Category: Featured

Gum Disease: An Overview

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common and progressive oral infection that damages the gum tissue along with the jawbone supporting the tooth. Failing to have this condition treated by an experienced periodontist in Singapore can result in the loss of the tooth, tissue death (necrosis) and damage to neighbouring teeth and gums.

Two kinds of diseases can affect and damage the gums: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease characterised by irritated, swollen and tender gums.

On the other hand, periodontitis is a serious form of gum disease. Individuals with this condition suffer from severe oral symptoms, including rapid gum loss, gum tissue necrosis and jawbone destruction.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

Many factors can contribute to the development of gum disease. A few of them include:

• Poor Dental Hygiene – Failure to brush and floss the teeth regularly can result in gingivitis.
• Vices – Bad habits, such as chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes, can irritate the gums and hinder tissue repair.
• Prescription Medications – Some medicines could dry the mouth, which promotes the proliferation of bacteria.

Treatment of Gum Disease

Treating periodontal disease at an early stage can reverse the symptoms of gingivitis and prevent the infection from worsening. Oral treatment for gum disease includes:

• Professional Gum and Teeth Cleaning – This oral procedure includes eliminating plaque, tartar and debris lodged between the teeth by methods such as scaling and polishing.
• Oral Health Restoration – Professional dental cleaning sessions and other measures must be taken to restore overall oral health. If malocclusion is present, the dentist may also recommend teeth straightening to prevent recurrence of gum issues.
• Oral or Topical Antibiotics – Dentists typically prescribe this medication to control and eliminate bacterial infection.

What is the Difference Between Scaling and Polishing

Scaling and polishing is usually done at regular 6 monthly intervals to remove plaque and tartar from above the gum line and to remove stains from red wine, tea or coffee that have built up over the past few months. The removal of stains and tartar will give you nice white teeth while the removal of the bacteria in plaque can prevent more severe forms of gum disease from occurring.

Root planing is similar to scaling and polishing in the sense that your dentist will also remove plaque and tartar from your gums. However, in root planning, your dentist will have to go UNDER the gum line (usually with local anaesthesia) to remove the plaque and tartar that have accumulated in the gum pockets associated with Periodontitis.

Periodontitis occurs when bacterial plaque, a sticky white film composed of food debris and bacteria forms on the teeth. If the plaque is not removed, it can turn into a hard substance called calculus or tartar in less than two days. Tartar then acts as a further bacteria trap due to its rough surface. The bacteria in plaque infect the gums, and release toxins that cause redness and irritation. It can cause the bone surrounding the teeth to dissolve. When this happens, the gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets that fill with even more plaque causing even more infection. A vicious cycle now ensues. And it leads to shaky teeth and bad breath from the build-up of bacteria in the gums.

Preventing Periodontal Disease

The good news is that people can avoid this disease from developing in their gums. Here are a few suggestions to keep both gums and teeth healthy and free from gingivitis or periodontitis:

• Brush and floss regularly to help dislodge trapped food debris and plaque.
• Use mouthwash to minimise plaque and wash away any remaining food particles.
• Schedule a consultation with a periodontist for professional gum care.

Book an appointment with our dental clinic by emailing contact@tpdental.com.sg.

How do I know if I need a crown?

Crowns are most often used when

1.  A direct filling (amalgam/composite resin) may not be strong enough to repair the tooth with anymore. Usually the case when the cavity has grown too large and the remaining natural tooth structure too little or too weak to withstand normal biting forces.
2. To protect a structurally compromised tooth from further wear and tear. This could be due to a very large preexisting filling (Point 1) or perhaps a tooth with history of crack and/or fracture that is starting to break down. This buys time to allow your teeth to live to bite another day!
3. To cover and re-contour otherwise misshapen or discoloured teeth as a form of aesthetic recovery. A crown can help to restore both form and function in these situations. Yes, sometimes you can have your cake and eat it.
4. After endodontics (root canal treatment) of a tooth (so as to achieve any or all of Points 1, 2 and 3)
5. To restore an implant. Again, this helps in both form and function. An implant would be missing a biting and smiling surface and not really complete without a Crown.

