Diabetes and Orthodontics

Did you know that November is American Diabetes Month? At Dr. Dipika Shah’s Holmdel dental office, we’ve worked for years to help our patients understand how diabetes complicates oral health. This month, we want to focus on how orthodontics, in particular, is affected by diabetes.

People with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to gingivitis and periodontal disease. When periodontal disease goes untreated, it damages the jaw bone that supports your teeth and gums, allowing teeth to migrate. This kind of damage can influence poor results with orthodontics, braces make oral hygiene more difficult. For a diabetic person with uncontrolled periodontal disease, this becomes poor choice of treatment. On the other hand, Invisalign does not create additional challenges to oral hygiene. The aligners may be removed and the patient can brush and floss normally. Invisalign also puts gentler pressure on the teeth, which is preferable for diabetic patients. Everyone may not be a candidate for Invisalign but if the patient’s blood sugar is kept under control and they adhere to oral hygiene practices, they can still receive treatment with braces or Invisalign. Once treatment starts, your follow up visits, will give us an opportunity to ensure the patient’s teeth and gums are still healthy.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Loose Permanent Teeth

Anytime adult teeth come loose, it’s a major problem. Fortunately, Dr. Dipika Shah is experienced in several of the aspects necessary for saving patients’ teeth and restoring their bite functions, including fighting periodontal disease and placing implants.

When teeth come loose due to periodontal disease, as opposed to a violent blow, dentists call it secondary occlusal trauma. Primary occlusal trauma is the term used to refer to teeth that have been damaged by tooth grinding without an infection. Severe periodontal disease doesn’t just erode the gum ligaments which hold teeth in place; it also erodes the jaw bone, which can have devastating consequences for the other teeth and the appearance of the patient’s face.

The infection must be controlled before any restorations can be done.Weakened teeth often require treatment with a splint, although in mild cases, the splint is usually temporary. One major danger is that when patients lose the use of their back teeth, they sometimes try chewing with their incisors. This is very dangerous; the front teeth cannot withstand such strong force and are likely to be pushed out of position. Anybody experiencing problems with loose teeth should seek help immediately and not try to adapt on their own.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Warning Signs of Failing Implants

Holmdel’s Dr. Dipika Shah is renowned for her work on implants and highly recommends this procedure as one of the safest and most effective ways to replace missing teeth. However, it is possible for an implant to need to be replaced. Patients should know the warning signs of an implant that is failing both immediately after placement or after years of wear and tear.

The warning signs of an implant failing in the immediate wake of surgery are continual bleeding and severe pain for more than three days. While there is always some pain associated with recovery from surgery, if an implant was placed on a nerve, the patient’s pain will never diminish, and the implant must be removed. 

A successfully placed implant can fail if the matrix of fused bone and metal at the implant’s base becomes compromised. This usually occurs due to periodontal disease or a traumatic injury. Dentists will monitor the patient’s jaw bone tissue for the first two years following implant placement because the loss of too much bone tissue means the implant needs to be removed. A functioning implant is totally immobile. If you notice an implant moving at all, seek help.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Scaling and Root Planing with Dr. Dipika Shah

In Holmdel, NJ, we actively strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain all their original teeth if possible. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, Dr. Dipika Shah can restore the health of your gums and save your smile.

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar are allowed to buildup on your teeth, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive. As bacteria collect in your mouth, they will attack your teeth and surrounding gums. In its earliest stages, gum disease is called gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes a much more serious periodontal disease that destroys your gum tissue and leads to tooth loss. If it is not treated, the disease can even cause a loss of bone mass in your jaw.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into a more serious disease. The procedure allows Dr. Shah to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation. The procedure is incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth.

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with our office in by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Gum Disease

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and Dr. Dipika Shah provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gums tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to our office in Holmdel, NJ for periodontal cleanings and treatment. We will make sure your gums are well cared for. Call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Facial Pain

Dr. Dipika Shah treats patients in her dental office for many different types of ailments, including facial pain. Facial pain can be caused from issues with the nerves, jaw, teeth, ear, or head. Many cases of facial pain seem like the pain is experienced in the Jaw, gums or teeth, but it can be a  sinus infection, an infected or impacted tooth, Myofacial Dysfunction, a result of periodontal disease, fractured tooth, Cancerous lesion, trigeminal neuralgia or even Bell's palsy!

Complete history, proper clinical evaluation along with some radiographs can help  etermine the cause and possible treatment for this type of pain. Some of the more common causes of facial pain that are treated by our dentist Dr. Shah include:

• Tooth infection
• Sinus infection
• Toothache
• Arthritis
• TMJ disorder
• Neuralgia
• Injury
• Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding
• Periodontal gum disease

We provide treatments for facial pain depending on the cause. For TMJ or jaw-related pain, which is often caused by teeth grinding, we recommend that a custom splint be made and worn. Treating infections ranges from root canal procedures and antibiotics to extracting the tooth.

If you are experiencing facial pain, do not hesitate to call us at 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment.