6 Of The Most Common Dental Problems, Fixed!

Smile! There’s good news from the world of dentistry: Older American are keeping their teeth longer than ever before and the average number of teeth people retain into old age is increasing, says Judith Ann Jones, DDS, a spokesman on elder care for the American Dental Association and director of The Center for Clinical Research at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
But Jones is not all smiles. As people keep their teeth longer, there are more problems that are likely to arise, which is why keeping up with regular dental visits is so important. Here are the most common problems, and what you can do about them:

Tooth Decay

Yes, people over 50 can get cavities. You can get them on the surfaces of teeth that have never been a problem before, but you can also get them around old fillings or at the root of your tooth. “As you age, the root of your tooth becomes softer and sometimes more exposed,” Jones explains.
The Fix: Fluoride is not just for kids, Jones says. “Fluoride is one of the 10 most important health measures developed in the 20th century.” Almost 80 percent of people in the United States have fluorinated water, but if you don’t, you should probably add a daily fluoride rinse to your brushing habit. Or ask your doctor about a stronger fluoride prescription gel. If you are starting to get cavities, even if your water has fluoride, consider a fluoride rinse. Ask your dentist if that’s right for you.

Dry Mouth

Saliva protects us against tooth decay. But if you’re not producing it, your teeth may be at risk. The calcium and phosphate present in saliva prevent demineralization of your teeth, Jones says. How do you know if you have dry mouth? You’ll have a sticky feeling in your mouth, trouble swallowing, dry throat, and dry, cracked lips. You may notice a metallic taste in your mouth or persistent bad breath. You may or may not feel thirsty. Dry mouth is often caused by medications, and as people age, they take more medications. It can also result from smoking or from a blow to the head that somehow damages the salivary glands.
The Fix: If you have dry mouth, you should try to stimulate saliva production. Jones says some people just sip water all day while others find that chewing sugar-free xylitol candies or gum helps. Your dentist may prescribe a prescription saliva substitute or recommend over-the-counter formulations for you to try.

Gum Disease

If your gums are swollen, red, or bleed easily, you’ve got gingivitis, an early form of gum disease that can progress and be dangerous. Untreated gingivitis often becomes periodontitis, which is when the gum pulls away from the tooth and creates pockets which can become infected. If this condition develops and continues unchecked, it could cause the loss of bones in your jaw and eventually, the loss of the teeth themselves.
The Fix: The best fix for this condition is regular dentist visits, Jones says. You may need to visit your dentist more frequently so that your teeth can be cleaned and your gums treated for the condition. People who don’t have good access to dental care are more likely to have gum disease, Jones says.

Oral Cancer

More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancers this year, and more than 8,000 will die from it, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation. Oral cancer incidence definitely increases as you get older, Jones says, and is very often linked to smoking and heavy alcohol use. Recently, the number of cases has risen because doctors have discovered that the Human Papilloma Virus also can cause oral cancer.
The Fix: Only about half of people who develop oral cancer survive the disease, Jones says. The best hope for survival is to discover it at its earliest stages—in which case there is an 80 percent chance of surviving for five years. Your dental exam should include a check for oral cancer. Your dentist will hold your tongue and check the soft tissue in your mouth as well as your throat and jaw. If he or she does not, find another dentist, Jones says.

Tooth Crowding

Are you noticing that food is getting stuck in new places in your mouth? Or that the overlapping tooth that was cute in your teens now seems to be overlapping even more? You’re not imagining it. As you age, your teeth shift, according to Lee W. Graber, D.D.S., M.S., M.S., Ph.D., Past President of the American Association of Orthodontists. And that can be problematic, not because you’ll look different, but because it can make your teeth more difficult to clean, leading to more decay. It’s also of concern because misaligned teeth can lead to teeth erosion and damage to the supporting tissue and bone, Graber says. Add to that the tendency of older adults to have periodontal disease, and you could end up losing your teeth even faster.
The Fix: If your teeth have really shifted, you could see an orthodontist, who may fit you with a retainer, spacer, or even braces. This may not be necessary, but you should discuss with your dentist whether your teeth are shifting at your regular check up. If they are, it may mean only that you need to go to the dentist more regularly for more frequent cleanings.