Crowns not only come in different shapes and sizes but also materials.

Each material of course comes with inherent benefits and drawbacks. As with most things in life, there is no one size fits all. Your dentist will of course be more than happy to explain each material to you and come to a combined decision with you as to which is the best material to suit your needs.

Crown materials can perhaps be broadly and simplistically classified into

1. Metallic crowns – Gold alloys and other Metal alloys. Traditionally the more lasting stuff with the obvious trade off being appearance and aesthetics. Subjective of course but not everyone may want a shiny metal tooth.
2. White crowns – Full Ceramic/Porcelain crowns and Zirconia crowns. The more pretty stuff if you will. With advances in materials research, modern ceramics and zirconias are actually no slouch and may surprise you with their strength and longevity as well.
3. Combination – Porcelain fused to Metal crowns where porcelain is layered over a metal substructure. A halfway house serving up a combination of both advantages and disadvantages of the metallic and white crowns.

Unlike Crowns, Bridges are more a means of tooth replacement rather than tooth protection, somewhat like the case of a Crown in an implant restoration. A Bridge is in essence two or more Crowns at the ends of a gap or row of missing teeth, joined by other false teeth (also known as Pontics). Sort of like an architectural bridge! See the resemblance now?

Bridges vary in design and complexity and can range from a traditional bridge involving two Crowns linked by a span of Pontics as described above, to something like an Acid-Etched Bridge or Maryland Bridge which involves a Pontic and wings to hug the adjacent teeth without any Crowns to hold onto – often used in the case of a single missing tooth.

Materials used for Bridges are very similar to those of Crowns and again your dentist would be in the ideal position to discuss with you what bridge design and material choice would best satisfy your situation.

Why You Should Get Braces

Straightening crooked teeth is not the only reason to get dental braces. These oral appliances also correct crowded teeth and misaligned bite, such as an underbite or overbite.

Advantages of Getting Braces

Aside from straightened teeth, you can enjoy the following benefits from treatment with oral braces:

• Improved Speech – Misaligned teeth can prevent you from speaking clearly. Braces help fix this issue to allow you to pronounce words properly.
• Lowered Risk of Tooth Decay – Teeth overcrowding or overlapping makes brushing and flossing difficult. There are spots that are hard to reach with dental floss and a toothbrush, because of the condition. Braces correct these orthodontic problems and make teeth cleaning easy and effective.
• Improved Self-Confidence – Having properly aligned teeth allows you to show off your smile to people without any worries.

Enhance Your Smile with TP Dental

Our dental clinic in Singapore offers a wide range of oral braces, including:

• Fixed Metal Braces – An orthodontist attaches metal wires and brackets onto the teeth. This helps correct the alignment and positioning of the teeth.
• Retainers – These custom, removable braces help maintain the position and alignment of straightened teeth.
• Invisalign – This consists of a series of removable and clear plastic aligners that correct mild to moderate dental spacing and alignment problems.

Our specialist orthodontists carry out all the orthodontic treatment in our dental clinic. In addition, we use the latest dental equipment and digital dentistry to deliver effective and precise braces treatment.

Types of braces at TP Dental:

There are many different types of braces that are available at TP Dental ranging from removable braces (commonly known as ‘retainers’), expanders, fixed metal braces, fixed clear braces and “invisible” Invisalign braces. To find out more about each brace, please scroll down the page.

Who provides braces at TP Dental?

All orthodontic treatment at TP Dental is carried out by SPECIALISTS in Orthodontics. There are many general dentists who carry out braces treatment in Singapore. However, in our dental surgery, orthodontic treatment is ONLY provided by fully qualified orthodontists who are listed on the Ministry of Health (MOH) Dental Specialist list.

