Tag: Root Resorption

Why You Should Choose to Invest In Treatment From a Periodontist

A periodontist is a trained dentist that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases that affect the gums and bones inside of the mouth. Not only does a periodontist need to go to 4 years of dental school, but they have to complete a minimum of 3 more years of specialization courses. Throughout the extra education that is required, they learn the advanced techniques to diagnose and treat various forms of periodontal disease and how to properly place dental implants. Along with this, they are also typically trained in a lot of forms of cosmetic procedures as well. Below, we will be going over some of the reasons you will want to choose to invest in the treatment from a periodontist and what you should look for and expect.

Reasons Why You Should Choose a Periodontist:

1. Better Suited To Treat Advanced Disease.

One of the biggest reasons you will want to opt for the treatment from a periodontist is because they are much better suited to treat advanced diseases. Because a traditional dentist is not required to go through advanced training, they are not going to be in the position to help treat advanced diseases in the mouth whether it’s gum or bone related. They have the education and experience necessary to provide you with the best diagnosis and treatment in the industry. Whereas a dentist would only be able to tell you whats viewable from the surface, they will likely end up referring you to a periodontist anyways.

2. They Handle Cosmetic Issues Too.

Another reason to consider heading to a periodontist is that they are fully capable of handling cosmetic issues as well. You are going to be able to get some cosmetic work done if you so wish. This is great for those that are looking to get all of their dental work completed in the same place with the same dentist. Instead of having to travel from dentist to dentist, you will be able to choose a periodontist and get all of the necessary work done with them.

3. Customized Treatment Plan.

Because a periodontist is fully trained in providing custom treatments and solutions to their patients, they will x-ray your entire mouth including every single tooth, the jaw, and even the oral structures in your mouth. They will then fully examine it and come up with a fully customized treatment program that is designed to enhance the overall health of your entire mouth. They will discuss this treatment plan with you and you will be able to ask any questions that you might have available. If there is anything that you are unclear about, you can ask them about it.

What To Expect?

When you visit a periodontist, you can expect them to take x-rays of your entire mouth. They will also be examining your jaw joints, head, neck, mouth, throat, and your teeth and gums. They do this in order to get a full and proper interpretation of what is going on with your bone development, jaw, and everything else. By getting a full idea of what is going on, they will be in a better place to be able to properly diagnose you and give you customized treatment advice and options. Having everything they need to make a full and organized plan for your treatment is going to help you get the best possible results from your treatment.

During your visit, you will likely also be asked about any medications that you might be taking, your medical history, whether or not you are dealing with medical problems, any diseases that can be linked to your mouth and gums, and more. Medication that you might be taking can have negative effects on various parts of your mouth. Therefore, a periodontist needs to have an accurate understanding of it in order to fully and accurately diagnosis you and figure out what is going on. By having a full and clear picture, they will be able to better examine you and figure out what might be causing certain issues to present themselves. They will be able to treat you much better by having your history.

Overall, there are plenty of reasons to choose a periodontist for your needs. Not only will they be in the best possible position to assist you in bettering your oral care, but they are much better suited for diagnosing and treating advanced diseases that are occurring in your mouth whether it’s with your bone or soft tissue. Therefore, you will be able to get the best possible oral care by going to a periodontist with the extra 3 years of training if you are someone that is dealing with gum disease or any other advanced disease in your mouth.

What Is Dental Root Resorption

A person once visited his dentist and while a routine examination was being done, a hole was discovered at the gum line in his upper front tooth. The dentist informed him that he was dealing with a “root resorption” and that it was not clear whether the could be saved. If you ever receive such a prognosis, it is important to know exactly what you are dealing with.

What is Root Resorption?

Root resorption in adults is a troublesome but uncommon dental condition where the body’s own cells dissolve and eat away the structure of the tooth. It is not a problem for growing children, but it is a natural process by which the roots of a baby’s teeth are removed thus facilitating their replacement with the permanent teeth.

Root resorption in permanent teeth can start on the inside of the tooth also known as internal resorption or it can start outward then work its way inward also known as external resorption. External resorption is the most common of the two.

The effects of cervical or external resorption the patient in the example was describing occurs near the gum line at the cervical region of the tooth. In the early stages, the condition produces pink spots where the enamel has been compromised and filled with pink colored cells that cause the damage. The spots eventually progress to cavity-like areas.

Deposition (adding to) and resorption (breakdown) are normal processes used by the body to maintain balance. It is especially true of bone where it is a response to the usual stressors of tension and pressure. The processes are actually responsible for allowing the orthodontic movement of the teeth to happen. However, once adult teeth form they don’t typically resorb.

The exact nature of external cervical resorption (ECR) is still not completely understood, but several factors can increase the chances of a person developing it. Root resorption can happen in later years if excessive orthodontic force is applied to teeth. Traumatized teeth can equally suffer damage to the periodontal ligament. The ligament attaches teeth to bone and if disturbed can cause resorption.

Habits such as bruxism or grinding of teeth as well as some dental procedures such as the intra-coronal bleaching of teeth can make a person more predisposed to external cervical resorption. However, the majority of people with the risk factors still never develop the problem.

ECR is typically observed in the upper front teeth and on the lower first molars. The condition is painless and can go unnoticed for a while, first appearing as a distinct dark spot on a routine x-ray examination. However, this is rather unfortunate since the longer it stays untreated, the more the damage it is likely to do.

The progression of the damage further results in an erosion of the structure of the tooth’s root with both the inner and outer layers being eroded away. Eventually, the affected tooth appears like it has a cavity. Unlike cavities that are much more common problems, the damaged area (lesion) caused by the ECR does not feel sticky to a dental probe.

Upon the discovery of root resorption, it should be treated without delay to prevent further damage since the destruction can be rapid. However, as the dentist in the example above stated, it is not always possible to save the affected tooth. The treatment method will depend on the progression of the problem when it was detected.

For small lesions, it is sometimes possible to expose the affected portion of the root of the tooth with minor gum surgery. The tissue cells responsible for the damage are removed and a filling material in the color of the tooth usually a glass ionomer cement or composite resin is used for repairing the tooth.

A single-tooth orthodontic procedure is sometimes recommended prior to surgery. With the treatment, the tooth is moved outward from the jawbone gradually. As the tooth moves, the gum tissue also moves along with it, and new bone is built behind. The final contours of the gum line eventually line up and gum recession at the affected tooth can be prevented.

If ECR reaches the area close to the dental pulp, root canal treatment may be needed. The more invasive and extensive the resorption, the less the chances of saving the tooth. Often, in cases of advanced ECR, the better option would be to extract the tooth and have it replaced with a dental implant.

It is not possible to see the extent of the damage sometimes or even determine whether or not extraction is necessary until the root is exposed by surgery. However, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans are able to identify small anatomical structures inside the tissues in 3 dimensions with much more accuracy than a standard x-ray. CBCT is a high-tech imaging technology that can help increase the accuracy of advanced treatment planning.

Hopefully, this brief explanation has helped you understand more about root resorption. Root resorption might be uncommon, but it can be treated successfully!