Grinding and Clenching

This is not a habit that begins late in life, but it’s one whose effects might be most pronounced as you age. If you tend to grind your teeth or to clench them in your sleep, you may grind through the enamel to the dentin, which can cause pain and decay. Also, if you have crowns or bridges in your mouth, they may be damaged by such habits.
The Fix: Your dentist can give you a night guard, a small mouth piece that will protect your teeth while you sleep—and protect your investment in the dentistry that’s already there, Jones says.

By: Andrea  Atkins, The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/6-of-the-most-common-dental-problems-fixed_us_58346501e4b099512f84b510

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Omni Dental Group at one of our three office locations listed below:

North Austin on Hymeadow Drive: (512) 250-5012
Central Austin on Jollyville Road: (512) 346-8424
South Austin on William Cannon: (512) 445-5811

Apicoectomy

Why Would I Need It?
Most dental problems involving an infected tooth root are solved by a root canal. Although endodontic treatment has an extremely high rate of success, it is not 100% effective. Some teeth may not respond as expected to the root canal therapy. Sometimes, it is clear from the beginning that the root canal is not working as planned. Other times, it may be years later that the need for other treatment arises.

Typical reasons for an apicoectomy may include re-infection of the root canal site with signs like pain in the tooth, tenderness or swollen gums that occurs after a root canal.

The first and most desirable method of solving the problem is to re-treat the root canal at one or more roots. In other words, the root canal treatment is redone in a method similar to the original therapy. If it is possible to re-treat the root canal with this nonsurgical approach, this is best.

What Is It?
If not, a different form of treatment, an apicoectomy (root end surgery), must be considered. An apicoectomy is an oral surgery procedure that removes the tip of a tooth root to save the tooth from being pulled out. Keeping your teeth intact is the dentist's mission.

Teeth are held in place by tooth roots. The tips of each root, called the apex, serve as an entrance for nerves and blood vessels into the tooth. During an apicoectomy, the apex is removed, almost with the infected tissue, and then sealed with a tooth filling. 

What Can Be Corrected With An Apico

• teeth that have narrow, curved roots
• "blockages" of the canal
• root resorption
• persistent infection
• fractures
• a wide open apex
• associated cysts

Reasons Not To Perform The Apico

• surgical inaccessibility
• poor or lack of bone support
• short roots
• vertical fracture of the root.

The Procedure 
1. The root or roots that are to receive the apicoectomy are measured with radiographs, and the approximate location of the root tip is estimated.
2. The area to be treated is anesthetized with a local anesthetic.
3. An incision of the gum is made over the root tip area and the gum is moved to the side. Access is made through the bone, and the tip or apex of the root can then usually be seen through this "window" in the bone. 4. The infection is visualized and cleaned out.
5. The tip of the root is usually removed, and a sealing filling is placed in the remaining tip opening.
6. The tissue is then sutured back into place.

Done with a surgical microscope, this procedure is also known as endodontic microsurgery and usually takes between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the tooth's location and complexity of the root structure.

Who Performs The Procedure
Though general dentists can do an apicoectomy, most are performed by endodontists, or root canal experts.

What To Expect After The Procedure
The tooth does not lose significant stability from this procedure. There is no pain during the surgery. Postoperative discomfort will be eliminated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication. There is usually some slight swelling of the surgical site. The swelling is temporary and will disappear after a few days. When the "apico" is begun and the tooth can actually be seen, another type of problem may be noted. A fractured root may be the problem, and an apico would not work and the tooth would have to be removed. This procedure can be completed by a general dentist, but it is most often referred to an endodontist (root canal specialist) for evaluation and treatment.

Recovery Tips

• Apply a cold compress to the area for 10 to 12 hours after the surgery
• Avoid any strenuous activities and make sure to get enough rest
• Take over-the-counter pain medication to manage any discomfort
• Allow your tooth and the gums around it to rest while it heals. Avoid eating crunch or hard foods, as well as brushing the affected area and rinsing too vigorously 

If you have any questions about apicoectomy, please feel free to ask us.