Stress and Tooth Damage

Stress can be a major contributor to tooth damage. At Riverwalk Dental, we treat damaged teeth with everything from natural-colored fillings to replacement crowns, but the source of a patient’s stress must be addressed to ensure their long-term oral health.

One way in which stress contributes to tooth damage is by weakening the immune system. Periodontal disease is the result of bacterial infection in the gum pockets. As the gum ligaments decay, the teeth come loose, and as periodontal disease progresses, the teeth and jaw bones themselves experience decay.

Stress can also indirectly cause tooth damage by leading patients to develop a habit of clenching or grinding their jaws in their sleep (this behavior is called bruxism). The mechanical strain of doing this wears down and cracks enamel. It also pushes teeth out of place, making them difficult to brush properly and damaging the gum tissue holding them in place.

At its worst, stress can lead to the loss of whole teeth. That is unlikely to happen, but it is in patients’ best interest to get any gum inflammation under control and to seek treatment for bruxism. Our dentists at Riverwalk Dental are skilled at fighting infections and can customize night guards to protect patients from grinding their teeth.

Dr. Jared Palmer and Dr. Roger Chen operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Acid Reflux and Tooth Decay

Acid reflux is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in adults. While the dentists of Riverwalk Dental can provide dental restorations to patients whose teeth have been ravaged by this disease, it is important for patients to understand which lifestyle factors put them at risk.

Stomach acid is highly corrosive. It is kept in check by the stomach’s mucous lining and by a sphincter which separates it from the esophagus, but acid reflux occurs when swallowing causes the sphincter to open. A patient is said to have Gastroesophageal reflux disease if this happens more than twice a week (this condition is also misleadingly called heartburn). Acid reflux is painful and causes ulcers, and in the worst cases, tumors, in the esophagus. If it reaches as far as the mouth, it tends to wear away the enamel of the back molars, which are the first teeth to be exposed to it.

To prevent acid reflux, patients should avoid foods and drinks with high contents of fat, alcohol, and caffeine. They should also avoid foods with citric acids, such as tomatoes, as well as onions and garlic, and avoid eating in large quantities before lying down. Smoking and slouching also increase peoples’ risk of acid reflux.

Dr. Jared Palmer and Dr. Roger Chen operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Stains

Riverwalk Dental provides patients with tooth whitening treatments, but which kind of treatment is appropriate depends on the nature of the stain. If a stain is on the outside of the tooth or just slightly below the surface, it is called an extrinsic stain. But a stain could also be caused by damage to the pulp of the tooth, in which case it is called an intrinsic stain, and treating it could be more complicated.

Any kind of stain can be masked with a veneer or bonding. Since extrinsic stains are acquired from exposure to tar or dark liquids, dentists usually simply bleach them, but that won’t work on an intrinsic stain. Furthermore, damaged dental pulp might indicate a continuing infection which would threaten the patient’s health and comfort. Other possible causes include an excessive amount of fluoride exposure and the use of certain antibiotics, but we’ll need to use our imaging systems to determine whether a root canal or replacement of the crown is necessary. If there is no ongoing threat to the patient’s health, concealing the stain may be all that is required.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Preventing Dry Sockets

Patients at Riverwalk Dental rarely have to struggle with a dry socket, but when they do, we’re here to help. We generally try to avoid extracting patients’ teeth, but sometimes, overcrowding or damage leaves us little choice. Although there is a risk of the empty socket drying out, we try to make sure our patients understand how to care for themselves until it closes and how we will address complications, should they arise.

When a tooth is extracted there is expected to be a small amount of bleeding, which will result in a clot. This clot is what protects the socket from infection, foreign debris, and dryness. Therefore, it is important for the patient to disclose to us all the medications they are on, as some may interfere with clot formation. The patient must avoid disrupting the clot until the socket closes after a few days. This means no sipping through straws, no sticky food, and brushing the area around the surgical site very gently.

Dry sockets are rare, but they are more likely if we had to make an incision into the patient’s gum and suture it shut. The appointment to remove the sutures will supply us with an opportunity to ensure everything is healing correctly, but patients who experience a dry socket should contact us right away so we may provide cleaning and moisturizing therapy.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Veneers

Veneers are among the most sought-after cosmetic restoration and are one of our specialties at Riverwalk Dental. They can be thought of as shields for the teeth which, by covering the fronts and tips, are able to mask chips, stains, and slight misalignments.

While previous generations of veneers required significant tooth reshaping, those of the Lumineers brand are thin enough to require very little change to the natural teeth. Once a patient’s teeth have been cleaned and smoothed, we will take a scan of them from which we can use software to design the custom-fitted shells. After being milled, the veneers can be cemented onto the patient’s teeth.

Being made out of porcelain, veneers have a very similar color to natural teeth, and Dr. Chen will consult with the patient to make sure the color is satisfactory. They are still vulnerable to decay and discoloration, so patients will have to maintain their oral hygiene. But they also create an immediate and lasting improvement in the teeth’s appearance and can somewhat improve bite function when being used to fill small chips and gaps.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

The Implant Procedure

Riverwalk Dental’s Dr. Roger Chen provides his patients with a number of technologically advanced treatments to replace missing or damaged teeth. One of the most effective of those is the endosteal implant. A permanent fixture in the mouth, this type of artificial tooth replaces the root as well as the crown.

The word “endosteal” refers to the endosteum, an inner layer of bone. An implant is a screw, usually made of titanium, which is inserted into the endosteum. Placing it requires an incision to be made into the patient’s gums, and it will take between three and six months for a new matrix of bone tissue to grow around the implant, fusing it into the jaw in a process called osseointegration. When osseointegration is complete, Dr. Chen will place an abutment on top of the implant, which will be exposed on the inside of the mouth. He will then take an impression or scan of the patient’s mouth which will be used as the basis for an artificial crown. Once the crown has been manufactured, it can be cemented over the abutment.

Though the implant process is long and requires the patient to have a certain amount of stable jaw bone, it is one of the best means of restoring bite function and appearance. The implant helps to maintain the structure of the jaw bone, preventing the patient’s face from warping, in addition to the other benefits of replacement teeth.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.