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HEALTH: Balanced Occlusion – A Key to Good Oral Health

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By Dr. Matthew Weekes
June 19, 2013 Edition

Dental occlusion is defined as the contact be- tween teeth. It is the relationship between upper and lower teeth when you bite, chew, or when the jaws are at rest when the teeth touch. Ideally the forces exerted on the teeth in opposing jaws should be evenly distributed. If during motion some teeth experience much more pressure than others, this may cause mild to severe pain.

In a balanced occlusion the teeth and jaws are aligned in their correct positions. The teeth relate to each other in such a way that when they touch and slide against each other there are little or no anatomical interferences. The motion is smooth with minimal pressure or friction. When the jaws are in operation there are no painful symptoms.

Malocclusion or a” bad bite” is the misalignment of teeth and jaws. This can cause various forms of health and dental problems. Some malocclusions develop early in life soon after the permanent teeth erupt or later in life due to periodontal disease, the shifting, and rotation or over eruption of teeth into vacant spaces.

A “bad bite” can cause grinding of teeth at night (bruxism) leading to sore mus- cles, pain in the joints and sometimes severe headaches. The annoying grinding sounds can be heard from both children and adults.

The pain of malocclusions can be due to the rapid wearing away of enamel leading to the exposure of microscopic nerve endings from the pulp of teeth. Once the enamel is gone, the teeth can become very sensitive. There may be infection in the teeth and surrounding tissues that may either cause the pain or aggravate it when the teeth touch.

Badly fitting dentures or restorations may contribute to an uneven bite. If this is the case, either have them adjusted or remade. Whenever a problem with your bite develops seek dental treatment without delay. At least have a consultation to find out what is causing the problem. Don’t assume that you will need major expensive treatment. Sometimes the treatment may be a simple occlusal adjustment which is a painless balancing of the pressure on the teeth in both arches. The objective of Orth- odontic treatment is to correct malocclusions. Crowns, bridges, dentures, implants and appli- ances also help to provide a balanced occlu- sion.

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Dental

The Effects of Stress on Oral Health

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BY DR MATTHEW WEEKES

Stress is detrimental to the entire body. It results in physical and mental dysfunction. The ripple effect is felt throughout societies globally. Stress is like the wind. We don’t see it and sometimes we are not aware it is there.

The level of stress in today’s modern world appears to be increasing at an alarming rate with no end in sight. From the time you get up in the morning there is stress. It could be rushing to get the kids ready for school, trying to get to work on time for a special appointment or arriving on time for a school exam and getting stuck in traffic, just to name a few of the many common experiences.

There is a significant relationship between stress and oral health. In addition to the harmful effects of intense, uncontrolled stress, such as a high level of anxiety, emotional problems, high blood pressure and a large variety of other ailments that results in the intervention of a physician, your dentist is often the healthcare practitioner that becomes aware of the warning signs. He or she may see the “smoke before the fire”.

Overstressed individuals may grind their teeth while they sleep and not be aware of it. This is called bruxism. The uncontrolled movement of the jaws during sleep can severely damage teeth. It can cause headaches, earaches, spasms of the facial muscles, toothaches.

Many patients are stressed due to a lack of sleep. Adequate sleep is very important for maintaining excellent health. This cannot be overemphasised. Longevity depends on it. The repair and growth of cells are most active during sleep. If there is lack of sleep due to frequent arousals, find out why?  The most likely cause is snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

During times of stress people tend to smoke, drink heavily, neglect their oral hygiene, eat foods high in sugar, drink a lot of unaltered coffee. These compound the problem.

These are some of the reasons to find out if your oral problems are affecting your general health. We will be happy to address your concerns.

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Dental

Dental Pain – A Vacation Spoiler

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BY DR. MATTHEW WEEKES

A vacation is a highly anticipated event especially if it is one of the popular cruises. A lot of planning and time management is usually involved. At this time of year most of us wish to get away from the bitter cold and enjoy the tropical scenery of the Caribbean with its invigorating breeze, lovely beaches, fruit punch and so many niceties.

For some their expectation of a blissful time is spoiled by a sudden toothache or pain in the gums or cheeks. When a toothache occurs while on vacation in the air, sea or land the conditions for this sudden flare up exist. The tooth is like a simmering volcano that may erupt at any time if there is a pre-existing condition of disease.

To prevent distressing dental events, before you leave, I recommend that you have a dental checkup preferably at least two weeks before you leave or any time before you leave. If you know that there are problems based on your own visual examination, if the bite does not feel right or there is pain when you bite down or clench the teeth and occasional symptoms, seek dental advice. Very often a simple dental treatment, which does not involve extraction, may be all that is needed to prevent a painful experience.

Sometimes painful dental episodes may not be from the teeth but from infection of the gum. If you have not had your teeth cleaned for at least a year and your flossing is non-existent or irregular and if you notice your gums bleed and there are deposits adhering to the teeth, the chances are that you are a candidate for a painful episode. A thorough cleaning would significantly lessen the chance of pain if no other conditions exist.

There are some people that have reoccurring small red lesions on the gums and cheeks. They are usually very painful and of viral origin. Like canker sores they should go away within two weeks. Your dentist can prescribe medication to take care of the symptoms and restore comfort. It is a good idea to take a tube along with you. Some can also be used on denture sores.

Check out the condition of your dentures before you leave. Examine for cracks or severely worn down areas. Minor repairs can be done the same day.

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Dental

Root Canal Therapy

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BY DR. MATTHEW WEEKES

The prevalence of multiple missing teeth is low compared to a few generations ago. The common toothache was the result of a cavity that progressed into the hollow chamber of the tooth allowing bacteria to infect the enclosed pulp resulting in moderate to severe pain. Filling the tooth at that stage would not solve the problem, and the only option was extraction.

Today the availability of RCT and improved economic conditions has resulted in saving teeth and preventing the worry and embarrassment that so many of our predecessors experienced. This dental procedure is performed either by your general dentist or a specialist called an endodontist, referred to by your dentist.

RCT is usually as a result of a painful emergency. Usually it is done in one or two visits depending on the severity of the infection and the circumstances. Once anesthetised the procedure is mostly pain free. The first stage of treatment is to eliminate the pain and remove the infected pulpal tissue and drain the abscess if it exists. The patient may be placed on antibiotics and pain medication. An appointment is then made to complete the treatment at a subsequent visit.

After the tooth has settled down, and evaluated to be healthy and symptom free it should be protected by a crown to prevent breakage and maintain the best esthetics. Teeth that have RCT may become brittle and more susceptible to fracture and also may get darker in colour.

RCT should always be the treatment of choice where esthetics and chewing your food is a major consideration and there is no barrier to treatment.

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