Tag: adult orthodontics

An exposed tooth root can be an uncomfortable, inconvenient dental issue. It’s a problem that can occasionally result from receding gums, or from any sort of trauma that causes gum damage. It can also be a sign of gum disease, including severe periodontitis where the gum tissue has regressed significantly. Older adults are at greater risk. 

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of an exposed tooth root and the steps you can take to deal with the issue. Dr. Jessica Gibbs is pleased to meet with patients to discuss exposed root problems and your dental health. Here’s what you need to know about how to handle exposed tooth roots in anticipation of a dental appointment. 

How to spot an exposed tooth root

The tooth root is the part of the tooth that extends down into the socket of the bone in the jaw. These roots are covered by a hard tissue called cementum. Exposed tooth roots typically occur when that cementum wears away over time with brushing. As the gums recede and the cementum wears down, you may begin to see a little bit of the exposed tooth root.

Symptoms of an exposed root

The symptoms of exposed tooth roots vary depending on what caused the issue to begin with. In some cases, you might be able to see the exposed root without any other accompanying symptoms. In other cases, there are several telltale signs of an exposed tooth root. When symptoms do occur, these are among the most common examples:

• Discoloration: For people who experience exposed roots as a result of tooth decay, you’re likely to notice some discoloration in the tooth. This includes yellowing or browning. 
• Gum tenderness: If you have exposed tooth roots, you might start to notice sore gums or feelings of tenderness during brushing, or if you press on them. Gums may even start to bleed during brushing or flossing.
• Appearance: Teeth that have exposed roots might appear to be longer than usual, or than other teeth in the mouth, especially if the gum line is receding.
• General sensitivity: You might experience sensitivity around the affected tooth in circumstances aside from brushing, such as when you’re eating food that’s hot, cold, or particularly sweet, sour or acidic.

What NOT to do if you have root pain

If you’re experiencing root pain caused by an exposed tooth root, don’t delay in taking action. Not tackling the problem only allows it to become worse. Avoid brushing hard on the area, grinding the teeth or other behaviors that could result in a grater level of wear and tear. Avoid chewing gum or hard candies or food items. Most importantly, don’t delay treatment. Pain and discomfort will only persist the longer you avoid dental intervention. 

Exposed roots will get worse without care

An exposed tooth root needs immediate action to correct the problem. This means speaking to a dentist and scheduling an appointment for an examination to begin corrective work.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, certain root coverage procedures can help you protect exposed roots from decay. Gum grafts and the like can also be effective methods of preventing further recession. Your dentist will analyze your mouth and determine if any of these procedures are an effective means of resolving the problem. Other treatment methods for people with exposed roots as a result of gum recession include:

• Crowns: Dental crowns cap the tooth to afford it greater strength and protection. Custom crowns are useful for covering exposed roots. 
• Flap surgery: This surgery involves small incisions in the gums to remove buildup of tartar and bacteria, and to cover up exposed roots.
• Gingival masks: If the problem extends to multiple teeth, a gingival mask (a type of removable artificial gum) can cover up receding gums.

Other solutions vary depending on the cause. For teeth grinding, dentists may prescribe a mouthguard to avoid worsening the problem. If misaligned teeth are the problem, corrective action like braces, retainers or aligners can help. Finally, if the issue is gum disease, procedures like dental scaling, root planning and root canals may be useful.

Contact Dr. Gibbs if you have root pain

If you’re experiencing tooth pain and believe it’s associated with an exposed root, it’s important to seek the advice of a trusted dentist. They’ll provide guidance about the types of treatments that are most effective for your situation. If you’re in Glen Ellyn, IL, contact Dr. Thomas Gibbs or Dr. Jessica Gibbs with your questions, and for more information about exposed root treatment options.

Invisalign Makes Orthodontics Easy

Welcome back to the dental blog of Smile Glen Ellyn!

We hope that you are enjoying all that autumn has to offer. And with the holidays rapidly approaching, we hope that your smile is camera-ready!

If you are unhappy with your teeth because of cosmetic flaws, it can be a real drag to get together with friends and family, or even co-workers. But your Glen Ellyn, IL dentist can easily help you improve your situation, allowing you to enjoy life to the fullest extent.

Crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth are no match for our orthodontic realignments. Don’t worry, we aren’t trying to get you into a set of shiny, metal braces like your friends had back in high school. These days we have a more dignified method for straightening out adult teeth. It is called invisalign.

