Basic Concepts in Occlusion (1)

1. Major components for mastication

a. teeth: number, position, size, shape of the contacting surfaces

b. muscles for mastication and the innervations

c. joints

2. Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ)

a.structure

l   between the temporal bone at the base of the skull and the condyle of the mandible

l   on the temporal side: glenoid fossa; articular eminence

l   on the mandibular side: condylar head

l   in between: a cartilaginous disc

b.movements

l   at the beginning of the opening of the mouth: rotational movement like a hinge (the condyle remains in the glenoid fossa)

l   opening further: forward movement (the condyle move forward and downward along the slope of the articular eminence)

l   on chewing: one condyle (working side) stay in the fossa while the other side (non-working side) moves forward and downward

Reference information: www.bjdental.com/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

New AACD Research: The Smile Most Attractive At Any Age (2)

More Good News: A Great Smile is the Key to Aging Well.

Here's something else to share with your patients...if they want to look youthful, they should invest in their teeth!

According to our survey respondents, nearly half (45%) think a person’s smile can defy the effects of aging while eyes come in a distant second (34%).

In comparison, fewer adults find the following features likely to age well:

• Body shape (10%)

• Hair (6%)

• Legs (5%)

 

Perhaps speaking from experience, 54% of the U.S. population 50+ can attest that a smile is the feature that can overcome decades of birthdays most attractively.

This is far more than 39% of younger counterparts who feel the same!

 

 

And, a Great Smile is More Appealing to the Opposite Sex!

This may seem like a no-brainer, but more than one-third of respondents said they view people with a flawed smile to be less attractive (37%) and less confident than those with perfect teeth.

More women than men (40% vs. 35%) agree that an imperfect smile makes someone less appealing than a person with a perfect smile.

 

 

Reference information: www.aacd.com/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

New AACD Research: The Smile Most Attractive At Any Age (1)

It’s no secret we only have one chance to make a lasting first impression, which can often shape how we are perceived and remembered in both our social and professional lives.

 

A new study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) finds that a great smile can be our greatest asset – a feature that remains attractive even as we age and goes a long way in nailing an incredible first impression. Use this research to promote your work and help your patients achieve the smile of their dreams!

What Kind of First Impression Do Your Patients Want to Make?

Chances are, they want to make a good one. Luckily, more people are willing to invest in their teeth than other self-improvements...including weight loss!

According to our research, a whopping 80 percent admit they would spend money to maintain a youthful appearance.

More women than men (84% vs. 75%) are willing to make this investment. And since many believe that turning 30 gives you plenty to dread, it’s not surprising that those, ages 30-39, are more likely than any other age groups (88% vs. 78%) to consider shelling out money for their looks.

 

 

 

 

Reference information: www.aacd.com/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Dental Floss and Diabetes

Dental Floss

Proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach – under the gumline and between adjacent teeth. It can important as it can preventing periodontal disease, bad breath, etc. Flossing daily is a good ways to clean between your teeth.

Bleeding gums may be a sign that you have some form of gum disease, such as gingivitis or periodontal disease. If bleeding gums persist, you should consider to consulting your dentist.

 

Diabetes

Long term research have shown a significant link between diabetes and oral health.
When your blood sugar levels are poorly controlled, the oral cavity is more prone to develop infections such as, gingivitis, periodontitis, thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth) ultimately leading to tooth loss.

Diabetic patients should follow your physician’s instructions on blood sugar levels control, regular dental check-ups and practice good oral hygiene with twice-a-day brushing, flossing and using anti-cavity dental rinse.

 

 

 

Reference information: www.bjdental.com/

 It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is the condition that occurs when you don’t have sufficient saliva or spit to keep your mouth wet. The symptoms include mouth sores, dry feeling in your mouth, tongue and throat, cracked lips, trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking. There are several reasons why salivary glands might not work properly, like side effects of medications, disease (like diabetes), undergoing radiation therapy, chemotherapy and nerve damages.

Dry mouth may cause you difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Also, it can increase your chance to developing dental decay, gum disease and bad mouth. You should consider to consulting your dentist for treatment.

 

 

What is/are the treatment(s) for dry mouth?

1) Prescribe medicine that will help make the salivary glands function more efficiently.

2) Use artificial saliva

3) Professional Fluoride treatment

4) Instructions and nutritional counseling by oral hygienist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference information: www.bjdental.com/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

 

Aphthous Ulcer and Wisdom teeth

Aphthous Ulcer

It is a form of mouth ulcer but the aetiology of aphthous ulcer has not been confirmed. It is commonly present on the oral mucosa of the cheeks, lips, tongue and throat.

What is/are the treatment(s) for aphthous ulcer?

- Apply ointment prescribed by the dentist onto the area to relief pain

- If you are wearing an unfit denture, you should consult your dentist to make a new denture.

