Tooth migration: so you think you are safe as noone can see your back tooth is missing...?

REMEMBER!

IT’S ESSENTIAL to replace any missing teeth as soon as possible — doing nothing could cost you much more in the long run. The dentures in this areas act as space maintainers to prevent any further changes such as horizontal and vertical drift - see the photos below.

VERTICAL TOOTH MIGRATION

A missing back tooth can set off a chain reaction of problems that can affect your overall dental health. Besides playing an important role in chewing food, back teeth also redistribute most of the chewing force away from the front teeth. Their absence can also affect the bite: adjacent teeth to the missing one will tend to migrate toward the open space, causing them to tip and rotate into an improper position. This can cause an increase in tooth mobility, excessive wear and erosion, and endanger their survival in the long run.

HORIZONTAL TOOTH MIGRATION

To avoid these and other problems you should consider some form of replacement.

One of the options is a removable partial denture (RPD). RPDs restore function and improve appearance and are the quickest and most cost effective dental appliance available. It is essential to replace the back tooth/teeth as soon as possible — doing nothing could cost you much more in the long run.

What to do when your tooth gets knocked out? (Knocked out tooth = avulsed tooth)

What to do when your tooth gets knocked out? (Knocked out tooth = avulsed tooth)

REMEMBER: Proper emergency action can save the tooth so that it can be replanted successfully and last for years to come.

1.     Find the tooth. If your tooth got broken try to find all the pieces as they can sometimes be bonded together. 

2.     Very IMPORTANT! Pick up the tooth by the crown (chewing surface). Do not scrape the tooth as you may remove the living tissue on the root. If you want to transport it to your dentist the best would be to store it and keep it moist in a container with your own or someone else’s saliva or milk. Do not let it dry and do not wrap it in a tissue or cling wrap.

3.     You can try to reinsert the tooth into the socket. If you want to do it you should use only water to gently rinse off any dirt. (Do not use soap or chemicals!) Use gentle but firm pressure till the tooth sits in the right position. You can bite on gauze or cotton ball to keep it in that position.

4.     If you are unable to perform step 3 please take your tooth to the nearest dentist as soon as possible and they will do it for you. It's best to see the doctor within 30 minutes; however, it is possible to save a tooth even if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more.

Questions:

Can a knocked out tooth be put back in?

When a tooth has been knocked out, the nerves, blood vessels and supporting tissues are damaged, too. The nerves and blood vessels can't be repaired. That is why all avulsed teeth will need a root canal. However, the bone can reattach to the root of the tooth once it's put back into place

Why put a tooth in milk when it falls out?

Milk is a good medium for storing knocked-out teeth because cells from the root surface don't swell up and burst as they do when placed in water.

Can a dentist glue a broken tooth?

Dental Filling or Bonding. If you have chipped off just a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist may repair the damage with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin.

Can a wobbly tooth heal itself?

But with new technology and expertise, your dentist is more likely than ever to be able to save your loose permanent tooth. Hoping that your tooth will heal on its own is probably not an effective strategy for dealing with a loose permanent tooth.

Can a dead tooth come back to life?

Nanofilm could bring dead teeth back to life. ... While the root canal procedure has a high success rate, it still leaves a dead tooth in the mouth. That could be about to change, however, with scientists reporting development of a nano-sized dental film that may bring diseased teeth back to life.

What to eat when I get my new dentures?

When you receive your first dentures eating can be a bit of a challenge to start with. Give yourself time to heal (if you had extractions done) and don’t expect too much at the very beginning. But don’t give up either: persevere and continue wearing your dentures. If you are getting both upper and lower denture you might need to eat in front of a mirror. The trick is to distribute food evenly on both sides and chop it rather then chew like you used to do with your natural teeth.

These are some of the foods that you should be able to eat as suggested by existing denture wearers (basically anything soft):

-       mashed potatoes

-       yoghurt

-       mac n cheese

-       soups pureed in a food processor

-       overcooked past

-       pancakes

-       scrambled eggs

-       protein shakes

-       cheesecake

-       cottage cheese

- ice-cream

-       puddings

Tips from experienced denture wearers to newbies.

• Be very patient. Don't expect too much too fast.

• Very small bite at first so you dont choke.

• It's ok to eat with them out if you prefer, and just wear them for looks.

• Keep them in no matter how frustrating they get. Don't let them control you! You control them 1000%. And patience is key.

• Keep them in your mouth! They don't belong on the counter, the more you wear them, the more you can't be without them. Not easy at first, very easy later!

• Keep them in and push through the learning process or you’ll end up putting them in a drawer!

• Wear them night and day for two weeks straight . Only take them out to clean them. They are something new and foreign to your mouth. So that will give you time to get use to them .

• Be patient. Take small steps. I have had my dentures since the end of March and I can't hardly tell I have them in. I can eat!!!! It's all gonna work out.

• I agree patience is needed. I also think having realistic expectations. I'm coming up to a year with an upper denture and it's been a bit of a roller coaster. Every time I'm having an issue I think back to the issues I had before I had my teeth out. It helps me to be grateful

• That your new teeth are a prosthetic. And that anyone who uses prosthetics needs time before it looks and feels natural. You would not expect a person with a prosthetic leg to be able to run or dance well right away, so keep that in mind when you struggle with your new teeth. Be patient and kind to yourself!

• Communicate with your provider. Everything you think and feel. Don't hold thing in or be afraid to speak up. Give yourself time to adjust. Find a support system. Love yourself !!

• Keep them in no matter what when you first get them! Have someone there the first day or two so you can sleep SITTING UP. Ice ice ice your face all day. Ibuprofen is the best for inflammation and pain even over prescription pain meds. Sing your ABCs and 123s from day one until you can talk well. Have patience and NEVER GIVE UP. If you keep gOing through the roughest times you will be able to eat whatever you want

• Also, if something is wrong speak up for yourself in the office no matter how hard it is! Do not let them let you walk out with an ill fitting denture or one that does not look good. Make sure you are happy with the fit and looks❤️

• Be patient and persistent. Nobody would expect to run on a prosthetic leg within hours of wearing it fir the first time. Dentures are similar. There is a learning curve. Everyone travels it at their own pace.

• It's ok to bother your dentist for adjustments

• Be prepared as much as possible. I didn’t know what to expect and was not prepared for things such as plenty of broth. Soft foods. How to get medicine down. Be focused on this journey and determined.

• Patience! It takes awhile to adjust...be patient, each day will get a little better!

• Trust yourself.

• Smile! A lot!!!

• Be patient, allow proper healing time, eat smaller portions and don't beat yourself up. I'm 5 months in with full upper, partial lower and I've been eating most of the time with them out, just recently started just going for it being positive and eating while I have them in and doing just fine.

• Keep them in! Be patient and practice everything including smiling, whistling and spitting!

• Getting dentures can be emotional at any age, be patient with yourself.

  For more information join: Denture Support Group: Australia & Worldwide

Xylitol - a cure for caries?

The addition of xylitol to your oral products can help reduce the likelihood of dental caries as well, giving you extra defenses against tooth decay. Xylitol has been studied for over 40 years and has been shown to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that causes dental caries and to reduce the acid that causes the cavities. This is because the main cavity causing bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, cannot metabolize xylitol and therefore can’t grow, and if the dietary sugars are replaced by xylitol there is no acid production.

It is recommended consuming five to seven grams total of xylitol per day, spread out through several servings, to reap these benefits. Without making changes to your usual routine, you can easily incorporate the necessary xylitol. Instead of using a regular toothpaste, floss, or mouthwash, make the easy switch to xylitol based products and you won’t even have to think twice about getting enough xylitol into your daily routine.