For children or growing adolescence

Removable braces (commonly known as “retainers”)
These are braces that can be removed by the patient him or herself. Majority of removable braces are used for growing children but some are suitable for adults too. Removable braces are used to correct many orthodontic problems including crossbite, expansions and deep bites (to name a few).

Growth or functional braces

These are braces that are used during the adolescent stages to encourage growth of the jaw bone to a more favourable position. Examples of these are:

• To correct protruding teeth (“bugs bunny” teeth)
• To improve a smaller jaw
• Correct reverse bite (protruding lower jaw)
• Correct asymmetric (“lopsided”) jaw

This type of growth modification treatment can start as early as four years old and as late as 13-14 years old depending on the patient’s growth status. Your orthodontist will decide on a case to case basis to advise you on the best time to start such braces for your child.

Fixed Expander

These are braces that are fixed onto the molar teeth to encourage expansion of the upper jaw. A fixed expander is great for making spaces in crowded mouths and also for correction of crossbites.

Habit Breaker

If you have a child who has a thumb-sucking habit and is finding it difficult to stop, please speak to one of our orthodontists. We have a range of devices that may be used to encourage children to stop this habit. Prolonged thumb-sucking habits may cause:

• Protrusion of teeth (teeth to “stick out”)
• Development of a crossbite (one side or both sides)
• Cause teeth to develop in the wrong position

Fixed braces

These are what majority of people call ‘train-track’ braces. These braces are fixed onto the teeth and can be metal braces or ceramic (aesthetic) braces. Metal braces can be silver (metal) coloured or patients can opt to have them in a variety of other colours ranging from primary colours (blue, green, red) to rainbow colours. Ceramic (aesthetic) braces are tooth-coloured braces that can be paired with tooth-coloured wires to make it less visible.

Fixed Metal Braces

Fixed Metal “coloured” braces

Fixed ceramic braces

Invisalign
Yes, you read it correctly. Invisalign treatment can be used for teenage patients and we offer ‘Invisalign Teens’ for our growing patients. Of course these will be dependent on the child’s compliance and motivation to wear the aligners all the time except during eating and brushing their teeth.

For Adults
We offer our adult patients a choice of fixed metal braces, ceramic (aesthetic) braces or Invisalign braces depending on their lifestyle choice.

Fixed metal braces

The advantages of fixed metal braces are:

• Fixed onto the teeth therefore not dependant on patient’s compliance
• Patient does not need to remove it for eating
• Pressure on teeth is applied all the time (24hours/day)

Fixed Metal Braces

Fixed ceramic (aesthetic) braces

The advantages of fixed ceramic braces are:

• Better aesthetics (as they are almost tooth-coloured)
• No difference in functionality as compared to metal braces
• No difference in duration of treatment, result and degree of discomfort as compared to metal braces

Fixed ceramic braces

Invisalign: The advantages of Invisalign braces are:

• The most aesthetically pleasing
• Easier to keep clean as these aligners are removable by the patient
• Less discomfort – no wire poking

Numbing cream will be given followed by local anaesthesia to make it a comfortable experience for you. The non salvageable tooth will be gently elevated from the tooth socket and you will be discharged for home as soon as the wound has clotted shortly after.

If the tooth is badly broken down or growing out at an awkward angle, it may be necessary for your dentist to recommend surgical excision of your tooth. This means that some bone around the tooth may need to be removed to allow your dentist to get a good grip on the broken pieces so they can be removed from your jaw.

In the case of an impacted wisdom tooth (wisdom tooth growing at an awkward angle), the same process of surgical excision may also be necessary and this may also involve the division of the tooth for clean removal.

At TP Dental, we have the option of having the above mentioned procedures performed under sedation, relative analgesia or general anaesthesia as well.

Defining Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are a set of molars that surface during their early twenties or the late teens. If your mouth has room to grow, wisdom teeth can sprout properly and help you chew food better. If it doesn’t, however, the wisdom tooth could end up buried under the gum tissue or partially erupt at an inconvenient time.

