Temporomandibular joint syndrome is a pain that occurs in the jaw. This problem can travel through the entire joint which goes right up to the ear. Not only can it cause a lot of discomfort in the face but it could also spread to the neck and the ear.

Common Signs of TMJ Syndrome

Severe pain or discomfort in your jaw is the most common sign of TJM syndrome. Some of the common signs that you should look out for include:

• A loss of ability to open your mouth wide 
• The feeling that your jaw is locked or stuck in a certain position 
• Pain in any area of your face, especially around your mouth or through your face when you are chewing or talking 
• Swelling around your face 
• A tired feeling in the facial region 
• Funny noises that come from your jaw like a clicking or a grating sound

Diagnosing and Treating TMJ Syndrome

The difficult part about diagnosing this disorder is that there are a number of other problems that show similar signs. The best way is to visit a dentist and tell them exactly what has been happening. When you visit them, your joints will be checked properly for any tenderness. The dentist may also ask you to take an X-ray, MRI or CT scan in order to get a clear picture of what the problem is. By studying these results, it will be possible for the dentist to diagnose the problem and then treat it accordingly.

In severe cases, surgery may be required for this problem. However, you will usually be able to treat TJM disorders with a few home remedies. Application of ice packs and heat packs usually help to loosen the jaw. Medications are prescribed by dentists in order to ease the pain and relax the muscles. A splint can be designed to stop you from grinding your teeth in your sleep and night guards are also given to some patients. A little bit of regular dental work like filling your teeth, replacing old crowns and balancing the biting surface can also make a huge difference in the amount of pressure that is put on the jaw. By taking care of your teeth and watching what you eat and how you move your mouth, you can minimize the pain and treat the problem.

Preventing TJM Syndrome

Most of the time, this problem can be prevented by changing certain habits in your lifestyle. For example, if you have a habit of chewing gum and you start feeling an occasional pain in your jaw, you should avoid the gum as much as possible. You should also stay away from very chewy food and try to stop other bad habits like biting your fingernails or chewing the tips of pencils. To prevent your jaw from locking, you should place one hand below it whenever you yawn.

If you have certain habits that cannot be controlled like grinding of your teeth, you should take a trip to the dentist. Splints are often made for people who clench their jaw or have the tendency to grind their teeth when they sleep.

Periodontal Disease is caused by Bacterial Infection

Family dentists diagnose and treat periodontal disease to help you avoid losing teeth from a serious infection that spreads through soft tissues inside the mouth. Periodontal disease rarely occurs when you visit a dental professional on a regular basis to have plaque removed from teeth along with having cavities filled. Plaque is a hard substance that collects toward the base of teeth or in difficult to reach areas, and it contains bacteria that destroy dental enamel. Without quick intervention from a dentist, the bacteria multiply to invade your dental pulp and gum tissue.

Gingivitis Symptoms Begin

First Before developing this disease, you will have gingivitis that affects only the gum tissue with symptoms such as:

• Swollen tissue at the base of your teeth

• Reddish or purplish gum tissue

• A foul taste in your mouth

• Your gum tissue may look shiny

• Chronic halitosis despite daily dental hygiene

• Pain while drinking beverages or chewing food

• Bleeding from the gums while brushing or flossing your teeth

What Leads to Gingivitis?

You might be predisposed to gingivitis because of an inherited tendency, but in most cases, it is caused by poor dental hygiene, mental stress or bad habits such as smoking cigarettes. Poor diet may also increase the likelihood of developing gingivitis if you seldom consume vegetables or fruit that contains essential vitamins. If you have misaligned teeth, then removing plaque from tight spaces is often difficult, leading to bacteria that infects soft tissues in the mouth.

How It Is diagnosed

When you fail to seek assistance from a dentist for gingivitis as quickly as possible, the condition progresses to become periodontal disease. Cosmetic dentists can find evidence of this infection with a visual examination using a probe. In addition, X-ray images will show where there is infection inside the gum tissue. A diagnosis of periodontitis is serious because it can lead to infection in ligaments and alveolar bone that causes loss of teeth.

Dental Professionals Must Classify Periodontitis

There are seven levels of infection that family dentists look for to classify periodontal disease. Gingivitis is the first classification and is treatable with removal of plaque during a thorough dental cleaning. During this stage of periodontal disease, a patient often takes antibiotics to eliminate infection lurking in the oral tissues. The highest level of infection from periodontitis involves seeing abscesses on gum tissue. A dentist must also determine exactly where the infection is located by inspecting six areas around each tooth. When 30 percent of these sites are infected, the condition is considered localized, but if more are infected, then the periodontal disease is diagnosed as generalized. The last measurement of periodontitis infection is determining the amount of ligament loss.

How It is treated

It is important for you to realize that pain and loose teeth are the last or most severe signs of periodontal disease, and family dentists must intervene immediately with invasive treatment to remove the infectious tissue. The first treatment includes scaling the teeth with an instrument to remove calculus before debridement or removal of infected tissue. When X-rays reveal calculus on the roots of teeth, you require a root planing. For this procedure, you are anesthetized as the dentist inserts a curette to scrape infection from sensitive dental roots.

Today, a broad variety of dental or orthodontic alternatives are available for anybody who wishes to have their teeth corrected. For example, if you're suffering from a misaligned bite or your teeth are crooked, you can have you teeth straightened using braces and dental retainers.

In Australia, most general dentists do carry out basic dental alignment although orthodontists have been specially trained in the correction of teeth irregularities. Most of these specialists belong to the Australian Society of Orthodontists and have been certified by the Dental Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

How Do They Work?

Braces operate by the continuous application of pressure on your teeth over time to gradually shift them in a specific desired direction. The shape of your jaw bone changes as your teeth move due to continuous pressure being applied.

