In most cases there is not enough space for the wisdom teeth to grow, so they erupt at awkward angles and then get stuck.

This impaction can cause gum inflammation, infection, pain and swelling.

In certain cases the patient cannot open their mouth due to the infection.

In the image above the LL8 is impacted and this leads to food trapping and dental decay of the tooth next door.

The LL7 suffers from a severe cavity and will need root canal treatment or even an extraction.

Sometimes the wisdom tooth itself get decayed and causes extreme pain.

It can be difficult to floss between a buried wisdom tooth and the tooth infront.

But a poor diet with lots of sweet foods and drinks will accelerate tooth decay especially around the molars.

Dental pain can appear when it is too late to save the tooth and the tooth next door.

On a radiograph, dental decay is seen as a dark shadow or hole in the tooth.

As many wisdom teeth are positioned deeper than the second molars, then the decay in the seconds is deep and close to the nerve. Some teeth will need root canal treatment or even extraction.

Final advice is to brush and floss the molars, get a dentist to check with radiographs for any signs of infection, decay or even cysts.

In our opinion the first sign of a wisdom tooth problem should be actioned with an extraction soon after, as we have found wisdom teeth; once a problem, always a problem.

#wisdom teeth #toothache #dental extraction

O post Why you should get your wisdom teeth x-rayed part 2 apareceu primeiro em Forma Smile | Dentist in London - Dental Clinic London - Invisalign Clinic in London - Invisalign Specialist - Dental Implants in London - Dental Care - Dental Boutique based in Central London EC2.

COVID-19 has an impact on health-care professionals, including dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. COVID-19 virus has been found in saliva, which puts the dental professional at risk. Furthermore, recently released statistics showing that the virus can live on up to three days on plastic and stainless-steel items, four hours on copper surfaces, and up to three hours suspended in a fine mist. The information assimilated in this document will help those in the dental profession reduce the risk of exposure to and from patients.

Practice safe infection control protocols

• Use preprocedural rinse of peroxide. The concentration of any rinse used should be at least 0.5%. Over-the-counter peroxide is typically 3%, so it would need to be diluted. Rinse at the beginning of the appointment for 60 seconds and again after the appointment.
• At this time, the ADA and CDC are only recommending peroxide to destroy the virus. While chlorine dioxide and chlorhexidine have been shown to kill some viruses, at this time, the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not endorsed their use for destroying COVID-19.
• ALWAYS wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working directly with patients.This includes safety glasses, gowns, lab jackets, face shields, gloves, and a mask appropriate for the task.

Patient screening

• Front desk staff should call and screen patients prior to their scheduled appointments. Additionally, staff should screen patients when arriving for their appointments.
• Reschedule any patient who discloses they have had flu-like symptoms that include a high fever, dry cough, or difficulty breathing. Or if they have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three weeks or 21 days.

General housekeeping

• Avoid direct handshaking, hugging, or greetings that require direct contact.
• Provide hand-sanitizer in all operatories, at the front desk, and in all bathrooms.
• Disinfect common areas including entry doors, throughout the day. Diluted household bleach will kill the virus.
• Wash hands often and refrain from touching your face—eyes, nose, and mouth.

O post Making patients safe when Dentistry reopens apareceu primeiro em Forma Smile | Dentist in London - Dental Clinic London - Invisalign Clinic in London - Invisalign Specialist - Dental Implants in London - Dental Care - Dental Boutique based in Central London EC2.

Do you have a V or a U shaped arch?

How to widen the arch and instil confidence without metal braces.

Miss M was a shy person with a poor smile but could not really afford Invisalign. She had absolutely no confidence.  She hated it that her front teeth were sticking out so much.

She had moderate crowding with a narrow high upper V shaped arch, with compressed overcrowding.

She wanted to know if I could treat her with Invisalign, and I said of course.

My aim was to use the Invisalign system in sequence to gently push out the dental arch and create space for her front teeth.

We took did not want to take any upper teeth out and so we started Invisalign.

Even though she did not come as regular as we had hoped, we could start to see a change in her confidence. She was more talkative and open.

We are at the end of the initial set of Invisalign aligners and she is getting married soon. We will continue with refinements afterwards.

O post Do you have a V or a U shaped arch? apareceu primeiro em Forma Smile | Dentist in London - Dental Clinic London - Invisalign Clinic in London - Invisalign Specialist - Dental Implants in London - Dental Care - Dental Boutique based in Central London EC2.