Hi… How are you doing? Heartiest welcome to our blog and we do hope you will enjoy reading our refreshed blogs for comprehensive dental services provided here. Our prestigious dentists here have come out with this infomational blog for the oral health of our current and potential patients. If you want to know more, you can send a message or WhatsApp us here!
Removable appliance is an appliance that is not fixed to teeth but can be removed by the patient. It usually contains spring, screws, clasps and acrylic base plate. This appliance is often used in situation whereby simple teeth movement are needed only and it can allow patients to perform better oral hygiene by removing it. However, this appliance requires compliance from the patient to wear it.
Fixed Appliance
Fixed appliance is probably the most common type of orthodontic appliances in use today. They consist of small brackets that are attached onto the front surface of the teeth and a thin wire which is often held in place by elastic loops.This appliance allows multiple tooth movements simultaneously and more effectively as compared to removable appliance. The treatment usually lasts from 6 months to 30 months depending upon the severity of the problem. It is very important to maintain an excellent oral hygiene and dental health throughout the orthodontic treatment
This procedure is conducted to remove excess gum tissue that may be overgrown on the teeth to provide a better aesthetic result and a better area to clean the teeth.
Gingiva Overgrowth
Several reasons why there is an overgrowth of gum:
Inflammatory-induced:
Biofilm (bacteria) and the host response, resulting in familiar forms of periodontal disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Swelling, erythema, and bleeding are signs of these diseases.
Usually due to poor oral hygiene, orthodontic appliances
Some mediation might trigger the growth of the gum tissue, such as:
Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, phenobarbital, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, ethosuximide, topiramate, and primidone)
Antihypertensives (calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, amlodipine, and verapamil)
Immunosuppressant (cyclosporine)
Systemic diseases such as:
Pregnancy or puberty and vitamin deficiencies (mostly vitamin C) are some of the more common causes in this category.
Benign neoplasms—such as giant cell granuloma, papillomas, and fibromas—can cause enlargement of the gingiva.
Other more serious causes of gingival enlargement include leukemias, malignant neoplasms/carcinomas, as well as many forms of granulomatous diseases.
All these gum overgrowth can be corrected by reduce the cause factors or gum surgery (gingivectomy)
A case of Gingivectomy
A young lady complained that she didn’t have great smile. On examination, we found out that she had a very short teeth. Oral hygiene just moderate.
Using a dental chi gauge, it was confirmed that the patient had a short crown height
Dental scaling was done to improve oral hygiene
After taken radiograh to determain the bone height and biological width, surgical excision of 2mm of gum tissue above the gingiva margin.
A procedure to correct the gum shape and contour thus improve the smile line. Gingivoplasty surgery is usually done on the upper front teeth (can be up to the premolar region) where the gums here can be seen when smiling.
Most of these gum defects are usually caused by gum diseases (eg. periodontitis). However, in certain cases, the gum recedes due to over brushing or probably just because the gum itself is thin (thin biotype).
In gingivoplasty, a gum graft can be done where the tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth (this is called a graft) and then stitched into place on either side of the tooth that is recessed.
Here, is a case of a young male presented with receded gum due to over brushing…
He didn’t like his teeth and gum for a few aesthetic
reasons:
The teeth are uneven
The gums on his left are simply too high!!
We found out that he was a right-handed person, using his toothbrush to brush his left teeth too hard!! That causing the gum to shrink upwards.
Secondly, his gums were thin biotype and the previous dentist had over-filled his abrasion cavity with composite preventing the gum from ‘coming down’
Objectives of treatment:
Correct his over-brushing technique
Modified the over-filled composite restoration
Correct the Shape of his teeth
Gum surgery to thicken his thin biotype gum and bring his gum down at the same time
PRESTIGE SMILE BRIGHT (NEW Clinic in Bandar Puteri) (By Appointment in Prestige SmileBright)
Want to make an appointment with Dr. Joann in PRESTIGE SMILE BRIGHT (using WhatsApp)?
Summary about Dr. Joann
Dr Joann Yong received her dental degree in 2011 and obtained her Membership of Faculty of Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK in 2014. She then undertook specialty training in orthodontics at the National University of Malaysia and was awarded Doctor of Clinical Dentistry with Distinction in 2020. Dr Joann had served under the Ministry of Health with working experiences at various specialty clinics and hospitals. She is also actively involved in research and has several publications to her name.
Aligning teeth with confidence, bringing a tidy and beautiful smile to her patients is Dr. Joann’s biggest passion.
Dr. Chong is a general dental practitioner who received her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from University of Malaya in 2008. She regularly attends braces, implant and aesthetic dental educational courses in Malaysia to keep improving herself. With years of extensive experience and skills, Dr. Chong enjoys bringing compassionate and comprehensive dental care to her patients.
