Dark Gums Causes and Treatment

Dark gums are mostly seen in dark skinned people.  The gum discoloration may be present in patches.  The extent of gum discoloration and the intensity is different for different individuals. Dark pigmented gums don’t mean that they are unhealthy and are not an indication of a disease.

Causes of Dark Gums

Racial or physiological gingival pigmentation: It is seen as the genetic trait. The main culprit behind this is the black pigment known as Melanin.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Smoking: Smoking also results in dark gums. Smokers have darker gums as compared to non-smokers.

Medications: Some medication like minocycline, antimalarial agents, tricyclic antidepressants can also lead to dark gums.

Metallic fillings: The metallic fillings which get corroded can also cause dark gums.

Vitamin C deficiency leads to a disease called scurvy; this can lead to bleeding and dark red gums.

Treatment of Dark Gums

Treatment options available for the dark gums are:

• The most popular effective and simple method of removing the darkness of the gums is the surgical removal of the outer layer of the gums which gives the dark color to the gums. The procedure though surgical is a painless outdoor procedure carried out under local anesthesia.
• Gum depigmentation or gum bleaching: It is done using the lasers known as the water lease system. It is a quick and painless method.

Dental Braces

What are dental braces?

Dental braces are devices used in orthodontics that align and straighten teeth and help to position them with regard to a person's bite, while also working to improve dental health.

Synonyms: Orthodontic Braces, or simply Braces

What are the uses of dental braces?

Braces are often used to correct underbites, as well as malocclusions, overbites, cross bites, open bites, deep bites, crooked teeth, and various other flaws of the teeth and jaw. Dental braces are often used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances to help widen the palate or jaws and to otherwise assist in shaping the teeth and jaws.

What are the different types of braces?

Various types of braces are:

• Traditional Braces: These are made out of top quality stainless steel. These are the most popular and most affordable form of braces used today. 
• Ceramic Braces:  These braces are clear and hence usually these braces are made to blend in with the natural color of a tooth’s enamel.
• Lingual Braces: These are braces that are fitted to the backside of the teeth. These can be incredibly expensive.
• Invisalign: These braces are almost entirely invisible (hence the name) and they aren’t easily noticed.

What is the average cost of dental braces? 

The average cost of  dental braces vary greatly and can start off  with as little as $2700 and can go up to even $10,000.

Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, most commonly, dental cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath.

How to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Cleaning of Teeth

Teeth cleaning is part of good oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth in order to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. This is done by carefully and frequently brushing with a toothbrush and the use of dental floss to prevent accumulation of plaque on the teeth.

Flossing

The use of dental floss is an important part of oral hygiene for  removal of plaque and decaying food which remains stuck between the teeth. Flossing is recommended at least once per day.

Interdental Brushing

An interdental brush, also called an interproximal brush or a proxy brush, is a small brush, typically disposable, either supplied with a reusable angled plastic handle or an integral handle, used for cleaning between teeth and between the wire of dental braces and the teeth.

Tongue Cleaning

Tongue cleaning is  an important element of daily oral hygiene, since it removes the white/yellow bad-breath-generating coating of bacteria, decaying food particles, fungi (such as Candida), and dead cells from the dorsal area of the tongue.

Gum Care

Massaging the gums with toothbrush bristles is generally recommended for good oral health.

Oral Irrigation

Few dental professionals recommend oral irrigation as a way to clean teeth and gums.

What is Root Canal Treatment

When the nerve present in the tooth becomes infected or damaged, then root canal treatment is done to remove the infection and save the tooth. It mostly occurs because of entry of bacteria in pulp (Nerve) portion of the tooth. In case of root canal treatment, cleaning and shaping of canals is done followed by filling of canals.

Who performs root canal treatment?

A general dentist or one who specializes in diseases of tooth pulp (endodontist) can perform a root canal.

When is root canal treatment required?

A root canal is needed when tooth decay is likely to cause permanent damage to the pulp or has already done so.

What are the symptoms which suggest that root canal treatment is required?

No symptoms occur at times. Few patients may experience the following signs and symptoms when root canal treatment is required:

• Pain in the tooth
• Sensitivity to hot and cold food stuffs and beverages
• Tooth discoloration
• Swelling and tenderness of gums
• Recurring or persistent bump on gums

What if root canal treatment is not done?

If the pulp portion of tooth is infected and root canal treatment is not done, then infection can spread to the supporting tissues of teeth and tooth abscess formation may take place. Further infection can spread to periodontal tissues and the bone and can ultimately even lead to loosening of the tooth.  

Wisdom Tooth Or Third Molar

Wisdom teeth or third molars are the  last teeth to erupt in the oral cavity. They  are present posterior to the second molars.

How many wisdom teeth does a person have

A person gets 4 wisdom teeth. There is 1 wisdom tooth present in every quadrant.

At what age does wisdom teeth erupt

Wisdom teeth usually fully grow in the mouth between the ages of 16-25 years with 17-21 years band being the most common. In few people, wisdom teeth may erupt as late as  30-40 years of age.

