Monthly Archives: April 2012

Functional appliances

Functional jaw orthpaedics is treatment with functional appliances making use of forces created by the head and neck musculature to bring about the desired dental, facial, and functional changes.

Functional appliances are removable or fixed [cemented] appliances that alter the posture of the mandible [lower jaw] and transmit the forces created by the resulting stretch of the muscles and soft tissues and by the change in the neuromuscular environment to the dental and skeletal tissues to produce movement of the teeth and modification to the growth of the jaws and lower face.

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Sinus lift surgery

A sinus lift is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. It’s sometimes called a sinus augmentation. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To make room for the bone, the sinus membrane has to be moved upward, or “lifted.” A sinus lift usually is done by a specialist. This could be either an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist. Continue reading →

Radiation Therapy and Dentistry (Part 2)

Osteoradionecrosis

What is osteoradionecrosis?

Osteoradionecrosis is an irradiated bone (undergo radiotherapy) that becomes devitalized(dead) and exposed through the overlying skin or mucosa, without healing for 3 months. It is more common in mandible (your lower jaw) compared to your maxilla (the upper jaw)  due to its compact structure and it receives less blood supply compared to the maxilla. Continue reading →

Toothbrush sanitizer

People all across the world utilize a toothbrush sanitizer to rid their toothbrushes off the plethora of germs and bacteria that thrive on them. These germs are believed to be one of the leading causes of various ailments such as Candida, cold and flu, Listeria, Salmonella, E. Coli, Meningitis, Herpes, and HIV etc. Continue reading →

Tongue cleaner

A tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper or tongue brush) is an oral hygiene device designed to clean the bacterial build-up, food debris, fungi, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. The bacteria and fungi that grow on the tongue are related to many common oral care and general health problems. In addition, decaying bacteria produce volatile sulphur compounds on the rear of the tongue; these molecules account for 80 to 95 percent of all cases of halitosis (bad breath). Continue reading →

Types of pontic Part 3

THE DE-EPITHELlALlZED CONNECTIVE TISSUE PEDICLE GRAFT (Roll Technique)

Basically, it is a form of contiguous grafting (pedicle graft} which utilizes as the donor site only the connective tissue of the palate adjacent to the ridge. The epithelium over the pedicle is first removed. This is readily done, using a non-epinephrine bearing anesthetic, by sharp dissection or by use of a rotary diamond instrument. Free bleeding, permitted by the non-epinephrine anesthetic, is evidence of complete epithelial removal. The tissue is then infiltrated with an anesthetic containing a hemostatic agent, and a connective tissue pedicle flap is outlined through to the osseous, and then elevated from the palate within the de-epithelialized zone. In this procedure, it is important that the proximal marginal tissue of the adjacent abutment teeth is not involved. This will ensure stability of the crown margin to tissue relationship. Continue reading →

Types of pontic Part 2

Surgical Preparation of the Pontic Recipient Site

If the level of the healing ridge is too far corbnal for an esthetic pontic, the anatomical topography of the site must be determined by needle probing under local anesthesia. If there is a thickness of 3 or 4 mm of soft tissue above the alveolus in the center of the ridge, it is necessary only to perform soft tissue gingivoplasty, developing an anatomical configuration compatible with the two adjacent teeth. This is easily accomplished with a rotary diamond instrument. A 1 mm concavity for the base of the pontic, further apical to the maximal curvature of the adjacent marginal gingiva, is developed. To fit into this area, the temporary pontic is relined with self-curing acrylic, trimmed, and polished, allowing the tissue to heal around this ovate form. Continue reading →

Types of pontic Part 1

In those clinical situations in which missing teeth are replaced with fixed prosthodontics, the clinician is faced with the task of fabricating the pontics to fulfill the requirements of esthetics, form and function, and oral physiotherapy. Continue reading →

Oral habits

Common behaviors seen in children and adults with jaw deficits and subsequent speech and feeding disorders are that of maladaptive oral habits. Such habits include jaw clenching and teeth grinding (bruxism), excessive mouthing of objects, thumb and finger sucking, tongue sucking, lip chewing, nail biting, and extended bottle and pacifier use. These habits, when excessive or are continued past appropriate developmental necessity, can lead to poor dental health, be socially stigmatizing, and inhibit the development of speech clarity. Continue reading →