Invisalign Rewrote The Rules

Back in the day, the only effective option for realigning teeth was through conventional metal braces. But that method had a few well-known drawbacks. Your mouth was filled with metal brackets and wires for 2 or more years without any relief. To stay on track, all that metal had to be adjusted monthly at the orthodontist’s office. It also required special tools to keep it clean and free of food particles. Plus, it felt awkward in your mouth and attracted unwanted attention.

It’s no wonder that our Glen Ellyn, IL dental patients who are past the age of puberty don’t have the time or patience for that kind of arrangement.

But many of those same adults are thrilled when they learn how Invisalign can help transform the health and appearance of their smile.

Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign braces work by moving your teeth gently through a succession of comfortable stages.

A major selling point of Invisalign is that this system allows you to straighten your teeth without having to endure the indignity and inconvenience of metal wires and brackets.

Instead, we will use 3D images of your mouth to design a series of clear plastic aligners that you will switch out at the appropriate time to keep things moving along. This means you won’t have to come to our office for monthly tune-ups.

These nearly invisible aligners are also removable, so you can pop them out for meals ensuring that no food gets trapped along the way. Plus you just rinse them under warm water instead of carrying around an arsenal of cleaning tools.

When treatment is complete (usually in about a year), we will determine whether or not you need a temporary positioner to keep your teeth from shifting back towards their previous positions.

In short, Invisalign is fast, effective, and discreet, as far as orthodontic treatments go.

It is a great orthodontic solution for adults with misaligned or crowded teeth who want a better smile without all the headaches of conventional braces.

This method has produced amazing results for so many of our Glen Ellyn patients. But you will need to schedule a consultation to see if it could be a good solution for you.

Find Out More About Invisalign

Find out more today!

Contact us at Smile Glen Ellyn to schedule your Invisalign consultation.

A Clear Solution For Misaligned Teeth

Welcome back to the dental blog of Smile Glen Ellyn!

Here, we try to address oral health concerns, modern trends in dentistry, and anything else that might be relevant to your family’s overall well-being.

Today we want to talk about adults with misaligned and overcrowded teeth.

This situation is much more common than you might think, and the solutions are a lot different (and easier) now than when we were growing up.

That said, even if you’re self-conscious about your smile or concerned about the health implications of the situation in your mouth, you might be thinking that you are just too old to deal with braces.

Think again!

Invisalign Changed Everything

We all know that straight, evenly spaced teeth make for a more attractive smile. It follows that having an attractive smile only adds to your self confidence. And increased self confidence can elevate your potential for success in life.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Still, from an outside perspective, it might seem like a great smile could only be achieved through the use of uncomfortable old school braces, with all the obvious headaches that go along with that treatment.

Teenagers sometimes have no choice. But after a certain point in life, no one would want to take that on.

The dental world has always recognized that fact but now the technology has caught up enough to allow us to present another path for adult orthodontic treatment.

When Invisalign first hit the scene in the late 1990s, it radically changed the way we think about braces.

Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign braces work by moving your teeth gently through a series of comfortable stages.

Each stage shifts your teeth slightly closer to their final destination, with the help of modern technology, and our friendly support team.

With Invisalign, your treatment plan will be carefully mapped out in advance by our team based on 3D software programs.

This is so that the necessary position of your teeth at each stage is known precisely and a full spatial map of them exists for our ongoing assessment.

No Metal Required

The big benefit of Invisalign is that this system allows you to straighten your teeth without having to endure the indignity and inconvenience of metal wires and brackets.

We will use those 3D images of your mouth to design a series of clear plastic aligners that you will switch out at the appropriate time to keep things moving along.

This usually happens every two weeks until your plan is completed.

Fast, Convenient Treatment

These nearly invisible aligners are removable, so you can pop them out for cleaning, eating, or whenever you deem necessary.

They will need to be worn for roughly 22 hours each day but there won’t be any dietary restrictions, lifestyle changes, or special tools required with Invisalign.

Once treatment is complete (usually in a matter of months), we will determine whether or not you need a temporary positioner to keep your teeth from shifting back towards their previous positions.

Invisalign is fast, effective, and discreet. It is a perfect orthodontic solution for adults with misaligned or crowded teeth who want a better smile without all the hassles of traditional braces.

Is Invisalign For Me?

Find out today!

Contact us at Smile Glen Ellyn to schedule your Invisalign consultation.