Category Archives: Dental Care

What is the history of dental implants? Where do they come from?

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The first record of teeth implants dates back approximately 3,000 years, when Egyptians started using copper studs nailed into the jawbone, as replacement teeth after tooth loss.  Further implant discoveries were made during the 1900s, when Archaeologists found that the Mayans carved shells to fashion false teeth, which were embedded into tooth sockets as early as 600AD. Citizens of Northern Italy, known as Etruscans, used human and animal teeth as substitute teeth around 700BC.

Suction-type dentures were developed by the Japanese for tooth loss in the 1500′s. Ivory turners, goldsmiths and barber surgeons also became specialists in dentistry, creating artificial teeth out of wood, ivory, and metals. By the 1770s the French, such as Alexis Duchâteau, further explored how to fix artificial teeth into the mouth and jawbone. Nicholas Dubois De Chemant was given the first British patent to supply these porcelain dentures, similar to those mounted on gold plates in London during the 1820s by Claudius Ash.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge used titanium implant posts embedded into rabbit ear chambers during the 1950s. Per Brånemark, a Swedish Orthopaedic Surgeon built on their research to study bone regeneration and healing. Although Stefano Melchiade Tramonte, an Italian medical doctor, had used titanium skrews to support artificial teeth during the 1960s, it was Per Brånemark who placed the first titanium dental implant into a human in 1965. Further research was conducted in the United States resulting in patents being fitted with titanium teeth implants by 1969.

Brånemark also published widely on Dental Implantology during the 70s and coined the term ‘osseointegration’ to describe how titanium fuses with bone. His work resulted in the Brånemark System for implants, which was developed and marketed by firms such as Nobel Biocare. Dr Leonard Linkow then pioneered research in Dentistry Implantology and began using titanium implants for people by 1992. Both root form and plate form dental implants have continued to develop since.

Current Dental Implants and Procedural Developments

Advancements in radiography and 3D CAD/CAM computer programs used to measure mouth contours and sockets for appropriate fitting of implants and prosthesis teeth, such as dental crowns, mean dental implantology is now more accurate and efficient. Use of various materials, such as zirconia, as an alternate to titanium is also being explored. Current developments in dental implant procedures are also enhancing dental implant procedures, including the new Same Day Smiles. All on 4 implants are fit at a 45 angled degree instead of vertical. As a result, four implants are used to replace part or a complete arch of teeth on either the upper or lower jaw. These new treatments reduce costs, cut down treatment length and give greater stability to replacement teeth supported by dental implants.

Paying for Dental Care

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It is perhaps a fair assumption that not many people are keen on visiting their dentist. The stigma attached to such a visit (the sounds, the discomfort etc.) can factor into people’s concerns and may lead to apprehension and fear of the dentist. One other reason for people’s concerns to take into account could be the idea of paying for such a treatment, but many dentists in Nottingham do offer finance schemes; this is a good way for them to operate and discourage the need to place a dental guide to practice sales close to the operation.

There are, of course, people who are exempt from paying dental fees, and there are just as many who are eligible for ‘discounts’. Under the NHS dental services these people include children (and students in full-time education), pregnant women, people receiving benefits etc. Prices generally vary depending on the treatment carried out; especially at private dental practices. Paying for treatment can be as simple as handing the money over at the end of your visit or just before the procedure begins. But there are more and more people opting for payment plans. Such as: spreading your payments over a period of time (monthly, for example).

It is perhaps a good idea to ‘shop around’ to get an idea of how much certain treatments can cost. This will give you a better understanding of roughly how much may be expected for payment, depending on what needs to be carried out. Generally speaking NHS prices are much lower than private practice costs for things like cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk/articles/root-canal.html and they are set by the government for all NHS patients.

Dental implants? Are you mad?

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Dental implants are an increasingly popular way of replacing missing teeth, be it one tooth or a whole mouthful. Replacing missing teeth is important for obvious reasons, such as eating, talking and just aesthetics. Many Reading dentists recommend dental implants over a denture or a fixed bridge because it’s a long-term solution that causes little discomfort after it has been fitted. Unlike dentures, an implant cannot move around in the mouth and is entirely permanent, so you don’t have to keep it in a glass by your bed. They leave you with a totally natural looking result.

What is involved?

The dental implant itself is a titanium replacement for the core of the tooth, and it is drilled into the jawbone. It is used to hold a crown, denture or bridge firmly in place. The dentist will begin the procedure by assessing your teeth and gums, and fixing any decay or damage found. Once your mouth is completely healthy, you will have x-rays done so that the dentist can plan the rest of the procedure. The procedure itself can sound quite painful, but don’t worry, it is done under local anaesthetic! First, the gum is lifted away from the area of the missing tooth, and the dentist drills a hole into the jawbone. The implant is fitted into this hole and the dentist will seal the gum back over it to heal for about six months. Hopefully, during this time the jawbone will grow around the implant and the two will be integrated. Your dentist will provide you with a temporary tooth in the meantime. After this, the gum is reopened and a post fitted into the implant with a temporary crown, which is left for four-six weeks while the gum tissue matures, and then the final, permanent restoration is fitted.

Braces, Inman aligners and invisalign; the way forward in teeth alignment straightening is here

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The brace has been with us for donkey’s years, and will be with us for many more than that. The reason is that it has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and not a day too soon. The latest innovations are a combination of computer science and dentistry at its best.

The Inman and the Invisalign braces are a real innovation for adults especially. Many children didn`t want to have an NHS brace in the past, and who can blame them, so their teeth suffered and weren`t fixed.

