OralTalkWithMariam

What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Replace Missing Teeth? Patients Ask Series: Part 3 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad! 😁 A dental implant is a small post placed in your jawbone to support a replacement tooth. The post is usually made of titanium and shaped like a screw. For one missing tooth, a crown can be attached to the implant after a period of healing. Dental implants may also support a bridge or denture when several teeth are missing.In Part 2 of the Patients Ask series , we looked at how your jawbone may change after a tooth is removed. Because an implant relies on your jawbone for support, your dentist will need to examine the area before deciding whether implant treatment is suitable for you. What Are the Parts of a Dental Implant? A completed dental implant replacement usually has three main parts: the implant post that sits beneath your gum, the abutment that connects the post to the replacement, and the replacement tooth or teeth that you ...

What Happens to Your Jawbone After a Tooth Is Removed?  Patients Ask Series: Part 2 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad! 😁 After a tooth is removed, the jawbone in that area begins to change as the extraction site heals. The bone that once supported your tooth may gradually become narrower and shorter. How much it changes differs from person to person, but it may affect your options if you decide to replace the tooth later. In Part 1 of the Patients Ask series , we looked at whether every missing tooth needs to be replaced and what may happen around the gap. This time, we are looking beneath the gum to understand what happens to your jawbone after a tooth extraction. Your gum may appear healed before the changes beneath it are easy to notice. Because changes in the bone may not be easy to see or feel, you may assume that the entire extraction area has finished healing. Why Does the Jawbone Shrink After Tooth Extraction? Your jawbone may shrink after tooth ...

I Already Removed the Tooth. Do I Really Need to Replace It?  Patients Ask Series: Part 1 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad!😁 Not every missing tooth needs to be replaced. Your dentist will consider which tooth was removed and examine how the gap affects the surrounding teeth. This assessment will help your dentist decide if tooth replacement is recommended. At the clinic, I often hear patients ask why they need to replace a tooth that has already been removed. The pain has stopped, and they can finally sleep again. That relief can make tooth replacement seem unnecessary because the extraction has solved the problem they could feel. Tooth extraction may remove the immediate source of pain or infection, but changes can still develop around the gap even when the area feels fine.  What Happens If a Missing Tooth Is Not Replaced? Nearby Teeth May Move Into the Gap If a missing tooth is not replaced, the teeth beside the gap may slowly move towards ...

 Is It Safe to Remove a Tooth During Pregnancy? 🤰🦷 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam 💙 Hey Smile Squad! 😁💙 A pregnant woman once sat in our clinic, holding her jaw, asking if removing a painful tooth could harm her baby. She had been managing the pain for almost two weeks with paracetamol and prayer, because someone in her family told her dental treatment during pregnancy could cause a miscarriage. I see this fear constantly, and I understand why. Pregnancy already comes with enough warnings and " don't do this, don't touch that." So when a toothache hits, many women choose to suffer quietly rather than risk anything. If you've ever wondered the same thing, you are not alone. Let's separate the facts from the myths today. The Short Answer : Yes , When It Is Medically Necessary Tooth extraction can be performed safely during pregnancy when it is medically necessary. In fact, delaying treatment for a serious dental infection may pose greater risks than re...

  Why Does My Tooth Hurt If I Don't Have a Cavity? 6 Surprising Causes  By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam 💙 Hey Smile Squad! 😁💙 We have all been taught that toothaches are caused by cavities . You feel a sharp twinge, you run to the bathroom mirror, open wide, and flash a light inside, expecting to see a classic dark brown or black hole. But instead, you see nothing. The tooth looks perfectly white, intact, and smooth. Yet, it won't stop throbbing. It can be incredibly frustrating (and a little scary) when your teeth hurt but there is no obvious visual explanation. You might start wondering if the pain is just in your head. As a dental professional who spends every day working chair-side, let me reassure you: your pain is completely real. The short answer: Yes , a tooth can absolutely hurt even when there is no visible cavity. Hidden cracks, gum recession, sinus pressure, teeth grinding, nerve damage, and failing old fillings can all cause real tooth pain without an obvious...

  Can a Tooth Infection Go Away on Its Own? ​By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  ​Hey Smile Squad! 😁 A tooth infection should not be expected to clear without dental treatment. The pain may reduce or disappear, which can make it seem as though your tooth has healed even when the problem causing the infection is still present. Why Can Pain from a Tooth Infection Disappear? Pain from a tooth infection can fade even when your tooth has not healed. Sometimes a small bump on your gum releases fluid, which reduces the pressure around the tooth. The nerve inside your tooth may also become so damaged that it stops sending the same pain signal. Think of the pain as a smoke alarm. If the alarm stops sounding because its battery has failed, the silence does not mean the smoke has disappeared. In the same way, your tooth becoming quiet does not always mean that the infection has cleared. What Are the Signs of a Tooth Infection? A tooth infection may cause pain that does not go away or com...

  Why Nigerians Are Losing Teeth They Didn’t Have to Lose 🦷🇳🇬 ​By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam 💙 ​Hey Smile Squad! 😁💙 ​I want us to have a very honest heart-to-heart today. ​Every single week at the clinic, I see the same heartbreaking scenario. A patient walks in holding their jaw, exhausted from days of sleepless nights. After the doctor examines them, the verdict is given: “ We have to extract it.” ​The patient almost always looks shocked and says, “Ah. I didn't know it would get to this level.” I get it. I know that in Nigeria, many of us delay the dentist because we are scared of the cost, too busy with work, or honestly just terrified of that dental chair. But as a Dental Care Professional, let me share a truth that comes from a place of love: Most of the teeth we pull out are teeth that could have been saved if we didn't wait until the pain was unbearable. ​Today, I’m shaking the table, not to judge you, but to save your smile. Let’s talk about why we are losing...