard has found to be highly useful. Other treatments discovered are dietary changes, postural modifications, medications, injections and postural therapy are also recommended.

Bruxism or teeth grinding can be managed easily. All you need is employing pain management techniques, jaw strengthening with exercises and so on that can lessen their symptoms and avoid the most of dental work.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

As a parent, there are a lot of things that you wish to experience with your child as and when they grow up. Be it their first step, first word or their first bite and this way the list goes on, on and on. Though it is not equally exciting, a trip to a dentist for the first time is also something your child must be prepared of. Most kids visit a dentist ill-prepared. This could also be threatening for them. To help your child prepare about their very first visit to the dentist, these tips are a must to consider.

Preparing them about the first appointment
The first thing you should consider is picking a dentist who specializes in child care (Pediatrician). Dentists having experience working with children will be able to offer your child a comfortable and fun environment. They are not only expert at their work but also caring, compassionate and patient.

At home, you should keep them teaching about their teeth and mouth. As they say, it’s never too early to start, so begin the conversation by making them familiar with their healthy eating and brushing habits. Keep them aware with their body parts. You can indulge in fun activities with them like singing, playing, reading poems about teeth brushing and smiling. This way they will come prepared for their scheduled visit in a fun and light mood.

Built a habit of brushing together or you can also add elements like colored toothpaste or themed brushes. This will level up their energy and keep them engrossed a bit more. The more exciting the activities are, the more participation your child will show.

Identifying the right time
The right age before making an appointment is important to take care of. As a general rule of thumb, the right age would be 1 or 6 months after their first tooth comes in. Dentists recommend that children paying the visit at 1 year old or younger help parents to develop good oral habits. So, waiting for your child to grow older is the biggest mistake that you are doing.

What happens at the first visit
At the first appointment, the pediatrician will ask parents to visit the examination room with the children. During the conversation with your child, a dentist will try to build a rapport with the child.

The most common thing a dentist will do is using fun objects to teach your child the role of a healthy mouth. A pediatrician may also make your little one familiar about the different tools by allowing them to touch and listen sound. This way the experience of your little one will turn out to be less scary.

For children who are aged between 3-4, a dentist may also clean and polish their teeth with a toothbrush to let them be familiar with good and healthy brushing habits.
In the end, you may ask questions about a hygienic oral routine for your child. To keep in touch with your child’s dentist, be sure to schedule a follow-up. Visiting a dentist only once will not be enough. Therefore, it is important to schedule one or two visits every year to minimize the chances of cavities and decay.

To continue your baby’s dental care, make sure to stop thumb and pacifier sucking early. Also, it is important to limit the number of sugary foods that increase the risk of tooth decay. Once you show your child the importance of a healthy mouth, they will continue to develop it in future also.

So, if you are looking for a family dentist who offers child care in a warm, caring and friendly environment, visit us or schedule an appointment with our pediatrician today.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

A dental x-ray is aimed at examining the different parts of the mouth that are not visible via a naked eye. A dental x-ray is designed for people of all ages and is incredibly important. An x-ray examination allows your dentist to view any kind of activity inside your mouth on a deeper level. Being one of the greatest diagnostic tools, dental x-rays accurately diagnose and treat dental issues inside the mouth. Right from the tip of the roots to the bones under the gums, everything is easily detected using dental x-rays. The most common screening that can be done using dental x-ray is a cavity, gum disease, cysts, bone loss and other that can be identified easily. Dentists can also scan missing teeth, thereby delivering an efficient care in the quickest ways.

How often should you opt for dental x-rays?
The frequency entirely depends on your medical history and present condition. There are some who might be requiring dental x-rays every 6 months, whereas the others with no gum disease may require it only once or twice a year. X-rays are generally recommended as a part of an initial examination.

How dental x-ray work?
X-rays normally comprise of 2-4 bitewing that displays more of crown positions. It also checks for the signs of decay. The process starts with a bite plate placed in between the teeth and the x-ray machine placed on either side of the face.

No special preparation is required. The only thing you need to do is brush your teeth properly before the treatment starts. At the office, the patient is seated in a chair. The x-ray machine is positioned along the head to record the activities going inside the mouth.

Why dental x-rays are an important part of oral healthcare?

Dental x-rays help in identifying cavities: One of the most common areas for cavities is between the teeth which can’t be seen without an x-ray.

X-rays help in spotting cysts and tumors: X-rays are an effective preventative measure to detect cysts and tumors that form around your teeth and bone.