Types Of Braces

If your orthodontist or dentist decides that braces are the ideal solution for your dental needs, they will prescribe a suitable dental appliance that is specific for your requirements. There is no single method that works for everybody. It is good to ensure that your orthodontist is using braces that have been approved by the Australian Government's Therapeutic Goods Administration, Department of Health.

Caring For Your Metal Braces

If the decision is finally made that you need to be on braces, you need to note some care aspects.

• Proper teeth care is important at all times, but this takes special significance when you are on braces. Go the extra mile and give special care to your oral hygiene.

• Steer clear of chewy foods, soft candies plus crunchy or very hard foods that possibly could cause damage to your braces.

• Regularly visiting your orthodontist or dentist allows for timely adjustments to your whenever required and it also accords you the chance of having any issues or questions clarified.

How Long Do You Need Braces?

The time you will need to be on braces depend on a number if very diverse factors and varies from one individual to the next. However on average, they typically last between one to even three years depending on the problem severity.

Will Braces Stop You From Taking Part In Sports?

When you are on braces, you may go on taking part in any sport of your choice. If there is a possibility of getting your mouth hit, you may need to put on a special mouth-guard. Made of durable plastic, the head gear has been designed to snugly fit over the braces, protecting your soft mouth tissues.

Do You Need To Visit Your Orthodontist Regularly?

You will need to visit the specialist nearly each month to ensure your teeth are getting steady amounts of pressure from the braces. If there's any need to create more pressure and tension on your teeth, your dental specialist may now and then make the needed wire, band and spring adjustments of your braces.

Depending on how severe are the needed changes, braces may in some special cases be inadequate in straitening your teeth or shifting yourjaw. In such situations, it may become necessary to use some external appliance like a headgear they you may need to wear at home.

We are living in a hectic and busy life, and hence we all tend to fell prey to various bad habits. Most of the time we fail to find the harm behind these habits. Most of the time, these habits initially appear less harmful to our health but when we look at these bad habits on a long term perspective, we might feel alarmed about the potential threats these bad habits can have on our health. By the time we realize it, we might be too late to reverse the damage created on our body and health.

There are a lot of bad habits and small actions that has a negative effect on our teeth. Our tooth is one of the most important part of our body and if it gets damaged or infected, the pain associated with that will be very much terrible. So we always needs to make sure that we maintain proper cleanliness for the better state of our teeth on a regular basis. We also need to get rid of certain bad habits and rectify certain actions that we do on a day-to-day basis.

Here are 10 of the common habits that can be harmful for your teeth's health and which needs to be notified and get rid off at the earliest.

1) Utilizing Your Teeth as a Tool 
Our tooth is one of the best tools for consuming food, but we often end up using it as our primary tool for several activities. We often use our teeth to open a bottle, prick out our nails, take out hard surfaces of raw food etc. Actually our tooth is not to be used as a primary tool as it will severely start damaging the teeth and its surrounding cells in a bad way. This will make you end up with teeth that are not strong and often you will start feeling the pain.

2) Biting Your Nails 
Biting the nails is one of the most common habits that is found these day and this is a habit that can prove harmful to your teeth in the long run. It can very much damage the lust and shape of your teeth and once it starts affecting your teeth, you will start experiencing severe teeth ache. So better avoid such a bad habit and make sure that your teeth remains healthy and strong.

3) Use of Tobacco 
Tobacco is one of the deadliest bad habits that can even make you pay your life for it. Tobacco use has a lot of serious health issues and most of these issues are life threatening. The use of tobacco will also make sure that you have gum problems on a regular basis, which will also damage your teeth. So stay away from tobacco for a better health, teeth and smile.

4) Chewing of Ice 
Chewing of ice seems to look interesting and most of us love to indulge in ice chewing activities. But the irony is that chewing of ice is not a good habit for your throat, as well as your teeth. Your teeth and its roots will always stand a chance of getting damaged by the regular chewing of ice. You might get some pleasure while chewing the ice, but at the same time you are risking the health of your teeth.

5) Usage of Toothpicks in an incorrect way 
Whenever we eat certain type of food materials, especially chicken or meat, a lot of the good residue will get stuck in the gaps of our teeth. This will be distracting for us and hence we will seek the help of tooth picks to get rid of those food materials from our teeth. If you are not using the tooth pick in the proper way, then you are certainly going to damage your gum and teeth in a bad way.

6) Consuming Too Much Sugary Foods and Beverages 
We all love sugary foods and beverages and at times we cannot resist ourselves from having such food items. Sugary foods and beverages might taste good, but it is very much harmful to our teeth and damages our teeth drastically. A continuous consumption of sugary foods and beverages might damage your teeth causing gum infection and tooth ache.

7) Not Brushing Your Teeth Regularly 
Brushing our teeth is one of the most basic actions that lead to a better and healthy teeth. Majority of the people make sure to brush at least twice in a day to make their teeth shine better and remain healthy. If you are not brushing your teeth regularly, you will be again risking the health of your teeth and the chances of it getting decayed becomes higher.

8) Grinding Your Teeth 
Some of us have the habit of grinding our teeth even while asleep and this is something that can take a toll on the enamel, leading to other dental health problems. So if you are serious about the health of your teeth, then it is better to make sure that you avoid the habit of grinding your teeth.

9) Using a Tooth-Brush That Has Hard Bristles 
Tooth-brushes are an essential part of maintaining the cleanliness of our teeth and hence it is something that we cannot compromise upon. Most of the time we might be using a tooth-brush having hard bristles, which are very much harmful to our gums. Always make sure that you use a tooth-brush that have soft bristles and do not damage the gums in any ways.

10) Regular Use of Soda 
Soda is a drink that we often consume to get rid of our thirst. It is fine to drink soda once in a while, but if it becomes a regular habits, it can become harmful to your tooth. Soda can easily damage the enamel and make your teeth weak and infected in the long run. So better stay away from soda and other carbonated drink whenever possible.

