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DENTAL PRACTICE - ARTICLES
Something to Smile About...
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Headache and Neck Pain
The health of your jaw and neck muscles can be influenced
by your occlusion, that is, the way your teeth meet
when you close your jaws. Your teeth meet during talking,
swallowing, and chewing, and this can occur over 2000
times a day. Bruxism (grinding or clenching teeth)
can lead to headaches, neck aches, painful jaw joints,
and chipped or worn teeth. These symptoms can be treated
by fixing the occlusion, physiotherapy, chiropractic
treatments, or reducing stress.
Smile Analysis
If you are self-conscious about your teeth, or would
prefer them to be whiter or a different shape, there
are many techniques available to alter your smile.
Bleaching is a safe way of lightening teeth, with
results in about 2 weeks. Teeth shape and position
can be changed using composite and porcelain materials.
For services which are not provided by HHDP, you can
be referred to specialists such as orthodontists,
periodontists, and oral surgeons. Your dentist can
explain all the options available and discuss them
with you.
Periodontal Treatment
Periodontitis is a disease of the gums, ligaments,
and bone structure, which can result in the loss of
teeth. If plaque is not properly removed, it can harden
around the gum line, and the structures supporting
your teeth can become infected and damaged. It is
important to remove the daily build-up of soft plaque
through proper brushing and flossing. A periodontal
examination by your dentist can accurately examine
the health of your ‘gum pocket’, the space
between the tooth and gum. Periodontal treatment can
involve scaling (removing deposits of plaque and calculus
above the gumline), and root planing (removing deposits
from the surface of tooth roots).
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