Correcting Open Bite with Bone Screws: Do You Need Headgear?
Correction using bone screws? Due to my open bite condition, my upper teeth are protruding, and I have a complete set of 32 teeth. I need to have 4 teeth extracted for orthodontic correction. The doctor mentioned that I would need to place one bone screw on each side of the alveo...
Dr. Lai Yishao Reply:
Skeletal anchorage with bone screws is a newer orthodontic method that provides a stable anchorage point for tooth movement. The placement of bone screws must be carefully selected to avoid any adverse symptoms. Whether to use a headgear needs to be assessed by the orthodontist a...[Read More] Correcting Open Bite with Bone Screws: Do You Need Headgear?
Concerns After Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Hard Lump and Infection Risks
Surgical wound after wisdom tooth extraction? I had a wisdom tooth extraction two months ago, and after the procedure, the surgeon placed two stitches on my cheek near the extraction site. Once the stitches came out, I noticed a horizontal hard lump on my cheek. Initially, I thou...
Dr. Zeng Guanghui Reply:
In general, after the extraction of wisdom teeth, sutures may be placed at the extraction site to aid in hemostasis, depending on the size of the wound and the difficulty of the extraction. These sutures are typically removed one week after the procedure. However, during the chew...[Read More] Concerns After Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Hard Lump and Infection Risks
Persistent Gum Inflammation and Pus: Seeking Solutions After Dental Surgery
Gingival redness and purulence? The five anterior lower teeth underwent alveolar repositioning surgery due to a car accident. After the surgery, the gums remained red as if they were still injured, but there was no pain. After four to five months, the gums began to ache and sligh...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: Your teeth were injured in the car accident, and your gums are still purulent. There are two possible reasons: (1) The alveolar bone may have fractured during the accident, and if any fragments were not removed, it could lead to persistent infection. (2) The dental pulp ma...[Read More] Persistent Gum Inflammation and Pus: Seeking Solutions After Dental Surgery
Exposed Mandible After Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Healing and Treatment Options
Exposed mandible after wisdom tooth extraction? Hello: About a month ago, I had my lower wisdom teeth extracted. After approximately two weeks, I noticed that my mandible was exposed and painful. I returned to the original dental clinic, where the doctor used bone cutters to trim...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: It is not uncommon for the alveolar bone to be exposed after the extraction of lower wisdom teeth. There are several possible reasons for this, including thin gingiva, localized necrosis due to poor blood supply, or the protrusion of the mandible in that area. Additionally...[Read More] Exposed Mandible After Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Healing and Treatment Options
Managing Tooth Displacement and Loosening After Jawbone Fracture
The car accident resulted in alveolar bone fractures, causing tooth displacement and looseness? Hello, doctor. I have sustained facial lacerations and an alveolar bone fracture due to a car accident, which has caused my teeth to become displaced and loose. I have already undergon...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: 1. If the displacement of the teeth caused by trauma is stabilized with a clear splint, it should remain in the oral cavity for a longer duration. 2. Regarding your injury, if there is no tooth loss and only simple displacement or looseness of the teeth without any fractur...[Read More] Managing Tooth Displacement and Loosening After Jawbone Fracture
Should You Extract a Loose Tooth After an Injury? Expert Advice
Tooth extraction Hello, I had an injury to my upper left incisor near the canine due to a car accident ten years ago, and it has been slightly loose. Recently, I visited a dental clinic, and one dentist said that if the tooth doesn't hurt, I don't need to worry about it...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: After dental trauma, there are various possible phenomena, including crown fracture, pulp necrosis, root resorption, root fracture, tooth displacement, and alveolar bone fracture. Your description is insufficient for making a diagnosis; if you could provide X-rays, it woul...[Read More] Should You Extract a Loose Tooth After an Injury? Expert Advice
Understanding Gum Abscess: Causes, Risks, and Treatment Options
Abscess in the gums? Hello doctor, I have a small abscess in my gums and it is painful. What causes this abscess? If it becomes severe, what complications could arise? If it doesn't hurt anymore, is surgery still necessary? Thank you.
