牙痛

參考資料：www.bjdental.com , www.toothclub.gov.hk

由於恆齒的體積比乳齒大，恆齒長出時可能不夠空位，引致牙齒排列參差不齊。這個情況會否改善，要待小臼齒長出後,以及頜骨發育穩定才可以確定。如果有疑問，可請教您的牙科醫生。

牙齒排列出現空隙
牙齒排列出現空隙，最主要的原因是恆齒的體積跟發育中的頜骨不配合。這種情況可能是暫時性的。至於牙齒排列日後會否回復整齊，就要請教您的牙科醫生。

牙痛

蛀牙會引致牙痛，特別當進食冷、熱、甜、酸的食物的時候。如果蛀壞的部份深入牙髓， 牙髓便會受細菌感染而發炎，引致更劇烈和持續的痛楚。其實牙痛的成因十分多， 所以如果您有牙痛，必須接受牙齒檢查，才能得到正確的診斷。

牙齦痛

牙齦痛的成因可能是牙齒長出、口瘡(俗稱「飛滋」)或者牙周病。如果您有牙齦痛，應請教您的牙科醫生，才能得到正確的診斷。

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。

拔牙後的護理方法

為避免傷口再度出血，於拔牙當天請注意以下要點：

• 請勿漱口及吐口水
• 請勿用手指或舌頭擦弄傷口
• 請勿喝含有酒精的飲料
• 請勿做劇烈運動

若傷口再度流血，可嘗試將清潔的棉花或紗布放在傷口，緊咬三十分鐘，幫助止血。 如傷口持續出血，請立刻返回有關牙科診所接受治療。

補牙之後應該注意的事項
大部份補牙物料都需要一段時間才變得完全堅固。因此，補牙當天您應避免用補牙位置的一邊牙齒來咀嚼食物。

補牙物料崩裂或者鬆脫之後的處理方法
如果發現補牙物料崩裂或鬆脫，應該盡快見您的牙科醫生。

注射局部麻醉藥後的注意事項
在注射局部麻醉藥後，麻痺的感覺會持續數小時。在感覺未完全恢復之前，必須注意以下要點：

• 不要咬咀唇或舌頭
• 避免進食太熱的食物或飲料
• 用沒有麻痺感覺的那一邊牙齒來咀嚼食物

參考資料：www.schooldental.gov.hk , www.bjdental.com

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。

換牙-自然脫落

特別護理「六歲齒」
小朋友六歲時，他下頜乳臼齒後面長出「大」牙齒，即第一大臼齒，共有四隻，位置在口腔四端乳臼齒的後面，由於通常在六歲左右長出，故稱為「六歲齒」。「六 歲齒」對將來其他恆齒的正常排列十分重要，因此需要小心護理。

在刷牙時要提醒小朋友把牙刷放到最後面，好好清潔六歲齒。另外，牙科醫生會按個別情況，在牙面上塗上「牙紋防蛀劑」，將深的紋溝填平，防止蛀牙。

恆齒長出，乳齒仍未脫落
小孩子約在五至六歲開始換牙，若下頜的恆門牙在乳門牙背後長出，形成重疊牙。一般來說，乳齒會因為牙根收縮而變得鬆動，跟着自然脫落，這是正常現象，不會影響恆齒的生長，所以不一定要拔掉鬆動的乳齒。

乳齒脫落，恆齒仍未長出
一般情況下，恆齒會在幾個月內自然在這空位長出來。另外，換牙時間的遲與早因人而異，即使與一般同齡孩子比較，相差一年也算正常。如有疑問，可以請教您的牙科醫生。

恆齒的色澤比乳齒黃
恆齒一般都比乳齒「黃」，是由於恆齒的琺瑯質鈣化程度及透光度都較高，光線可以把琺瑯質下層黃色的象牙質呈現出來。不過，若發現牙齒真的變色，就必須請敎您的牙科醫生。