The above tips can be very much beneficial for maintaining the overall health of your teeth and remember that once you starts losing your teeth, life will not be the same again even though you can compensate it through various implants.

Definition

Dental Specialty means a dentist attaining a specialty in a particular field of dentistry. The specialist requires training in an advance graduate program. Once training is complete, the dentist is granted a certificate of specialty.

Dental specialties are recognized in order to protect the people and improve the quality of care. There are nine official dental specialties identified by the American Dental Association (ADA). They are currently the main specialties followed all over the world.

We are about to learn all of them.

1. Dental Public Health

They focus on achieving optimal dental health for their community. The idea is to treat the "community as a whole rather than an individual". Other responsibilities include studying patterns, causes and control of oral health problems.

2. Orthodontist

These dentists are trained to specialize in the development, prevention and correction of malocclusion (misaligned bite) using dental braces and retainers. They also have specialized training in facing abnormalities and disorders of the jaw.

3. Endodontist

They are mainly concerned with the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the dental pulp (tooth nerve). An Endodontist is useful in performing difficult root canal therapies or other such surgical root procedures.

4. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist

The main function of a Radiologist is to interpret all types of X-ray images. The specialist analyzes all the data used in the diagnosis of diseases in the oral or maxillofacial (jaw and face) region. This specialty was introduced in 2003.

5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

An oral surgeon operates and diagnoses on diseases, injuries and defects in the mouth, jaw and face through surgical extraction and reconstruction. They also perform biopsies, tumor removal in oral cavity, fractured cheek repair, jaw bone repair, and complex jaw realignments.

6. Prosthodontist

A Prosthodontist specializes in making/restoring prosthesis and fake teeth. The Prosthodontist uses ceramic crowns, dentures and bridges to replace the missing teeth. They can also be helpful in the treatment of facial anatomy abnormalities (head and neck deformities).

7. Periodontist

The Periodontist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases related to tooth structures like soft tissues of mouth, gums and teeth bones. They can also treat bacterial infections affecting gum tissue (periodontal disease). In addition to this, deep pocket cleanings, crown lengthening procedures, and bone grafting can also be done by a Periodontist.

8. Pedodontist

Dentists who are specialized in the treatment of children from "birth to adolescence" are Pedodontists.

9. Oral Pathologist

A pathologist deals with the identification and management of disease that affect your mouth and face. They rely on clinical, radiographic and microscopic examination for diagnosis.

Apart from these, there are four more specialties that are recognized in the United Kingdom only.

• Oral medicine - diagnosis of oral mucosal diseases 
• Special care dentistry - dentistry for developmental and acquired disabilities 
• Forensic Odontology - the gathering and use of dental evidence in law 
• Oral microbiology - it is the study of microorganisms of the oral cavity

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) includes OSA and is part of the scope of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Not to consider SDB would be ignoring an important factor in the pathology of TMD. Successful treatment of SDB can not only add years to a patient's life, it can also greatly improve quality of life.

The most common treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy prescribed by a physician. A CPAP mask is worn over the nose (and sometimes also the mouth) and the mask is connected to a hose that gently provides air pressure into the throat to keep the airway open during sleep. However, studies have shown that more than half of all patients who use a CPAP machine stop using it within a year due to discomfort.

As an alternative to CPAP treatment for OSA treatment, oral appliance therapy (OAT) is often deployed by dental sleep medicine practitioners, working in partnership with referring sleep physicians. With OAT, the patient wears a mandibular advancement splint, which is a mouth-guard-like appliance that positions the lower jaw forward to open the airway continuously through the night. Studies have shown that patients comply better with OAT than with CPAP. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral sleep appliances as first line treatment options for those with mild and moderate levels of sleep apnea as well as for individuals who are CPAP intolerant.

Overnight pulse oximetry monitoring is essential in pre-confirming the effectiveness of OAT for OSA treatment. A pulse oximeter monitors a patient's heart rate and blood oxygen saturation in arterial blood. According to the AADSM and the AASM, overnight pulse oximetry has been shown to be an effective sleep screening tool used to evaluate the response to OAT prior to sending patients back for follow-up polysomnography (PSG) testing at a sleep lab.

As a specialist in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine, my patients are referred to me for temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), headaches or sleep apnea. After my patients have been diagnosed by a board-certified sleep physician, I use overnight pulse oximetry screening to manage the MAS that I typically prescribe. Specifically for this case study, I used the Nonin Medical WristOx2® wrist-worn pulse oximeter and Nonin's nVISION® data management software to verify the appliance's effectiveness before my patients return to their physicians for a final PSG. I have found that the WristOx2 is the best device for this purpose.

The need for diagnosing and treating SDB, including OSA, is critical due to the volume of potential patients affected, the associated health risks (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression) and the potential for reduced quality of life (poor concentration, fatigue, increased risk of accidents).

Diagnosis and treatment of OSA should not have to wait until patients' symptoms are bad enough to drive them into their doctor's office. Dentistry has, as part of its treatment structure, a yearly recall of patients. This presents an opportunity for sleep disorder dentists to partner with sleep physicians to improve patient quality of life and lower healthcare costs by working together to diagnose and treat OSA appropriately.

Pulse oximetry sleep tests are useful to dentists for managing MAS appliances but not for diagnosing or confirming resolution of OSA. Only a sleep physician who is board certified in sleep medicine can diagnose or confirm resolution of OSA. MAS is reimbursable, and overnight pulse oximetry sleep tests can be included as part of the cost-of-care delivery.

Oximetry sleep tests are easy and inexpensive for dental sleep practitioners to employ using a pulse oximeter. Training is minimal, and patients appreciate the fact that their oxygen saturation levels are being monitored for verification of MAS effectiveness before they return to their physician for a final PSG. Performing these tests lets the physician know that the dental practitioner is serious about OSA treatment and knowledgeable about how to make treatment 
effective.

