Parents of young children commonly believe the misconception
that they don’t need to worry about their children’s baby teeth since they will
be replaced by permanent teeth later. However, neglect of baby teeth can cause
serious dental issues. Therefore, it is important to make sure that even these
“temporary” baby teeth remain healthy.
Healthy baby teeth are crucial to helping babies to speak properly. Without
teeth in the correct position, most sounds can’t be made correctly. Baby teeth
also serve as spacers for permanent teeth, maintaining the proper alignment so
that permanent teeth have enough room to come in. Baby teeth are also important
in proper feeding and nutrition. Healthy and nice looking teeth are important in
building self confidence and self-esteem. Unfortunately, children can be cruel
to each other and are quick to tease peers about ugly or decayed teeth. Bad
breath can also result from tooth decay and poor oral hygiene, making a child an
outcast amongst friends.
So, what causes cavities? The bacteria in our mouth feed on leftover food
particles creating acid in the process. The acid by-product eats the tooth
enamel and causes cavities.
You should clean your baby’s teeth as soon as they come in. Use a soft
toothbrush and floss holders to remove plaque and help your baby develop the
right habits. Children under the age of seven do not have the dexterity to brush
their own teeth properly, so be sure to help them brush and floss.
Fluoride is one of the most influential factors in decreasing tooth decay.
Fluoride is found in rinses, toothpastes and the municipal water. You may want
to check with your water company to make sure it is fluoridated. If it is not,
you may want to consult your dentist about fluoride rinses. As with any vitamins
and minerals too much of a good thing can be detrimental. Too much fluoride can
cause fluorosis in which brown spots appear on children’s permanent teeth.
Usually this is caused by swallowing toothpaste. Children only need to use a
pea-size amount of toothpaste to successfully brush.
Most people believe that candy is the cause of cavities. While this is true,
bacteria can utilize sugars found in fruit and milk, as well as carbohydrates
found in foods like chips, pasta, and bread. Sticky foods such as raisins and
peanut butter tend to stick to teeth providing a constant supply of sugars for
the bacteria. Be sure to teach your kids to rinse their mouth with water after
eating and brush and floss after snacks and meals whenever possible. Chewing
gums with the active ingredient Xylitol are also great for combating the
bacteria that causes decay. For more information on Xylitol, please refer back
to our first article in The Paper.
Many parents that have suffered from tooth decay may notice that their children
experience far less cavities than they did. The use of fluoride, along with
education about proper brushing and flossing, sealants and regular check ups
have spared most of the younger generation from frequent cavities, saving their
adult teeth as well as their baby teeth. After all, the last baby tooth does not
fall out until your child is 10-12 years old.
If you have any questions or concerns about your children’s teeth, feel free to
contact our office.
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Wow, dentistry has come a long way! Long gone are the days when
you went to the dentist and they drilled your teeth forever because your cavity
was too big. Don’t forget the sensitivity afterwards because the decay was so
close to the nerve of the tooth. And then you cross your fingers and hope that
you don’t need a root canal and a crown. You often wonder how your dentist could
have missed it since you go for regular check ups all the time.
Well, it is easy to miss cavities that start on the chewing surfaces of your
teeth on x-rays. Before the days of fluoride, your dentist could sometimes put
an instrument in the chewing surface of the tooth and get it to stick. That
would tell him or her that there was a cavity in the tooth. However with the
advent of fluoride, the top layer of the tooth can actually get hard and make it
hard to detect the decay. Luckily, a modern, technologically advanced miracle
has changed dentistry from the big drill and fills to small fillings by finding
cavities at their earliest stages. This device is called
Diagnodent Laser Decay Detection. It uses laser light to measure the
fluorescence of decay. Teeth do not fluoresce but decay will. This device uses a
range of numbers to tell your dentist exactly how big your cavity is. The
Diagnodent Laser Decay Detection is 90% accurate.
The other 10% cannot be found by any means yet because they are simply too
small.
So what are the advantages to you, the patient?
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This device promotes minimally invasive dentistry, which in
turn saves you time, money and tooth structure.
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It is painless to use and saves you from discomfort.
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It reduces the need to take x-rays, therefore, saving you
from unnecessary radiation
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It allows you to be a part of your treatment. The machine
makes audible sounds. The bigger your cavity, the louder the sound the
machine will make.
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It gives your dentist a number so that he or she knows
exactly what to expect. It also aids your dentist in following the path that
the decay is taking.
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It ensures that there is no decay before sealants are
placed. After all, the last thing you want to do is seal the decay in the
tooth.
It allows your dentist to make an educated decision about
whether he or she is going to fill, seal, or monitor your tooth.
Why would any dentist not have this device as part of their examination for
their patients? That would be “old-school”. We owe it to our patients to provide
them with the highest level of care. That is our job.
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Dental Revolution
We’ve all been there. You visit your dentist for your regular check up and
cleaning, only to discover that one of your fillings is loose, and you need a
crown, or that silver filling is broken and is causing major cracks in your
tooth and you need a crown! I remember when that news would send shivers down my
spine. So, I make an appointment, get an injection, and sit for the crown
preparation with the mouth full of impression goop. I get a temporary crown
(which never fits great), reschedule in a week to ten days to get the actual
crown, show up for that appointment, get an injection, they remove the temporary
and cement the real crown. Ten days, two dental appointments and two injections
later, I finally have my crown.
Well, those days are gone! My dentist now has the latest and greatest technology
that allows me to get my crown in only one appointment. This CEREC technology
uses a 3D camera to take a digital image of the tooth that is prepared for the
crown (or any ceramic restoration). That image is then sent to a computer and my
dentist designs the exact restoration on the computer monitor. That restoration
is then sent to a milling machine that mills the crown out of a tooth-colored
ceramic block. It’s amazing to watch the machine mill your crown! This process
allows my dentist to control every aspect of my restoration and for someone who
demands perfection; this is a very good thing. So, I get my crown in one visit
and it’s the most accurate solution possible!
Technology continues to amaze us and make our lives easier. We believe in this
technology so much, that my dental office wants to offer an opportunity for you
to learn more. For a free informational CD on any dental procedure, including
this very latest in dental restorations, call 877-LIFESMILES (877-543-3764) or
call the Lifetime Smiles office at 760-747-1811. The first 50 patients that
mention this article, receives $100.00 toward any dental treatment completed in
our office.
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More than ever before, attention is now being directed to the causes of decay
and how to prevent it. Previously, preventive efforts centered around mechanical
removal of decay-causing organisms and substances, and also around tooth
hardening by fluoride, both swallowed and applied. While both of these
approaches are still valid and important, current effort and research are more
directed to the control of the bacterial organisms that cause decay and their
damaging by-products.
This program is designed to lessen the number of decay-causing organisms in your
mouth and to neutralize, as much as possible, the effects of the acid they
produce.
1. To reduce the bacteria, we may give you a prescription for a 7 to 10 day
course of antibiotics. This will not be used for everyone, and the choice of
antibiotic is also individual. If used, this step will temporarily reduce the
amounts of bacteria in your mouth.
2. Another antibacterial step which will be recommended for everyone on the
program is to rinse with a prescription-strength antibacterial mouthwash. The
mouthwash which will be prescribed has as its active ingredient chlorhexidine
gluconate The directions for use are NOT what is listed on the bottle. Instead,
you should rinse with 10ml (about 2 teaspoons) once a day for 2 weeks. You
should repeat this course once every 2 months for 1 year. After brushing and
flossing your teeth, rinse thoroughly with water, then rinse with the
chlorhexidine. If you don’t rinse well with water between the two, the fluoride
and the chlorhexadine interfere with each other. Always spit out the excess
after rinsing. Read the product literature to see what the side effects could be
with this mouthwash and if you notice any of them, stop using it and call us.
3. There is an artificial sweetener named XYLITOL which has been shown to fight
tooth decay by preventing decay-causing bacteria from attaching to teeth. It is
available in several brands of gum, in some mints, some toothpaste and other
products. We recommend its use 4 or more times per day. Whichever xylitol
product you use, be sure that xylitol is the first ingredient listed in the
product description. You should chew the gum or suck on the mint for at least 5
minutes. Ask us about new mothers using this product in THEIR OWN MOUTHS, NOT
THE BABY’S, to prevent future decay in the child.
4. We also recommend the use of BAKING SODA to neutralize bacterial acids. One
of the ways to do this is with a toothpaste that contains baking soda. There are
a few brands, including the one we all know, ARM AND HAMMER. Another way is to
use a baking soda rinse made with 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of
water. Rinse 2 or more times a day depending on our recommendation for you. Spit
out the rinse. Ideally we recommend using baking soda BEFORE using the fluoride
rinse or toothpaste.
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Do you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth? Are you tired of
your dentures, and struggling with denture adhesives? If you want to smile, eat,
and speak with confidence again there is good news! Dental implants are the
cutting edge technology that replaces the root portion of missing teeth. They
look and feel so natural that you lost the teeth in the first place.
Dental implants are extremely aesthetic. They feel and look like your own teeth.
