December 2022 - Champion Dental

Bone Grafting: the Solution You Need for Severe Gum Disease

Posted on December 29, 2022 | by mel | Leave a Comment

How Bone Grafts Can Restore Your Appearance

Periodontitis is a serious gum disease. Over time, if not treated, it will cause your gums to recede and your teeth may become loose and possibly even fall out. The erosion of your gums will certainly change your smile and make it less attractive and you will appear older. The good news is that your smile can be restored and missing teeth replaced with bone grafting.

About Bone Grafting

Dental bone grafts can be used to replace missing or lost bone in your jaw. It can also be used to prepare your jaw for dental implants, enabling your smile to be restored. An oral bone graft can also help to restore a more youthful look.

Periodontitis Destroys Bone

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, which is rather mild. There is very little physical damage taking place at this stage. The bacteria that cause gingivitis can usually be removed by brushing twice a day and flossing.

If oral care does not improve, it will become periodontitis. This means the bacteria that cause gum disease has gained entrance into the gums and an immune reaction has started. The immune system starts to attack the bacteria and the gums, along with the support structures for your teeth, and your jawbone. It will slowly erode them away and it will not stop until the bacteria are removed by a periodontist. Once the bacteria are removed and the gums properly treated, the bone loss will stop – especially with the presence of a dental implant.

Bone Graft Surgery

Oral bone grafting is a method that is used to build up the bone that has been lost to periodontitis. There are two ways that it might be used. The bone graft types include:

Bone block – a small block of bone can be taken from another place, such as from a hip or chin. The block is shaped as needed and then screwed into place.
Bone powder – processed bone is mixed into a paste and then shaped and applied as needed. On some occasions, tooth extraction and bone graft will take place at the same time. The powder or paste may be inserted into the socket immediately after extraction to help ensure that the bone retains its height while waiting for the dental implant.

After a bone graft, the original bone cells will mix with the new bone. Over time, your new bone cells will increase and they will eventually replace all of the bone graft material completely. This will leave you with only your bone once it completely heals.

When Bone Grafting May Be Used

Bone grafting is primarily used to restore bone that has been damaged or lost. The jawbone is normally partially reabsorbed into the body under any tooth that has been extracted. A bone graft for implant is often conducted to raise the height of the lost bone so that it matches the surrounding bone.

On some occasions, periodontitis can erode enough bone away from the jaw that it changes the shape of the face. A bone graft may be used to reshape the jaw so that the face’s original shape is regained.

Materials Used in Bone Grafts

The materials used in a bone graft will vary. The choice will depend on the periodontist’s choice (he or she may have a preference), but the patient may also have a preferred material.

Your bone tissue (autograft) – Bone can be taken from your hip, legs, ribs, or chin.
Donor bone material (allograft) – Bone may also be obtained from a donor (cadaver) at a tissue bank.
Bone from an animal (xenograft) – Bone is obtained from an animal, such as a cow.
Synthetic bone (alloplast) – It is becoming more common to use artificial bone material for a bone graft. The graft is often made of a combination of calcium, phosphorus, and a plastic called hydroxylapatite.

The Bone Graft Procedure

The periodontist will start the procedure by giving you local anesthesia, but stronger anesthesia can also be used if desired. The next step is to remove any gum disease. The gums will be opened and folded back to expose the bone and tooth roots (if you still have teeth). Bacteria and inflammation will be manually removed, along with any infected gum tissue and bone. In order to help prevent bacteria from reattaching to the teeth, the tooth roots will be smoothed. The process is called scaling and root planing.

After the dental cleaning, the periodontist will place the bone graft material where needed and shape it. Along with the bone graft material, a process called guided tissue regeneration (GTR) may also be used. It involves using a specially treated mesh, usually with growth factors, which aids healing and prevents other tissue from mixing with it.

Recovery and Healing

Depending on the severity of the bone loss from periodontitis, the process can often be completed in 45 to 90 minutes. Patients can expect their gums to heal within two weeks. The bone graft, however, will need between three to six months to heal, and some may take longer. This will depend on:

The bone material used
The procedure used and the complexity
How well the patient follows instructions
The location of the graft – upper or lower jaw.

There should be very little pain after the surgery, but a little soreness may be expected. Over-the-counter pain medications should be sufficient. Antibiotics may also be given to help prevent infection. An ice pack may be used to help with swelling if present.

