Dry Mouth and Dental Caries

Dry mouth is a condition that is caused by the decrease in saliva production, and it can refer to any condition where your mouth becomes or feels unusually dry. In some cases, it can be caused by certain types of medications or conditions that affect your salivary glands. Dry mouth may be common, but its severity can range from merely being a nuisance to a problem that can impact your overall health and well-being. Consider making an appointment with one of the best dentists in Sterling for proper diagnosis and treatment of your dry mouth. If left untreated, you could increase your risk of developing dental caries, commonly known as cavities or tooth decay.

Dental caries is caused by certain types of bacteria that produce an acid to destroy the enamel of your teeth and the dentin (the layer underneath). Some types of bacteria are constantly present in the mouth, and they cause the buildup of plaque that contains bits of food, saliva, and other natural substances. Plaque typically builds on the pits, cracks, and grooves behind the teeth, between teeth, around bridgework or dental fillings, and near your gum line. The symptoms of cavities may not show on the early stages, but as soon as they get through the enamel, teeth may start becoming sensitive.

Dry mouth can cause dental caries, too. For this reason, you need to consider making an appointment at an established Sterling dental clinic for treatment. Lack of saliva will make harmful bacteria thrive in your mouth, resulting in a higher risk of cavities. Dentists in Sterling will determine the cause of your dry mouth and tailor a treatment that can help address the condition while lowering your risk of getting dental caries and other oral infections. Dry mouth can be a symptom of other diseases, too, such as diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, all of which can affect your salivary glands.

What You Need to Do About a Gummy Smile

Have you ever felt that your gums rest too high or too low on your teeth? If you are not satisfied with your smile as it shows off too much of the gums, you may need a gum contouring surgery. It is also known as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting surgery. It is basically a cosmetic dental procedure that evens out the gum line and gives you a smile that you can be proud of.

Problems with gums can occur because of several reasons such as genetics or use of certain prescription drugs. Gums that cover a large portion of your teeth can make your teeth look small and in some cases, the gums can make your teeth look bigger than they actually are which is just the opposite case. Gums that are too high are often caused by gum recession. It is a condition where gum tissue is pulled off and exposes the root of the tooth. It will not only make your teeth look longer than usual but may also cause tooth decay and tooth loss. It can possibly be an early sign of a periodontal disease, depending on the situation.

In most of the cases, gum contouring need not be a medical treatment which becomes mandatory. Most people opt for the treatment because they are not happy with their smiles. On the other hand, some people need to go for gum contouring because of much required periodontal procedures. It could be crown lengthening, pocket reduction and, some other regenerative procedures.

Many dentists also perform gum contouring, but it is better to choose one who has specialization in the field and is an expert in his or her line of work. An expert periodontist or gum specialist is the best choice in this case. One should ask his or her dentist about the various intricacies and medical aspects involved in gum contouring procedure.

The cost of the gum contouring depends on the procedure length and the complexity of the treatment. However, dental insurance generally does not cover the gum contouring treatment charges as it is a cosmetic procedure but one can talk to the dentist depending upon one’s specific needs. The usage of the equipment also affects the quality of the treatment. Dentists often use lasers and radio-surgery to complete the procedures.

It may take a few days or weeks to completely recover from the surgery, depending on the complexity of the treatment. One should follow specific guidelines as directed by the dentist in Sterling VA in order to make the most of the treatment in their Sterling dental clinic. One can then enjoy having a beautiful smile and not worry about the smile being too gummy.

How to Correct a Receded Gum Line

A receded gum line is a dental condition which causes the gum to pull-off from the tooth which may later cause periodontal diseases. It is a common dental problem that occurs mostly in adults and many people ignore this condition until it is worsened. It causes too much exposure of the tooth and the tooth root. In the majority of such cases, people do not even recognize that their gums are receded. With time, this condition will not only make your teeth look ugly but may also cause tooth sensitivity towards hot and cold food items.

Gum grafting is a procedure where the dentists in Sterling takes preventive measures to protect your teeth from gum recession. It helps you in maintaining a healthy smile at its best.

If not diagnosed and treated on time, it can also cause tooth loss, and a gum grafting surgery becomes necessary to prevent that situation from arising. Gum tissue grafting is performed in three different ways depending on the specific situation.

Connective-Tissue Grafts: It is one of the most common methods used to treat teeth root exposure. In this procedure, a mouth tissue (skin from the palate) is cut down and stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. When the tissue is removed from the palatal flap, the flap is stitched back.

Free Gingival Grafts: This method is similar to the Connective-Tissue Grafting method but in this case, a small amount of tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth and is attached to the problematic area. People having thin gums are treated by this method that also helps in gum enlargement.

Pedicle Grafts: In this method, the tissue is not extracted from the palate but from the gum around the problematic area. The flap that is also known as pedicle is only partially cut away so that one edge of the tissue remains attached. The gum is then pulled down and stitched to the tissue. It covers the exposed root and the tooth at the same time.

Dentists in Northern Virginia often give sedatives to relax their patients after the treatment. But once the treatment is completed, patients must look after their gums and follow the directives given by the dentists. Patients are often prescribed not to floss or brush near the treated area until it is completely healed.

Sleep Apnea-How To Prevent Sleepless Nights?

Sound sleep is very important for good physical health; if you experience difficulty in sleeping then your dentist may have an answer to the problem. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can be successfully treated by using oral appliance therapy. Let’s try to find out more about sleep apnea, through this blog, brought to you by Ridgetop Dental-the best dentists in Sterling, VA.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep related disorder that causes the patient to stop breathing while they sleep. Snoring is a major indicator of sleep apnea. It’s a potentially fatal condition, which needs timely intervention.

Why it is important to treat sleep apnea?

Treating obstructive sleep apnea is very important as it can cause various short term and long term complications, like-

·         Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue

·         Morning headaches and memory loss

·         Increases your risk of drowsy driving and workplace accidents\

Long term complications include

·         High Blood Pressure

·         Stroke

·         Diabetes

·         Heart Disease

·         Chronic acid reflux

How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea treated?

There are various treatment options available to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The right course of treatment for a patient can only be determined after a thorough examination by an expert, suggests the expert for general and cosmetic dentistry in Sterling, VA. Your dentist may suggest any of the following treatment methods:

·         Patients with severe sleep apnea may be advised to wear a face mask (CPAP system) that delivers air through mask.

·         Oral appliance therapy using a mouth guard-like device, which is only worn during sleep, in order to maintain an open, unobstructed airway.

·         Surgical options include a variety of procedures that have varying success rates.

·         Patients with mild sleep apnea may be advised to make behavioral changes such as altering the sleeping position, losing weight, or quitting smoking.

Talk to Ridgetop Dental’s expert dentists about treatment options for sleep apnea. Ask if oral appliance therapy might be the right solution for you.  To schedule an appointment or to find out more about cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, restorative dentistry or sedation dentistry in Sterling, VA, visit Ridgetop Dental at-http://www.ridgetopdental.com/