Archive for March, 2012

At what age does my child need his/her wisdom teeth removed?

How do you know when it is time for your child to have his or her wisdom teeth removed?  All children progress at different rates, both physically and emotionally.  Most children will have their wisdom teeth extracted somewhere between the ages of 15 through 21, although some children may never need to have their wisdom […]

What happens if I do not replace a missing tooth?

There are several reasons why one should replace a missing tooth.   One of the most common reasons people seek replacing a missing tooth is for aesthetics.  Simply put, it just looks nice to have a healthy smile with straight white teeth.  Unfortunately not all of us are so lucky to just naturally have a […]

Osteoclast

Osteoclast: A cell that nibbles at and breaks down bone and is responsible for bone resorption. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11794

Alveolar bone

Alveolar bone: in dentistry, the specialized bony structure that supports the teeth; it consists of the cortical bone that comprises the tooth socket into which the roots of the tooth fit, and is supported by the trabecular bone. Syn: alveolar supporting bone http://dictionary.webmd.com/terms/alveolar-bone

Resorption

Resorption: The process of losing substance. For example, when bone is surgically reshaped, it undergoes both new formation and resorption. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5327

Tooth mobility

Tooth mobility physiologic movement of a tooth, varying in degree for different teeth and different times of day; that exceeding a normal range is pathological. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/tooth+mobility

Supererution

Supererution is when the tooth errupts more than it is meant to; tooth eruption is the process by which the tooth moves from its site of formation to its position of function. It can be active or passive. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/tooth+eruption

Malocclusion

Malocclusion means the teeth are not aligned properly. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001058.htm

dental restoration

A dental restoration or dental filling is a  used to restore the function, integrity and morphology of missing tooth structure. The structural loss typically results from caries or external trauma. It is also lost intentionally during tooth preparation to improve the aesthetics or the physical integrity of the intended restorative material. Dental restoration also refers […]

What is Sleep Apnea?

“Apnea” translated from Greek means “without breath”. People who suffer from sleep apnea may not know it, because the disturbance in breathing may not fully awaken them.  All they know is that they are regularly tired to the point of exhaustion and so is the person they are sharing their living space with.  This is […]