Gatus Dental Clinic

23/06/2025

Aggressive brushing is a common habit many people develop, thinking it will clean their teeth more effectively. However, using too much pressure while brushing can actually harm your mouth instead of helping it. The gums, especially in the lower front region, are delicate and not designed to withstand harsh scrubbing or hard bristles.

Over time, aggressive brushing causes the gum tissue to wear away, leading to gum recession. This means the gums slowly pull back from the tooth surface, exposing the roots, which are much more sensitive and not protected by enamel. As a result, patients may experience increased tooth sensitivity, root decay, and an unaesthetic appearance. In some cases, even the surface of the tooth near the gumline may begin to wear down.

This kind of damage is not always reversible. Once the gum tissue is lost, it doesn't grow back on its own, and treatment like gum grafting may be required in more severe cases. It's important to understand that more pressure does not mean better cleaning—it simply means more risk of long-term oral health problems.

To brush properly, always use a soft-bristled toothbrush, hold it at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and use gentle, circular motions. Avoid scrubbing back and forth. Brush for two minutes, twice a day, and don’t forget to be as gentle with your gums as you are with your teeth. Proper technique protects both your teeth and the delicate tissues around them.

22/05/2025

Bring your kids to the dentist when their first tooth comes in. Yes, that early. That’s what’s recommended.

We started scheduling appointments the moment that first little tooth popped through. Because we believe in preventative care. We believe in good habits from the start.

I don’t care if they’re “just baby teeth.” I’ve heard that excuse too many times.
Those baby teeth? They hold space for permanent ones. They affect speech, jaw development, confidence.

So no, it’s not “too early.”
It’s responsible. It’s intentional.
It’s the opposite of what so many of us grew up with.

Don’t be the parent who shrugs it off, who waits until there’s pain, infection, trauma.
Be the cycle breaker.
The one who teaches dental care isn’t a luxury, it’s basic hygiene.

Because some of us are now spending our adulthood in pain, paying the price for what our parents ignored.

You can do better. Your kids deserve better.

16/04/2025

Gum disease is not just an oral health issue—it’s a serious systemic health concern.

🔵 Here's how it happens:

When plaque builds up on teeth and gums, it harbors bacteria that cause inflammation. In periodontitis, these bacteria and inflammatory mediators can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums.

Once in circulation, they can:

➡️ Trigger systemic inflammation that contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries).

➡️ Promote plaque buildup in blood vessels, increasing the risk of blockages.

➡️ Elevate C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a marker associated with heart disease.

➡️ Potentially cause endothelial dysfunction, impairing blood vessel health.

Several studies show a strong link between chronic periodontal disease and increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and even diabetes complications.

07/04/2025

In observance of the Holy Week, our clinic will be closed on April 17 to 20. Regular clinic hours will resume on April 21, 2025 (Monday).

Thank you for understanding and have a blessed Holy Week. 🙏🏻

05/04/2025

Why Can’t Teeth Heal Themselves?

The key reason lies in tooth structure and biology:

1. Lack of Living Cells in Enamel
The outermost layer of the tooth, enamel, is the hardest and most mineralized tissue in the body. However, it is completely acellular—it contains no living cells or blood vessels. This means it cannot regenerate, repair, or remodel like bone or skin.

2. No Blood Supply or Nerve Supply in Enamel
Enamel doesn’t receive a blood supply, which is essential for delivering immune cells and healing factors. Once enamel is eroded or decayed, the body has no natural mechanism to restore it.

3. Dentin Has Limited Regeneration
The layer beneath enamel, dentin, is slightly more biologically active. Odontoblasts (specialized cells within the pulp) can produce reparative or tertiary dentin in response to mild stimuli like trauma or caries. However, this is limited and slow, and cannot reverse significant damage.

4. Tooth Pulp Is Delicate
If decay or trauma reaches the pulp, inflammation or infection can occur, leading to pulp necrosis. Unlike other tissues, once pulp dies, the tooth loses its vitality and requires endodontic treatment (root canal).
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What This Means for Dental Health

Because teeth can't regenerate like other tissues, preventive care becomes critical:

Regular brushing and flossing

Use of fluoride to strengthen enamel

Routine dental check-ups

Early intervention for decay or trauma

05/04/2025

Teeth are the only part of the human body that cannot heal themselves—especially the enamel.

Clinical perspective:

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1. Enamel Is Acellular & Non-Vital

Enamel, the hardest substance in the human body, contains no living cells, no blood vessels, and no nerves.
Once it's damaged—through decay, trauma, or erosion—there is no intrinsic healing mechanism. Unlike bone or skin, enamel cannot regenerate or remodel.
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2. Dentin & Pulp: Limited Healing Capacity

Dentin is formed by odontoblasts, which can slowly deposit secondary or tertiary dentin in response to mild irritation. However, this response is localized and limited in capacity.

Dental pulp, being vascular and innervated, can mount an inflammatory response. But once infection sets in, necrosis often follows, requiring endodontic intervention.
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3. Does Any Healing Happen at All?

Yes, but only to a very limited extent:

Remineralization of early enamel lesions is possible with fluoride and calcium/phosphate-rich saliva.

Tertiary dentin may form beneath shallow caries or trauma.

But once cavitation occurs or structural integrity is lost, biological healing is no longer possible.
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Clinical Implication:

This is why preventive dentistry, early intervention, and patient education are crucial. Once the enamel is gone, it must be restored artificially by the dentist—the body cannot do it on its own.

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02/04/2025

Due to scheduled power interruption this coming Saturday( April 5), Gatus Dental Clinic will be closed. Thank you!

09/02/2025