上頜門齒之間出現空隙
小孩子上頜正中兩顆門牙長出後，向兩旁分開成「八」字形，中間出現一條縫隙，這個情況稱為「醜小鴨階段」，一般在6至7歲出現，頗為普遍。在正常情況下，當兩旁的犬齒長出後，縫隙通常會自然消失。

參考資料：www.schooldental.gov.hk

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。

培養良好的飲食習慣

吃喝次數與蛀牙

每次吃喝時，口腔內的牙菌膜都會利用食物中的糖分或澱粉質進行新陳代謝，產生酸素，而酸素則會引致牙齒表面的礦物質流失。

其實只要有足夠時間讓唾液中和酸素，以及補充牙齒表面流失了的礦物質，蛀牙機會便會減低。

密密進食的後果

如果進食的次數頻密，口腔內的酸素持續產生，唾液沒有足夠的時間中和過多的酸素，牙齒便容易蛀壞。 所以我們每一次吃喝，即使是吃一小片餅乾或喝一小杯飲料如果汁等，也算是吃喝了一次，增加了一次蛀牙機會。

為免牙齒被酸蝕，造成牙齒敏感，應減少吃喝高酸性的食物和飲品，例如酸蕎頭、話梅、檸檬、補充體力飲品、汽水、酒精飲品等。為了避免牙齒崩裂，亦應少吃堅硬的食物，如骨頭、硬殼類等。

參考資料：www.toothclub.gov.hk

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.

To prevent teeth coloring

There are several factors affecting the color of teeth, like natural aging process, nicotine stains, drinking coffee or tea, accumulation of plaque and tartar deposits etc. To prevent teeth coloring, you are recommend to brush / floss after meal and regular dentist cleaning. 

Improper use of bleaching agents will damage gums and tooth supporting tissues. Be careful when using bleaching agents and consult your dentist for proper usage of bleaching agents and it’s harmful to health if bleaching agent is ingested accidentally, so it is recommended to consult your dentist before.

What is/ are the treatment(s) for tooth whitening?

1. Laser Bleaching. The blue light has been clinically-proven for bleaching tooth enamel and can be done in dental office.  

2.Take Home Dentist Supervised Bleaching.

Impressions (mould) of teeth are taken to make a model and a custom whitening tray is constructed from this model. The trays are filled with a gentle whitening solution, and are inserted and worn over the teeth overnight.

Comparisons of the professional tooth whitening and Over-the-counter whitening toothpaste

	Professional tooth whitening	OTC whitening toothpaste
Treatment Time	~1 hour	1 month
Color Change	Average of 8 shades	1-2 shades
Fadeback	Less	More
Duration	Long lasting	Loss of results with discontinued use
Stains	Superficial and interprismatic stains	Superficial stains only

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.

Artificial Crowns and Veneers?

Periodontal plastic procedures can give you a perfect smile and boost your confidence so you can be at your best. Cosmetic surgery has become more popular than ever before especially now that people are living longer and aging more gracefully with the help of plastic surgery. Periodontal plastic surgery has also felt this trend as it has experienced a significant shift toward cosmetic-related surgery to help make smiles last a lifetime.

1) Artificial crowns

A dental crown is a customized tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth - covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance. The crown can (i) protect a weak tooth from breaking; (ii) restore tooth that has been severely worn down; (iii)  Cover misshapened or severely discolored teeth.  Preparing a tooth for a crown usually requires two visits to the dentist -- the first step involves examining and preparing the tooth and the second visit involves placement of the permanent crown.

(2) Veneers

Severely stained or chipped teeth may require Veneers, ultra-thin sculpted pieces of tooth-colored porcelain that fit over the front of your teeth.

At first, the dentist will check and examine your tooth. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will remove the enamel from the tooth surface, which is an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. Next, your dentist will make an impression (mould) of your tooth. The veneer color can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. Next, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched -- Once properly position on the tooth, your dentist will apply a special light beam to the dental veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement causing it to harden or cure very quickly. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, evaluating your bite and making any final adjustments in the veneer as necessary.  The Veneer could be removed technicially by dentist if needed. 

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.