Teeth

…Focus Questions… 1. What are the main structures and functions of the teeth? 2. What is Periodontitis?

Structure The teeth are located in the bottom portion of the face, inside mouth.

Functions of Teeth: Teeth are the first step of the digestive system. Teeth Function in: Chewing your food Pronunciation (basically controlled by vocal cord, but needs to work with teeth to pronounce some sounds correctly) Appearance

Periodontitis Moderate Periodontitis is produced when the pockets between the teeth are enlarged and infection begins to set in. A normal pocket is 1-3mm deep, with moderate periodontitis, the pockets are 5mm deep. With deep pockets, the bone around the teeth begins to decay. Advanced Periodontitis occurs after there is no improvement, and your pockets reach a depth of 6- 7mm. There is a major build-up of bacteria. The gums move farther away from the teeth, causing the teeth’s base to become unstable and weak. If left untreated, Periodontitis will result in tooth loss.

Signs and Symptoms of Periodontitis Swollen/bleeding gums Receding gum lines Loose teeth Bad breath Horrible taste in mouth

-Diagnosis- Unfortunately, because the symptoms of periodontitis are easily discarded, Periodontitis is usually not discovered until your routine check-up. Your dentist will check for: Loose teeth Deep pockets Your dentist will compare older x-rays with newer ones to see if there is damage to the bone, teeth, and jaw structure.

Treatments Moderate Periodontitis: Better brushing Continued Appointments –Scaling –Root Planning –Antibotics Advanced Periodontitis: Surgery –Flap Surgery –Soft Tissue Grafts –Bone Grafting

…Interesting Facts… People who smoke are four to seven times more likely than non-smokers to contract Periodontitis. The enamel on a human’s tooth is the hardest thing in their body. Specialists say that if you lose a tooth in an accident, do not throw it away! The chances of reimplanting it could be up to 50% if you go to the dentist right away.

More Interesting Facts… Drugs, such as Meth, can destroy your teeth. Meth often leads to crumbling of teeth, full mouth extractions, and a lifetime of dentures. The United States consumes fourteen million gallons of toothpaste every year.

Works Cited Basics/CommonConcerns/GumDisease/WhatIsPeriodontitis.cvsphttp:// Basics/CommonConcerns/GumDisease/WhatIsPeriodontitis.cvsp