Dental erosion arises when, for some reason, there is a weakening of the dental enamel due to the impact of certain chemical agents that are generated depending on the lifestyle of each person.

When these agents are not solved in time, they tend to cause a variation in the pH of the saliva, leaving the dental composition unprotected and giving rise to its deterioration, triggering sequelae not only aesthetically, but also functionally and dental.

If you want to know more about dental erosion, what factors trigger its origin or how it can be solved… Keep reading!

Types Of Dental Erosion

There are 2 types of dental erosions, which can appear simultaneously in people:

Intrinsic dental erosion

This typology originates due to an origin of the organism, being more recurrent in those people who present stomach problems, suffer from a sensation of acidity, psychological or eating disorders.

Extrinsic dental erosion

In this case, it usually originates due to an excessive intake of medications or food on a daily basis, as is the case of those that contain a high content of hydrochloric acid.

What Symptoms Does Dental Erosion Produce?

There are various factors that help trigger enamel deterioration, as well as the origin of this pathology, completely harming oral health, among them, it is worth noting:

Tooth discoloration

The hue may become slightly more yellowish due to damage to the enamel.

In this aspect, it harmfully affects the dentin or the layer responsible for providing color to them.

Tooth sensitivity

By leaving the dentin fully exposed, it will cause the teeth to suffer from extreme sensitivity.

This will cause the dental pieces to become more sensitive in the presence of certain harmful agents.

This sudden sensation tends to increase in a profound and defined way after the ingestion of certain foods with high or low temperatures, or highly sucrose foods.

Smaller teeth

By decreasing the enamel, the dental pieces will show a much more rounded shape that will forge a vision of smaller or dwarfed pieces.

Cracks or crevices

People who suffer from erosions can perceive how the dental edges will lose their hue, becoming more crystalline or showing small cracks and crevices on the masticatory surface.

What Problems Does Dental Erosion Cause?

Dental erosion usually affects aesthetically, however, over time, it can be accentuated and cause the pieces to become much more brittle and irascible.

In its earliest or initial stages, it will not be possible to diagnose it with certainty, since its symptoms do not usually present constant signs or discomfort, quite the opposite.

But, when it comes to much more advanced stages of the pathology or in a critical state, the damage to the enamel will become irreversible and more evident, triggering the following consequences:

• Insightful annoyances due to sensitivity.
• Dark tonality or whitish shades that darken over time.
• Very pronounced cracks or fissures.
• Teeth lacking in their superficial areas.
• Tooth sensitivity.

Treatments For Dental Erosion

The treatments specialized in solving the negative effects that this condition entails tend to vary depending on the level of severity that it presents.

However, the dentist will have to identify the exact origin of the erosion in order to plan the respective treatment in a personalized way.

When diagnosing the triggering origin, the type of treatment will be established taking into account the degree of progress in which the condition is found. Thus, three forms can be distinguished:

Grade I dental erosion

In the initial stages, it will be enough to follow some preventive guidelines proposed by the dentist.

These will help the condition to calm down without generating future sequelae that trigger greater severity for dental health.

Grade II dental erosion

This type of wear involves the loss of enamel in a specific area, fully exposing the dentin.

In this case, it is essential to invigorate the affected piece through a filling or after the placement of aesthetic veneers.

Grade III dental erosion

When the stage becomes severe or critical, it will affect various areas of the tooth, damaging its adjacent or underlying parts.

Therefore, it is advisable to submit the patient to a recomposition, endodontics, incrustations or placement of crowns.

How To Prevent Dental Erosion?

Erosion can be prevented by following some tips:

• Reduce acidic foods or drinks with a high level of sucrose.
• Maintain strict oral cleaning. In this way, it will be possible to eradicate food debris that tends to accumulate between the teeth.
• Brush with toothpaste that contains a high level of fluoride, and at least 2-3 times a day. In addition, you must complement daily brushing with the use of dental utensils such as dental floss or oral irrigators, among others.
• Hydrate constantly.
• Attend consultations or appointments scheduled with the dentist.
• Do not exert too much force in your daily brushing, since aggressive brushing can damage tooth enamel.

What is keratoconus?

