Health Information Series

Archive for 2012

Orthodontics is the dental specialty that is responsible for replacing those teeth that are poorly positioned in the mouth. The situation changes, the dental arches, the rotations, the lack of teeth or space for their eruption can be corrected with various orthodontic techniques.

What is it?

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry whose goal is the replacement in place of misplaced pieces. The word orthodontics comes from the Greek words “orthos” (straight) and “dont” (tooth).
Today beautiful teeth are an unbeatable card in social relations.

Most patients see a dentist’s office to solve problems in the beauty and harmony of your teeth, but this treatment not only for aesthetic purposes, but fundamentally healthy.

When a denture fits poorly, causes changes ranging from headaches by altering lace adequate tooth that affects the jaw joint, to decay, since the food is retained more easily and more complex to perform proper hygiene malpositioned teeth into.
Orthodontics can move a tooth located in an abnormal position in the dental arches into the correct position. You can correct tooth rotations and inclinations.

Close gaps between teeth, dental arches open to make room for teeth that do not have room for the correct location or assistance to the eruption of teeth that have fallen into the bone of the jaw.

Depending on the defect correction technique is more or less complex and will last a certain time.

Who can benefit?

The ideal time to do it is during the growing season, as the oral tissues are better adapted to the changes. Thus, orthodontics has traditionally been used for treatment in children.
However, more and more adults are attending dentist’s office to demand that treatment with increasingly better results.

Type

Removable appliances: They consist of a plastic plate that fits on the palate and is subject to the teeth with small metal hooks. This method is only useful in certain cases. The child can remove it and wear it without the help of the dentist.

Removable appliances, power off, make hygiene easier both at the device’s own teeth. But it also has disadvantages, difficult speech and chewing especially the early days, and the child can lose it or break it. Another disadvantage is that their placement depends on the willingness of the child or parents. Perhaps, out of forgetfulness or neglect, the child will not wear it so that no obtenienen outcomes.

Fixtures: They consist of a series of wires attached to the teeth by means of pieces called “braces”. These “braces” are usually placed on the outside of the teeth, which is seen when we smile. This is the most common and what works best.

May be placed on the inner or lingual. In this case there are neither the “braces” or the wires, but this option makes it difficult to speak and can cause sores on the tongue.

This system of “braces” allows greater control of tooth movement. It also allows better forecasting of results since the patient can not remove their own will, but you need to do the procedure the dentist.

Duration of treatment

The mean duration of treatment is two to three years.
In the case of adults may be necessary to use vestibular wires (on the inside of the teeth) for several years to prevent disease recurrence.

Generally, once the treatment is necessary to use a maintainer at night to keep teeth in their new location.
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the teeth, dental pulp and surrounding tissues, including the treatment of the interior of the roots (called a root canal).

The name of this dental specialty comes from the Greek words “endo” (inside), “dont” (tooth) and CIA (referring to).

When is it necessary?

When tooth decay attacks the boring going slowly. The first thing is the enamel is damaged. If progress continues, it affects the dentin and, if it progresses further, reaching the pulp where the nerve.
Advance the process of decay is usually slow, so it is easy to detect them before they become too large. No emmbargo not always seen. They can be very tiny or they are situated between two teeth, so it has to be our dentist who shall locate. Often discovered by an x-ray.

Knowing Endodontics

Not always hurt. Sometimes we do not feel pain until it has reached the nerve and then it’s too late.

When decay reaches the nerve is infected and thus inflamed and painful. If inflammation persists, the nerve may lose its vitality. It does not feel pain, but there is pus coming out of the root tip and causes an abscess. Sometimes the body reacts by forming a sort of capsule around and then there is an abscess.

What is?

Endodontics is the opening of a cavity in the tooth and removing the nerve that has been affected by decay. This is what is commonly known as “kill the nerve.”
Subsequently, the duct where the nerve was enlarged a few millimeters with special limitations, of increasing thickness and organic matter is removed from inside the pulp chamber.

After disinfection, which is fundamental, the tube is filled with a material similar to plastic. This whole process is very delicate and sometimes very complex depending on the nature of each tooth.

