A removable partial denture usually has replacement teeth attached to a metal or acrylic (plastic) base that matches the color of your gums. Partial dentures often have some form of clasp that attaches to your natural teeth and can easily be taken out of your mouth for cleaning or storing while you sleep.
It takes practice to put in and take out a removable partial denture. It may feel a bit odd or tight for the first few weeks. But in time, you will get used to it. Never force the denture into place by biting down. This could bend or break the clasps or damage your teeth. Your dentist will show you how to place and remove it.
Your dentist may tell you to take out the partial denture at bedtime and put it back in when you wake up. Usually your dentist will make follow-up appointments to look for pressure points or sore spots. They will also adjust your partial denture so that it fits comfortably.
If you have missing teeth, wearing a removable partial denture can help you speak more clearly. If you find that some words are hard to say at first, try reading out loud in front of a mirror. With time and practice, you should be able to speak well.
As you get older, the fit of your removable partial denture can change. Your jaw bone can shrink, making a space under the denture. Food can get trapped. The denture clasps also may get loose from normal wear.
If your removable partial denture breaks, cracks, or chips, or if one of its teeth become loose, see your dentist as soon as possible. Also, your partial denture may need to be adjusted if you lose one of your supporting natural teeth. Sometimes dentists can make the repairs, often on the same day. Complex repairs can take longer. The sooner you make an appointment, the sooner you can have a well-fitting partial denture again.
Follow all instructions from your dental team. This will help make sure that your mouth heals properly after your tooth is removed. These instructions will also help to lower your risk of having any problems while your mouth heals.
The blood clot that forms in the tooth socket is an important part of the normal healing process. You should avoid doing things that might disturb the clot. If the blood clot is disturbed and breaks down, you can get a dry socket. Dry sockets can be extremely painful. To lower your risk of a dry socket, be very careful to not do anything that can disturb the clot.
Regular dental visits allow your dentist to track the growth and condition of all of your teeth. After doing an oral exam and taking X-rays, your dentist can look at your wisdom teeth and talk to you about whether they should be removed. Wisdom teeth extraction, or removal, may require surgery.
A general dentist can perform wisdom tooth extractions. But, if your dentist sees a need for any special care, you may be referred to an oral and maxillofacial (max-UH-lo-FAY-shul) surgeon. This is a dentist who specializes in surgery of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, including the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. If your dentist refers you to a specialist, the two will work together to provide you with the best care.
If you use tobacco in any form, it is important to quit. Smoking and vaping can cause problems with your healing process. Ask your dentist or physician for information about ways to quit.
Cavity: A hole in your tooth called a cavity can form when tooth decay gets through your enamel. The cavity can continue to spread deeper into the layers of your tooth. Cavities can form on any tooth and in any place on your tooth. If tooth decay and cavities are not treated, you may feel pain, the infection can spread to other parts of your mouth, and you may even lose teeth.
Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride (FLOOR-eyed) toothpaste is important. But, toothbrush bristles cannot reach the spaces between teeth. These spaces trap bits of food and plaque, a sticky film of decay-causing bacteria. Dental floss or other between-the-teeth cleaners can help keep these tooth surfaces plaque-free and healthy. Also, eating a healthy diet, limiting snacks, and having regular dental checkups will help you keep your smile healthy for years to come.
5. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. As you move from tooth to tooth, unwind the clean floss with one finger and take up the used floss with a finger on the other hand. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth.
Pulp is the soft tissue inside the center of your tooth and contains nerves and blood vessels. If the crack reaches the pulp, your tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold. Sometimes, a crack in the enamel of your tooth goes all the way down to the nerve pulp. This type of cracked tooth may hurt when you bite down or when you stop biting. The crack may be too small to see but is large enough for the pulp inside your tooth to become irritated.
Treatment depends on the size, location and direction of the crack, as well as your symptoms. It is possible that your dentist will recommend no treatment at all, since tiny cracks are common and usually do not cause problems. You and your dentist can talk about the types of treatments for your tooth and decide on the treatment that is right for you.
