The Right Way to Floss

U.S.Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn - Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512 / Overseas +822-553-7512

Flossing is important because proper flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from those spaces between the teeth where a toothbrush can't reach.  Research shows that regular flossing can also reduce the risk of developing gum disease.

Although flossing can be difficult at first, learning and practicing the proper technique will help you to become more comfortable and efficient. Try following these simple steps in front of a mirror.

• Wind about 18 inches of floss around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about five inches between your hands.
• Pinch the floss between your thumb and index finger on each hand and leave about one inch in between.
• Gently guide the floss down between all the teeth using a gentle sawing motion, pulling the floss in a "C shape" around the entire side of the tooth and sliding it under the gum line. Use an up and down motion to clean the entire surface of the side of the tooth.
• Pull the floss out from in between the teeth. As you move to the next tooth, unroll clean floss from one finger and wind the extra floss onto the other finger. Floss each tooth with a clean section of floss, gradually working your way around your mouth, cleaning both sides of each tooth.

 Tips

• Use a pattern - start at the back upper right tooth and move to the upper left side. Then go to the back lower right tooth and move around to the back lower left side.
• Establish a routine.
• Practice and improve your technique.
• Avoid wrapping the floss too tightly around your fingers.
• Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly after flossing to remove loosened food particles.
• If the floss catches or tears you might want to try a different type/brand of floss (e.g., waxed vs. unwaxed).
• If you are just beginning to floss, your gums will likely to bleed. Once your start to floss regularly the bleeding should stop. If the bleeding continues, get your gum checked.

Deep Cleaning for Mild Gum Disease

U.S.Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn- Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512 / Overseas +822-553-7512

Periodontal disease, often called gum disease  is a bacterial infection of the gums and bones that surround the teeth causing the gums and bones to shrink away from the teeth. The bacteria will cause the bone around the teeth to degenerate. As a result teeth will loosen and possibly fall out.

Most people are not even aware that they have it. In the early stages it is painless and goes unnoticed.

Then, how do you know if you may have periodontal disease? Do you have bad breath? Do your gums bleed or are they red and swollen? These are some common symptoms, but you may not be experiencing any symptoms at all. This is why it is important to have routine check-ups to screen for gum disease.

The good news is periodontal disease is a treatable disease. If detected early the effects can be reversed and the bone may stop receding. A tiny ruler called a probe is used to measure the “pocket depths” around each tooth. In a healthy mouth the “pocket depths” are usually between 1-3 millimeters. In an individual with periodontal disease the pocket depths start to reach 4-5 mm or greater.

Treatment varies depending on the severity of the disease.

For mild cases, deep cleaning ( scaling and root planning) is performed. Scaling means scraping off the tarter (calculus) from above and below the gum line. Root planning gets rid of the buildup on the roots of the teeth where the germs gather, removing the bacteria colonies that contribute to the disease. Additionally, the doctor may recommend placing an antibiotic down into the tissue surrounding each tooth that has periodontal involvement.
In case of severe, long-term periodontal disease, it may be necessary to have gum surgery.

The prognosis for mild to moderate periodontal disease is generally good. With diligent care, including brushing, flossing and follow-up cleanings as recommended by your dentist, it is possible to keep your teeth for a lifetime.

Dental Implants or Bridges ?

U.S.Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn - Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512 / Overseas +822-553-7512

It is a great question to prospective dental patients with one or two missing teeth.
They go to dentists for opinions and often times end up being confused.

Dental implants are one of great medical break-throughs in history. They made a dramatic paradigm shift in almost all sides of dentistry.

Before them ;
  1. Bridges were the best options for replacing one or two missing teeth.
  2. Full or Patial dentures were placed for entire or multiple missing teeth.
  3.Root canals were routinely performed to save teeth that were causing severe pain from nerve inside.

Nowadays;
  1. Dental Implants are the best option for replacing one or two missing teeth.
  2. Dental Implants are the best option for entire or multiple missing teeth.
  3. Root canals are not the number one choice for teeth causing pain big time.
      Rather, people want to have those teeth pulled out and place implants instead.

Then,what's the point of oscillating between dental implants and bridges?
Let's try to make a list of pros and cons of those two options.

Bridges
  1. Do not invlove surgeries.
  2. Take only 1-2 weeks to complete.
  3. Are inexpensive.
  4. Bone quantity / quality is not important at all.
 Dental Implants
  1.Do not damage any other adjacent teeth, which may develop into other problems on and on.
  2. Preserve bones around themselves.
  3.Have higher success rate.
  4. Do not catch dental caries.
  5. Flossing gets easier.

Conclusion ;

  * Dental implants are recommended for most missing area.
  * Bridges are recommended for people who
        1. Do not want surgeries.
        2. Do not have enough bone around the missing teeth.
        3. Need crowns on adjacent teeth also because those teeth have big fillings or are a lot decayed.

