Wisdom Tooth Extractions and other Dental Treatments

Whenever the term ‘wisdom tooth extraction’ is uttered, it can send anyone into a pit of fear and panic. Of course, when the presence of a dental surgeon is required, you know the dental treatment that is about to take place is of great and serious importance. The need for a wisdom tooth extraction varies from one patient to another. There are people who need to have their wisdom tooth or wisdom teeth extracted because it may overcrowd their already perfectly grown teeth. In instances where the growth of the wisdom tooth is obstructing the roots of an existing molar, then the extraction needs to be done in order to stop the unnecessary pain that is felt. There are also people who do not grow any wisdom teeth at all, and this saves them the time (and the emotions) to undergo the surgery.


However, if you are scheduled for such as extraction, you need not actually worry too much because an anesthetic will be applied. A lot of patients give feedback that their wisdom teeth extraction was not only quick, but it was also rather painless than what they were preparing for. Less pain and a quick procedure can also be anticipated for other kinds of dental treatments such as the placement of dental implants and root canals. Dental implants, like wisdom tooth extraction, are also another form of dental surgery. In this case, screws and an artificial tooth are used in order to replace a missing tooth. Although quite expensive, dental implants are quite popular because the benefits are long term and maintenance is also kept at a minimum. Root canal treatments may scare some people but in essence, there is very minimal pain felt because a local anesthetic is also applied during the course of the entire procedure. 


Aside from these mentioned dental treatments, orthodontic treatments are also quite popular. If you have seen one wearing braces, it might because there is a need to adjust any jaw misalignments or there is a need to correct that person’s bite. Today, the wearing of braces often becomes a fashion statement, and though braces cost quite expensive, a lot of teenagers and young adults can be seen wearing it for practical and aesthetic reasons.

How to Take Care of Your Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are technically braces that look as if it is barely there. Compared to metal braces, ceramic braces are lighter in shade and are not as strong as metal bracket and metal wires. Nevertheless, the use of ceramic braces as part of orthodontic treatment is popular because it evolves from a direct dental need to a dental-aesthetic need. Gone are the days when “metal mouth” and “magnetic mouth” are the banter against kids who wear braces. Today, braces can be a lovely appendage to a smile all because of the slight invisibility of ceramic braces.
So how should you handle your braces with tender loving care? Here are a few tips
how:

1. Keep your ceramic braces clean! The danger when one does not keep a regular teeth cleaning habit while wearing braces is the potential for yellow bracket marks. Patients who fall into the trap of yellow bracket marks prove that they were not able to brush their teeth as regularly as they should be during the time they were wearing their ceramic braces. In order to prevent this from happening, always keep a brushing and flossing schedule as strict as possible. Use a specific toothbrush that allows you to brush your brackets and wires in between the bristles so no food particle is left in between. To prevent your ceramic braces from staining, always make it a point to use regular, non-whitening toothpaste as whitening toothpastes have specific components that makes it badly react with ceramic. If you are advised to wear your braces for a full year or two, keep your regular brushing and flossing in check. You will not regret it in the end.

2. Gargle! Not everyone is a fan of mouthwashes, but you might have to learn to like it if you are wearing ceramic braces. Mouthwashes allow you to avoid developing sores around your mouth especially when your braces are freshly placed on your teeth.
3. Follow dentist’s orders! Since your ceramic braces are anchored using clear ligature wires, it is imperative that you have your ligature wires as well as the bands replaced on a regular basis. Normally, your dentist will advise you to visit him or her every 2 weeks to have your wires and bands changed since it has to adjust to the recent movements of your teeth. Missing an appointment may delay your progress, and may compromise the goal of your dentist about your teeth and your ceramic braces.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

It is essential that a patient who is a candidate for a dental implant is in his or her best oral health. After all, a dental implant requires a healthy and strong jaw bone in order for the metal to stand erect for years. Any patient, regardless of age, and free of any gingivitis or advanced periodontitis is a candidate for a dental implant. So to set the record straight, what does it take to be a candidate for dental implants?

1. The need to replace a missing tooth or a missing set of teeth. Dental implants are very popular dental solutions if the patient does not want bridgework or a set of dentures to take over his or her missing tooth/teeth. The danger with dentures and bridgeworks is that these are very temporary solutions, and more than that, it requires the person to apply extreme care and caution when brushing, taking off and wearing back the dentures at all times. A dental implant is a very permanent solution to missing tooth or teeth, and it has the capacity to imitate a real tooth or a real set of teeth when done perfectly. Normally, a team composed of a dentist, a dental surgeon and a periodontist will take care of you during your dental implant surgery. All three of them will be in charge of managing your case and suggesting to you the ways by which they will carry your dental implants.

2. A healthy jaw bone, gums and tissues. What happens in a dental implant procedure is that a piece of metal screw is placed on the jaw bone in order for it to hold the artificial tooth or set of artificial teeth. If you are a patient currently facing several periodontal problems, your chances for a dental implant is significantly reduced than a patient who presents signs of general oral wellness. If your jaw bone is brittle and your gums and tissues have a high likelihood for bacteria and infection, you may not be able to withstand the rigors and post-operative requirements of a dental implant procedure. Aside from the possibility of rendering the procedure unsuccessful, it might increase your chances for a more vulnerable jaw line and more possibility towards infections and bacteria in your gums and tissues. Your team of dentists will certainly not let that happen.

3. Physical, mental and financial preparedness. Like in any dental or even medical procedure, there is a level of preparation on the physical, mental and financial aspect that must be set in place. Physical and mental preparation will allow any candidate to go through the surgery without blood level fluctuations or any stress accompanied by both substantiated and unsubstantiated fear. Financially, a dental implant can cost a few thousand dollars depending on how much dental implants one needs, so it is very important that you have a significant amount of money reserved for such as a procedure. Going through a procedure such as a dental implant procedure should not be taken lightly as these have various implications to the patient. However, when all requirements and preparation are met, success in the dental implant procedure is certainly not so far behind.