FMR stands for full mouth restoration, reconstruction, or even rehabilitation, depending on who you ask. Whatever you call it, FMR treatment has one ultimate goal: getting your mouth back to functioning in a healthy manner.
Here are some situations in which you may need to have FMR.
Cancer and Trauma
Oral cancer comes in many forms and can necessitate removal of a portion of the jaw. To restore your smile, you may need implants, bone and gum grafts, or dental prosthetics. The same is true if you experience a serious injury.
Years of Dental Neglect
There are many reasons people neglect their smile: fear of dentists, substance abuse, lack of funds. Even some eating disorders can wreck teeth in a matter of months. If your teeth haven’t been seen by a dentist in ten years or more, there’s a chance you’ll have quite a bit of work to restore them.
Severe Periodontal Disease
When gum disease ravages a smile, it leaves behind deformed bone, bad breath, receding gums, and missing teeth. You may need a lot of periodontal therapy to rebuild your smile after a bout with chronic periodontal disease.
Developmental Defect
Some people are so unfortunate as to never have known a comfortable smile. A bite discrepancy could make it difficult for children to speak and eat properly and can also affect tooth alignment. If you were born with a “bad bite,” then you may be a candidate for restoration that includes jaw alignment surgery.
Teeth Grinding Habit (Bruxism)
Severe teeth grinding can result in: lost enamel, fractured and loose teeth, and severe gum recession.
Ask your dentist about an FMR if you’ve experienced any of these situations.
Posted on behalf of:
Pure Smiles Dentistry
2655 Dallas Highway Suite 510
Marietta, GA 30064
770.422.8776
Having surgery on your gums may sound a little scary. But it won’t be as bad as you’re expecting!
You may need gum surgery for any of several reasons:
Who Performs the Surgery?
A periodontist (gum specialist) usually performs the procedure. Some oral surgeons also perform gum surgery, such as placing grafts. A general dentist can treat your teeth and perform basic gum therapy, but you need to see a specialist when it comes to gum surgery.
Is Gum Surgery Painful?
Gum surgery is over very quickly and you’ll be numb the entire time, so you won’t have to feel anything. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some discomfort. Most patients say that gum surgery on the roof of their mouth is the most uncomfortable. It’s said to feel like a burn from eating hot pizza.
Your recovery doesn’t have to be very painful. Taking over the counter pain relievers as your gum surgeon directs and sticking to a diet of cool soft foods will help you stay comfortable.
Does It Take Long to Heal?
Oral tissues heal faster than most others in the body. If you have stitches, they usually come out within a week after the surgery. Even if it takes as long as two weeks to heal completely, you can get back into your normal routine within a day of the procedure.
Contact a periodontist or dentist in your area to learn more about what’s involved in gum surgery and whether it’s right for you.
Posted on behalf of:
Springfield Lorton Dental Group
5419-C Backlick Rd
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 256-8554
It’s a traumatic event for everyone involved – your kid is freaking out over the blood and you’re horrified to realize a tooth is missing.
What do you do?
First of all, establish whether the tooth was an adult or baby tooth and try to find it. If it was a baby tooth that fell out prematurely, you still need to see a dentist but the situation isn’t so urgent.
When it comes to an adult tooth, on the other hand, timing is everything.
Bring your child to a sink where he or she can spit out blood and rinse out their mouth. Try to calm him or her down and place some clean gauze or tissue over the trauma site. Get them to bite down, as the pressure will help stop the bleeding.
When you’ve found the tooth, handle it by the crown and avoid touching the root, if the tooth is still intact. Rinse it off very gently in clean water; do not use any soap and do not scrub the tooth.
At this point, if you have a whole, intact adult tooth in your hand, it’s a good idea to try placing it back in the socket. This is the best place since it increases the odds that the tooth will reattach to the gum fibers in the socket.
If replacing the tooth isn’t an option, store it in a small container of milk or the child’s saliva.
A kid’s dentist needs to evaluate your child’s tooth to see whether successful reattachment is possible. If not, he or she will discuss options for repairing or replacing the tooth.
Posted on behalf of:
Manhattan Dental Design
315 W 57th St Suite 206
New York, NY 10019
(646) 504-4377
Asking “which is the best dental filling” is like asking “which is the best fuel for your car” or “which moisturizer is best for your skin.” The point is, that it’s subjective. It depends on the person and their unique needs.
Consider the facts of some common dental materials:
Gold – This material is easy to work with and almost never breaks or wears down. Gold restorations last a long time. They tend to last longer than teeth themselves, in fact. The downside is that unless you like to show off “bling” in your smile, gold fillings are very noticeable and tend to cost more.