The cornea is a translucent tissue located on the surface of the eye. It protects vision from external threats and works like a lens, through which light enters and focuses images. Keratoconus, on the other hand, can be defined as clouding of the cornea, and it is a pathology that alters ocular characteristics. Fortunately, today, there are several treatment options for keratoconus.

With the projection of this tissue outwards, the patient’s vision is distorted and impaired. Existing treatments make it possible to improve visual acuity or stabilize the disease. Thus, in addition to the use of glasses, three other procedures may be indicated, depending on the patient’s condition.

Keratoconus treatment options

• Crosslink: this surgical treatment increases the strength and stability of the cornea, preventing the progression of the disease. It is a non-invasive alternative, which ensures more support for the eye fibers, correcting the condition over the course of the sessions.

• Ferrara ring: the implantation of this ring accessory (tiny and discreet) allows the correction of changes in shape and thickness caused by keratoconus. The procedure is indicated for cases where the glasses no longer have an effect.

• Corneal transplant: recommended only for acute cases, the transplant recovers the patient’s vision in full. The procedure consists of the complete or partial replacement of the ocular tissue.

There is no technique better than another, since each one has different characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and even economic differences. In this regard, it is essential to take into account the diagnostic method and determine what should be done in each case on the advice of the specialist, be it invisalign or braces.

In the end, in orthodontic treatments, it is the specialist who, after studying and examining the patient’s oral health, will recommend one system and another to perfectly align the teeth.

If you want to know more about this topic, we will tell you everything below!

How Are Invisalign Different From Braces?

The difference between one treatment or another usually varies in the following aspects:

• Cleaning

The invisalign splint can be cleaned optimally, since it can be removed whenever you need it.

However, cleaning brackets is more difficult, since it must be done on each tooth thoroughly. This will be a bit more complex and carrying out the respective sanitization can be tedious, since food residues could accumulate if proper brushing is not carried out. Therefore, they are more susceptible to the appearance of cavities or harmful agents.

• Aesthetic

The invisalign system is almost impossible to see because it is transparent, improving aesthetics.

Instead, brackets offer a metallic appearance, although there are certain ceramic alternatives that help disguise the metal appearance. It even allows various shades like sapphire!

• Duration of an appointment

Brackets count as an orthodontic service, so the appointment usually lasts approximately twenty to thirty minutes. In contrast, the invisalign system only takes about fifteen minutes.

• Interval between appointments

Invisalign splints offer a great advantage and that is that you will not have to go to the clinic monthly because scheduled consultations or appointments usually take place after six or eight weeks.

However, the appointment interval of the brackets will depend on the care that each person dedicates to them, since, sometimes, they may fall off or the arch itself ends up breaking for no apparent reason, varying the consultations or appointments in a way weekly, biweekly or monthly.

• Patient commitment

In order for the treatment to be successful and the objectives set are met, the patient must wear the splint for twenty-two hours a day, since, in the event that the established time is not achieved, they will have to be rewarded with overtime.

On the other hand, brackets, being a system that will be kept in the oral cavity until a set period, without the possibility of extracting them, the effectiveness of the treatment will be given by going to scheduled consultations or appointments without missing any.

• Tooth movement

Invisalign splints limit certain movements or dental displacements, so the help of some extra techniques will be necessary to complete their function.

However, with the brackets, there will be no problems with respect to the movement that it has, since it usually adjusts perfectly with any movement that is issued, whether slight or complex.

Invisalign Or Braces: Which Treatment To Choose?

A good orthodontist must know how the various techniques work, both invisalign and brackets, in order to select the type of technique that is best for treating their patients.

However, there are certain factors to consider before selecting it. They stand out from them:

• Patience on the part of the patient

This factor is fundamental, since, normally, people tend to get tired when wearing braces, especially because they have a tendency to get canker sores or sores in the mouth.

• Lifestyle

Those people with little free time benefit more from short appointments like invisalign. However, brackets, as they are splints that are changed, you have to have more time to go to the dentist.

In terms of oral hygiene and the way in which the teeth tend to move, invisalign turns out to be the most preferred alternative for those who lead a more relaxed lifestyle.

• Treatment duration

Invisible aligners are not visible or noticeable. In addition, they do not hurt and are usually focused on patients with aesthetic expectations and cases with milder or more moderate crowding or separation. In short, those cases that require shorter treatment times.

In addition, it offers greater comfort and well-being to the patient during treatment, both at the level of dental aesthetics and due to the possibility of removing the splints at specific times.

However, braces are visible, they tend to cause mispronunciation, they hurt, they are fixed, they cause injuries and, in addition, they are usually treatments that are focused on complex cases. Normally with malocclusion and that require more time.

• Treatment effectiveness

Both brackets and Invisalign are perfectly effective in fulfilling their mission, especially with regard to dental alignment and final results. However, it will depend on the needs of each specific patient.

• complexity level

The invisalign splint is an orthodontic method based on transparent sleeves and is responsible for correcting all problems related to the smile, bite or oral cavity.

On the other hand, brackets are indicated for any type of incorrect alignment of the teeth, solving more complicated cases such as treatment with sensitive gums, open or deep bite, slight crowding or any dental displacement that requires large root movements, such as extractions.

“Blood in the eyes”: understand what subconjunctival hemorrhage is

The expression “blood in the eyes” is not just a way of describing feelings of hunger or fury. In the medical and ophthalmological area, this is also a popular expression for subconjunctival hemorrhage, a type of ocular bleeding that can be caused by different factors.

Stroke occurs when blood vessels rupture in the conjunctiva, a thin layer that lines the inside of the sclera and eyelids. The sclera, which is the name of the white part of the eye, is made up of several very fragile blood vessels. When a spontaneous tear or trauma occurs, blood is quickly seen on the outside.

In many cases, however, the stain does not affect visual acuity. Therefore, most conditions are harmless and develop without complications. But it is important to know how to diagnose: it may be a common hemorrhage or there is another type of associated disease. In this article, you will find out everything you need about the famous “blood in the eyes”!

What are the main symptoms?

This is an external hemorrhage, which is characterized by a bright red spot in the white part of the eye. This stain can have different shapes and sizes, causing burning and irritation. In more serious cases, it is common for the patient to experience sensitivity to light (photophobia), blurred vision, discharge in the eyes and even fever.

Eye pain can also be felt in the evolution of the condition. Often, the patient may have a systemic or underlying disease, which increases the chances of an eye stroke. Therefore, the appearance of blood in the eyes can be an indication for the diagnosis of cases of hypertension, diabetes, poor blood clotting and lack of vitamin K.

What can cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage?

The rupture of these blood vessels occurs for different reasons, so their causes are not always known. Bleeding can appear after eye surgery, injury, infection, inflammation, trauma to the eye, or during the use of medications that thin the blood.

In the possibility of more serious cases, it may be due to adjacent diseases. But, usually, the problem is associated with excessive efforts made in everyday life. Check out which ones can lead to subconjunctival hemorrhage: 

• Allergies;
• Intense physical activity;
• Scratching your eyes a lot;
• Strong sneezing;
• Excessive force to evacuate;
• Weight lifting;
• Cough;
• Vomit too much.

Is there a risk of visual loss?

Generally not. Despite the inconvenience and causing an unpleasant look, the rupture of blood vessels does not affect vision and does not cause blindness. However, when the appearance of subconjunctival hemorrhage becomes frequent or the stain is very extensive, the vision can affect the visual quality.

What are the main forms of treatment?

In common and spontaneous cases, the stain naturally disappears in about 14 days. But if necessary, the treatment is considered fast. If the spot is very extensive and interferes with vision, the doctor will prescribe eye drops and corticoids.

During treatment, physical efforts and touches close to the eye should be avoided. As the causes of stroke can vary, the treatment will depend a lot on the patient’s condition.

How to avoid subconjunctival hemorrhage?

To prevent yourself, the first step is to know how your eye health is doing. If she is fragile, or if bleeding is common, avoid excess medication, exertion, injuries and foods that make your blood thinner.

But, for greater safety, the right thing is to do an ophthalmological evaluation periodically. Don’t run the risk of not diagnosing a possible illness! Get in touch with us and schedule your appointment now.