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Fang Xiao
Dentistry
About me
Jiangxi Provincial Oral Medicine Committee member, engaged in general dentistry, clinical practice, and research for more than thirty years. Specializes in general dentistry, with unique expertise in diagnosing and treating oral mucosal diseases and various pediatric oral diseases.
Proficient in diseases
General dentistry, especially various oral mucosal diseases and pediatric dental diseases.
Voices
How to treat tooth decay without a cavity?
Once a cavity forms, there is definitely a cavity hole. It might appear that there is no hole on the surface, but the texture has already softened, forming a cavity hole; it's just that it has not been discovered by oneself. It can be seen by a doctor using an examination and can also be detected by taking dental X-rays. At this point, one should follow the treatment principles for cavities, which involve removing the decayed and necrotic material inside the cavity and then filling it with filling material. If it is an interproximal cavity, the decay inside can be removed via an X-ray and then filled. Some occlusal pit and fissure caries, which are relatively shallow, can be treated with topical fluoride medication. For cavities, it is important to detect and treat them early. Regular oral hygiene should be maintained, with brushing in the morning and evening, and rinsing after meals. If a cavity is not treated in time, it will become deeper and ultimately turn into a residual root, which will need to be extracted.
How to prevent cavities in children
Prevention of tooth decay in children should first encourage them to develop good tooth-brushing habits, reducing bacteria and plaque on the tooth surface, and include brushing in the morning and evening, as well as rinsing after meals. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but is susceptible to cracking. Acidic or sugary substances are harmful to teeth, so it's best to avoid sweets and acidic foods in the evening and to brush teeth before going to bed. Brushing teeth before sleeping is crucial and some anti-cavity treatments should be done, such as fluoride application or dental sealants. It's also important to develop a habit of regular dental check-ups to detect and treat cavities early.
Does incision and drainage for periodontitis hurt?
When there is excessive pus, an incision and drainage needs to be performed. Periodontitis is a pathological condition of the dental supporting tissues caused by both dental plaque and tartar, resulting from poor oral hygiene, incomplete brushing, and the accumulation of dental plaque and tartar, which irritates the gum tissues and causes inflammation. If there is excessive pus, it is necessary to go to a regular hospital's dental department for incision and drainage. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, which is painless. The area is repeatedly rinsed with hydrogen peroxide and saline, treated with iodine glycerin, and oral medications such as cephalosporins and metronidazole are taken. Use compound povidone-iodine solution for mouth rinsing. Once the inflammation is controlled, systematic periodontal treatment can be performed, including supragingival cleaning, subgingival scaling, root planing. Regular oral hygiene should be maintained, brushing teeth in the morning and evening, rinsing the mouth after meals, and learning to use dental floss sticks. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
What to do for ulcers in the mouth and on the tongue?
Tongue ulcers are a type of mouth ulcer. They are similar to other ulcers in that they are self-limiting and recurrent. Tongue ulcers are often caused by mental stress, so it is important to reduce stress between outbreaks. Rinsing with warm salt water and keeping the mouth moist can help alleviate symptoms. Before and after the menstrual period, it is important to rest and relieve stress. Eating lighter food can help the ulcers heal. If the ulcers are caused by poorly fitting dentures and are persistent, it is advised to visit the dental department at a formal hospital to exclude precancerous lesions. After developing mouth ulcers, it is advisable to supplement with vitamins and trace elements, maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, eat fresh vegetables and fruits, keep a joyful mood, engage in physical exercise, and strengthen immunity. If the ulcer is localized, applying recombinant bovine alkaline cell growth factor can promote the healing of the ulcer.
If the cavity doesn't hurt, does that mean it hasn't reached the nerve?
It is necessary to make judgments based on the patient's symptoms and examination results. Dental caries refers to the chronic, progressive, destructive disease occurring in the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of various factors such as plaque bacteria. Whether dental caries is painless or has reached the nerve, the simplest clinical method is to judge based on the patient's symptoms, asking whether the patient experiences pain. In the early stages, there are only changes in the color and texture of the tooth, which do not cause pain. In the later stages of the disease, due to necrosis of the dental pulp, pain may not occur. At this time, diagnosis can be assisted by dental films; an X-ray can show the low-density shadow produced by the caries, and whether this low-density area significantly erodes into the dental pulp, which is also an auxiliary diagnostic method. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals.