Medicine, like many other branches of academics has always been reinventing and improvising itself by each passing day. One such branch of dentistry which has attracted many young students to take up dentistry as their stream of study is the branch of Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry consists of any work which helps in improving the appearance of a person's teeth and/or gums. Dentistry, today, is not restricted only to the extraction of teeth and filling but includes a wide range of treatments which help in making the teeth look beautiful and attractive.

Further Classification

There are two special sub-branches in Cosmetic Dentistry, namely, Prosthodontics and Orthodontics respectively. While Prosthodontics, which is also known as Dental Prosthetics or Prosthetic Dentistry and deals with the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance of the patients like treating patients with missing or deficient teeth; orthodontics deals with specifically with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of wrongly positioned teeth and jaws. Medical practitioners dealing with this subject matter are known as Prosthodontists and Orthodontists respectively. There are many affordable dentist who provide all kinds of dentistry.

Treatments Offered

Some of the treatments which are or get covered under this branch of dentistry are:

• Whitening of teeth or teeth bleaching as it is also known as is a popular procedure which helps in lightening discolored teeth; 
• Tooth re-shapening which helps in removing the enamel of the tooth in order to improve the appearance of the tooth; 
• Bonding, which is a process in which enamel like dental composite material is used on the tooth's surface and is then sculpted to shape and polished. 
• Dental bridges which help in fusing the gap left by missing teeth with the help of porcelain crowns; 
• Dental implants which are nothing but prosthetic replacement for missing teeth; 
• Gum Lift procedure helping in raising and sculpting the gum line; and 
• Bite Reclamation, by which the vertical dimension of the patient's teeth can be reclaimed and any unwanted wrinkles can also be removed.

Raw Materials

Previously, for dental fillings and such other tooth restoration methods, gold, amalgam and other metals were used as an affordable dentist treatment, which were veneered with porcelain. However today, dental work is entirely made out of porcelain or other composite material which gives natural teeth like appearance to the entire set. This is one of the reasons why dental surgeons today, are increasingly opting for porcelain based fillings.

Your teeth are your precious assets. They are the most exposed bones of your body and hence, it is extremely vital for you to take care of those 32 lovely set of pearls which have been gifted by God. Today, science has advanced so much that it can help you in practically almost every single way in correcting any irregularity which you may be suffering from as far as your teeth are concerned. So go ahead and treat yourself to a beautiful set of sparkling white set of teeth and be an owner's pride and a neighbor's envy.

You might think that choosing the right toothbrush is not that a big deal for a healthy mouth but honestly it is really important to select the right one. It is really difficult to select whichtoothbrush should be used. The reason why it is difficult to choose your toothbrush is because there are certain toothbrush that ensures teeth whitening, fresh breath and deep cleaning. But only your dentist can tell you which one is best suited for you. However if you feel that you do not want to consult your dentist for selecting them then there are certain things that you need to keep in mind.

Things to look for in a Toothbrush

Selecting the right toothbrush will help you avert any bad dental hygiene and turn them into good dental hygiene. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once will ensure that your mouth is free from Dental Plaque, Tooth Decay and any Gum Disease. So read the points mentioned below which will be pretty handy for you:

1. Softer bristles are better: Remember that your teeth are not utensils which need hard and rigid bristles. Soft bristles work easily on your teeth and gums. Soft bristle toothbrush will not only ensure that your teeth are cleaned but also ensure that your gums do not bleed.

2. Opt for a Nylon Toothbrush: You may find two options - Nylon and Natural. Always opt for Nylon one because Natural bristle toothbrush has not been tested for any adversities or benefits and natural bristles toothbrush costs more than Nylon bristles.

3. Smaller head is better: We generally have this mindset that bigger is better but the fact is size doesn't matter. A small headed toothbrush is easier to use on your teeth. The reason is that it is easier to maneuver inside your mouth hence ensuring proper cleaning.

Point To Be Noted:

It is always advisable to change your toothbrush once in 3 months. The reason is that with regular use your toothbrush will become prone to germ attack and fungus attack. No one wants that. Right? So make sure to keep changing your toothbrush every 3 months and if you are suffering from flu then it's more important to consider changing it.

Technology has grown by leaps and bounds and at this time there is no sector which has not been affected and influenced by new inventions. Dentistry is no different. For your convenience there are Electric Toothbrush which are very common these days. These toothbrushes have received mixed reviews from dentists and patients. Some dentists say that they are not effective at all while patients say that they are. The best part of these toothbrushes is that they will alert you when you have brushed your teeth for 2-3 minutes.

So I guess I have made things easy for you to choose the best possible toothbrush. Be sure to ask your dentist about anything related to your dental health.

Digital dentistry is the use of digital technologies or devices in order to carry out dental procedures. Here, dentists use computer-controlled devices instead of the traditional mechanical tools.

Benefits of the technologies

There are many benefits that come with digital dentistry technologies. Some of the benefits include:

Efficiency: the technologies make it possible for dentists to easily capture all of your dental information. For example, your radiographs, insurance information, CAD/CAM system, digital impressions and any other details are easily kept in the database.

Since the information is stored electronically, different dentists are able to access your information at the same time. The desk staffs are also able to access your information and update it. This ensures that your records are updated and you get the right medication for your condition.

Better diagnosis: since the devices used are high tech, they are able to detect oral diseases at a very early stage. Early detection means that you get early treatment which means lower cost on your side.

Better cure: since the dentists are able to see the teeth better, they are able to provide you with better service. The digital tools also function better than the mechanical tools which contributes to better service. For example, if you want your teeth to be cleaned, they get whiter more than when they are cleaned mechanically.

Technologies used

There are many technologies used in digital dentistry. The major ones include:

Digital radiography: using this technology, dentists use lower radiation, spend more time on both extra oral and intraoral processes, and have better images. This results to the dentists producing better results.

