MOLAR TO MOLAR SMILE

  Tooth fractures usually occurs due to traumatic injuries to the teeth. Cracked tooth syndrome also known as CRACKED CUSP SYNDROME or SPLIT TOOTH is a condition where a tooth is incompletely fractured or cracked but no part is broken off. It involves enamel, dentin and pulp but the pulp is still vital. Such cracks are difficult to be seen on xray as these are under the gums. This syndrome mostly affects the lower back teeth as they bear the maximum chewing forces. CAUSES OF CRACKED TOOTH SYNDROME Chewing something really hard which puts a lot of pressure on the tooth and it cracks down. Directly opening cans and bottles from teeth. Its a big NO NO to open bottles from your teeth. Parafunctional habits like clenching and grinding of teeth makes people more susceptible to this. Teeth that have undergone root canal treatments or teeth with high points on restoration, improper crown placed are also at a larger risk. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Excruciating pain at initiation or release of bi...

Cosmetic dentistry has become an integral part of restorative practice. It is perceived that whiter teeth enhance the beauty of a person's smile. As a result, demand for whiter teeth has increased in today's patients. BLEACHING It is lightening of discoloration of teeth through application of chemical agents to oxidise the organic pigmentation of teeth. REASONS FOR DISCOLORATION 1. Extrinsic discoloration- Highly colored food items Caffeinated beverages Red wine 2. Intrinsic discoloration- Intra pulpal hemorrhage Pulp necrosis Antibiotic stains ( tetracycline ) Fluorosis ( 1-2ppm) Metallic restorations BLEACHING AGENTS 1. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- Concentration of 30% (superoxol) is used for in office bleaching. It diffuses easily through enamel and dentin and breaks down water into perhydroxyl ions and nascent oxygen [0]. These molecules open up the carbon ring of pigment molecule and convert them into colorless [OH] compounds. 2. Sodium perborate- Decompose into sodium metab...

Nursing caries is a form of tooth decay caused in children sleeping with bottles. Also k/a BABY BOTTLE DECAY. It is a form of rampant caries which is defined as " caries of rapid onset in areas which are not susceptible to caries like lower anterior/ front teeth, only the difference lies in the area which gets affected by the disease. Nursing bottle caries affects the labial portion of the upper front teeth. CAUSE- When the child goes to bed with a bottle of milk/ juice/ sweetened drink. Even breast feeding , pacifiers dipped in honey also are a leading cause of nursing caries. It affects children in the age group of 1-2 years mostly. SIGN & SYMPTOMS-  Initial lesion is on the labial surface of upper front teeth close to the gingival margin which starts off  as a whitish area of decalcification or pitting of enamel and progresses to a light yellow pigmented lesion on teeth. Advanced lesion - Appears as a darkly pigmented lesion circumferencing the tooth. PREVENTION- Do ...

  ' Host' - The organism from which a parasite obtains nourishment. 'Modulation' - Alteration of function or status of something in response to a stimulus or an altered chemical/ physical environment. Host Modulation Therapy (HMT) is a treatment concept that helps restore the balance of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory mediators to that seen in healthy individuals by modifying host response factors. Plaque bacteria initiates the disease and bacterial antigens cross the junction epithelium and drive the inflammatory process. Bacteria are essential for periodontitis to occur but a susceptible host is even more important. Page et al., in 1997, reported that PDL breakdown is caused by host destructive enzymes like metalloproteinases (MMP'S), prostaglandins (PG), interleukins (IL). HMT AGENTS- 1. Sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline- According to Burns et al., in 1989, doxycycline was most potent tetracycline in inhibition of collagenolytic activities. Sub dose was sh...

WHAT IS BRUXISM ?? Bruxism has been defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as the " repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by the clenching or grinding of teeth and/ or bracing or thrusting of the mandible." Night bruxism - Nocturnal bruxism Day bruxism - Diurnal bruxism Frequent sleep bruxism occurs in about 13% of adults. The exact etiology is still unknown and current literature suggests that sleep bruxism is regulated centrally  (pathophysiological and psychosocial factors) and not peripherally (morphological factors).  CAUSES OF BRUXISM- Stress/ Anxiety: It is one of the leading causes of bruxism and most people unaware of the condition keep on grinding their teeth leading to severe outcomes. Malaligned teeth: Improper occlusion or when teeth are not in proper alignment cause a disrupted bite leading to grinding of some teeth in improper occlusion. Working conditions: People working in factories involving gritty / abrasive products like coal, dust etc...