X-rays are useful for identifying patients with bruxism: By revealing the underlying damage done to the bone, dental x-rays examine the relationship between teeth and jaws. After detecting damage done to the bone and jaw, dentists further recommend the other treatment to get away with bruxism.

Helps in identifying wisdom teeth: Dental x-rays are an effective way to get a clear picture of the wisdom teeth that usually grows during the late teens or early twenties.

Detecting and treating dental issues at an early stage not only saves your time and money but also the unnecessary discomfort. So, schedule an appointment with us today. Our specialists will help you easily identify the root cause based on a dental x-ray examination.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Tooth decay and cavity formation is quite common in adults and children who do not follow a proper oral care routine. When it comes to preventing cavities, fluoride treatments have emerged as a standard treatment in the dental industry. Fluoride eradicates the issues associated with gum decay. Professional fluoride treatments are given to the patients which help in imparting strength to the enamel.

How Fluoride Works?
Fluoride is known to protect the tooth enamel from the harmful effects of excess acid inside the mouth. It is a component helpful for both adult and child’s teeth. Fluoride is a mineral found in food and other beverages like black tea, seedless raisins, juice, wine, and coffee. So, the best way to assure the health of your teeth is to add those products that contain fluoride to your daily dental routine.

Another best thing that can be done is brushing with fluoride toothpaste as it helps to slow the formation of acid that leads to destructive bacteria. Fluoride mouth rinses and supplements are also available in liquid and tablet form.

A professional fluoride treatment uses safe and effective concentration to protect the teeth against decay. Fluoride treatments are generally given in gel, foam and varnish forms.

What To Expect From Fluoride Treatment?
Fluoride treatment is generally recommended in every 6 months after the patient’s dental cleaning or exam. The cleaned teeth are dried to avoid diluting the strength of fluoride. The process is quick, non-invasive and does not require any special preparation. During the process, patients also have the choice to use a mouthguard which is filled with foam or gel.

Patients need to follow treatment aftercare to make sure that the fluoride fully penetrates the enamel. It is advised not to drink, eat or smoke for at least 30 minutes after the fluoride treatment.

Fluoride treatment administered by experienced dentists contain a higher level of fluoride concentration than the ones in topical toothpaste or mouthwash. The fluoride is applied to the tooth using a special varnish. Fluoride varnish is completely safe and used by dentists to prevent tooth decay in children.

Fluoride treatment is beneficial to those who are at an increased risk of tooth decay because of the dry mouth, gum disease, cavity formation, crown, bridges or braces.

Get in touch with us today to know more about the process and its advantages. Our dentists will diagnose and then suggest the right treatment based on your requirements.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Root canal treatment is a dental therapy that helps in removing the diseased pulp from a root canal in your tooth. Also known as Endodontics, root canal leads to serious dental problems like tooth loss and bone damage in its severe stages. The pulp which is the infected area is removed and cleaned. In continuation, a filling is placed to seal the space. There are various advantages of availing a root canal treatment. Let’s explore a few of them:

The treatment is virtually painless and quite convenient for patients. In comparison to having a natural tooth extracted, root canal often leaves patients with less discomfort. A tooth extraction process is comparatively painful than root canal therapy.

1. Patients no longer need to take pain relievers or ice pack as root canal treatment permanently kills off the pain.
2. The therapy also prevents the formation of abscess in your infected tooth.
3. Root canal treatment leaves you with a natural biting force which means you can resume daily eating habits like biting and chewing a few days after the treatment.
4. Root canal also protects your teeth from the strain.

The treatment is performed under a local anesthetic wherein our dentists will create a tiny hole in the tooth. The damaged canal attached to the pulp is cleaned. The tiny hole is further sealed. A dental crown is then fitted to protect the tooth.

The need for root canal arises when there is a deep cavity resulting in nerve exposure. In instances where a toothache or infection goes untreated, there is a possibility that harmful bacteria invade the gums, thereby leading to several health issues.

Who is the right candidate for root canal treatment?

Dentists recommend having a root canal therapy performed only if the pulp within the tooth is infected. If such type of damage is left untreated, it results in deep-down tooth decay and long-term damage. Root canal problems also arise if patients are suffering from gum disease. A root canal therapy is generally recommended to patients who have been experiencing chronic pain and infection from a long time.

Endodontic treatment or root canal helps to save your tooth and relieve you from pain or discomfort. This is the reason which makes it an apt choice amongst candidates suffering from gum related disorders.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.