Although, the technology already has many benefits, there are still many developments being made in the area. These developments include: wireless sensors, caries diagnosis and integration of the system with tablets and voice.

According to experts in this field, future radiographic devices will use algorithms that are based on thousands of patient radiographs. These new devices will be able to diagnose patients and give suggestions to dentists.

CAM/CAD: the technology is used both by clinicians and in the laboratory. Dentists and other staff members who have used it say that it's faster, consistent, accurate, and economical. There are many developments still made on this technology where dentists hope that future devices will be able to accurately predict the outcome of a given dentistry procedure.

Dental lasers: there are many small, cordless, portable, low cost dental lasers that are used in periodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics and dental surgery. Although, most of the dentists are using cordless lasers, there are still many others that are using corded versions. It's good to note that the corded versions are as effective as the cordless versions.

Conclusion

Dental surgery is definitely the future of dentistry. As a patient you not only have perfect results, the dental procedures are also done fast thus you spend less time in the dentist's office. Next time you need a dental procedure you should go to a dentist using digital dentistry technologies, will you?

Each and every day we wake up and begin a morning ritual which invariably includes a glob of toothpaste, a quick run of the tap and two minutes of furiously working a toothbrush around our mouths. It's an essential part of the day, but more and more people are starting to talk about tooth oil and its links to better oral health and hygiene. Whilst its resurgence might be recent, it's actually an ancient tradition that's fighting its way back into the public consciousness through word of mouth and positive results. So, what is tooth oil, and how can it make your mouth a healthier place?

Tooth oil, or oil pulling, as it's sometimes known, is a tradition which can be traced back to ancient Ayurvedic medicines, dating back 3,000 years. Perhaps the most basic explanation of oil pulling is that with around a tablespoon of specialist dental oil in your mouth, you begin the procedure of pushing and pulling the oil around your mouth, between your teeth and underneath your tongue. It's through this action that the tooth oil can get to work.

Tooth oils work because most microorganisms that live in your mouth consist of just a single cell, which are covered in a fatty membrane which keeps them protected. When these fatty cells come in contact with oil, they naturally adhere to one another, and with the pushing and pulling motion of your mouth, gently rids your mouth of the harmful bacteria and collects them in the oil. After you've done, simply spit out the oil and rinse your mouth. It's an idea so simple you wonder how it ever fell out of popular usage.

Those that have tried dental oil report whiter teeth, reduced gingivitis, decreased sensitivity and the alleviation of halitosis (bad breath). Whilst not enough studies have been carried out to back up all of these claims, there's no doubt amongst dentists that tooth oil and oil pulling lessens bacterial load in the mouth and helps to promote a healthier mouth.

Indeed, because of the natural, common sense nature of tooth pulling, there are no downsides to the procedure. Not only that, it's backed by 3,000 years of wisdom and some very basic modern science. These days, companies produce specialist tooth oil, which combine oils to provide you with an unparalleled cleaning experience. However, it should be noted that tooth oil and oil pulling is not a direct replacement for brushing your teeth, and should be used in conjunction with a regular brushing routine.

Plaque is one of the most common dental problems, affecting thousands of people across the UK, here are three great tips to reduce and remove all plaque at home. In studies carried out in the 1990s, it was revealed that 7 in 10 adults had plaque on their teeth. In the vast majority of cases, it's not a serious condition, but if left untreated for an extended period of time, it can result in bad breath, discolouration of the teeth and even gum disease.

It's likely that you'll be familiar with the term 'gum disease', but perhaps not quite so familiar with the effects of the condition. If you don't address the problem, you could find yourself experiencing a wide variety of dental problems; including painful, inflamed gums, smelly breath, pus coming from the gum and in severe cases, you may even lose the affected tooth.

Getting rid of plaque At Home Is Easy

It's fairly easy to see if you've got plaque; as you'll be able to quite literally scrape it away from your tooth, using either your fingernail or a specialist dental scraper. However, as any dentist will tell you, a simple scrape is not good enough, especially with those hard-to-reach back teeth!

Conventional advice dictates that a visit to the dentist is what you need in order to address the problem successfully. However, you may be able to treat the condition yourself at home, using one of three 'secret' plaque-removal methods; which helps save time and money in the long run.

Secret Natural Methods of Getting Rid of Plaque

Of course, if you're more comfortable going to the dentist, then that is the course of action you should take. However, if like many others, you're slightly dentist-phobic, you may want to try one of these excellent DIY treatments at home. Best of all, they only include natural ingredients, making them completely safe to use.

Treatment 1: Walnuts

Walnuts not only taste great, but they're also incredibly good for your teeth. Even when eaten they offer great benefits; as they're rich in folic acid, iron, thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, zinc and magnesium.

However, this treatment doesn't require you to eat them, but to wash your teeth with them! Here's how to do it.

You will need:

Approximately 30g walnuts

Water

How to prepare:

Put the walnut husks into a saucepan. Add water, and then cook the mixture for about 15 minutes or so on the hob. Allow it to cool for a few minutes, then soak your toothbrush in the mixture and clean your teeth thoroughly for five minutes. The result? Your plaque will be greatly reduced.

Treatment 2: Sunflower Seeds and Linden Flower

Sunflower seeds and linden flower are wonderful for your teeth. Here's how you use them.

You will need:

4 tablespoons of sunflower seeds

4 tablespoons of linden flower

1 litre of water

How to prepare:

To make your plaque-busting mix, simply add all the ingredients into a saucepan, and cook on the hob (on a gentle heat) for around 30 minutes. Then wash your teeth in the mixture, preferably after eating.

Treatment 3: Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is incredibly good for removing plaque, but be warned, it is potent! As a result, we recommend only using once a week.