When is extraction of wisdom teeth required

Extraction of wisdom teeth required  if wisdom tooth is impacted that is there is not enough space for wisdom teeth to erupt in the oral cavity.

What is impacted wisdom tooth

A wisdom tooth is treated as Impacted in condition when it does not have enough space to grow in and remains buried in the gums due to decreased jaw size.

What are the various types of wisdom tooth extraction

The impaction of Wisdom Teeth is of different types. These are stated as under:

• Mesioangular Impaction. 
• Vertical Impaction 
• Distoangular Impaction 
• Horizontal Impaction
• Bony Impaction 
• Soft Tissue Impaction

What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth

Pain in gums and jaws, difficulty in mouth opening, swollen or inflamed gums, headache, bad taste in mouth, bad breath, crowding and decay of other teeth are symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth.

Free Dental Consultation

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Dental Caries

What is Dental Caries?

The word “CARIES” is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘ROT’ or ‘DECAY’. Dental caries, also known as dental decay or a cavity is defined as an infectious microbiological disease of the hard structure of the tooth that results in localized demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic structures of the tooth. 

Synonyms: Tooth Decay, Cavity

Dental Caries is a common disorder, occurring usually  in children and young adults. Dental Caries is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people.

What causes dental caries ?

Dental Caries is a multifactorial disease. Various factors responsible for the carious process are:

1. Tooth (Host)

         i) Variation in morphology

         ii) Composition

         iii) Position

2. Saliva

         i) Composition

         ii) Quantity

         iii) pH

         iv) Viscosity

3. Dental Plaque

4. Diet

       i) Physical Factors

       ii) Local Factors

Ø  Carbohydrate Content

Ø  Vitamin Content

Ø  Fluoride Content

Ø  Fat Content

What are the symptoms of dental caries ?

Symptoms of dental caries include:

•         Holes on the surface of the tooth
•          Pain while chewing
•          Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages
•          Pain in the tooth

How are dental caries treated?

Treatment of cavities in teeth depends on extent of tooth decay which is present. Various treatment options are:

1. Fluoride Application or Fluoride Rinses

2. Tooth Filling

3. Dental Crown

4. Root Canal Treatment

5. Post and Core Restoration

6. Tooth Extraction

Frenectomy

What is Frenectomy?

Frenectomy is defined as the surgical  removal of either part or all of the frenum. Frenum is a fold of tissue or muscle connecting the lips, cheeks or tongue to the jawbone.

Synonyms : Frenectomy is also called as Oral Frenectomy, frenulotomy or frenulectomy.

What are the Types Of Frenectomy ?

There are two basic types of frenectomy:

1. Labial Frenectomy : A labial frenectomy is a form of frenectomy performed on the lip. A labial frenectomy removes the labial frenulum.
2. Labial Frenectomy : A lingual frenectomy is a form of frenectomy associated with the tongue.

What are the Indications For Frenectomy ?

Dentures: Labial frenectomy is very common with patients undergoing denture treatment in order to get the proper fit of dentures or patients who have tissues attached to centre of upper lip and causing recession of gums or gap between the upper front teeth called central incisors.

Tongue Tie: A lingual Frenectomy is a common procedure for children who may be “tongue tied” and is sometimes referred to as clipping the tongue. After the procedure, the tongue can usually be completely extended and becomes fully mobile and speech is no longer hampered.

Who will carry out the Frenectomy?

Frenectomies are usually performed  by experienced dentists or specialist oral surgeons.

How much does Frenectomy cost?

There is a great variation in the cost of Frenectomy surgery depending on the  complexity of the case and time required to complete thesurgery. The average cost of Frenectomy surgery is between $350 to $500.

Tooth Extraction

Definition:  Tooth Extraction refers to painless removal of tooth or tooth roots with minimum trauma to the surrounding tissues so that the extraction socket wound heals uneventfully without any post-operative complications.

Indications for Tooth Extraction

• Deeply Carious tooth with pulpal pathology 
• Teeth with apical pathology
• Severe gum disease
• Broken teeth 
• Teeth in the fracture line
• Teeth which cannot be restored endodontically
• Retained deciduous teeth
• Teeth with fractured root
• Prosthetic Reasons
• Prophylactic extraction

Contraindications for Tooth Extraction

Absolute contraindications

• Uncontrolled Diabetes
• Leukemia
• Renal Failure
• Cirrhosis of liver
• Heart Failure

Relative contraindications

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart Disease
• Pregnancy
• Blood dyscrasias
• Patients on steroid therapy
• Patients on anticoaugulant therapy
• Medically compromised patients
• Toxic Goitre
• Jaundice
• Nephritis
• Fever Of unexplained ttorigin

Types  of Tooth Extraction

Teeth can be extracted in two ways

1. Closed or intra-alveolar: In this method, the tooth is extracted in a simple way using forceps.
2. Open or transalveolar: In this method, a mucoperiosteal flap is raised and the tooth is extracted surgically.

Complications of Tooth Extraction

• Pain
• Swelling
• Dry socket
• Limited mouth opening/Trismus
• Fracture of teeth
• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Damage to soft tissues 
• Oro-antral fistula
• Fracture of alveolar bone