Month: August 2019
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The Evolution of Periodontal Disease
What is gum disease? There are multiple types of gum disease, but we will focus on two of the most common – gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. Gingivitis is a plaque-induced disease of the gums where inflammation is present. Plaque is a material that is composed of bacteria as well as food debris, also known as…
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Lichen Planus and its Association with Hypothyroidism
What is oral lichen planus? Lichen planus is a common dermatologic disease that affects the oral mucosa caused by an overreaction of T lymphocytes in the immune system. Most patients that present with lichen planus are middle aged, and are more commonly female. The underlying main factor that causes lichen planus remains unknown. The lesions…
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Eruption Sequence of the Permanent Dentition
Teeth generally erupt in pairs at the start of age six – however, there are many factors that dictate which teeth erupt first. For instance, Girls’ teeth generally erupt before boys’ teeth Mandibular teeth generally erupt before maxillary teeth (*except premolars) Slim children have teeth that erupt before overweight children What is a succedaneous tooth?…
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The Inferior Alveolar Nerve and How to Properly Anesthetize It
What is the Inferior Alveolar Nerve and what does it innervate? The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is part of the cranial nerve number V – the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V, CNV). The trigeminal nerve is divided into three branches, the V1, V2, and V3. The IAN is one of the final branches in the…
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The Effectiveness of Salt Water Rinse and Hypertension
Is salt water rinse effective in reducing the microbial load in the oral cavity? According to a recent study, ‘salt water rinse can be used as adjunct to routine mechanical plaque control for prevention of oral disease.’ In this study, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of salt water against various microbes was first established. Then, participants…
Teeth & Chiefs 