Baguio Dentist : Erker-Salcedo Dental Clinic

01/09/2026

Every tooth in your mouth is uniquely shaped for a specific function, creating a highly efficient system for biting, tearing, crushing, and grinding food.

🦷 Incisors (8 teeth)
Located at the front of the mouth, incisors have sharp, flat edges designed to cut and bite food.

🦷 Canines (4 teeth)
The pointed teeth beside the incisors help tear and grip food. They also play an important role in guiding jaw movements.

🦷 Premolars (8 teeth)
Also called bicuspids, premolars have broader chewing surfaces that help crush and tear food into smaller pieces.

🦷 Molars (12 teeth, including wisdom teeth)
The largest teeth in the mouth, molars are built with multiple cusps to grind and crush food efficiently before swallowing.

Together, these specialized teeth work as a coordinated team, allowing us to eat, speak, and maintain proper jaw function every day.

22/08/2026

Braces can transform a smile, but poor oral hygiene can leave permanent marks behind.

Brackets and wires create additional surfaces where plaque can accumulate and become difficult to remove. When oral hygiene is inadequate, bacteria in plaque produce acids that pull minerals out of the enamel. The result is often the chalky white areas seen in this image, known as white spot lesions.

White spot lesions are early signs of enamel demineralization. They can develop surprisingly quickly during orthodontic treatment and may remain visible long after braces are removed. If the demineralization progresses further, cavities can develop.

Studies have consistently shown that orthodontic patients are at increased risk of plaque accumulation and enamel demineralization, making oral hygiene one of the most important factors influencing treatment outcomes.

Brushing carefully around brackets, cleaning between teeth daily, using fluoride products when recommended, and attending regular dental visits can significantly reduce this risk.

A successful orthodontic treatment is not just about straight teeth.

It's about finishing treatment with healthy enamel too.

12/08/2026

03/08/2026

Stages of Gingivitis

🔹 Gingivitis progresses from initial → early → established → advanced lesion

1. Initial lesion
🔹 Time: 2–4 days
🔹 Vascular change: vasculitis near junctional epithelium
🔹 Microscopy:
➟ PMNs present
➟ Loss of perivascular collagen
➟ Serum proteins present
🔹 Clinical:
➟ Gingival fluid exudation
➟ Subclinical gingivitis

2. Early lesion
🔹 Time: 4–7 days
🔹 Vascular change: vascular proliferation
🔹 Microscopy:
➟ Rete peg formation
➟ Mainly T lymphocytes
➟ Collagen loss
➟ Fibroblast cytoplasmic alteration
🔹 Clinical:
➟ Erythema
➟ Gingival bleeding on probing

3. Established lesion
🔹 Time: 14–21 days
🔹 Vascular change: blood stasis
🔹 Microscopy:
➟ Plasma cells predominate
➟ Further collagen loss
➟ Junctional epithelium proliferates and migrates apically/laterally
➟ Atrophic areas
🔹 Clinical:
➟ Changes in color, consistency, and surface texture
➟ Bluish hue around reddened gingiva

4. Advanced lesion
🔹 Same features as established lesion, but deeper spread
🔹 Microscopy:
➟ Inflammation extends into alveolar bone and periodontal ligament
➟ All inflammatory cells present
➟ Bone marrow converts to fibrous tissue
🔹 Clinical:
➟ Periodontal pocket formation
➟ Associated periodontal changes

High-yield pearl
🔹 Initial = PMNs
🔹 Early = T cells
🔹 Established = plasma cells
🔹 Advanced = pocket + bone/PDL involvement

10/07/2026

A missing baby tooth is more than just a gap—it can change how the entire smile develops.

Baby teeth act as natural space maintainers, preserving the exact amount of room needed for permanent teeth to erupt into their proper positions. When a baby tooth is lost too early because of tooth decay, trauma, or extraction, the neighboring teeth can gradually drift into the empty space. As that space narrows, the permanent tooth underneath may no longer have enough room to erupt normally, increasing the risk of crowding, impaction, or future orthodontic treatment.

This is why dentists often recommend a space maintainer after the premature loss of certain baby teeth. Preserving arch space during childhood can help guide the developing permanent dentition and reduce the likelihood of complex alignment problems later. Not every early tooth loss requires one, but timely dental evaluation is essential to determine the best approach for each child.

📄Reference: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion in Pediatric Dentistry.

01/05/2026

🦷💀 “You didn’t protect the clot… now you’re in PAIN.”

That one small mistake after extraction?
👉 It can turn a simple procedure into 2–4 days of throbbing, radiating pain = DRY SOCKET

Let’s make this exam-proof + clinic-proof 👇

⚠️ THE GOLDEN RULE

PROTECT. THE. CLOT.

Because once it’s gone…
👉 Bone gets exposed
👉 Pain shoots up
👉 Healing crashes

🚫 Top Mistakes Students (and Patients) Make

Using a straw → suction pulls clot out

Smoking → 🚨 VASOCONSTRICTION (MOST IMPORTANT) + heat + suction

Spitting/rinsing early → disrupts clot

Hot foods → increases bleeding

✅ What Actually Helps Healing

Bite on gauze → stabilizes clot

Soft diet → no trauma

Ice packs → reduces swelling

Salt water rinse (after 24 hrs) → clean healing

🔥 Exam Trap You WILL See

Dry socket = clot lost + pain peaks at 2–4 days + foul odor

🧠 MCQ 1

A patient develops severe pain 3 days after extraction. History reveals frequent smoking post-procedure. What is the PRIMARY mechanism responsible?

A. Negative pressure dislodging clot
B. Vasoconstriction reducing blood supply
C. Bacterial infection
D. Thermal injury

🧠 MCQ 2

Which of the following instructions MOST directly prevents clot dislodgement after extraction?

A. Avoid hot foods
B. Use ice packs
C. Start antibiotics
D. Avoid using a straw

Post your answers in comment 👇

Be honest… how many of you thought smoking = suction only? 😏
That’s exactly where exams trap you.

16/04/2026

Gum disease may be more than a dental problem—it could impact your heart.

A recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in Circulation, reports that periodontal disease is associated with higher risk of heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and other vascular diseases. The link is thought to involve chronic inflammation and oral bacteria entering the bloodstream, potentially affecting blood vessels.

Gum disease affects over 40% of adults and can progress from gingivitis to bone loss if untreated. It’s more common in people with diabetes, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.

While a direct cause-and-effect is not confirmed, maintaining gum health may help reduce overall inflammatory burden and support heart health.

📄Source: doi: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001390

05/04/2026

Brush Brush Brush
para sa Tooth decay makaiwas!