Pericoronitis and Wisdom Tooth Removal in Parker, CO

Wisdom tooth extractions aren’t taken lightly, but they are a common form of preventive care. One of the most important reasons for that is to prevent pericoronitis, which is inflammation surrounding an impacted dental crown. Dr. Roopi Kattaura, of Ardas Family Dental, regularly removes patients’ wisdom teeth efficiently after discussing their full range of options, so we wanted to take this opportunity to make sure everyone understands what pericoronitis is and how it is treated.

An impacted tooth is one that is unable to fully emerge. The wisdom teeth, being much larger than other teeth and the last to come in, frequently become impacted, leading to soreness and disruption in the alignment of the rest of the teeth. But when a wisdom tooth partly emerges, the flap of gum tissue covering it, called an operculum, becomes a trap for food debris. This allows bacteria to feed in a place they can’t be brushed or flossed out of, resulting in an infection that will cause swelling and the discharge of pus and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.

A dental hygienist could clean an operculum, but that wouldn’t prevent a new infection from developing. A more lasting solution is to cut the operculum away. But even then, there is a possibility it will grow back, and if the impacted wisdom tooth is causing other problems, the best option may be to remove the tooth. Sometimes, only the crown needs to be removed, but there are also times when removing the roots will help to reduce overcrowding and remove the risk that they’ll continue to emerge and create a new gum flap.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Veneers at Ardas Family Dental

Everybody should be proud of their teeth. If yours are stained, chipped, or don’t show as much enamel as you would like, the good news is that the process of restoring them may be simpler and easier than you think. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, our experienced practitioners provide veneers to healthy patients who are looking for a cosmetic improvement. 

A veneer is a shell, usually made of porcelain, that fits over a natural tooth and provides it with a new surface. If a patient expresses an interest in them, we’ll conduct an examination to ensure they’re not suffering from gum disease and discuss their goals for treatment. At their second appointment, we’ll numb the patient and shave down their enamel to make room for the veneer, and make an impression of their reshaped teeth. A dental laboratory will then use the impression to manufacture the veneers according to the patient’s specified color. Once we receive the veneers, the patient can return to our office, where we’ll cement the veneers into place. In between treatments the patient will have been wearing artificial temporary tooth-covers, but the real veneers are designed to last.

As with natural tooth surfaces, veneers need to be brushed twice a day and flossed. They also shouldn’t be subjected to anything too hard or sticky, and patients will need to continue to wear mouth guards when playing sports. But well-cared for veneers can last for over a decade and allow a patient to chew and speak just as they would normally. Veneers are also a more moderate treatment option than whole-crown restorations or orthodontics, and can be used when a tooth is mildly cracked or impacted. 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Differences Between Mouthwash in Parker, CO

Store shelves are filled with all sorts of mouthwash, and it’s easy for a consumer to become confused about which they should pick. You may even be wondering whether you should buy any at all. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, we provide for the needs of patients of all ages and with all sorts of conditions. We’re happy to help patients determine what’s best for their own oral care, which is why we wanted to talk about what mouthwash can and can’t do.

Mouthwash may supplement twice-daily brushing and flossing, but it can never replace them. Therapeutic mouthwash kills oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, but cosmetic mouthwash simply masks bad breath. Often, a patient would be prescribed therapeutic mouthwash if they had a tooth injury or were recovering from oral surgery and needed something that could dull their pain as well as provide additional defense against bacteria. Some mouthwashes come with other features, such as providing fluoride to make a patient’s enamel slightly stronger.

There is no evidence that the alcohol in mouthwash increases the risk of oral cancer, but non-alcoholic versions are available. Children under the age of six should not even use non-alcoholic mouthwash, and they should demonstrate that they are able to spit instead of swallowing it so they don’t risk over-exposure to fluoride. However, many people find that keeping some cosmetic mouthwash onhand is helpful for social situations, especially if they wear braces or dentures and can’t rely on sugar-free gum to combat halitosis. Just remember that the tongue needs to be scraped later to remove the source of the odor.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.