Studies Find Ancient People had Healthier Smiles

Studies have found that the Roman-British population from nearly 1,600 years ago had a surprising lack of gum disease than today’s British population. Studies at the Natural History Museum headed by King’s College Longer periodontists confirm that modern habits are more damaging to oral health, despite the advancements in dental care.

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, happens when dental plaque builds up and causes inflammation within the gums. Mild periodontitis affects a large percentage of the population, but other factors such as smoking and diabetes can trigger more chronic cases, ultimately leading to tooth loss.
303 Romano-British skulls were examined for evidence of dental diseases. In the end, only 5% of the skulls had indicators of moderate to severe gum disease. Comparatively, 15-30% of today’s adults have signs and symptoms of the disease.

However, these skulls did show a higher percentage of dental infections, dental abscesses, and tooth decay. They also had significant dental wear at earlier ages, indicating that these people thrived on a diet of coarser grains and cereals.

The population of skulls studied came from a group of countryside dwellers with similar genetic makeup to modern European populations. They were also less likely to be tobacco users, and had fewer cases of diabetes mellitus, which have been proven to increase the cases of periodontitis in today’s population.
The scientists behind the study were surprised to find that gum disease was less frequent in the past, considering their lack of brushing and tooth care.

The study goes on to prove that smoking tobacco is probable cause of today’s periodontitis crisis, and that the disease can be avoided. Scientists look forward to the future as the trend of smoking declines in today’s populations, hopefully decreasing the trend of periodontists.

If you have concerns about gum disease or want to know the benefits of kicking the habit, talk to your friendly Valencia dentist. Together, you can work out a plan to put out that cigarette and move towards a healthier smile.

Different Tooth Pains and the Possible Causes

In today’s age, people often turn to the internet for immediate answers about dental problems. Unfortunately, without a dentist checking you out, you have no way of knowing the root of the issue. Luckily, your friendly Valencia dentist has compiled a list for you of common pains and some of their common causes. Self-diagnosing, of course, will never replace the real thing, and it is always wisest to check with your dentist if you have concerns.

Issue: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods.

Possible causes: Depending on the length of the pain, it could be a sign of dental decay, loose fillings, brushing too hard (harming the outer enamel) or even exposed roots cause by gingivitis.

Possible solutions: If you fear gingivitis is the cause, you will need to keep your gum line clean. Use a soft toothbrush and try and limit the brushings to twice a day. You can also use toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth; they contain larger amounts of fluoride which can help the tooth. In more severe cases, you can dab the toothpaste directly onto the problem area and let it sit for about ten to fifteen minutes. If your teeth continue to be sensitive, see your dentist for further investigation.

Issue: Sensitivity after a dental treatment. 

Possible causes: Dental treatments can cause the tooth’s inner pulp to swell, causing sensitivity.

Possible solutions: The sensitivity should go away on its own after a few days; if the treatment was more
involved (such as a crown or filling), it could
take a week or so for the inflammation to reduce. In the meantime, over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen should help reduce the inflammation and stop the pain. If the pain gets worse or doesn't go away, see your dentist.

Issue: Sharp pain when biting down.

Possible causes: Loose fillings, cavities, lodged debris, or even a cracked tooth can cause a sharp pain when biting down.

Possible solutions: Since it’s very hard to pinpoint the cause yourself, seeing your dentist would be best if this is an issue. If it’s decay causing the pain, fillings will be necessary. If it’s a loose filling, they can replace or repair it. A cracked tooth is trickier, and may involve a root canal or even an extraction.

Issue: Constant sharp pain from a region.

Possible causes: Your dental pulp tissue is likely infected or inflamed. The decay is nearing a nerve, causing pain in a specific region of your mouth.

Possible solutions: A root canal can remove the infect pulp and save the tooth. Otherwise, left untreated, the pain can get worse and cause tooth loss.

Issue: Constant severe pain and pressure with swollen gums.

Possible causes: In all likelihood, the tooth has an infection or abscess that has spread beyond the tooth, possibly into the gums and bones.

Possible solutions: See your dentist immediately. Do not wait for the pain to get worse. You will likely need a root canal to save the tooth. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce the pain temporarily.

