Teeth Types and What They Do

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we encourage our patients keep their teeth healthy on a regular basis. Speaking of teeth, have you ever wondered why all of your choppers are shaped differently? That’s because you have different types that all serve a different purpose. Your teeth look different from one another because they are designed to do different things. Not only do they help you speak, but how else would you be able to swallow your food?

The types of teeth and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141. 

Dental Emergency Details

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we understand that accidents happen. Knowing what to do in case one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please call your dentist immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.


•  To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141. 

 

Denture Pain Problems

Denture pain typically stems from poor fitting or poorly adjusted dentures. It may also be a result of new dentures, worn over soft tissues that have not developed thick, toughened layers of protective keratin. If you are experiencing gum and mouth irritation, problems eating and speaking, mouth infections and/or dentures that move around in your mouth you should follow up with your dentist.

If you wear dentures, it is very important you keep your mouth clean and healthy. In addition, you should never experience pain when wearing your dentures. If you do experience pain from your dentures and this discomfort is not treated by speaking slowly, eating soft foods or using an adhesive, your dentures may need to be replaced. 

Headaches and Your Teeth

If you suffer from frequent headaches and can’t pinpoint a cause, it may be time to question your teeth. People who have a poorly aligned bite or missing teeth can have health-related problems, such as frequent headaches or sleep disorders, because their jaw muscles need to work harder to bring the teeth together, straining the surrounding jaw muscles. If you have missing teeth, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania can discuss treatment options with you.

Tension headaches result from muscle strain or contraction. When muscles are held tight for long periods of time they begin to ache. Headaches from dental stress are a type of muscle tension headache. It can occur on both sides of your head or it may surround your head as if a rubber band is wrapped around it. Specific signs that a headache may be caused by dental problems include pain behind the eyes, sore jaw muscles upon awakening, teeth grinding and clicking or popping jaw joints.

If you have questions about orofacial pain, you should visit your dentist.

Consequences of Missing Teeth

When you are missing teeth, the most obvious ramification is in your facial appearance. Not only will your smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if you’re missing too many, the skin around your mouth won’t be supported properly and will begin to sag, making you appear older than you are. If you are embarrassed by missing teeth, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have many tooth-replacement options to restore your smile and your confidence.

In addition to changing the aesthetics of your face, missing teeth can make it more difficult to chew your food properly and may even affect the way you speak. As bone loses width, it loses height, and because of this, gum tissue gradually decreases. Ultimately, the more teeth that are lost, the more function declines.

If you have missing teeth and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Benefits of Xylitol

 

Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate, that looks and tastes like regular table sugar without all of the negative side effects. At drugstores, you’ve probably seen it on the label of a pack of “sugar-free” gum. Studies using xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a small dietary addition have demonstrated a dramatic reduction in tooth decay, along with reversal of dental caries. With benefits such as these, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania encourage you to consume more of it.

Xylitol is found widely in nature and most of the fruits and vegetables we eat on a daily basis have small amounts of xylitol. In addition to preventing tooth decay, xylitol serves as an effective sugar substitute for diabetics and non-diabetics. It also reduces plaque formation and increases salivary flow to aid in the repair of damaged tooth enamel. Xylitol can be conveniently delivered to your teeth via chewing gum, tablets, or even candy. 

To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate, that looks and tastes like regular table sugar without all of the negative side effects. At drugstores, you’ve probably seen it on the label of a pack of “sugar-free” gum. Studies using xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a small dietary addition have demonstrated a dramatic reduction in tooth decay, along with reversal of dental caries. With benefits such as these, many dentists encourage you to consume more of it.

Xylitol is found widely in nature and most of the fruits and vegetables we eat on a daily basis have small amounts of xylitol. In addition to preventing tooth decay, xylitol serves as an effective sugar substitute for diabetics and non-diabetics. It also reduces plaque formation and increases salivary flow to aid in the repair of damaged tooth enamel. Xylitol can be conveniently delivered to your teeth via chewing gum, tablets, or even candy.

To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

 

Dental Abscesses

When the inside of your mouth gets hurt or irritated, bacteria may enter and cause an infection. Sometimes you will see a painful swelling with pus. This is called a dental abscess and it can form from a deep cavity, periodontal disease, a cracked tooth, trauma, or sometimes even due to recent dental procedures such as extractions and implants. This condition can become painful, so if you notice one, you should visit our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania right away.

The cause of these infections is a direct growth of bacteria from within the pulp spaces of a tooth or on the deep root surfaces of a tooth into the supporting soft tissues and bones of the face and neck. Often one or more teeth will be very sensitive to pressure. With an advanced infection, one can experience discomfort from nausea, vomiting, and/or difficulty swallowing.

If you are experiencing inflammation in your teeth and gums, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.