Why You Need to Have Your Wisdom Tooth Extracted

When a wisdom tooth causes problems, you need to visit a dentist as soon as possible. Here’s why:

• Your wisdom tooth could potentially damage your neighbouring teeth. The extra molars will surface by pushing other teeth. Undergoing wisdom tooth removal, therefore, is necessary, as your extra molars could cause bite and mouth problems.
• Problematic wisdom teeth could result in the development of cysts (and sometimes tumours) in the mouth. If left untreated, these molars can damage nerves and jawbone.
• Even if you don’t feel any pain or suffer from other serious complications, your wisdom teeth can undermine your oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing around a wisdom tooth, for instance, can be difficult due to its hard-to-reach location.

Common Types of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impaction happens when a wisdom tooth is crowded and cannot erupt properly, or erupts forcibly through the gum in a compromised position. A few of the common kinds of wisdom teeth impaction are:

• Vertical Impaction – The orientation of the erupted tooth is nearly upright.
• Mesial Impaction – The angle of the tooth is facing the front of the mouth.
• Horizontal Impaction – The tooth is growing underneath the gum and parallel to the jawbone.

We make the tooth removal process as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Our experienced dentists in Singapore use numbing cream and local anaesthesia to reduce discomfort and self-resolving sutures for added convenience. Additionally, we use cutting-edge dental equipment and technology to safely remove the impacted wisdom tooth.

What is teething whitening?

Teeth whitening is one of the fastest and most conservative ways to brighten up your smile. There are no painful needles or grinding required in teeth whitening procedures. It can be used as a single procedure or in combination with other treatment to achieve the most desirable cosmetic outcome.

Teeth whitening treatment options

In general, there are two treatment options. If you want to get the result fast, you can opt for the in-clinic procedure or “Power Bleaching”. We use state-of-the-art light-activated professional whitening systems where both the whitening formulation and the light source have been tested and licensed for safety and efficacy. However, if you wish to have more control and see how your teeth transform gradually, you can opt for our professionally prescribed and supervised “Home Whitening” system.

Teeth whitening can be fun and easy to use. Before you get started, a thorough consult with our dental team is essential to find out about your exact condition before an appropriate treatment plan can be recommended to you that best suits your needs and expectations.

Your Dream Smile is just a call away!

Types of Tooth Discolouration

Discolouration occurs when stains, such as unsightly spots and tints, show up on the surface of the teeth. Professional teeth bleaching can treat the following types of discolouration:

• Intrinsic – The discolouration has affected the dentin, the inner tissue that accounts for the bulk of all teeth.
• Extrinsic – The stain has affected the enamel, the external layer of the tooth.
• Age-Related – Over time, a tooth’s dentin yellows. The enamel protecting the tooth becomes thinner with age, revealing the dentin’s natural appearance.

The Advantages of Teeth Whitening

An improved smile is one of the more obvious benefits of teeth whitening. Apart from the positive aesthetic results, this oral procedure offers the following benefits:

• Makes Your Smile the Centre of Attention – Displaying your beautiful, white smile takes the focus away from frown lines and neighbouring wrinkles on your face.
• Improves Self-Esteem – You’ll feel confident showing your teeth to people.
• Makes You More Friendly – Showing off your nice, dazzling smile attracts people and gives off a positive first impression.

Risks of DIY Teeth Whitening

While you have the option to whiten the teeth using over-the-counter products, this move is not advisable. Here’s why:

• Harsh substances in teeth whitening products can erode the enamel if improperly used.
• The chemicals in these products can irritate your gums.
• Trending, but unapproved, whitening procedures, could have adverse results, like extreme tooth sensitivity.

Come to the Right Place for a Brighter and Whiter Smile

Instead of whitening teeth by yourself, let the experienced dentists of TP Dental in Singapore take care of that for you. We offer two effective and safe treatment options to whiten your teeth. You can schedule an appointment with our clinic and go through a power bleaching procedure. Alternatively, you can whiten your teeth at home with our advanced and carefully formulated home whitening system.