Dentalnews (en)

Does cleaning matter before bleaching?

Usually, yes!

When bleaching, the gums should not be inflamed, since inflamed gums bleed easily!
Blood may react with bleaching gel, moreover the gel is diluted and starts flowing uncontrollably around the mouth.

If you have a plaque problem on the insides of your teeth, or if you are a heavy smoker you should have your teeth cleaned before you undergo bleaching!

You should also go to a dentist if your gums are dark red instead of pale pink and the papilla are swollen – you may have parodontitis!

Check whether your gums are inflamed or healthy:
If your gums are pale pink and dimpled like an orange then your gums are healthy, and if you have very little or no plaque on the insides of your lower teeth, then you can have bleaching done right away.

How much does it cost to get bleaching done by a dentist?

Professional tooth whitening (bleaching) by a dentist costs between 200€ to 900€ in Central Europe.

Tea, coffee, red wine, tobacco, cola and natural ageing makes teeth darker or spotty. Bleaching can make your natural teeth whiter without complications.

Does bleaching damage the enamel or the teeth?

Professional whitening is performed using active oxygen, which decolorizes the pigments found in the teeth. None of the enamel is removed, ground away or dissolved.

A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is more liable to damage the enamel than professional bleaching.
Bleaching compared – before and after. If you brush your teeth after eating sour food or fruits, this may rub off some of the enamel, as certain foods can soften up the enamel.

After eating, you should always wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth – then you’ll always have something to smile about!

Saliva tests are used to detect bacteria (S.mutans and lacto-bacteria) taking into account the rate of flow of saliva and buffer capacity, in order to find patients with a higher risk of developing cavities!

Saliva testing – a success story?
Not really, although you periodically read or hear about saliva testing for cavity prevention.

Saliva tests are commonly used in drug testing and crime investigation – but not in dentistry!

Individually administered tests exhibit a high rate of fluctuation, and cannot differentiate among children with high or low risk.

The good news last – regular visits to the dentist and good dental hygiene can prevent cavities!

Learn more about cavities, etc – in the first video lexikon!

Source:2009_saliva testing

Many people have missing side teeth. Most are not really bothered by this: what matters is that the front teeth  –  the window display – are in good condition!

This is a big mistake, since the side teeth are very important, they protect the jaw and the front teeth from excessive strain …

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Missing side teeth can lead to headaches, jaw pain and even back pain due to overloading and overuse.

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Here you can see a cross-section of a jaw with a complete set of teeth, and the  masseter, one of many chewing muscles. The masseter is highlighted in red.
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When this muscle contracts, the lower jaw in pressed against the upper jaw. The teeth touch at the occlusion surface and the lower jaw comes to a stop because of the side teeth.
There is a definite gap between the jaw link head and socket.

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By providing support, the side teeth protect the jaw from excessive chewing pressure. This mechanism is further reinforced as the side teeth touch before the front teeth do. The lower jaw rotates away from the joint, and the side teeth act as a hypomochlion (=angle point) and protect the jaw.

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If the side teeth are missing, or the occlusion surface is decreased because of uneven teeth, then the masseter pushes the lower jaw more towards the base of the cranium, and the joint gap disappears. The jaw is overstrained, which in time can lead to slight pain or even necessitate operations on the jaw.
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It is therefore crucial to replace teeth, not only front teeth for aesthetic purposes, but also side teeth! Replacing side teeth keeps you healthy. Moreover, front teeth tend to be overused if there are not enough side teeth, which makes bone recede and eventually leads to loss of front teeth! –

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A partial denture can be used to replace side teeth, implants are not always necessary – the main thing is that you can chew on the side!

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Source: 2009_Side teeth

Questions and answers on the costs of dental implants and their durability

The Web provides a great deal of information about dental implants!
While much of this informations useful, a lot of it simply confuses non-experts!

We have provided answers to the most frequently asked question here, as well as links further below!

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Do implant-based teeth have to be cleaned?
Implanted teeth have to be cleaned even more thoroughly than your own teeth.

The area where the implants show through the gums has to be kept clear of inflammation, otherwise the implants may get inflamed and fall out.
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Can I even take dental implants?

Implantation has become a common procedure in dentistry. In spite of great advances in this field, some patients are worried about negative “”reactions”” to  titanium implants they have read or heard about. The literature on the subject does not mention any side effects when using titanium, even though some implants do fall out in the case of some patients.
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Why do implants fall out?

• Inadequate cooling when reaming the implant shaft into the jaw bone (dentist’s fault)
• Inserting an artificial root into an inflamed jaw bone (dentist’s fault)
• Prematurely loading the artificial root (dentist’s fault, patient’s fault)
• Poor after-treatment and nicotine abuse further exacerbate these negative factors (patient’s fault)

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What happens if an implant doesn’t heal properly?

If an implant does not heal properly and has to be removed at some point, it is a shame, but it does not occur frequently. There is no physical damage, as the gap in the bone can be closed by new bone. Renewed implantation is also possible, if desired.
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Can you fly with dental implants?

Many patients believe that they will no longer be able to go through metal detectors at airports because of titanium implants. First of all, having titanium in your body does not set off any alarm, but even if such devices should come to be used, an implant passport can help you get through.
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Are dental implants the solution to my dental problems?
Many patients think that a set of teeth which has been undergoing certain changes for decades (up to full dentures) can be completely replaced using implants, under general anaesthesia. When getting full treatment, think about the habits that got you there in the first place. You may need to change your dentist, if your old one failed to inform you of the implications, but you also need to change your own habits, or else you will also lose your implants!
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I would like a permanent denture, how many implants do I need?
If you have no teeth left in your jaw, then you will generally need 4 implants in the lower jaw and 6 implants in the upper jaw for a permanent denture.
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How long do dental implants hold?
Scientific studies performed over the last 25 years show implants to be highly effective. How long they hold cannot be specified exactly, but assuming that they heal properly, after 10 years over 90% of all implants still work.
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How much does an implant cost?

In Europe, a titanium implant itself costs between 500 and 1700 euros. But patients also want to know about the total costs (implant, abutment, crown). Prices vary greatly because of the different components used, so that the total denture may cost between 1400 and 3000 euros.
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You will find more information on this topic in a forum or in the first dental video lexicon.

Yesterday you read about bad teeth, and why some people have fillings in their upper jaw, especially in the spaces between their teeth – shown by the blue lines in the picture.

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There is a reason for this: the fact that the upper teeth have wide contact surfaces (the blue lines). The lower teeth have smaller contact surfaces (the blue dots). A toothbrush can usually get through the lower teeth – but not the upper teeth.
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This is why cavities tend to develop between the upper teeth, and if the fillings reach the dental nerve, you end up needing a root canal. Usually followed by a crown. Use an oral irrigator and/or dental floss, and clean your front teeth, as well as all other teeth, from the back!