If it is a molar or a premolar, which have more than one root, this should be treated in all the roots of it. A root can even have more than one channel so the trartamiento will in all cases. Then cover the cavity and the tooth is reconstructed well with resin or metal.

This process saves the tooth from having to be removed, but leaves it weaker than when I was his healthy nerve (unaffected by decay), which is why it is sometimes necessary to place a dental crown on top. Sometimes it is necessary to even put a kind of small screws, pins or bolts called for increasing the resistance of the tooth.

Bad breath or halitosis is a lesser evil that often does not affect the sufferer, but it may disturb a third and be very damaging over personal relationships.

If you suffer from this problem, you can fight it by following these tips:

- Brush your tongue, just as we brush our teeth
- Parsley and mint: Chewing fresh leaves of parsley or mint for 10 or 15 minutes
- Lemon: chew a piece of lemon peel for a couple of minutes after meals
- Baking: rinsing the mouth after brushing with a little warm water and a pinch of baking

Mouth lesions and sores or canker sores, and the nostrils are mainly responsible for bad breath. However, are very common causes digestion and decomposition in the mouth of the food consumed, and hormonal factors (certain phases of the menstrual cycle in women).

The presence of tooth decay and misplaced, along with poor oral hygiene, leads to accumulation of food wastes to decompose causing a stench that comes out with the breath.
Against bad breath, parsley, mint or lemon

The digestion of certain foods like garlic, onions, peppers, very fatty foods, certain spices, etc.. produce gases that contribute to bad breath. The consumption of alcohol and snuff also causes halitosis, as well as the presence of infections in areas where the air circulates, pharynx, larynx, bronchi or lungs

There is now a standard intraoral device (low cost) for children 7 to 12 years old, can be used for evil corrreción the position of the anterior teeth.

Indicated to correct habits and functional:

* As the atypical swallowing (tongue thrust between the dental arches)
* Lip Incompetence
* On previous bite.
* Sucking thumb.
* Mouth breathers.
* Avoids the harmful effects of bruxism in children.

After 3 ½ months of use as indicated above, the device achieves 70% correct malposition of the teeth.
Average treatment usually lasts between 8 and 12 months.

The device is very useful for treating malocclusion in children during the mixed dentition. It has proved effective and low cost.

Instructions for use:

* The child should place the device in his mouth with the tongue up and should feel the tongue with the tip of the tongue. Early Correction Tooth malposition

* You must keep your lips together and breathe through the nose.
* You must feel right about the front teeth.
* The child should not chew the device. See picture IV showing the deactivation of the device because the child bites.
* Must use 1 hour during the day and while sleeping
The child must use the tools device performs its task, while reading, while watching TV, while using the computer and even while playing. When you finish using it, rinse with tap water and save their case accordingly. The front teeth should become more sensitive in the early stages. If discomfort is excessive, reduce the time of use, then increased to normal times when sensitivity to happen.

How does the device in the mouth?

* The preformed in front of the device gives a function similar to the orthodontic arch.
* The labial bows exert a force on the anterior teeth slightly disheveled.
* The tongue actively resets the position of the tongue, as myofunctional therapy.
* The grid does not allow the tongue thrusting, forcing the patient to breathe through the nose.
* Lips brakes reduce the activity of the lip muscles.
* Positioning of the jaw
* Fixed the position of the jaw while being used.

Tips for parents

* You as a parent should persevere with the use of dipositive at night even if the device falls off tongue thrusting or mouth breathing. These are habits that should be corrected. Once you stay in place all night, you have succeeded.
* The child’s mouth should be closed most of the time, for example emphasize on keeping your lips together when the device is placed. If not, the child must breathe through the nose.
* Remind your child that should keep the tip of the tongue in the same position as when it touches the tongue, when not using the device.
* The minimum period of use is six to twelve months. If you can not use it all night, increase the hours of use during the day. Do not expect dental changes in weeks, although it should be noted shortly functional changes such as improved nasal breathing, lips and jaw position, stance.
* If there is treatment, myofunctional habits such as mouth breathing, incorrect swallowing and tongue thrusting forward will be detrimental to the proper facial development.
* The myofunctional retraining program with this device should be evaluated by an orthodontist or dentist qualified.

