Periodontitis versus parodontosis

There are still dental professionals who use the old and wrong name for a periodontal disease – parodontosis. The correct name is periodontitis. – In former times bacteria couldn´t be proven because of wrong techniques-this was called parodontosis. In the last 25 years it is known that inflammation of the periodontum is caused by bacteria, […]

Gums as a reflection of our overall health!?

Gums as a reflection of our overall health? YES AND NO! Over and over again we read scientific and non scientific journals about vitamin deficiency and the consequences from it. As a result many people choose to take homeopathic medicine –a mistake most of the time! – 99% of gum diseases are attributed to plaque […]

Most common reasons for periodontitis

  – – – – – – – Most common reasons for periodontitis The most common reasons of pariodontitis are: Plaque accumulation due to poor oral hygiene, overhang restorations, ill fitting crowns Malocclusion Stress      Smoking Systemic disease such as diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes Fortunately all these factors are easily controlled by; Optimizing tooth brushing, by […]

Oral Rinses – are they useful in the menagement if Periodontitis?

 Is an oral rinse beneficial for patients with periodontitis? YES! An oral rinse is a useful purchase, unfortunately some doctors think it is not useful-with the argument that bacteria leaks into the periodontal pockets. That is incorrect for two main reasons; The bacteria moves only due to extensions Bacteria are harmless on their own. They are destructive only in mature plaque, causing a cavity or a […]

Periodontitis and saliva test-is it useful?

Periodontitis-saliva test? Yes and no! Our last discussion was about lasers, today we want to inform you about the saliva test. It is a common practice for some dental professionals to require that the patients with periodontal disease to undergo expensive saliva test prior to their therapy.    Congratulations! Now the patient knows that there […]

Once upon a time there was the tooth I

Posted by Dental News Team am 14, Feb - 2011

Toothache 1/5

zahnodyssee_i1This week we would like to show you how it all began, just like one of those cartoon documentaries on evolution – except that we’re doing the evolution of the tooth!

You know how some stories are long and need to be told in parts. Well, this is going to be a five-part series, which we personally think is long enough!

Here is a short preview of all of this week’s episodes

  1. Getting my fillings replaced was a good idea, so why do I still have a toothache!
  2. One root canal after the other, but the toothache won’t go away?!
  3. Maybe you don’t have a toothache, but your face kind of hurts, is this a case of trigeminal neuralgia?!
  4. Teeth gone, toothache and desperation still around!
  5. The journey’s over, now you’ve made it to this article!

Getting my fillings replaced was a good idea, so why do I still have a toothache!

The sun is shining.
You’re finally making money on your own, you have long since left your parents’ house, and you may even have a family of your own. You have everything anybody could ever want – there’s a nice car in the driveway in front of your house, your four children are happily playing in the garden. You and your partner have achieved all your goals, you got your college degree, and then embarked on a great career – you’ve spent 15 years abroad and speak 4 languages.

We are parents, lovers, adventures and friends in one, the only thing we always forget about is our teeth, until one fine day we decide to replace our old amalgamate fillings by something newer, whiter and more natural, composite fillings (white fillings). For a small sum, say 50-150€ we get our spanking new white fillings.

Clouds on the horizon
You’re already on your way home when you start feeling pain after getting your fillings – one or more of your teeth start to ache! And when you bite down on something you get some kind of unpleasant „feeling“. Some of us are lucky, and it takes days, weeks, months, or even years until you start having problems with your teeth. Many of us only have problems for a short while but years later they come back in full force, and you have a bumpy ride ahead.

Toothache – what now – what happened?
Plastics fillings consist of little building blocks, called monomers – kind of like legos. Once the dentist points the strange lamp at the fillings, these  monomers turn to polymers. The light puts the legos together – and the plastic hardens, a process called polymerisation.

But the plastic can only harden thoroughly if moisture is kept away from the tooth, and this can only be done using a cofferdam. Moreover, the plastic should be applied in thin layers and allowed to harden immediately, otherwise the bottom layers will stay soft. Done properly, this may take up to an hour!

These fillings should not be used on chewing surfaces either, as the polymers are unstable and monomers can start breaking out of the structure.

Depending on how the procedure was performed (moist, without layering, deep fillings) loose monomers may be present from the very beginning, and start to break away eventually. These monomers are also “poison” to the dental nerve, which gets damaged and gives you a toothache. This may happen right away, or it might take days, weeks, or months, depending on the depth of the filling, how well the filling was made and the quality of the materials used. Your judgement may also be influenced by your sensitivity to pain.

Stay tuned for: Once upon a time there was the tooth II

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