Can cavities be detected in an X-ray?
In clinical practice, not all cavities require X-rays, nor can all cavities be detected through X-rays. The purpose of taking X-rays is to understand the depth of the cavity and the distance between the cavity and the dental nerve. Some cavities occur on the surfaces between teeth which cannot be seen with the naked eye; in these cases, X-rays can provide a clear diagnosis. However, early-stage cavities only involve changes in the enamel, showing as chalky changes or small black dots and lines on the tooth surface. For these superficial changes, X-rays will not show any abnormalities. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene by brushing teeth morning and evening, and rinsing after meals to detect and treat cavities early, to prevent other complications.
Pulpitis is sensitive to cold or heat?
Pulpitis is sensitive to both cold and heat, and this sensitivity is a symptom of the condition. The dental pulp is protected by enamel and dentin, and generally does not exhibit sensitivity. However, if there are deep cavities, split wedge-shaped defects, severe wear, or fractures that compromise the outer protection, it can lead to inflammation of the dental nerve and sensitivity to temperature changes. In such cases, nerve removal treatment, also known as root canal treatment, is required. Root canal treatment involves the removal of the pulp and necrotic material from the root canal, disinfecting it, and tightly filling the root canal to eliminate any infection that could adversely affect the surrounding periapical tissue and prevent re-infection. Root canal treatment requires three to four follow-up visits and can be costly. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat cavities early.
Will cavities improve after changing teeth?
Cavities in baby teeth can heal when they are replaced by permanent teeth, but cavities in baby teeth still need to be treated. Because the decay can deepen, leading to premature loss of the tooth, which can affect the development of the permanent teeth. Severe cavities can lead to abnormal development of the permanent teeth, and even after the child's teeth are replaced, the new teeth may not be in good condition. For example, if the root of a baby tooth becomes inflamed and the inflammation is not treated and cleared, the alveolar bone around the tooth root can also become inflamed. Below the alveolar bone is the germ of the new tooth, and prolonged inflammatory stimulation can affect the germ of the permanent tooth. Additionally, premature loss of baby teeth can lead to the loss of adjacency between teeth, which can affect the growth and development of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat cavities in baby teeth early, and ideally perform pit and fissure sealants before cavities form.
Do early-stage cavities need to be treated?
Cavities refer to the chronic, progressive destructive disease of the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of plaque bacteria. For early-stage carious white spots, fluorides, fluoride toothpaste, or topical fluoride application can be used to halt the progression of cavities at that stage and prevent further development. Inactive caries can be effectively prevented and treated by brushing and rinsing. If not taken seriously, the cavity will continue to develop deeper, which can be classified into superficial, moderate, and deep caries. After the occurrence of cavities, patients may experience pain from thermal stimuli and pain from food impaction. When the stimuli are removed, the pain disappears. Cavities need treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to pulpitis, periapical periodontitis, and even result in tooth loss. Thus, early-stage caries should be adequately attended to, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment of cavities.
Is cheilitis a skin disease?
Cheilitis is not a skin disease; it is a disease of the oral mucosa and falls under the category of oral mucosal diseases. Cheilitis is a mucosal disease characterized mainly by dryness, cracking, and scaling of the lips. Its types include dry scaling cheilitis, allergic cheilitis, benign lymphoproliferative cheilitis, granulomatous cheilitis, glandular cheilitis, fungal cheilitis, and photosensitive cheilitis. The onset of cheilitis is greatly related to long-term irritation and poor lifestyle habits. Seasonal changes and dry weather also increase the incidence rate, and windy conditions can easily lead to dryness and flaking. Cheilitis is also related to sun exposure, which can cause erosion of the upper and lower lips, known as actinic cheilitis. Patients with actinic cheilitis should first focus on avoiding light, reducing outdoor activities, and protecting their lips.