Porcelain – Some restorations (indirect fillings) can be made outside of the mouth much like dental crowns and then cemented into the prepared tooth. These can be made out of other materials, but porcelain is popular for its beauty and strength. Indirect restorations are stronger than fillings that are poured into teeth and cover more surface area.
Silver amalgam – Silver fillings are a classic go-to for dental restorations. They’re long-lasting and cost-effective. But like gold fillings, they’re quite visible, especially in front teeth. And unlike gold or other restorations, amalgam fillings contain mercury, a relatively harmless yet controversial ingredient.
Composite resin – Tooth colored fillings represent the standard of restorative dentistry, these days. They blend in well with teeth, chemically-bond with enamel, and are gentle to tooth structure. White fillings are made from a composite resin and tend to last the shortest amount of time, however.
You can see that picking out the right filling is a subjective matter. It’s all about what you like and what your tooth needs. Your local restorative or cosmetic dentist can help you choose the material that works best for you.
Posted on behalf of:
Pure Dental Health
2285 Peachtree Rd #203
Atlanta, GA 30309
(678) 666-3642
Crooked teeth are not a sign of low intelligence…or poor hygiene…or unattractiveness.
Many people are perfectly content with their less-than-perfectly-aligned teeth, and that’s perfectly okay.
But what everyone needs to know is that crooked teeth can potentially pose a health risk to gums and the teeth, themselves. This comes down to the fact that crooked teeth can’t keep themselves clean the way straight teeth do.
How Teeth Clean Themselves
Your teeth don’t groom themselves like animals do. They don’t even have a self-cleaning mechanism. However, your tongue, cheeks, lips, and saliva do the job for them.
But it’s when teeth are all in proper alignment, that they shed food debris more easily in response to your mouth’s natural movements.
Overlapping teeth trap food, gaps pack it in, and twisted teeth may collect debris at the gum line where it can’t be washed away. So it’s true that straight teeth kept in alignment will be naturally “cleaner” than crooked ones.
Clean Teeth = Healthy Teeth
Cleanliness isn’t just a matter of looks. When teeth are clean, they are less prone to disease. Dental plaque is made up of sticky biofilm and waste products from food. When plaque levels build on teeth, they cause all sorts of trouble: like gingivitis and cavities.
Crooked teeth, then, are more at risk for such problems because they hold onto more of that harmful bacterial plaque.
If you have a few crooked teeth, you may want to ask your dentist about your options for straightening your teeth such as invisible braces or other orthodontic treatments. At the very least, you will need to learn new ways to keep them extra clean and free of unwanted disease.
Posted on behalf of:
Soft Touch Dentistry
1214 Paragon Dr
O’Fallon, IL 62269
(618) 622-5050
Braces can sometimes be uncomfortable. Loose wires or bulky metal brackets may irritate your mouth and leave you with small, ulcer-like sores. These tiny wounds may not be noticeable to many others, but they interfere with your everyday life, making simple things like talking and eating very uncomfortable.
You have the option of just enduring the irritation for a couple weeks. Eventually, the small ulcers will heal and your cheeks and lips will develop callouses as they “toughen up.”
But you don’t have to suffer needlessly. There are a few ways you can get relief from braces pain right away.
Swish with warm salt water.
This remedy is relied on to relieve types of dental discomfort. The salt helps bring down swelling and promotes healing.
Have a popsicle.
Chewing on ice isn’t great for teeth, but slowly sucking on something cool like ice cream or an ice pop is a good way to numb sore tissues in your mouth.
Use Orajel.
An over-the-counter oral numbing medication can get you relief right away. Dab a little of the paste on sore spots and feel the sting just melt away.
Avoid painful foods.
Mouth sores will heal faster and feel much better if you avoid sour things that irritate them. Stay away from foods like tomato sauce and citrus fruits.
Place a barrier.
You’ll get immediate relief if you can put something between your cheeks and the brackets. There are many products out there, which you just wrap over the brackets and/or wires including:
Ask your dentist or orthodontist about more products and methods that can help you get relief from sharp orthodontic appliances.
Posted on behalf of:
Precision Digital Dentistry
674 US-202/206
Suite 7
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 955-6999
What is a fixed dental bridge?
A dental bridge one type of replacement for a missing tooth or teeth, fixed on both sides to existing teeth.
Pros
Cons
What Are Your Alternatives?
Partial dentures function similarly to a bridge, but they are removable and easier to clean.
Dental implants are a more permanent tooth replacement option. Unlike bridges, they preserve the shape of your jaw and they’re easy to care for. If you’re ready for the commitment and want to invest in your healthiest smile possible, implants are a great option.
Consult your dentist to find out which is the best option for you.