Qualifications for Candidates

Bone grafts can be used in many types of problems. They are used to prepare the jaw to replace missing teeth, to repair trauma to the jaw, and to reconstruct the jaw after a tumor or cyst has been removed. Candidates need to be free from problems such as diabetes, which can hinder or slow healing. The bone that will be around the bone graft needs to be healthy and have a sufficient number of osteoblasts present because this is what will produce the new bone material.

If you are in Farmres Branch, Texas and looking for Bone grafting, Contact Champion dental clinic Board certified Dental surgeons today.

Regular Dental Visits – Are They Worth It?

Posted on December 17, 2022 | by mel | 3 Comments

How Regular Dental Visits Reduce Your Dental Bill

After you make a dental visit, the dentist will ask that you come back in about six months. Many people never make it back at the end of that time because they do not see the importance of it. If you want to ensure that your teeth will last for a long time, it really is a good idea that you go back for another dental cleaning in six months. Several reasons will show you why it is a good idea.

Check for Oral Cancer

When you go to the dentist for a dental cleaning, the first thing that will usually be done is for the dental hygienist to take a quick look around your mouth. Your neck will also be felt to detect the presence of swollen glands – a possible symptom of oral cancer.

Oral cancer has been increasing in recent years and it is expected to continue to rise. This year there are expected to be more than 53,000 new cases. The cancer is often found only in the advanced stages because it is usually painless during the earlier stages. It is the dentist who most often discovers it. Oral cancer is often fatal due to the late discovery.

There are several symptoms of oral cancer. They can be helpful for early detection. They include:

A white or reddish patch in your mouth
A lip or mouth sore that has not healed after two weeks
Difficulty or pain when swallowing
A lump or growth in your mouth
Loose teeth or dentures
Ear pain.

If you see any of these symptoms, you need to make an appointment with your dentist right away. Although it may not be cancer, you want to be sure one way or another.

Remove Plaque and Tartar

The dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar next. Your toothbrush will remove plaque rather easily. Places where you miss plaque with your toothbrush will become tartar before long and this can lead to gum disease over time.

Removing it requires the hygienist to use some special tools. Gritty toothpaste will be used to not only remove plaque and tartar but also to remove stains on your teeth. This will enable them to look whiter and cleaner, and they will also be smoother by the time the dental cleaning has been completed. Some stains and discolorations cannot be removed.

Look for Cavities

Cavities are another common problem found during a dental check-up. They are often easily repaired when small. This is one problem that needs to be discovered early. When cavities are allowed to continue to become larger, it is going to become more expensive to repair. Repairs at that time could mean that the tooth is extracted, you need a root canal, and possibly a new dental crown. If the tooth is extracted, you will need to get either a dental bridge or dental implant with a rown to restore your smile.

Search for Gum Disease

Gum disease is always a potential problem. It is caused by bacteria that are naturally in your mouth. The bacteria normally produce acid whenever it comes in contact with sugar. It is the acid the causes the cavities. It also is responsible for causing gum disease, which is why keeping it off your teeth through the day will help prevent gum disease.

Gum disease is a major threat to healthy teeth and gums. The first stage is called gingivitis. The good news is that at this stage it will not damage your teeth and gums, but your gums will be red and inflamed and will bleed when you brush or floss. You can remove gingivitis rather easily at this stage by brushing twice a day and flossing. The primary cause of gum disease is a lack of good oral care.

If your oral care does not get better, it will go on to become periodontitis. You cannot remove it on your own because it gets into your gums through the tartar on your teeth. As the bacteria get into your gums, the inflammation becomes worse. Your gums will start to recede and spaces will develop between your teeth.

Treat Gum Disease

Periodontitis is a serious problem. It will affect much more than your teeth – it will affect all of your health and will likely shorten it if not treated. Researchers found that when patients have periodontitis treatment, it will reduce your risk of a heart attack by 24 percent, and your risk of a stroke by 13 percent.

If you have periodontitis, the dentist may need to do what is called deep cleaning. Most likely, this will be done at a later appointment. This process, also called scaling and root planing, involves the dentist cleaning out the pockets that have formed on your gums. Bacteria and inflammation will be removed and the teeth roots will be made smooth, which helps prevent the bacteria from starting new colonies very easily.

More serious cases of periodontitis will require other treatments. They may involve medications, gum grafts, and bone grafts. Periodontitis can be removed from the gums, but once it is removed, regular dental visits will be needed to help keep it under control.

Polish Your Teeth

One of the last stages of a regular dental visit is that the hygienist will polish your teeth. This enables them to feel very smooth and it will give you an extra clean feel. Fluoride is the mineral your teeth need to maintain their strength. This enables them to fight the acid that comes from the bacteria. It will be applied either as a liquid or as a gel in trays that you hold in your mouth for a minute.