Having diseases in the mouth can affect the occurrence of other diseases. Hence the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to enjoy good general health.

Periodontitis or periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that lead to an inflammatory reaction around the gums that can progress to the destruction of the bone support of teeth. Along with tooth decay is the most common cause of tooth loss.

But periodontitis may be related to the occurrence of other health problems in an individual. It is fully demonstrated its association with diabetes, diabetics have an increased risk for osteoporosis. In addition, severe periodontal disease is worse glycemic control.

It is very possible that there is a direct relationship with certain respiratory problems. On the other hand, mothers with periodontitis during pregnancy are seven times more likely to give birth to premature babies with low birth weight.
Watch your mouth and gain health

It was also found the risk factor posed by periodontitis on cardiovascular disease. This is mainly due to gram-negative anaerobic bacteria and some P.gingivalis can access the bloodstream causing a blockage in blood vessels leading to acute conditions such as cerebral or myocardial infarction.

Those who suffer most

Are diagnosed each year in Spain, 100,000 new cases of periodontal disease. 65% of adults over age 50 suffer from various forms of periodontal infection. The group of males between 40 and 50 years is the one with a clearer relationship between poor oral health and risk of cardiovascular disease.

The elements that favor these infections can be genetic, such as family history of early-onset periodontitis, environmental, such as snuff and stress, and type of bacteria that each person has in his mouth.

Preventing

To avoid an increased risk of developing other diseases is very important to maintain proper oral hygiene, using antibacterial products as in toothpastes or mouthwashes, which control the germs responsible.

Another important preventive measure is to follow a proper diet and regular oral examinations for early detection of any problems.

Approximately 40% of people suffering from swelling and bleeding of the gums to the bite or with the same brush. These conditions are the leading cause of tooth loss in the elderly.
All of them are preventable and treatable.

Some people think that the problem occurs when there is pain, but that’s the problem acute. When we brush our blood can come out and let it pass as normal, but this may be the main reason that we have in our gum disease and may end with the fall of our teeth.

Here are the diseases most common in people over the gums.

Plaque is a sticky substance that is deposited on your teeth and gums. Base is formed of minerals and food debris that harden from germs. The gums become infected and cause irritation and redness. Tartar makes your teeth become sensitive.

This disease is caused by not brushing constantly and this causes it to accumulate all that is offensive to your teeth. The scale may be increased due to smoking.

On the other hand, gingivitis is reversible formation of the gums, directly related to poor oral hygiene, food accumulation, bacteria and plaque.

The main symptoms are that their gums bleed when eating hard or when you brush your teeth. They have bright red gums and cause bad breath. By gingivitis can produce large numbers of cavities.

Finally, there is periodontitis, which is a progressive disease of the gums that though there is more in older people is due to the lack of prevention and early dental check.

Periodontitis causes inflammation spread to the bone, the tooth and the gum off. If untreated, there can be a pyorrhea (premature loss of the tooth).

Symptoms and signs are similar to gingivitis, but also presents tooth mobility and sensitivity to foods.

“During the summer you should maintain a more intense hygiene of the teeth and mouth, as the temperature increase contributes to the existence of oral diseases,” said the people Dr. Miguel Angel Saravia Rojas, dean of the Dental College of Peru (COP).

He said that the growth of bacteria causes diseases occur such as cold (cold sores), which affect the oral mucosa, tooth decay, gingivitis, among others.

“The mouth is the organ that initiates the process of digestion, good care and food intake beneficial during the summer season will help prevent various diseases,” said Dr. Saravia Rojas.

He recommended eating a healthy diet, including fruit juice, vegetables, and plenty of water, as this will help prevent oral diseases. Also, reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks all day, since it increases acid levels affecting the teeth.

Dr. Saravia Rojas said after eating between meals is necessary to at least rinse your mouth several times. Similarly, brushing before bed is more important, because at night the acids that destroy teeth are formed more easily, since the salivary secretion decreases and anaerobic (mouth closed) provides favorable conditions for the proliferation of bacteria.