Dr. Zeng Guanghui Reply:
In general, a small abscess in the gums is often caused by infection, most commonly of dental origin. However, other external mechanical or chemical irritants that damage the oral soft and hard tissues can also lead to gum abscesses. Dental infections can be categorized into thos...[Read More] Understanding Gum Abscess: Causes, Risks, and Treatment Options
Can Two Root Canals Be Done in One Visit? Understanding Dental Pain and Bone Loss
Endo In the case where two teeth require root canal treatment and both are experiencing severe pain, a dentist can address both teeth in a single appointment, depending on the complexity of the cases and the dentist's judgment. However, it may also be advisable to treat them...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: Root canal treatment is a meticulous and time-consuming procedure. If the dentist's schedule permits, it is possible to treat two teeth in one session. Typically, a one-week interval is advisable between two root canal treatments. The primary cause of alveolar bone re...[Read More] Can Two Root Canals Be Done in One Visit? Understanding Dental Pain and Bone Loss
Understanding Gum Surgery: What to Expect and Pain Management
Gum surgery I recently had an X-ray and discovered a dark shadow approximately 0.8 cm in size above the gum line of my front tooth. The doctor mentioned that I would need surgical treatment or possibly the removal of the prosthetic tooth to undergo root canal therapy again. Howev...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello: According to your statement, it appears that there is a bacterial infection in the root canal of the front tooth, with bacteria and their endotoxins leaking out of the apex of the root canal, causing inflammation and resorption of the alveolar bone. This can be detected as...[Read More] Understanding Gum Surgery: What to Expect and Pain Management
Understanding Dental Implants: Success Rates, Longevity, and Risks
Dental implant issues Hello Doctor: I have periodontal disease and had the last two teeth extracted from my upper right jaw. My wisdom tooth is also loose. The doctor suggested dental implants, but I have insufficient bone length and will need surgery to harvest bone from my jaw ...
Dr. Wu Jinjun Reply:
Hello, 1. Generally speaking, if there are no specific contraindications for dental implants (such as severe diabetes, significant alveolar bone resorption, or coagulation disorders), the success rate of dental implants is over 90%. In Taiwan, dental implants have been performe...[Read More] Understanding Dental Implants: Success Rates, Longevity, and Risks
Unexpected White Bump in Mouth: Causes and Solutions
There is a growth in the oral cavity? Hello, Doctor. I suddenly noticed a small white bump in my mouth, located in the area where my tongue rests (not on the back of the tongue). It doesn't hurt or itch, and when I press it with my finger, it feels like a hard mass that I ca...
Dr. Zeng Guanghui Reply:
Generally, the areas that the tongue may come into contact with when it is at rest are the submandibular lingual mucosa and the floor of the mouth mucosa. The sudden appearance of small white nodules in these areas, which feel firm and slightly movable, can be concerning. The muc...[Read More] Unexpected White Bump in Mouth: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Impacted Teeth: Risks and Surgical Considerations
Teeth growing in the wrong direction? I have a front tooth that is growing at a 180-degree angle. After an X-ray, the doctor recommended a minor surgery to remove it, as there is a concern that it may continue to grow and emerge from the nasal cavity, necessitating a more extensi...
Dr. Lin Qingye Reply:
Hello, Xiao Pang: If teeth are positioned improperly, they can often affect the surrounding periodontal tissues, so early intervention is necessary. Of course, all surgeries carry varying degrees of risk. Due to the uncertainty regarding the exact depth, angulation, and root cond...[Read More] Understanding Impacted Teeth: Risks and Surgical Considerations
Understanding Dental Cysts: Are They Benign or Malignant?
Dental cyst Hello Dr. Tsao, I have a cavity in my tooth. Today, when I went to have it extracted, the doctor informed me that the tooth he removed had a cyst attached to it. He mentioned that this was the cause of a small abscess I previously had on my gums. However, I would like...