Posted on behalf of:
ConfiDenT
11550 Webb Bridge Way, Suite 1
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 772-0994
Interested in a brighter smile? Get started on your journey to a new-and-improved you with one of these methods.
Professional In-Office Whitening
Professional teeth whitening by your dentist is the fastest, safest, and most reliable bleaching method out there. You’ll get the results you want within just a couple hours and with very little risk for negative side-effects.
At-Home Bleaching Trays
Trays will get you professional-grade results over a longer period of time. You get control over how much you whiten and how fast.
Whitening Strips
These are a popular method for whitening at home and on the go. A simple strip wrapped around teeth makes for a mess-free and convenient whitening solution. Whitening strips won’t get you the dramatic results that bleaching trays from your dental office will, but they may work well for your teenager who’s just getting into cosmetic dental care.
Whitening Toothpaste
Contrary to advertising, few toothpastes can actually claim to bleach teeth. Rather, they contain elements that scrub away stain or strengthen enamel to make it more resistant to discoloration.
Whitening Mouthrinse
Using a rinse to whiten is actually one of the least effective ways to get a brighter smile. It works to an extent, but the amount of time your teeth are exposed to the bleaching agent isn’t enough to have any major impact.
A whitening rinse with hydrogen peroxide is a good way to keep up with the day-to-day stain that accumulates on your teeth.
Not all of the whitening techniques discussed above work the same. You may go through a few of the over-the-counter methods before moving on to something more effective. Talk with your dentist about which teeth bleaching product you should start out with.
Posted on behalf of:
Smiles by Seese
610 Jetton St #250
Davidson, NC 28036
(704) 895-5095
Gum loss is a pretty big deal, since gums are supposed to provide protection and support for tooth roots. Without them, teeth can develop cavities on their roots and become very sensitive.
So is there any chance of your gums growing back once a little bit is lost?
Unfortunately, no.
Gums grow to a set height in proportion with the underlying bone. If that bone is lost, the gums cannot reform all the way up to cover the tooth root. It would have nothing to attach to and be very floppy! Gingiva worn away from the front of teeth also cannot regrow. They’ve lost the elastic tissue that attaches them to root surfaces.
How to Restore Lost Gums
Your gums won’t grow back on their own once they’re lost. But there are a few ways you can prevent further damage and protect your teeth.
Get treatment for gum disease – Gum recession caused by infection will only continue to worsen. Ask your dentist for a gum health exam and gum disease treatment to stop the disease progression.
Switch toothbrushes – Go for a brush with soft bristles or even a powered toothbrush to reduce how hard you’re scrubbing.
Try gum or bone grafting – Some areas of your mouth can be repaired by grafting in tissue to serve as a scaffold to help new gingiva attach.
Have your teeth bonded – Dental bonding patches up exposed roots and fills in gaps between teeth with a tooth-colored filling. This protects roots exposed by gum loss and helps close empty spaces.
Visit your local dentist for help in identifying the cause behind your lost gums and to find out what treatment options are available.
Posted on behalf of:
Wayne G. Suway, DDS, MAGD
1820 The Exchange SE #600
Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 953-1752
So you’ve got new braces! You probably already know that there are some things to avoid while you’re on the road to having straighter, healthy teeth. Here’s a list of common foods to avoid that you may not have considered – as well as a few alternatives to try!
Hard Breads – Italian/French bread with their tough outer crusts can damage the wires and brackets of your braces. Even pizza crusts can be a culprit. Instead try: Pasta (ravioli, spaghetti, etc.) – it has the carbs you crave, but a softer texture that won’t harm your braces.
Uncooked Vegetables – You may enjoy chomping on a raw carrot with some ranch dip, but they can pop a wire or bracket off. Instead try: steamed vegetables, which are softer, still delicious, and healthy!
Hard Chocolate and Candies – That chunk of hard or sticky chocolate covered caramel may be a nightmare for your braces. Instead try: soft desserts, like pudding or ice cream.
Tough Meats – Like beef jerky or bacon. If you’re a carnivore, you probably love these, but your braces won’t feel the same way. Instead try: softer meats like tender chicken or meatloaf, pot roast, or eggs to get your protein fix.
Hard Taco Shells – That tough shell can shove into small areas you least expect. Watch out for tortilla chips, as well. Instead try: nacho-free taco salad.
Popcorn/Nuts – if you’ve got the munchies, popcorn or mixed nuts may be your go-to snack. But they can cause serious damage to both your braces and your gums if you bite down on them the wrong way. Instead try: soft crackers or cookies, or softer fruit like bananas, grapes, and applesauce.
Need more information about how to care for your braces and teeth? Consult with your dentist today.
Posted on behalf of :
Prime Dental Care
417 Wall St
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 651-8618
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