Gummy Smile

U.S.Dental 

Dr.Gina Sohn - Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT,NJ

FACEBOOK
http://www.drginasohn.com/
Tel 02-553-7512  Overseas 822-553-7512
Yongsan / Itaewon area

We all want to have a perfect smile where teeth are white and straight with a full upper lip shining right above them.
A gummy smile is a smile that shows a lot of gums between teeth and upper lip. Slightly displayed gums might be considered charming but if a few milimeters of gum shows, it often  mars someone's confidence.
Then, are there ways to reduce gummy smiles?

Ideally, treatments embraces dental and medical specialties.
The simplest way of gum reduction is cutting extra gums covering teeth. If this method is not sufficient, then, bone underneath gum gets removed and wait until gums nicely heal up fllowing new bone line.
If gummy smile is too severe, then, upper facial bone must be shortened by a plastic surgeon.
Most cases are well handled by recontouring either gum only or gum and bone underneath,though. :-)

For moderately severe cases, bone gets removed first, and wait for 6 weeks. Then, gums gets removed.
Sometimes, veneers are placed on the newly lengthend teeth to perfect one's smile. In this cases, one should wait for another 3 months after gum surgery until gum tissues finally settle.

Sensitive Teeth

U.S.Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn- Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512 Overseas 822-553-7512

Do you experience pain or tingling in your teeth, especially when eating sweet, hot or cold foods? Do brushing and flossing sometimes cause you to cringe?

Pain from sensitive teeth usually comes and goes. If you have constant pain, it could be a sign of a more serious problem.

What causes sensitive teeth?

In healthy teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and by your teeth's hard enamel outer layer. Dentin can become exposed due to receding gums, fractured or chipped teeth or erosion. Microscopic holes in the dentin, called tubules, connect to the nerve, triggering pain when irritated by certain foods and beverages.
But there are other factors that can cause tooth sensitivity:

Brushing too hard. Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause gum recession and root exposure over time

Gum disease. Inflamed or sore gum tissue may lead to tooth sensitivity by exposing the root surface leading directly to the nerve of the tooth

Your age. You may experience increased sensitivity at different ages throughout your life

Acidic foods. Eating acidic foods and beverages on a regular basis can cause enamel to erode, increasing the likelihood of sensitivity

How do you treat tooth sensitivity?

Depending on the diagnosis, we recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve the symptoms of sensitive teeth:

1.Brush with a de-sensitizing toothpaste, like Sensodyne or Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste.

2.Use a soft-bristle toothbrush, or a powered brush, to help protect gums.

3.Use a prescription fluoride rinse or gel made for sensitive teeth.

Night Guard in Seoul Korea

U.S. Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn - Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512 Overseas 822-553-7512

Tooth grinding can promote other dental problems


Do you ever wake up with an achy jaw or a headache, or notice popping or clicking in your jaw when you open and close your mouth? If so, you may be grinding your teeth at night.

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, most often, is often linked to stress. However,bruxism can be caused by sleep disorders or by mechanical problems with the teeth, such as missing or broking teeth or a misaligned bite.If your bruxism is due to physical problems such as misaligned or broken teeth, those can be corrected with crowns or braces. If your bruxism is caused by stress, it's important to try to identify the stressors and try to find ways to relax, including jaw-specific physical therapy, meditation and exercise. For some tooth grinders, muscle relaxants help control the problem.

In some cases, Bruxism can be a side effect of neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Certain types of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, also can trigger bruxism.

Many people have mild bruxism and don't need a specific treatment, but you should consider getting a night guard to protect your teeth and help prevent further damage.
It's important to mention if you think you have been grinding so your teeth can be examed for the signs of damage to the tooth enamel.

When Is The Right Time To Place Dental Implants In Teenagers

U.S.Dental ( also known as Tufts Dental )

Dr.Gina Sohn - Tufts Graduate
U.S Dentist in Seoul / Licensed in MA, CT, NJ
http://www.drginasohn.com
Tel 02-553-7512  Overseas 822-553-7512


This is an important question and the current wisdom is not to have implants placed until jaw and facial growth are complete.

Although it varies from person to person, growth of the jaws in most cases is not complete until late teens. Consequently and most importantly, as the jaws continue to grow, the upper jaw may move in an outward and downward direction. The teeth will accommodate and move with jaw growth, but implants will not. As the upper jaw moves, the implants (and the crowns attached to them) remain stationary and so appear to intrude i.e. go back up into the jaw. This also affects the position of the gum tissues which also will not follow the growth of the jaws around the implants.

Of course, we are faced with the dilemma of waiting for the optimal time to place dental implants so that they will succeed on the one hand, and respecting the psychological needs of a teenager missing front teeth on the other.There are many other good interim options for temporarily replacing the teeth for a few years, both aesthetically and comfortably until implants can be placed. For example, temporary "fixed-in" options like bonded bridges can be attached to the adjacent teeth with little if any irreversible change to them. You should consult your dentist about them.

Sometimes, placing implants too early can be remedied by changing the crowns which attach to them. Other times it may mean removing and replacing the implants which may require bone regeneration -- expensive and difficult options. Neither is as good an option as waiting for the correct time in the first place, even if it means waiting a little longer.

For these reasons, and since implants are a relatively permanent and best current solution to the problem of tooth replacement, it is better to wait until growth of the jaws and face is complete.