If you have not had a dental cleaning lately, it may be time to do so. Call Champion Dental office , Farmers Branch, TX at (214) 747-0763 and schedule your regular dental cleanings. Regular visits to the dentist should be scheduled every six months. Most of the dental insurance plans are accepted here.

Gum Grafting: A Solution to Receding Gums

Posted on December 6, 2022 | by mel | 5 Comments

How to Get Your Gums Looking Good Again

When your gums are healthy, it helps to give you a great smile and you will be glad to show it off. If you have receding gums, your teeth will appear longer, making you look older. You may try to hide it because it makes you self-conscious. You can get your gums restored and look younger through a procedure called gum grafting.

Why Gums Recede

There are several reasons for gum recession. Knowing what they are can help you find a solution and possibly prevent further recession. Some of the reasons are:

Using a toothbrush with hard-bristles
Brushing too hard
Dentures that do not fit correctly
Tobacco use.

The above reasons for gum recession are only some of them. The primary reason is periodontal disease and about half of the adults over 30 have it. This disease is also the main reason why adults lose their teeth.

Why Gum Recession Is a Problem

When you have gum recession, it indicates that there is a problem – and it tells you that a worse one is on the way. It is bad because it exposes the roots of your teeth. Since they have less enamel on them than the crowns of your teeth, it exposes them to develop cavities quickly. Also, your gums will not grow back, so it will likely become costly to treat them.

The worse problem is that it likely indicates that you have periodontal disease, which is serious gum disease. Although there are several stages, you will need to have it removed by a periodontist as soon as possible. This will help to prevent serious damage.

About Gum Disease

Gum disease starts as gingivitis. This stage is relatively harmless, but your gums will look red and inflamed and you will have bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth. If you keep up the habit of good oral hygiene, you can usually get rid of gingivitis by brushing twice a day and flossing.

If you do not get rid of it, it will become periodontitis. This is when it starts to become nasty. You can no longer get rid of it yourself. It has moved into your gums and you will need the help of a periodontist to eliminate it.

As the bacteria that cause gum disease get into your gums, your immune system will seek to prevent the invasion. In the process, it will also attack your gums, the ligaments that support your teeth, and your jawbone. Over time, it will destroy them and your teeth will become loose and then may fall out.

Eliminating Periodontitis

A procedure called gum grafting or gum graft surgery is the solution you need to reverse receding gums. You will first need to have the bacteria removed from the pockets that have formed on your gums. This procedure is called scaling and root planing and it involves removing the bacteria and inflammation from the pockets. A laser may also be used for this process.

Gum Graft Surgery

Repairing your gums and giving them a more youthful appearance is often conducted using a gum transplant . The gum graft surgery may be conducted in one of three ways:

Connective tissue grafts – This gum recession treatment involves taking some tissue from the roof of your mouth. The periodontist will first cut a flap in the roof of your mouth and then remove tissue under that layer. The tissue will then be stitched to your gums to cover up the tooth roots, and the flap will be stitched closed.
Free gingival grafts – This procedure is similar to connective tissue grafts except that no flap is cut. Tissue is taken directly from the roof of your mouth and then stitched to cover your tooth roots. When people have thin gums, this method is the one that is preferred.
Pedicle (lateral) grafts – This method of receding gums surgery uses thick gum tissue that is beside the place where it is needed. The tissue is cut from over a neighboring tooth but leaves one side attached. Then, it is pulled over where needed and stitched in place.

Another Gum Tissue Source

The best source for obtaining gum tissue is to use the patient’s own tissue. Tissue may also be obtained from a tissue bank, which enables the patient to have one less surgical wound – and less pain during recovery. Some oral surgeons prefer this method. Depending on how many teeth may need their roots covered, the average treatment time is about an hour-and-a-half.

Recovery

After the gum graft surgery, you will be given special instructions about how to take care of your mouth as it heals. The healing on the gum surface should take a maximum of two weeks, but tissue underneath may take more than a month. After two weeks, you will be able to brush and floss again. A follow-up appointment will be necessary to ensure proper healing.

Benefits of Gum Grafting

The gum graft procedure has several benefits. They include:

It stops gum recession
It improves your appearance and smile
It protects your tooth roots
It reduces tooth sensitivity
It gives you a more even gum line
It improves your self-confidence

If you have a receding gum line and are interested in learning more about gum grafting, Call Champion Dental office at +1 214-747-0763 for a quick consultation . Most dental insurance plans are accepted.

Month: December 2022