Finally, we recommend visiting the dentist at least once a year, because this will catch any problem and take care, preventing complications, pain and major expenses.

Congratulations, if you will, is pregnant, is living one of the best experiences of your life.

You will notice over time, certain physiological and psychological changes that prepare your body to house the new life. Many of these changes will seem normal (increasing your belly and weight) and others less so (eg nausea and vomiting).

Here we only discuss the changes that have direct impact on their teeth.

The rise and rise of new chemicals in their blood, we will call “Hormones” during pregnancy, changes in the gums. Or rather in the microscopic inhabitants that has in the gingival sulcus. Pregnancy hormones cause an increase in numbers of certain bacteria such as “Prevotella melaninogenica.” This in turn produces increased gingival inflammation or “gingivitis”, making it more susceptible to the pregnant woman.

So far Lord knows the necessary but not sufficient to cause gingivitis. If you manage to have good oral hygiene you, is in a position to remove dental plaque, thereby eliminating gum disease.

If your hygiene is poor, with persistent bleeding gums can occur localized persistent inflammation, which in most cases it is very bloody and painful, known by dentists as pyogenic granuloma, which must be addressed by the professional in right field.

Other changes that expresses your diet is pregnant, most of the time she and her family were rewarded with sweets or treats. While there is an increased appetite for carbohydrates, which are energizing and useful during pregnancy, it is true that causes tooth decay and overweight during pregnancy. It is useful to know that sugar is a time and its relation to caries increment.

The changes that occur during pregnancy make the mother more susceptible to gingivitis and tooth decay. Dental hygiene and proper nutritional habits bury the old myth that every pregnancy does a tooth.
The oral changes of pregnancy
During pregnancy, major changes in women at all levels: physical appearance, in chemical and psychological.
This makes the oral cavity of the pregnant woman is more susceptible to gingivitis and cavities.
1. Gingivitis
During pregnancy there is an increase of the hormones prolactin and estrogen which determine changes in the structures throughout the body and, between them, especially in the tissues of the mouth.
These tissues increase blood flow and have an increased inflammatory capacity external to local irritants.
Thus increases the likelihood of certain disorders such as gingivitis.
Plaque act more aggressively in a gum whose state is influenced by hormones, poor diet, changing eating habits or patterns of dental hygiene. Dental Care in Pregnancy
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that are red, swollen, sensitive and prone to spontaneous bleeding or small stimuli such as chewing or brushing teeth.
During pregnancy, this condition is so common and specific, which is called pregnancy gingivitis.
This is most evident from the third month of pregnancy.
If she previously suffered from gingivitis or periodontal disease, it may get worse during pregnancy.
You may not previously existed at this stage is triggered.
If gingivitis is left untreated, can progress to periodontal disease tissue injury of bone bonding to the tooth, partial loss of bone and risk of loss of teeth.
In a small percentage shows a localized increase in the gum is called granuloma, epulis or pregnancy tumor.
2. Decay
Tooth decay is also more common during pregnancy.
Several authors have studied a change in the bacterial flora of the mouth during this period, which together with a greater appetite for the pregnant carbohydrates in general and sweets in particular increases the risk of caries.
So during this time special care must be followed to maintain oral health, including not only a careful oral hygiene, but adequate nutrition.
Feeding
It is essential to a balanced diet not only to prevent reoccurrence mouth but for the overall health of the mother and the health and development of your baby.
The formation of the baby teeth begins between the third and sixth month of pregnancy.
It is important to ensure an adequate intake of vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, whose contribution is essential for the formation of bones and teeth of the baby.
Also needs an adequate supply of lipids, including fatty acids are essential. Essential fatty acids are linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid, which are precursors of omega 3 and omega 6, and are essential, among other things, for the proper development of the nervous system.
Quality proteins provide the meat, fish, eggs and milk are essential as a building material of all organs of the baby.
It is also important to an adequate supply of carbohydrates but we have to distinguish between complex carbohydrates and simple.
They are called complex carbohydrates preferred, such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc..
These are the main source of slow release energy and are necessary for proper nutritional balance and the development of the baby.
Carbohydrates are simple or refined cariogenic complexes belong to this group and sugar and sweet foods like candy, cakes, pastries, etc.., Which have great potential for production of cavities, and should be avoided.
During pregnancy increases the appetite for these products so that if the mother takes them between meals is recommended that you brush your teeth afterwards.