You will need:

Apple cider vinegar

How to prepare:

This one requires no preparation. Simply soak your toothbrush in the vinegar, then brush your teeth as normal. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly; to ensure that no vinegar remains on your teeth, as it can damage your enamel.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

As part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle it is essential to maintain healthy teeth and gums, the only sure way to do this is to visit a dentist regularly. But we help these three ideas help keep the bills to a minimum.

Medicine, like many other branches of academics has always been reinventing and improvising itself by each passing day. One such branch of dentistry which has attracted many young students to take up dentistry as their stream of study is the branch of Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry consists of any work which helps in improving the appearance of a person's teeth and/or gums. Dentistry, today, is not restricted only to the extraction of teeth and filling but includes a wide range of treatments which help in making the teeth look beautiful and attractive.

Further Classification

There are two special sub-branches in Cosmetic Dentistry, namely, Prosthodontics and Orthodontics respectively. While Prosthodontics, which is also known as Dental Prosthetics or Prosthetic Dentistry and deals with the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance of the patients like treating patients with missing or deficient teeth; orthodontics deals with specifically with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of wrongly positioned teeth and jaws. Medical practitioners dealing with this subject matter are known as Prosthodontists and Orthodontists respectively. There are many affordable dentist who provide all kinds of dentistry.

Treatments Offered

Some of the treatments which are or get covered under this branch of dentistry are:

• Whitening of teeth or teeth bleaching as it is also known as is a popular procedure which helps in lightening discolored teeth; 
• Tooth re-shapening which helps in removing the enamel of the tooth in order to improve the appearance of the tooth; 
• Bonding, which is a process in which enamel like dental composite material is used on the tooth's surface and is then sculpted to shape and polished. 
• Dental bridges which help in fusing the gap left by missing teeth with the help of porcelain crowns; 
• Dental implants which are nothing but prosthetic replacement for missing teeth; 
• Gum Lift procedure helping in raising and sculpting the gum line; and 
• Bite Reclamation, by which the vertical dimension of the patient's teeth can be reclaimed and any unwanted wrinkles can also be removed.

Raw Materials

Previously, for dental fillings and such other tooth restoration methods, gold, amalgam and other metals were used as an affordable dentist treatment, which were veneered with porcelain. However today, dental work is entirely made out of porcelain or other composite material which gives natural teeth like appearance to the entire set. This is one of the reasons why dental surgeons today, are increasingly opting for porcelain based fillings.

Your teeth are your precious assets. They are the most exposed bones of your body and hence, it is extremely vital for you to take care of those 32 lovely set of pearls which have been gifted by God. Today, science has advanced so much that it can help you in practically almost every single way in correcting any irregularity which you may be suffering from as far as your teeth are concerned. So go ahead and treat yourself to a beautiful set of sparkling white set of teeth and be an owner's pride and a neighbor's envy.

Gum disease - what to do

A regular visit to a dentist will help you with:

• Prevention of gum disease - early detection is vital and avoids later more complicated and expensive treatment.

• Clean teeth - the hygienist will properly clean and free teeth from plaque and tartar build up

• Minor infections can be identified and treated before they become overly problematic

What is a gum disease?

Gum disease is also called periodontal disease. It occurs when food particles get caught between the teeth and bacteria forms and causes an infection in the gums. It may start with a small pain or sensitivity in the gums, and if not treated can become a much more painful infection. Simple gum disease is not limited to the mouth only. It can lead to many other severe diseases like cancer, diabetes and digestive system problems.

Symptoms

These are the most widely observed symptoms when one suffers from periodontal disease:

• Painful and bleeding gums

• Tooth loss because the gum loses its strength

• Flossing and brushing gets hard because the gums bleed

• Sores in the mouth

• Swelling of the gums

• Halitosis (bad breath)

Causes

Periodontal disease is caused by improper oral care. Similarly, oral hygiene and general health and wellbeing also suffers when you are careless about it.

A few widespread causes of gum disease are:

• Improper technique or irregular brushing

• Not flossing well or often enough

• Smoking

• Large scale alcohol consumption

Basically gums are affected when you do not brush your teeth properly. When the food is eaten, the small particles get stuck in the gaps between the teeth. When you don't floss, they remain there. This leads to the formation of the bacteria between the teeth. The bacteria will corrode the teeth and affect the gums.

Prevention and precautions

There are lots of ways to prevent gum disease.

· Inter dental cleaners have small bristles which are best to remove away the plague from the teeth gap. They are somewhat like a toothbrush in structure and work in a similar way between teeth.

• Eat a healthy diet. Try to lessen the intake of sugary food and drinks. They are really harmful for the teeth and oral health.

• Cut down or quit smoking. This will benefit oral health and general overall wellbeing.

• Brush and floss regularly after each meal or at least twice a day.

• Visit the dentist regularly, 6 monthly is recommended, as this is the best option.

It is imperative that we eat healthy and maintain oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. But still there are nearly 60% people who do not do it which results in multiple tooth diseases. So today we will discuss about tooth pathology - different conditions of teeth. You will be a bit confused with the word Tooth Pathology but it is a very familiar term and has nothing to do with the test laboratories. Tooth Pathology is a term that is used to describe any dental condition that is either congenital or acquired. So you can call it as a Tooth Disease or Tooth Disorders. At times the congenital tooth disease is called as tooth abnormalities. You'd be surprised to know that this is one of the most common diseases found amongst the humans. So ideally Tooth Pathology is just a dental condition which comprises of all the diseases which our tooth goes through in its lifespan.

Dentists are trained to treat, prevent and provide diagnosis for these diseases because the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Dental Pathology are the basis of dentistry. Furthermore dental-hygienists and other sub specialists are involved to give you a smile makeover or even a dental makeover.

