Author Archives: oileng

Painful Trismus Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Why do temporomandibular joints click?

© andrewspathdds.com

Laxity of the posterior distal ligaments allows the disc to move forward into an abnormal position and it may momentarily obstruct forward condylar translation during jaw movements. The disc may be trapped and stretched forwards but further movement releases it suddenly and it snaps back into its normal position, giving rise to the audible and palpable click that the individual appreciates, this is an opening click. Continue reading

Having Too Much or Too Little Saliva Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Having too little saliva

© bouldervalleydental.com

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a complaint that is the most common salivary problem and is the subjective dryness which may be due to reduced salivary flow (hyposalivation) and/or changed salivary composition. Continue reading

Lumps in the Neck

© asbestos.com

A wide range of disease may present with lesions in the neck, but the most common complaint is of the swelling and/or pain in the lymph nodes. Over a quarter of the lymph nodes in the body are connected with cervical lymph nodes (glands in the neck) situated in the head and neck. It is not surprising then, that many diseases of the lymphoid tissue present primarily in this region. Continue reading

Causes of a Receding Gum Line

© worldental.org

Receding gums, or known dentally as gingival recession, is a common problem in adults but may occur in the younger age group as well. The loss of gum tissue that leads to exposure of the roots of the teeth may exist with or without an accompanying decrease in the height of the jaw bone. Continue reading

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) Part 2

Continued from Part 1

How is recurrent aphthous stomatitis diagnosed?

© healthyfellow.com

Diagnosis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis is based on the history and clinical features, as no specific tests are available. Biopsy is rarely indicted and is only usually needed where a different diagnosis is suspected. However to exclude the systemic disorders, it is useful to undertake investigations on blood (for example full blood picture) and serum (for example ferritin levels and vitamin B12 measurements). Continue reading

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) Part 1

© peegaboo.com

Although a variety of mouth ulcers may recur, for example those associated with mechanical trauma and skin disease; there is a group of ulcers that arise due to unknown causes whose natural history is characterized by frequent recurrences over a number of years. It is to this group that the collective term recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is applied. Continue reading

Bone Defects and Furcation Involvement Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Diagnosis and treatment planning for bone defects and furcation involvement

Careful radiographic or x-ray examination is done but it may not reveal the presence of a bone defect or its precise morphology.

Direct examination of bone morphology:

  • Lift a full thickness mucoperiosteal flap
  • Granulations are curetted and root surfaces planed clean
  • Alveolar crest examined, morphology of bone defect can be defined
  • Mode of treatment decided Continue reading