About Teeth
Throughout your life, you will have two sets of teeth: primary (baby) teeth and secondary (permanent) teeth. At age 6-8 months, the primary teeth appear; all 20 are in place by age 3.
Permanent teeth will begin to grow around age 6, and except for wisdom teeth, are all present between ages 12 and 14. The next teeth to grow in are the 12-year molars and finally the wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth typically begin breaking through from age 17 and on. The total number of permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth. This is why wisdom teeth are usually removed.
Your front teeth are called incisors. The sharp “fang-like” teeth are canines. The next side teeth are referred to as pre-molars or bicuspids, and the back teeth are molars. Your permanent teeth are the ones you keep for life, so it is vital that they are brushed and flossed regularly and that periodic check-ups by a dentist are followed.
Overview of Gum Disease
When left untreated, periodontal or gum disease can lead to tooth loss. In fact, nearly 70 percent of tooth loss can be linked to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Without proper treatment, periodontal disease steadily weakens the jaw, causing teeth to fall out.
Infection starts when the gums become inflamed due to bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. Other factors also affect the health of the gums and bone, including:
Smoking
Tobacco Use
Stress
Genetics
Pregnancy
Medications
Diabetes
Poor Nutrition
Periodontal disease can seriously impact your overall health. The bacteria causing periodontal disease increases the risk of developing heart disease and has even been connected with a higher risk of premature birth in pregnant women.
Gum Disease Presentation
Treatment and Prevention
Good oral hygiene and regular visits with Dr. Brosy can help prevent periodontal disease. Daily brushing and flossing can keep plaque to a minimum and, in conjunction with professional cleanings 2-4 times a year, can keep your teeth healthy for life.
Even when periodontal disease is in a fairly advanced stage, it is possible to improve or even reverse the condition with non-surgical procedures. Depending on the type of disease and its severity, this approach may be suggested by Dr. Brosy.
Scaling
This process involves the scraping and removal of plaque and calculus, also known as tartar, from the tooth. Scaling done at regular teeth cleanings usually involves the crown of the tooth. However, in more extreme circumstances, it is necessary to go further below the gum line to thoroughly remove disease causing bacteria on the root surface.
Root Planing After thorough cleaning of the tooth surface has been completed above and below the gum line, the root of the tooth undergoes a process called planing. This is a process of smoothing the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is removed. This procedure clears away rough areas below the gum line making it easier for the gum tissue to re-attach itself to the tooth, effectively reducing the size of the pockets in which plaque and bacteria. This re-growth of tissue is key to stopping a recurrence of gum disease.
Surgery
In certain cases, periodontal surgery at a specialist’s office may be recommended to treat periodontal disease when non-surgical treatment is ineffective. We may advise procedures such as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafts or bone regeneration to treat periodontal disease. If a tooth has been lost due to periodontal disease, dental implants may be an option for permanent tooth replacement.
Veneers
Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth. Dr. Brosy removes a small amount of the tooth surface to create room for the veneer to be attached. These long-lasting restorations are perfect for making subtle changes to your smile, and won’t discolor over time like your natural teeth.
Bonding
Bonding can also correct these minor cosmetic issues. Unlike veneers, bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth. Bonding can be completed in a short amount of time and is relatively inexpensive. The bonding material comes in many different shades, providing better matching of shades to the natural color of your teeth. However, bonding is not right for more extreme situations. Acrylic bonding is not as durable and long lasting as veneers and may need to be retouched or replaced in the future.
Call Dr. Brosy to see which one of these restorative techniques is right for you.
Teeth Whitening
Your teeth will darken over time. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by food and beverages such as coffee, tea and soda. Other known causes of discoloration include childhood medications or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white smile is a priority for our dental whitening team. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.
One of the whitening methods used by our practice is ZOOM, a gentle hydrogen-peroxide gel-activated solution. Our process will whiten your entire smile in one visit. Call us today for a whitening evaluation.
Nothing improves your appearance more than a bright, white SMILE!
Crowns
A crown is a restoration that covers, or caps, a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. Crowns can:
Restore teeth when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to provide support for large fillings.
Attach bridges.
Protect weak teeth from fracturing.
Restore fractured teeth.
Cover badly shaped or discolored teeth.
Cover dental implants.
Crowns are made from a number of materials, including gold alloys, porcelain or ceramic, or a combination.
Crowns
Bridges
A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may prevent shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite and/or jaw problems and periodontal disease. Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.
There are three main types of bridges:
Fixed bridge - this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
The "Maryland" bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the adjacent teeth.
The Cantilever bridge may be used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space.
Underneath your tooth’s outer enamel is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the tooth’s nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.
When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture that allows bacteria to seep in, or injury due to trauma, it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and cellular activity, and pressure cannot be relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods and drinks.
Without treatment, the infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate, and the tooth may fall-out. Pain usually worsens until one is forced to seek emergency dental attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth, which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly, resulting in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than root canal therapy. If you have the choice, it’s always best to keep your original teeth.
A root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead pulp of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp . The canal is filled with gutta percha, a rubberlike material, to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed with possibly a post and/or a gold or porcelain crown.
