I've been told I have periodontal disease. What does this mean?
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and bone that if not treated, can cause you to lose your teeth. Medical research is now showing that these bacteria in your mouth can also travel through your bloodstream into other organs in the body. This bacteria has been found to increase the risk and severity of other health related issues.
About Periodontal DiseaseQuestion: I had my teeth cleaned yesterday and when I woke up today, I found a “bubble” inside my gum, on top of my wisdom tooth. Now it has doubled in size. I can only open my mouth about 2 inches and it hurts to swallow. I can’t close my mouth without hurting it. I got an emergency appointment but it’s not for three weeks. What can I do in the meantime?
Acute Tooth PainRepairing a Chipped or Broken Tooth
You're crunching ice or a piece of hard candy when you notice something hard in your mouth that doesn't melt or dissolve. You get a sick feeling as you realize what it is -- a piece of broken tooth.
Broken or Chipped TeethDental Health and Cavities
Cavities occur as a result of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of the tooth structure. Tooth decay can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth).
CavitiesDental Health and Dentures
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available -- complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Dental Health & DenturesLook, Ma, No Teeth
By the age of 16, one-quarter of all children have had some type of dental trauma, says Martin Davis, DDS, associate dean of student affairs and the chair of pediatric dentistry at Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City and president of the American Society of Dentists for Children.
Knocked Out TeethDental Health and Tooth Fillings
To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then "fill" the area on the tooth where the decayed material was removed.
Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding).
Loose or Missing FillingsAbscessed Tooth - Topic Overview
What is an abscessed tooth? An abscessed tooth is an infection in or around the tooth. It can be very painful. If the infection isn't treated, it can spread and you can lose your tooth or have other health problems.
Dental AbscessesGum Problem Basics: Sore, Swollen, and Bleeding Gums
When you think about dental health, focus is likely to be on preventing cavities in your teeth. But it's important to pay attention to your gums, too. Gums play a major role not only in your dental health, but in your overall well-being.
Bleeding GumsTooth Extraction
A tooth that is severely damaged may need to be removed. A surgeon who specializes in surgeries of the mouth (oral and maxillofacial surgeon) or your dentist can remove a tooth.
Bleeding Extraction SitesAn Overview of Dry Socket
You probably think having a tooth pulled is not a particularly enjoyable experience. And you no doubt expect to have some discomfort afterward. But that's OK, you say. You can endure it when you need to. But if the pain becomes intense and doesn't go away after a few days, it may be a sign of a condition called dry socket or alveolar osteitis.
Dry SocketsDental Health and Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.
Wisdom Tooth PainTemporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are often incorrectly called TMJ, for temporomandibular joint.
Jaw PainBroken or Cracked Partials
Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework. Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position.
Broken or Cracked Partials