As mentioned before tooth pathology comprises of either Congenital or Acquired so come let us take a look at what type of dental conditions fall in the category of Congenital or Acquired diseases:

Congenital Disease: At times called as Tooth Abnormalities, the person suffering from this disease is likely to be affected by Anodontia. It is a rare genetic disorder in which the patient does not have any teeth at all. In typical dentistry terminology this is also referred as Anodontia Vera. This disease is attached with the group of skin and a nerve syndrome which is called as Ectodermal Dysplasia. The only treatment that is prescribed for a patient suffering from this disease is Prosthetic Replacement of the missing teeth. The replacement of teeth is a successful treatment as it ensures that the patients get their natural looking teeth. There are different categories of Congenital Disease. One is when a patient doesn't have teeth called as Hypodontia and the other is when a patient has more than usual number of teeth called as Hyperdontia.

Acquired Disease: Pretty much different from the congenital disease, acquired condition comprises of Dental Caries popularly known as cavity or tooth decay and Dental Abscess. These two are the most common diseases. Cavities are caused by the unwanted guest that rests peacefully in our mouth - Bacteria. They use foods that have sugar or starch and produce acids which erode the structure of tooth thereby causing damage to enamel. Dental Abscess is caused by the pus which gets accumulated in teeth and gums because of the bacterial infection. The cause of dental abscess is consuming foods rich in sugar and starch however if proper oral hygiene is maintained this situation can be avoided.

While some diseases are inherited there is nothing much that can be done about them apart from undergoing surgery. But for the acquired diseases we need to follow proper dental hygiene.

If you have just relocated, there are a few things that you may need help for. You are starting to settle into your new home and you are now establishing your routine at your new office. You have just finished unpacking the boxes at your place and you have enrolled the kids at their new school. You are still adjusting to your life in the new place and everything is new but you are getting there. You may still have a lot of tasks to tick off your to-do list but with time and with the help of the locals, you can certainly find what you are looking for.

One such task is finding an international dental clinic. People who know a few in their community may find this task easy, but what if you do not know anyone who can give you a recommendation? More often than not, when people move into a new city or country, finding a dentist is one of the last things on their to-do lists. Often, finding a dentist becomes a pressing concern only when a family member suffers from a dental condition.

Begin your search for a dentist in a new location would be the referral services offered by local dental associations. The main advantage of this is that you will instantly gain access to a list of reputable dental practices that you can check and do research on. Alternatively, you can ask for recommendations from the people in your community. For example, if you are looking for a dentist for your kids, you can consult the personnel in your child's school clinic or even the parents of your kid's classmates.

The advantage of this is that you can hear the personal experience of these people, which you can factor into your decision-making process. After narrowing down your list of prospective dentists, you can schedule a visit. Make sure that you bring the proper documentation of your family's dental history.

It is also worthwhile to inquire about the services and the prices of these services during your initial visit. During your initial visit to the dentist, make sure that you observe how comfortable you are inside the clinic. Notice how the staff treat and respond to the clients in the waiting area. Simply put, you should feel comfortable and at ease during your visit.

PPO dental insurance is considered as one of the most popular dental insurance plans available in the market right now, not only because of its affordability. PPO dental plans are also flexible. PPO plans would be able to meet the needs of the plan holders, without sacrificing the quality on dental care that the plan holder would be getting.

PPO dental plans are flexible since members can get dental services from dentists even if they are not part of the dental provider's network. However, when getting dental services from a dental provider outside of the insurance company's dental network, the member is unable to enjoy full benefits and discounts.

For example, preventive care is usually covered 100% by PPO dental plans. But if the member prefers to undergo preventive dental services from a dentist who is not a network member, the plan holder is likely to pay for the visit. The discount could be smaller or there could be no discount at all.

Some plan holders, find this very limiting. There are patients or plan holders, even if they prefer getting dental services from in-network dentists, are still apprehensive because of limited experience with these in-network dentists. In addition, there are some PPO dentists who would refuse plan holders especially when the dental services that the plan holder wants cannot be reimbursed.

It is also common for PPO dental coverage to have deductibles, like a medical insurance. The deductibles can be small, but if you are paying for a family coverage, then that small amount could still result into bigger expenses. There are also annual caps. The PPO plan could usually cover around $1000 to $1500 of dental expenses in a year.

The downside of PPO plans may not be as significant compared with the benefits of getting dental insurance. But it is important to understand the pros and cons of dental plans, in order to understand which best fits you and your family's dental needs.

Teeth are lost because of trauma or disease. Trauma may come in the form of an accident or excessive biting forces. Disease is generally tooth decay or periodontal disease [gum disease] but there are other categories such as cancer and various neoplasm's of the jaw that may result in tooth loss. Studies show that more than 50% of the population have one or more missing teeth. Trauma commonly causes the loss of a single front tooth. The effect this has on a persons' well being is obvious. Fortunately an experienced dental implantologist can usually remove the remaining root, place a dental implant, and secure a new tooth to that implant in one visit of an hour or two. The loss of a single tooth in the back is usually caused by tooth decay or periodontal disease. Sometimes this can be treated just like front teeth but for various reasons it is often more time consuming.

More often than not the treatment for a single missing back tooth is as follows: 

1. Extraction of the damaged tooth and grafting of the root sockets. Wait 4 months then
2. Placement of a dental implant to replace the root of the single missing tooth. Wait 4 to 6 months then
3. Placement of an abutment on the dental implant and record taking for the fabrication of a crown to replace the single missing tooth. Wait 3 weeks then
4. Permanent attachment of the abutment to the implant and cementation of the crown to the abutment. TREATMENT COMPLETE

The need for replacing a single missing tooth in the back is often times not as intuitively obvious as the need for replacing a single missing tooth in the front; but it is important. Teeth are very movable. We've all witnessed an Orthodontist putting tension on a tooth with a small rubber band and moving it where ever he wants. Each tooth in the mouth has a position and a purpose. When there is a single missing tooth the body's natural reaction is to drift adjacent teeth into the void that is created. Over time a single missing tooth may actually cause a change in the position of every other tooth in the mouth. Malocclusion may then develop contributing to TMJ [tempromandibular joint] dysfunction, headaches, muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders, food impaction between teeth, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other problems. Because these problems don't always develop and because they may occur years after the single tooth is lost, people often times don't associate the loss of their tooth to the problems it caused. It is a shame that a single missing tooth is frequently ignored in light of the possible consequences but the development of dental implants for the replacement of a single missing tooth is encouraging many more people to seek early treatment.