Human body is one of the most precious and complex systems on the planet Earth. Hence, it requires our attention towards its well being. In developing countries, like India, dental health insurance is a highly underrated subject and the main reason being unawareness towards the good oral hygiene. WHY THE UNAWARENESS?? People ignore their dental health because they think it's not fatal and that until and unless they suffer from pain they don't need to see the dentist.  Secondly, the fear they have of visiting the dentist. The third and the most important reason being the high COST FACTOR of the dental treatment. Here the dental insurance comes into the seen- PRIVATE THIRD PARTY PREPAYMENT PLANS Payment for services by some agency rather than directly by the beneficiary of thos services. The term " third party" refers to an insurance company. Insurance principles and dental care- Be precisely definable. Be of sufficient magnitude that if it occurs, it constitutes a majo...

In anyways, maintaining oral hygiene is very important and it becomes all the more important during pregnancy. Studies show a definite link between oral health diseases and pregnancy. Taking good care of your oral health during pregnancy can help you have a healthy baby and healthy teeth. CHANGES in oral cavity during pregnancy- 1. Gingivitis: Certain bacteria like Prevotella intermedia and Capnocytophaga increase in our oral cavity most likely making our gums swell aka., gingivitis. 2. Pregnancy Tumor ( Pyogenic Granuloma ): These tumors are not cancerous but conditioned gingival enlargements. They look bright red and can bleed easily, but usually go away on their own. 3. Periodontitis: Hormones like progesterone and estrogen increase during pregnancy which take a toll on your oral health. They can temporarily loosen the tissues and bone that support your teeth making them slightly mobile. 4. Caries: Increase in blood and saliva glucose levels of a pregnant woman, cause the tee...

  A recent systematic review by Slot et al., estimated that the efficacy of plaque removal following a brushing exercise averages only around 42%.  Daily interdental plaque removal is crucial to augment the effects of toothbrushing because most dental and periodontal diseases originate in the interproximal areas. Dahlen et al., found that 24 months after initiation of a supervised oral hygiene program, total viable count of bacteria in deep and shallow pockets such a Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregator actinomycetemcomitans decreased in number. To help enhance the oral hygiene various interdental aids are used along with your toothbrush- 1. DENTAL FLOSS It is a multifilament nylon yarn i.e, twisted / non twisted, bonded / non bonded, waxed / unwaxed. Methods of flossing- Spool technique (Finger - wrap method)  Cut 18-20" of floss and wrap each side of floss around each middle finger. Move the floss in between the teeth with index fingers and thumb in an up and down ...

" Don't rush when you brush"         Toothbrushing tools date back to 3500-3000 BC when the Babylonians and the Egyptians made a brush out of a twig. The bristled toothbrush appeared about the year 1600 in China, which was first patented by United States of America in 1857. The first toothbrush of modern design was made by William Addis in England around 1780- the handle being carved out of cattle bone and brush portion was made from swine bristles. What is a TOOTHBRUSH ?? It is an oral hygiene tool used to clean the teeth, gums and tongue. However, humans have been using precursors of it long before anyone thought of it as a tool of oral hygiene.  Everyone in their childhood must have heard their mothers saying to brush twice a day, not to stop brushing before 2 mins. Well these are the facts and sayings that are very much relevant in the current scenario as well.  Now let us understand what a toothbrush and the technique of brushing is all about. TO...

" Never trust your fears, they don't know your strength."  The Washington Post, reported in 2015, " Roughly 5-10% of population suffers from dental phobia, but as many as 40-75% of people experience fear and anxiety related to dentistry that contribute to avoiding the dentist altogether."  Modern dentistry has made much progress in providing patient friendly environment still, anxiety towards dental treatment has stayed relatively constant. What is PHOBIA ?? It is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation for at least a period of 6 months.  DENTAL PHOBIA It represents a severe type of dental anxiety and is characterized by marked and persistent anxiety in relation to either a clearly discernible situations or to the dental situation in general. EMOTIONAL PATTERNS related to Dental Fear Fear of PAIN:- Link between actual or anticipation of pain and dental fear is well established. Unfortunately discomfort and slight ...