Diseases and Conditions

Teeth become sensitive when the protective enamel wears down or gums recede, exposing the dentin layer connected to nerves. This can cause pain from cold, hot, sweet, or acidic foods. If your teeth often hurt or feel sensitive, see your dentist. They can find the cause and recommend the best treatment to ease your discomfort.

Periodontal disease can cause bone loss, weakening teeth. Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) helps regrow bone by placing a special membrane between gum and bone during surgery. This membrane stops fast-growing gum tissue from filling the space, allowing new bone to grow. After healing, the membrane dissolves and new bone supports the tooth.

Is your gumline uneven or too low? Crown lengthening surgery reshapes gums to expose more tooth. It helps anchor crowns or improve a gummy smile by removing excess gum tissue, making teeth easier to clean and enhancing your smile’s appearance.

If you have periodontal disease, surgery may be needed to save teeth by reducing gum pockets, regenerating tissue, or removing hard-to-reach tartar. Surgery is done in the dentist’s office with local anesthesia and sometimes sedation. Afterward, rest, pain meds, and special care are needed. Follow-up visits check healing. Risks include pain, swelling, sensitivity, numbness, and changes in tooth appearance.

Periodontal disease can create deep pockets between tooth and gum where plaque builds up. If non-surgical treatments don’t work, surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depth and save teeth. Pocket reduction surgery involves lifting the gum (flap surgery), removing tartar and diseased tissue, reshaping bone, and reattaching the gum lower to reduce pockets. Healing exposes more tooth but helps control infection.

Non-surgical treatments for periodontal disease aim to help your mouth heal by reducing plaque and infection. Scaling and root planing remove tartar and smooth root surfaces to prevent bacteria buildup. Antibiotics may be prescribed to fight infection. Bite correction can reduce damage from grinding. Good home care—daily brushing and flossing—is key to improving gum health and may help avoid surgery.

Jaw size and alignment affect chewing, speaking, breathing, and your facial appearance. Problems like a receding or protruding lower jaw, open bite, or uneven jaws can cause discomfort and functional issues. Misaligned jaws may lead to chewing difficulties, speech challenges, breathing problems such as sleep apnea, and impact self-confidence due to changes in facial appearance. Understanding these helps guide proper treatment.

Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in different directions and may not fully erupt. They can cause problems like gum infections, gum disease, tooth decay, crowding, bite issues, and cysts. Sometimes they cause no symptoms, but they can lead to pain and damage. Dental X-rays help detect these issues early. Removing impacted wisdom teeth before symptoms appear can prevent future complications and protect your oral health.

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease, leading to tooth loss if untreated. Tooth decay starts when acid breaks down enamel, forming cavities in hard-to-clean spots. Treatment usually involves removing decay and filling cavities. Regular dental visits and good oral care can prevent and manage these problems, keeping your smile healthy.

Do you have pain or clicking in your jaw, face, or teeth? These may be signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), problems with the jaw joint and muscles. Symptoms can be frustrating, but treatment is available. Your plan may include diet changes, stress management, medication, therapy, or dental care. To avoid future issues, follow your plan, reduce stress, and avoid triggers.

Oral thrush is a yeast infection causing white patches on the tongue or cheeks that can be painful. It’s common in babies, who may be fussy or have feeding trouble. Risk factors include antibiotics, steroids, diabetes, pregnancy, or HIV. Treatment may include antifungal meds. To prevent thrush, maintain good oral hygiene and rinse after steroid inhalers.

Injuries to your teeth or mouth can happen anytime and need quick care to prevent infection or damage. Go to the ER or dentist immediately if you break or lose teeth, or have a lip or tongue cut that won’t stop bleeding. If a tooth is knocked out, keep it in milk or saltwater and seek help fast—ideally within an hour—to improve chances of saving it.

Teeth grinding, often during sleep, can cause chipped, worn, or loose teeth and jaw problems. Stress may contribute, but causes aren’t always clear. Symptoms include jaw soreness, headaches, and clicking sounds. Your dentist can confirm grinding and suggest treatments like mouth guards, bite adjustments, stress reduction, or medication to protect your teeth and ease discomfort.

Precancerous oral lesions are abnormal growths that may become cancer. Signs include sores lasting over 3 weeks, red or white patches, and persistent mouth pain. Early dental evaluation and biopsy are key. Treatments include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. To reduce risk, get regular checkups, avoid tobacco and excess alcohol, eat healthily, and maintain good oral hygiene.

Periodontal disease is a gum infection that can worsen without treatment, causing bone loss and tooth loss. Gingivitis is mild gum inflammation that may bleed. If untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, where infection damages bone and gums, causing loose teeth. Advanced periodontitis worsens bone loss, swelling, pain, and may require tooth removal.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of periodontal disease, a serious gum infection caused by bacteria in plaque and tartar. Good oral hygiene, regular dental visits, and controlling blood sugar help prevent it. If infected, treatments like deep cleaning, antibiotics, or gum surgery may be needed to control the disease and protect your gums and teeth.

If your gumline looks uneven or too low, it might be due to periodontal disease. Gingival surgery can even out or raise the gumline, exposing more of the tooth if needed. One common procedure is a soft tissue graft, where tissue from the roof of your mouth or a tissue bank is used to cover exposed roots, reducing sensitivity, preventing further gum loss, and improving your smile.

Periodontal disease can cause bone loss around teeth, weakening their support. Regenerative procedures, like bone replacement grafts, help stimulate new bone growth to restore support. During the procedure, a gum flap is made, graft material (from your bone, synthetic sources, or a tissue bank) is placed where bone was lost, and growth factors may be added. The gum is then closed, and new bone grows over months to strengthen the tooth.