That problem has haunted many of us into our adult life. The answer is the brilliant braces that I`ve mentioned. Both will start with a few painless information gathering moments at your dentist, this will involve digital photos and X-rays being taken, and a mould made of your teeth. All this is then sent off to a computer programmer to feed into a dental module. Then the magic begins, the program will work out all the pressure measurements that your orthodontist and dentist will need to make the braces that you will have fitted every two weeks on average. They will also produce a brilliant film that will show a computer generated image of the whole process. The film is in 3D and as you watch it will take you through the different stages of the procedure, at the end you`ll see just how your teeth will look. The process will manipulate your teeth into different positions until they become straight, the other magic thing is that it will alter the blood flow in your gums. This allows new bone to build up behind your teeth and keep them in place.

The braces come in two designs, the Inman is clear in appearance except for a bar that runs across the front, this holds all the pressure workings in place. This version is only recommended for the front teeth, it isn`t that good on the back ones. For the front and back teeth you`ll need the Invisalign, this is, as the name suggests, almost invisible and has no bar across the front. Both braces are removable, and for the busy executive that’s a God Send. When lunching or dining with business clients you can simply take the brace off and slip it in your pocket, it won`t harm the process at all. You only need to have them in for around 20 hours a day.

Locked Jaw, A Painful Condition

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Locked jaw is a very painful situation. In this condition, the person is not able to move the jaw up, down, left or right. One cause of locked jaw can be anterior or forward dislocation of the jaw. In this type of dislocation, the jaw will not close.

Another serious condition that results in locked jaw is tetany, in which there occur spasms on a continuous basis. This condition can be recognised easily just by spotting the associated spasms with locked jaw.

The spasms can be soothed by applying hot packs on the jaw muscles. It is important to seek urgent medical attention for this condition.

Tooth abscess can also cause lock jaw. Abscess appears as a swelling and can lead into this painful situation. Abscess does not occur as an acute problem, but it takes weeks to months before it reaches its final stage and lead into a threatening condition, locked jaw.

Tooth abscesses get into their full blown potential because of lack of oral hygiene. Since there are statistics proving that abscesses can lead to locked jaw, it is necessary that an individual must have regular dental visits to ensure good oral hygiene.

One of the treatments that are known to help locked jaw condition is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator. This helps the lock jaw condition by gently relaxing and contracting the muscles, thus producing a calming effect.

Another treatment option is surgery, through which the surgeon will realign the jaw and will strengthen the muscles of the jaw. After surgery, it is advisable to undergo rehabilitation and do jaw strengthening exercises on a regular basis.

Note: Locked jaw can occur repeatedly. Thus it is advisable to consult the physician to know the exact cause and to have proper treatment related to it.

For more information visit dentist in reading

Is it Okay to Drink Alcohol after Dental Implants Have Been Installed?

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Most patients are advised not to drink alcohol after dental implants have been installed. There are a few reasons why this is the case. First, alcohol inhibits the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This is true because alcohol causes blood vessels in the body to dilate. This makes skin, teeth and gums very sensitive to pain and to inflammation. This makes it very hard for the body to recover from surgery. As a result, dental patients should not drink alcohol after having dental implants have been installed.

In addition, drinking alcohol after dental implants have been installed is also dangerous. This is because it could make using the pain medications that are prescribed to alleviate the pain that results from the surgery dangerous to use. Therefore, dental patients should refrain from drinking alcohol until they have completely finished with installing their dental implants.

As you know by now, drinking alcohol after dental implants have been installed is a bad idea. It can make recovery more difficult and it can also be outright dangerous to mix alcohol with the pain medications that are used in the recovery process. As a result, patients should think twice before drinking alcohol after installing dental tooth implants.

 

Intoxicating?

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‘I’ve worked with a lot of dangerous things in my career. I don’t get real worked up over chemicals or I could have never done my job – this one scares me,’ said Daniel Stockin, a health advocate whose background includes toxics assessment.

But what could it possibly be? Carbon monoxide? Lead?

Nope on both! It’s fluoride!

Dentists in Nottingham, pay attention! Too much fluoride can cause ‘dental fluorosis.’

So how do we avoid it? Who knows. It’s in our water, it’s in our food, it’s in our toothpaste. Hell, for all I know, it’s in the air we breathe.

Stockin first started being concerned about fluoride in 2004 so he started The Lillie Center – a public health training firm that’s working to end fluoridation. “When we started to fluoridate 50-plus years ago, water was the only source for fluoride, then they really quickly said hey, let’s put it in toothpaste, and then it started to show up in the foods made with fluoridated water,’ Stockin said.

For over five years, Stockin and his colleagues have been spending most of their time warning of the dangers of fluoride, one of which is dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is caused by ingesting too much it from various resources.

In mild cases it appears as brown or white stains on the teeth, but in more severe cases, it includes pitting of the teeth and when the damage is done, it’s not fixable.

‘A lot of folks think it’s just ‘Oh, I have bad hygiene or I’ve got cavities,’ and they have no idea that these stains and these pits are actually caused by the fluorides they’ve ingested,’ Stockin said.

Since 1950, both the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control have been advocates of water fluoridation, and although the ADA admits that too much fluoride can be toxic, they still maintain at lower levels, it’s a safe and effective way in preventing tooth decay.

So if you begin to notice pitting of the teeth and/or distinct white marks on the teeth with some brown spots, you may want to get checked out by your family dentist