Regular dental checkups are important, because they let your dentist find and treat problems at an early stage. A cracked tooth can become a bigger problem if left untreated. If you think you may have a cracked tooth, visit your dentist.
Plaque is a sticky film that is always on your teeth. When plaque is left on your teeth and gums, it can harden. Hardened plaque is also called tartar (TAR-ter). Bacteria that live in the plaque can make your gums red, puffy and swollen. Tartar on your teeth makes it hard for you to keep your teeth and gums clean on your own.
When your gums are healthy, your gum tissues tightly hug each of your teeth. When you have gum disease, your gums pull away from your teeth and may become red, puffy and swollen. Spaces called pockets can form, and these pockets collect more bacteria. If the infected pockets are not treated, the disease will get worse.
The bacteria in plaque make your gums red, tender and swollen. Your gums might bleed at this stage. You also can have gingivitis and not notice any of these signs. Gum disease at this stage is usually reversible and can be treated by a dentist or dental hygienist during a regular cleaning and with daily brushing and flossing.
In time, as plaque and tartar build up where your teeth and gums meet, the gum tissues and bone around your teeth begin to break down. Periodontitis affects about 42% of adults over age 30 in the United States.
You may notice one or some of these warning signs, or you may not notice any warning signs at all. Sometimes the only way to know for sure is by getting regular dental checkups. That way, if you do have gum disease it can be caught and treated early.
At your dental appointment, your dentist will use an instrument called a periodontal probe to gently measure how deep the pockets are around each of your teeth. When your teeth are healthy, the pocket should be no deeper than 3 millimeters. Typically, the worse the disease, the deeper the pocket. This means the bacteria have more room to grow and cause serious damage to your gums and bone, loosening your teeth. Very deep pockets are a sign of advanced periodontal disease.
If your gum disease is beyond gingivitis, you may need a special deep cleaning called scaling (SCAY-ling) and root planing (PLAY-ning). This treatment may be done over more than one visit, depending on your diagnosis.
You will need to schedule another dental visit within a few weeks or months after your scaling and root planing treatment has been completed. At this visit, your dentist or hygienist will check your gums to see how they have healed. They will measure the periodontal pockets again. Scaling and root planing may be only a first step in periodontal treatment.
One type of procedure is flap surgery, which allows your dentist to remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas below the gum. A small incision is made in the gums and the gum tissue is pulled back to allow the area to be cleaned. Then, your gums are stitched into place to tightly hug your teeth
Your dentist may place a membrane layer at the surgical area to help your gums stay in place while the tooth root reattaches to the supporting bone tissues. This is called guided tissue regeneration.
To help you heal after surgery, your dentist may apply a protective dressing over your teeth and gums and recommend or prescribe a medicated mouthrinse. You may also be given a prescription to treat infection or for pain relief.
Once your gum disease is brought under control, it is very important that you get dental care on a consistent basis. The type of professional cleanings recommended after your treatment are called periodontal maintenance care. These cleanings are more extensive than the standard cleaning and will help you keep your gums healthy.
You will need to clean your teeth and gums every day at home, but that is not enough to control your gum disease. Professional care is also needed to help make sure that your mouth continues to heal and get healthy. Your periodontal maintenance involves cleanings that are deeper than a normal cleaning in the dental office. These cleanings lower the amount of plaque bacteria so inflammation gets better, pockets shrink and gums become healthier. Periodontal maintenance appointments are typically every 3 to 4 months, depending on your condition.
Your dentist will talk to you about a treatment plan that works best for you, and he or she will recommend a maintenance care schedule that is based on your personal case. Over time, fewer appointments may be necessary.
You may also need special medications that can help control the infection or help your gums heal. The medicine could be a pill, a special mouthrinse or a medication that your dentist places right into the pocket after you have a deep cleaning.
795a8134c1