With an inherent passion to help people, she is keen in educating patients to attain good oral health and to promote self care approach in daily life to achieve optimal oral hygiene. Dr. Chong’s vision for the practice is to provide modern and aesthetic dentistry in a very approachable environment. Her goal for Prestige Dental Care is total patient satisfaction.
Dr. S. N. Ng is a general dental practitioner. She graduated from University of Malaya in 2003.
She is the founder and director of Prestige Dental Care Sdn. Bhd. She used to work in Prestige Dental Care, Bandar Puteri Branch before moving to Prestige Smile Bright, Bandar Puteri. Now she is in-charge and leading doctor in Prestige Smile Bright.
She mainly interest is braces and aesthetic dentistry which include teeth whitening, crowns and bridges. She attended many courses to improve her skills in denstistry field; and now she is one of the Invisalign Provider which provide clear aligner to align teeth.
Highly recommended by her patients for being gentle and caring, Dr. Ng always make sure the ultimate comfort of her patients while providing dental care.
Dr. H. W. Ng is an oral & maxillofacial surgeon. He obtained his basic degree as a dental surgeon from University of Malaya in 2001 and become the member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2006. He passed his master degree, MClinDent (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery) from University of Malaya in 2009.
Dr. H. W. Ng has more than 15 years of working experience as a general dental practitioner and 10years as an Oral & Maxillofacial Consultant. He worked as a oral & maxillofacial surgeon/trainee in a few centres in Klang valley, namely University Hospital, Hospital Tunku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang and Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Currently, he is the visiting Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in Assunta Hospital, visiting oral surgeon in a few dental clinics in KL and a part-time lecturer in the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department in Dental Faculty, International Medical University (IMU) in Bukit Jalil.
He is the founder and director for Prestige Dental Care Sdn. Bhd. and currently, he works in Prestige Dental & OralFacial Surgery in Setiawalk. His work mostly involved the oral surgery field, namely wisdom teeth removal, implant surgery, impacted tooth. He does corrective jaw surgery and planning as well.
His fields of interest are cosmetic dentistry, oral rehabilitation, dental implant and orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery.
Tooth loss is a serious oral health problem that can have a significant effect on overall quality of life, making it difficult to chew or embarrassing to smile. Dental implants are a solution for people who have lost one or more teeth due to periodontal disease, trauma or injury, or other reasons. Implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed into the jaw bone and are used to support the crowns.
Dental Implant
Traditionally, a dentist will create impressions of a patient’s teeth and gums. X-ray will also be done in order to get an image of the mouth structures before placing the dental implants free hand. These technique require the dentist’s experience and expertise. Computer guided implant surgery represents a giant step forward in the replacement of teeth with dental implants.
What is Computer guided dental implant surgery?
Computer-guided implant surgery is a great advance in dental implant treatment planning. A computer program, cone-beam CT 3D X-ray and intraoral scanner will be used for planning an accurate position of dental implants. The computer program will combine x-ray images, intraoral scans and cone-beam 3D CT images and translate into a 3D model of the jaw. The dentist will be able to plan the placement of dental implants and determine their optimum position with a high degree of accuracy. A surgical guide will be fabricated by our in house 3D printer for use during implant surgery for accurate placement according to computer planning.
Benefit of computer guided implant surgery:
Reduced Risks Computer-guided implant technology makes it possible to see the anatomical structures of the jaw, teeth, and surrounding tissue, thereby reducing the risks of unexpected complications during surgery as well as allowing the dentist to know exactly where the implant should be placed.
Reduced Surgical Time Because a precise surgical guide is created, there is no guesswork with guided implant surgery. This allows the procedure to be completed faster than traditional dental implant surgery so patients can start the recovery process sooner.
Better Patient Education Computer-guided implant technology is based on detailed scans of the oral structures. These images may be used to explain the dental implant procedure as well as to educate patients about their oral health.
Case Example: Patient of ours requesting for dental implant to replace his lower left first molar tooth.
Situation before dental implant placementComputer planning of implant placement on lower left first molar combining 3D CT X-ray, intraoral scan. Dental Implant planning is done virtually and surgical guide is designedSurgical guide printed out by our in house 3D printer in patient’s mouthDental implant placement according to computer planningFinal Implant crown screwed into place
At Prestige Dental, we are fully equipped with Cone Beam 3D CT X ray machine, Intraoral scanner and 3D printer to fabricate the surgical guides
Our new CBCT, OPG and Lat Ceph X-Ray unitIntraoral 3D scanner available in Prestige Dental3D printer for fabricating surgical guide available at Prestige Dental
These computers can also be a valuable tool when it comes to our explanation of how exactly your implants will be placed. The patient will be able to look at clear images, as well as ask any questions.