Oral Hygiene

It is necessary at this stage of pregnancy extreme dental care.
The oral alterations of pregnancy, although frequent, are not inevitable and can be prevented by proper dental hygiene with a brush after meals and flossing.

A thorough cleaning will remove plaque that is causing tooth decay and gingivitis.

It is preferable to use a toothpaste containing fluoride, which is antibacterial and strengthens tooth enamel.

Visits to the dentist

Ideally, begin pregnancy with a healthy mouth, without cavities or other problems such as gingivitis, tartar, boils, etc.. because these diseases not only affect the health of the mother but also of the child.

It is advisable to make regular visits to the dentist, who may make such treatment possible and detect and prevent any disturbance to oral health is optimal.

If you have not gone before, dental checkups can be done without problem during pregnancy. Some dental procedures can be performed because there are certain drugs and anesthetics that can be used during ambarazo.

But treatments that are not urgently need to be postponed to after the first quarter.

In the latter half of the third quarter is also advisable to avoid dental procedures.

If you do not have the habit of going to the dentist every six months this is a good time to start doing so.

heart attack and heart t tropomina

Infarcts and tropomina
We are in a time when “healthy eating” has become a slogan that exceeds the limits of personal choice. Today, healthy eating to reduce the risk of disease has become an imperative, an obligation that defines us as people environmentally responsible individual and collective sense.
Disease, stroke and heart tropomina T

The paradox between the just mentioned and the levels of stress we face daily, including heart disease or linked to heart health food and devotion so characteristic of these years is remarkable. People affected by heart attacks are becoming younger. It is an incontrovertible fact.

That is why the investigation by the Medical Center of the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, USA, is a breakthrough in the fight against diseases affecting the heart muscle, especially when it comes to heart attacks.

In this university have developed a method that detected in healthy individuals predisposed to this type of condition. This is a test that identifies the level of cardiac troponin T proteins present in blood flow, exposing microscopic lesions present in the heart.

3,500 people between 30 and 65, provided with good health, participated in the research in question. The conclusions were clear.

Based on the presence of cardiac troponin T, researchers have concluded that males show 3 times more likely than women to heart disease.

They also noted that blacks have a higher prevalence of this protein compared to Caucasians or Hispanics.

While waiting for U.S. authorities to give the nod to this research, the only truth in this situation is to take care, exercising, maintaining a balanced diet and avoid emotionally draining situations.

One of the certainties about Alzheimer’s is that their earlier diagnosis can only be done after 10 years of neural impairment. Currently, this degenerative disease can not be diagnosed in its early stages, a fact which obviously precludes treatment.
Tau protein in Alzheimer research and Chile

The battle against Alzheimer’s disease has occurred in all places and in all contexts without encouraging results. However, these days have known some research in Chile, in come to fruition, would open the possibility of designing drugs to help in this fight.

After a long time to test 200 patients between 65 and 80 years, scientists from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile have isolated an abnormal form of tau protein in the blood of these people and is associated with the development of this degenerative disease.

Gonzalo Farias, Andrea Maccioni Ricardo Slachevesky and specialists responsible for the investigation, they discovered that for some reason the tau protein (which transports various substances to the brain cells) bonds giving rise to the formation of plaques that cause death of neurons.

The next thing was to confirm that this process occurred in the blood. And it was. There is a greater number of abnormal tau protein in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment. Those old but healthy individuals showed no evidence of newly exposed.

Another item to note is that some patients who had not been diagnosed with this degenerative disease but showed deterioration in cognitive abilities, also had above-described phenomenon linked to the protein tau.

The research of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile is an undeniable step forward in the search for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.