Dr. Zeng Guanghui Reply:
Dental cysts are generally caused by odontogenic epithelial cells and represent an inflammatory immune response from our body. The pathogenic mechanism involves the progression of dental caries that gradually invades the dental pulp, leading to inflammation and even necrosis. Sub...[Read More] Understanding Dental Cysts: Are They Benign or Malignant?
Understanding Tooth Pain After Root Canal Treatment: Causes and Concerns
Toothache? Hello, Doctor. I have a question to ask. It's about my tooth... the last one on the left side. I had a root canal treatment done a year ago, and a dental post was placed. However, in the past few days, I've been experiencing pain when eating. Since the dental...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello! Root canal treatment involves removing the inflamed or necrotic nerve (dental pulp), enlarging and shaping the canal, disinfecting it, and then filling it with appropriate materials. If bacteria proliferate within the root canal, their toxins can cause inflammation of the ...[Read More] Understanding Tooth Pain After Root Canal Treatment: Causes and Concerns
Managing Exposed Tooth Roots: Tips for Relief from Sensitivity
Exposed tooth roots Hello Doctor: For the past few months, I have been struggling with tooth sensitivity caused by exposed tooth roots. I have consulted a doctor, but they said my teeth are fine and that there is a slight issue with my periodontal health, which is not severe enou...
Dr. Liu Tiancai Reply:
Hello! The common causes of root exposure include periodontal disease leading to alveolar bone resorption, which results in gum recession and exposes the tooth roots. If the periodontal issue is resolved, surgery may not be necessary. Additionally, improper brushing techniques ca...[Read More] Managing Exposed Tooth Roots: Tips for Relief from Sensitivity
Understanding Periodontal Disease: Treatment Options and Insurance Coverage
Regarding periodontal disease issues? Hello: I am aware that I have severe periodontal disease. I previously read that periodontal disease can lead to alveolar bone resorption, making it quite challenging to get dentures. I would like to first consider "guided bone regenerat...
Dr. Wu Jinjun Reply:
Hello Bear: 1. Generally, the treatment for periodontal disease is divided into the first phase of basic treatment (including scaling, root planing) and the second phase of surgical periodontal treatment. Currently, the first phase of treatment is covered by the National Health...[Read More] Understanding Periodontal Disease: Treatment Options and Insurance Coverage
Understanding Periodontal Surgery: What to Expect and Recovery Time
For periodontal disease that requires surgery, what is the treatment plan? Your brother's periodontal disease has caused his gums to recede, resulting in cavities at the base of each tooth. Although he has undergone scaling and root planing, the dental clinic has recommended...
Dr. Wu Jinjun Reply:
Hello: The surgery to stabilize the tooth root primarily refers to periodontal regeneration surgery. This procedure involves the implantation of a periodontal regeneration membrane at the site of periodontal defects, along with the filling of artificial bone graft material, allow...[Read More] Understanding Periodontal Surgery: What to Expect and Recovery Time
Challenges and Solutions for Traditional Dentures in Severe Tooth Loss
Traditional dentures Dr. Wu, when a patient has complete edentulism due to early-onset periodontal disease, with only a few molars and wisdom teeth remaining and the alveolar bone being very thin, the dentist has indicated that the "dental walls" have collapsed, making ...
Dr. Wu Jinjun Reply:
Hello, Basically, after alveolar bone resorption due to periodontal disease, placing dentures can indeed pose significant challenges. It is advisable to first consider procedures such as "guided bone regeneration" or "sinus augmentation," which require prior...[Read More] Challenges and Solutions for Traditional Dentures in Severe Tooth Loss
Understanding Gum Reshaping Surgery: Costs and Benefits Explained
Gingival recontouring surgery Hello, doctor: What is gum recontouring? I recently had a root canal treatment but have not yet had a crown placed. What is the approximate cost?
Dr. Wu Jinjun Reply:
Response to the physician: Huang Ti-Ying Subject: Gingival Recontouring Surgery Response: For teeth that have undergone root canal treatment and where the cavity margins are lower than the gingival height, gingival recontouring surgery should be performed prior to the placement...[Read More] Understanding Gum Reshaping Surgery: Costs and Benefits Explained