Multiple missing teeth usually follows a single missing tooth. Each time a tooth is lost and not replaced it accelerates the process of losing more teeth. As multiple teeth are lost all of the problems associated with a single missing tooth are exaggerated. But there are additional concerns as well. Those would include but not be limited to:

1. Collapse of vertical dimension- As multiple back teeth are lost the mouth loses their support when we close causing the chin to get closer to the nose. This has the effect of deep folds at the corner of the mouth and thinning of the lips. It can easily age a persons' appearance by 10 to 20 years.
2. Collapse of facial structure-As multiple back teeth are lost facial support of the cheeks is lost causing a sunken in look. Once again the result is premature aging.
3. Bone loss- The bones of our upper and lower jaws have only one natural purpose; the support of our tooth roots. When the roots are lost the bone begins to melt away much as a muscle does that is not used. This results in further lose of facial support and can make the wearing of artificial prosthetics such as dentures impossible. It can also make the placement of dental implants more challenging.
4. Inability to chew foods properly-The mouth is the first in a series of organs designed to assimilate and digest foods. The more thoroughly we can chew the food the better the whole system works. Mom wasn't wrong when she admonished all of us to chew our food more slowly and thoroughly.
5. Inability to eat a healthy diet-As more and more teeth are lost it becomes increasingly difficult to eat a balanced diet. Important staples such as raw vegetables and nuts become impossible to eat and we lose out on the many vitamins and minerals they provide.
6. Inability to eat the foods we enjoy-Corn on the cob, ribs, steaks, fajitas, etc. become impossible to eat. Many people don't know how much being able to eat what they want means to them until it's too late.
7. Embarrassment-There is a social stigma associated with missing teeth. Many people simply quit smiling or hide their smiles with their hands. That is unfortunate because we know of very few people who lost their teeth because they wanted to. Each person has their own story and all of them or sad.

These are but a few of the problems that people face because of single and multiple missing teeth. Now, dental implants offer amazingly simple and dependable solutions. Dental implants for single missing teeth or multiple missing teeth are artificial roots made of titanium that replace the roots of natural teeth. For a single missing tooth one implant is placed and a crown is attached to it. The result is a natural looking tooth that functions and works just like the natural tooth that was replaced. Many people think that with multiple missing teeth that one dental implant is required to replace each tooth; that is not usually the case. For example if three teeth in a row are missing it is often possible to replace them with only two dental implants and a fixed bridge between them. With the amazing All on 4 protocol and entire arch [16 teeth] can be replaced with only four implants and a fixed bridge.

The placement of a dental implant is usually quick and almost painless for those who are candidates. One requirement is an adequate quantity and quality of bone. As mentioned previously when a tooth is extracted the bone that once secured its' root begins to melt away. Some studies indicate that up to 40% of the bone volume in that area may be lost in the first twelve months. Modern dentist with an understanding of oral surgery and implants place materials in the sockets where the tooth roots were to prevent this from happening. The result is a healthy site for the future placement of a dental implant. Dentist with a more advanced understanding of dental implants may actually place an implant into the socket when the tooth is extracted. When this can be achieved it is the best and simplest solution for preventing bone loss. But because many dentist do not understand dental implants and the protocols necessary for preserving bone, and because many patients take a cavalier approach to the loss of a tooth, sometimes there is a need for an implant but not adequate bone to support it. Modern implant designs minimize this as do implant placement protocols such as those of the All on 4 technique but they cannot eliminate the occasional need for more bone.

When there simply must be more bone, bone regeneration procedures are required. This normally incorporates one of many different types of materials that replace the lost bone volume and encourage the formation of new bone. With the advent of stem cell and bone morphogenic enhanced materials this has become far simpler and more predictable. What once required a maxillofacial and an orthopedic surgeon in a hospital setting can now be predictably performed by a well trained dental surgeon in his office. Once this new bone has matured, usually 4 to 6 months, a single or multiple tooth replacement dental implant can be placed just as predictably as if the graft had not been required.

Single Dental Implant Procedure:-

Steps for placement of a single dental implant in the site of a single missing tooth

• After conscious sedation is administered the placement site of the single missing tooth is infiltrated with local anesthesia.
• A small incision is made in the soft tissue covering the bone in the single missing tooth site and an osteotomy is prepared. An osteotomy is the same thing as a pilot hole made prior to the placement of a screw in wood. Once the osteotomy is completed a single dental implant is threaded into it. Now we have a man made root where the natural root was. Just like a natural root this dental implant is beneath the gums and in the bone and cannot be seen in the mouth. A piece called an abutment is screwed into the single dental implant. The abutment provides the transition from the dental implant beneath the gums to a tooth above the gums. Impressions are taken of the abutment and they are sent to a dental laboratory
• In about three weeks a crown is returned from the laboratory and it is secured to the abutment with glue [cement]. You now have a new tooth that looks, functions, and feels just like a natural tooth.

Dental implants for the replacement of single missing teeth and multiple missing teeth have become as routine for dental implantologist as fillings are at your family dentist. For those with single missing teeth they offer an exceptional replacement solution that can help prevent future problems. For those who have lost multiple teeth or all of their teeth dental implants can give them back their smile, confidence, and self esteem. It can truly give them a second chance.