 

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease

 

What is/are the treatment(s) for wisdom teeth?

1) Extraction as same as any other tooth.

2) If a wisdom tooth that is underneath the gums or embedded in the jawbone, it will require an incision into the gums and then removal of the portion of bone that lies over the tooth.

 

 

Reference information: www.bjdental.com/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

 

Oral Problems─Sensitive Teeth

A. Cause of sensitive teeth
Sensitive teeth are mainly caused by exposed dentine. If enamel has been worn off or damaged, then it will lose its protective function and the dentine will be exposed. The dentine has many fine dentinal tubules connecting to the pulp. When it is stimulated by eating or drinking hot, cold, sour, or sweet food and beverages, or when it is contacted by a toothbrush or dental floss, sharp pain will be felt.

B. Causes for exposed dentine
Brushing with a toothbrush with bristles that are too hard, or brushing with excessive force can abrade the enamel of teeth.
Frequently eat or drink highly acidic food or beverages will lead to acidic erosion of the enamel.
Frequent grinding of teeth (bruxism) causing enamel to wear off.
Suffering from Periodontal Disease which causes gum recession and exposed root surface.

C. Management
Dentist will apply topical fluoride on the tooth surface or perform a filling according to the condition.
Use a “mouth guard” made by the dentist to avoid further attrition of teeth.
Use desensitizing toothpaste to relieve tooth sensitivity. You should consult your dentist before purchasing or using this type of toothpaste.

D. Prevention
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Brush with a gentle force.
Avoid frequent intake of highly acidic food or beverages such as fruit juice, sports drink, soft drink, yogurt, red wine, white wine, etc., to avoid acidic attack.
Avoid biting on hard food such as bone or nut to prevent enamel from fracturing.
Sufficient sleep and exercise to relieve stress to avoid bruxism (grinding teeth)





Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

補牙材料的種類

複合材料

什麼情況下使用？ 複合材料的顏色接近牙齒原色，效果非常美觀，所以大多數用在方。在適當情況下，複合材料更可用作改善牙齒顏色、形狀及大小而美化笑容。

存在問題 用複合材料補牙程序比較複雜。複合材料不及水銀合金耐用，因為較容易磨損。其中主要原因為當複合材料凝固後，會有可能有收縮情況出現而令牙齒與複合材料之 間形成小縫隙。這小縫隙可能使牙齒敏感及容易再有機會蛀牙。複合材料也可能會吸取食物及飲料中的染色素而日久變黃。

玻璃離子樹脂

什麼情況下使用？ 玻璃離子樹脂是另一種牙色補牙物料。通常用在乳齒、近牙肉及牙腳地方。它能緊貼著牙齒及其所發放的氟素有助鞏固牙齒及有防蛀功效。補牙後敏感的情況亦少發生。

存在問題 它的質地比複合材料及水銀合金弱及較容易磨損。顏色方面不及複合材料美觀。

參考資料: http://www.hkda.org/
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Oral Trauma

 

Oral structure or teeth may be damaged due to an accident. There might be slightly loose, dislocated, fractured, or even avulsed (the entire tooth knocked off). Injury of oral tissues or oral structures such as lips, gingivae, oral mucosa, alveolar bone, or even upper or lower jawbones may be resulted. There might not be any apparent damage to the teeth

Bleeding can be stopped by pressing on the injured area and a dentist should be consulted immediately.

What is/are the treatments for tooth trauma?

A.Smoothen the fractured portion and apply topical fluoride on the tooth surface

B.Fill the tooth

C.Artificial Crown

The dentist will remove the decayed, fill the cavity, and cover the tooth with an artificial crown.

D.Endodontic file.

The dental specialist, endodonist will remove the nerve and infected pulp, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. In most cases, the tooth’s natural crown will need to be replaced with an artificial crown.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

 

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

 

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay refers to the destruction of tooth structure and the most common symptoms are cavity in the tooth, and toothache, etc. There are several things that can be done to slow down or prevent the breakdown process, like brushing at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, using interdental cleansing aids including dental floss or interdental toothbrush, rinsing thoroughly with an anti-cavity dental rinse. Additionally, eating a healthy diet and limiting carbohydrate intake can help.

Tooth decay can affect both the enamel and the dentin of the tooth, if decay is left untreated, it will reach the tooth’s pulp which contains nerves and blood vessels.

What is the treatment for dental cavities?

1) Fill / restore the tooth
The dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth in the cavity and fill the cavity.

2) Artificial crown
The dentist will remove the decayed, fill the cavity, and cover the tooth with an artificial crown.

3) Root canal treatment.

The dental specialist, endodonist will remove the nerve and infected pulp, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. In most cases, the tooth’s natural crown will need to be replaced with an artificial crown.

 

 

 

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.