As always, these are just suggestions and very general guidelines. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, it is best to see your friendly Valencia dentist as soon as you can. Only they can diagnose the causes of your symptoms.    

Dental Anxiety? No Worries!

A recent study case has shown that some people avoid going to the dentist altogether out of fear of pain. Others will flinch at the slightest swab or poke. The study delved into the proper times and circumstances to use sedatives during procedures.

The study looked at a sampling of patients in a group of endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgeons. They found that, on average, these doctors were using a moderate amount of sedation on more than 54% of their patients specifically to help ease anxieties during procedures.

Moderate sedation works by suppressing your brain’s responses to pain and stress and anxiety while keeping you conscious so that you may communicate with your dentist. Dentists may combine the sedation with local anesthesia to help control more of the pain.

On top of helping with anxiety, sedation can help patients with a fear of needles, severe gag reflexes, claustrophobia, and even overcome local anesthesia failures.

The catch is, however, that most endodontic training does not train or qualify endodontists for certification to administer moderate sedation. This blocks out a large potential for patient care.

But the training and curriculums are training, and a new wave of guidelines are emerging to help provide the best patient care possible, even for those with anxieties.

If you have anxieties, and put off seeing your dentist because of it, talk to your friendly Valencia dentist. They are understanding, and can go over all the possible options available to give you a safe, comfortable experience. Your happiness and health is their priority.
   

Wisdom Teeth FAQ’s

Why are third molars called “wisdom teeth”?

Third molars, which are commonly called “wisdom teeth” are the last adult teeth to erupt in the

mouth. These are the most posterior teeth and typically erupt between the ages of 17 to 25. Third

molars have adopted the name “wisdom teeth” because they appear during adulthood, when a person matures and becomes “wiser”.  All of the other permanent teeth erupt during childhood.  

Do I have wisdom teeth?

There is a significant variation in the general population regarding the development of wisdom teeth. Some people have all four, whereas others may develop only one, or none at all. These are all variations of normal, and can be detected during dental check-ups clinically and radiographically.  

Do my wisdom teeth need to be extracted?

If your third molars are healthy and erupt properly in-line with the rest of your teeth, they do not

need to be removed.  However, It is important that you can reach these areas to keep the teeth clean and the gums healthy.  Wisdom teeth that develop extensive decay or gum disease should be extracted.

Third molars that are erupting at an angle, tilted, or “coming in sideways” will need to be

extracted.  These angled teeth can be seen on an x-ray and could cause crowding and damage to adjacent teeth.  They will not function properly because they are misaligned and can be harmful to the second molar.

Why are my wisdom teeth hurting?

The most common cause of wisdom tooth pain is due to pericoronitis, which is the inflammation

of gingival tissue around the tooth.  When teeth erupt, tissue overlying the tooth, called an operculum, can create a pocket that traps bacteria, causing this inflammation.  It is important that you visit the dentist if you are having chronic pain around your gum tissues, because this can lead to a more serious infection. Treatment for pericoronitis includes extraction of the offending tooth or removal of the inflamed tissue.  If the tissue is infected, antibiotics can be prescribed.  Sometimes pericoronitis is aggravated by an opposing tooth that is pinching the inflamed tissue.  Removal of the opposing tooth can help alleviate the pressure on the irritated operculum.

Erupted vs. Impacted wisdom teeth extraction

Wisdom teeth that have erupted are fully visible in the mouth.  Extraction of an erupted wisdom

tooth is straight-forward and similar to any other type of tooth extraction.  This type of procedure can be performed under local anesthesia (just like a regular filling).

Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that have not yet erupted, or have only partially erupted.  Extraction of these teeth is a more involved procedure, because an incision will be made in the gum tissue to expose bone and the underlying tooth. The tooth may need be sectioned and removed in smaller pieces. This type of surgery is usually under IV sedation and performed by an oral surgeon.  

When is the best time to have my third molars extracted?

Every patient is unique in their development.  Regular dental check-ups will help to determine the best time to have your wisdom teeth extracted.  Early detection will determine if the third molars are misaligned and need to be addressed before they start affecting other teeth.  If you have any questions regarding the health of your wisdom teeth, don’t hesitate to visit us at Go Dental - Valencia Dentist.