With the help of computer guided surgery, we able to better pinpoint the exact location within your mouth for each implant, considerably simplifying the overall procedure. As our patient, you can look forward to a less invasiveness procedure, safer with less complications, a shorter recovery time, and an overall process that is much smoother from beginning to end.
It is recommended that every child has an introductory dental visit within 6 months of eruption of their first tooth. As parents, you might think this is too early- even more so when there is no “problem” with your child’s teeth yet. However, starting dental visits early has many advantages:
We can assess each child’s risk of developing tooth decay.
We can suggest preventive steps that is special to each child’s needs
We can have the opportunity to show your child that dental visits can be fun, hence reducing chances of dental anxiety in the future
Quite often, it is a child’s first visit to the dental clinic but he/she is having pain. We understand that it can be stressful and anxious for both parent and the child. For younger children, parents can be present in the treatment room. For older children, it is best that we can see the child by themselves, but if parents are not comfortable with that, parents can be passive observers- allowing us a chance to interact and explain in simple terms that your child can understand. Many studies have shown that when parents are anxious themselves, their child will also tend to be anxious as well.
Depending on the your child’s reaction to his/her dental visit and what treatment needs to be done, we will try our best to provide your child with the best care possible. It is however important for parents to understand that treatment should not be forced or rushed onto a child. We understand that parents are busy and prefer treatment to be done all in a single visit, but it takes a lot of patience and time for us to build a trusting relationship and bond with your child. This is how dental visits can become stress free and fun for your child.
Our services includes
Standard Cleanings and Check ups
The care we provide is the best we can for each child. This means that the cleaning frequency we recommend can vary from individual to individual. Your child might benefit from cleanings every 3 months, or every 6 months.
What happens during a standard cleaning and check up?
A standard dental examination
Scaling, polishing and flossing
Dental x-rays (if needed)
Fluoride varnish treatment
Fluoride Varnish Treatment
What is Fluoride? Fluoride helps to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. It is also able to remineralise teeth that have early decay (seen as white patches on teeth). Fluoride can be found in fluoridated toothpaste, and are available in various amounts and concentrations.
Fluoride varnish contains a higher than normal amount of fluoride and it comes in the form of a thick sticky paste that adheres to teeth to minimise swallowing. It is very well tolerated as well. Varnish is proven in many ways to slow, stop and even reverse the formation of cavities. Everyone is at risk of developing cavities, from the young infants to young kids to teenagers. Here are some risk factors:
Infants still bottle feeding past one year of age.
Infants sleeping with a bottle containing liquids other than water (eg. milk, juices, sweetened drinks like Milo)
Frequent breastfeeding without proper mouth cleaning afterwards, especially at night
Constant consumption of sugary or starchy foods and beverages
Dental history of cavities
Developmental disabilities
Application of Fluoride Varnish
Fluoride varnish may be unfamiliar to many patients, so here are some information for parents and children:
It will make your child’s teeth look dull and yellowish when leaving the dentist. Their teeth will return to normal as the varnish wears off, usually in 1 day.
In order for the varnish to have the most benefit, it needs to remain adhered to the teeth for as long as possible. For that, your child should not brush or floss until the next morning.
To prevent early removal of the varnish, avoid abrasive or hard foods for the rest of the day. Soft diet is ideal for the day.
Fluoride varnish should be done every 6 months for most children. For children who have a higher risk of cavities, we may recommend 3-monthly application of fluoride varnish.
Tooth coloured fillings
Tooth Colour Fillings
These are white fillings that look beautiful and blend in with the natural color of the tooth. Placement of fillings is fairly quick and easy. First the decayed part of the tooth is cleaned and removed, then the tooth is dried and filled.
Happy Gas
What is Happy Gas? Happy Gas is also known as nitrous oxide/ laughing gas. In our clinic, we use it as a mild analgesic. It works by filling the patient with a feeling of happiness, which helps them feel relaxed and less anxious about dental treatment.
How do we use Happy Gas? We apply the gas through a tube and nose piece that fits over your child’s nose. All he/she has to do is breathe through his/her nose
Why use Happy Gas? Happy Gas is fast acting and wears off quickly. Its effects can be felt within 5 minutes, and when the gas flow stops, those effects wear off within another 5 minutes of breathing oxygen. It is safe, easy to use and can be adjusted easily for your child’s comfort. The only thing that stops it is a stuffy nose. If your child can’t breathe through his/her nose, it won’t work.Children’s Primary Teeth
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If you have any question, don’t hesitate to contact us, we are more than glad to provide you with the information you need!