Alabama Tooth Enamel Repair in Birmingham

Dental Enamel Destruction

Understanding Enamel Loss

Demineralized Enamel Damage

Oral Health Habits

Sucking lemons, keeping candies and mints in mouths for hours or during sleep, sipping sugary drinks all day, chewing tobacco all day, snuff, smoking, dissolving medicines in mouth instead of swallowing. Sugary gum or sour gummi bears that have citric acid that dissolves teeth.

Oral Disease

Fevers at young age, antibiotics while teeth developing in utero, periodontitis leading to food impaction in crevices around teeth. Xerostomia - dry mouth due to medication or illness or age. Oral disease mirrors systemic disease. Leukemia, HIV, Diabetes, cancers, all can influence caries/cavities due to immunocompromised systems.

Fluorosis Damaged Teeth

Eating Preferences - Habits

Excess candy consumption, lack of proper nutrition, high fructose corn syrup

Bulimia Purging

Acid attack, gasses from stomach, acid reflux, vomit acids

Idiopathic Enamel Erosion

Unknown or undiagnosed factor causes uncontrollable eroding of upper or lower arch teeth

Restoration Enamel Gone Bad

Trauma

Fracture, chips, missing tooth or fillings can lead to impaction of bacteria, decay and further breakdown

Friction

Fillings that are too high, poorly shaped, pitted, old ditched, can pack food leading to deterioration and decay.

Occlusal

Grinding, Bruxism (nocturnal grinding), posturing things between teeth, using teeth as tools.

Congenital Defect - Biliary Atresia

Incompatability with Previous Dentistry

Leaking crowns that don't fit, cement that has leached out leaving gaps for bacteria to seep through, overhangs (rough fillings or excess fillings that tear floss and pack food) that trap bacteria.

Genetic Birth Defects

Ectodermal dysplasia

Developmental Growth Abnormalities

Amelogenesis or Dentinogenesis imperfecta are factors that can lead to pitting and decay.

Prevention - Control - Treatment of Enamel Damage

Severe Decay

Oral Health Habits

Consciously changing behavior, biofeedback, splint therapy or appliances to change habits such as NTI, Essix night guard, occlusal splint, or custom orthotic device.

Oral Disease

Cariology (study of cavities) bears out that it is a disease. Complete eradication is needed to stop the spread of the bacterial infection that is caries. Fluoride releasing fillings, mouth-rinses, and systemic medication can all be useful adjuncts to stopping carious lesions from spreading. Fluoride releasing fillings, crowns with fluoride cements, trays for at home fluoride treatments and behavior modification are all possible treatments.

Eating Preferences - Habits

High fructose corn syrup found in sodas, juice drinks, sports drinks as well as energy bars are bathing teeth in sugar and acid. Blended coffee drinks and the decrease in milk consumption have been blamed in the increase in rampant tooth decay.

Bulimia Purging

Behavioral Psychologist, medication, and restoration with crowns and orthodontics when stable.

Trauma

Root canal therapy if needed, large restorative fillings to restore teeth to high strength, and crowns or protective caps.

Friction

Mouthguards, occlusal adjustments, equillibration or evening out of bite. Rehabilitiation or reconstruction of bite.

Occlusal

Mouthguards, splints, orthotics, adjustment of bite. Possible rehabilitation of bite with crowns or posterior porcelain or gold restoration.

Incompatability with Previous Dentistry

Replace it with modern state-of-the-art- restorative dentistry to include gold, porcelain, zirconium, pressed or feldspathic porcelain.

Genetic Birth Defects - Growth Abnormalities

Restoration of missing teeth or pitted teeth with fillings or crowns. Missing teeth to be replaced with implant supported crowns or bridges.

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