Since dental implants are place in the jaw bone, they prevent the bone loss that
is typical of dentures, and conventional bridges. Dental implants do not
sacrifice your adjacent teeth like a bridge because the teeth do not need to be
altered to support them. This leaves your own teeth intact which is very
beneficial of long term oral health.
Dental implants can also serve as anchors for a denture or a partial to snap
into preventing it from slipping when you are speaking or eating. You will be
able to bite into an apple or a sandwich again and say goodbye to messy denture
adhesives.
The ideal candidate for an implant is a healthy individual who is in good
general and oral health. There needs to be enough bone in the jaw to support
your implant, and the gum tissue needs to be healthy. If there is not adequate
bone levels for the implant, the surgeon may discuss bone augmentation
procedures with you. The implant procedure itself is a team effort between you,
your dentist, and the oral surgeon or periodontist. Your surgeon will consult
with you to determine where your implant should be placed.
If you are missing a single tooth, one implant by the surgeon and a crown by
your dentist can replace it. The implant replaces the root portion and the crown
will replace the tooth portion. If you are missing several teeth, implant
supported bridges may be the treatment of choice. If you are missing all of your
teeth, implant supported full bridges, or a full denture supported by implants
may be your best option.
The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable, but like anything
else you have to take care of them. Implants are like your own teeth and will
require the same care. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are the key
to saving your implants as well as your own teeth.
When you choose dental implants you can enjoy the beauty of a natural looking
smile, reclaim your ability to eat foods you love, and regain the confidence to
interact with family and friends. Dental implants not only restore your smile,
but they improve the quality of life.
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SMILE, BE HAPPY!
We have several ways to offer you a whiter, more attractive, smile.
The newest addition to our whitening opportunities is our new LumaArch in-office
bleaching system. Using the new, improved LumaArch Fullsmile Illuminator allows
us to simultaneously bleach both the upper and lower teeth in our office. This
system is at least as effective as the leading advertised in-office bleaching
system with several advantages.
1. With the high powered LumaArch Fullsmile Illuminator the time required to
bleach both upper and lower teeth is a short as possible. In most cases not more
than an hour and sometimes even less.
2. Unlike other in-office bleaching systems, there is no heat generated to the
teeth and the gums with LumaArch. This greatly increases the safety of the
procedure and decreases the possibility of sensitivity sometimes found with
other, nationally advertised in-office bleaching systems.
This is possible because LumaArch uses the science of fiberoptics to transmit
the activating light to your mouth.
3. Since our LumaArch Fullsmile Illuminator has been purchased by us, we are not
required to reimburse the manufacturer for each patient we treat or to
contribute to an expensive advertising campaign. This allows us to offer our
in-office bleaching at a considerable savings. Our fee for complete upper and
lower teeth bleaching using the LumaArch system is $350. Other systems can be
$500 or more for the same results.
4. For those patients who desire an even whiter smile than that possible with an
in- office bleaching system or who have especially darkened or
resistant-to-change teeth, we offer an additional opportunity. By combining our
new LumaArch in-office system with a new quick acting, home-bleaching system we
can continue to improve what the in-office system has already achieved. Again
the cost of this combination approach, while a little more than the in-office
bleaching alone, is significantly less expensive than the same service when it
is available from other bleaching systems.
To have any questions you may have answered or to get more information on our
new LumaArch in-office bleaching system ask any of the staff when you are in our
office or call us at 760-747-1811. Please feel free to pass this information on
to anyone you know who might be considering whitening their smile.
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Have you ever wanted straighter teeth but have been reluctant to wear
traditional braces? One of the most modern advances in dentistry may be the
answer for you. Invisalign is the most invisible option to straighten your teeth
without conventional metal braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom
fabricated aligners designed to gradually and sequentially move your teeth. The
aligners are removable so there are no food restrictions or problems with
flossing or brushing, therefore keeping your gums and teeth healthy. With
Invisalign there are no mouth abrasions, loose brackets, wires or bands. The
aligners are completely transparent and difficult to detect, making this method
of orthodontics very popular with adults and teenagers.
Your Invisalign certified orthodontist or general dentist will begin treatment
by taking x-rays, photographs and dental impressions. These impressions are then
put thru a CT scan which uses 3-D technology to design the complete treatment
plan based on your doctor’s recommendations, from the initial teeth positioning
to the final positioning. This 3-D imaging allows you to see the end result
before you even start. The computer imaging will take you through every aligner
and show you how you will look at different stages. You and your doctor will
then review the simulation online using Align Technology’s ClinCheck. Once you
approve the treatment, the aligners are fabricated and you will be on your way
to a beautiful smile.
Average treatment time is less than a year depending on the complexity of the
case. Less complicated treatments such as mild crowding or spacing may be as
short as six months. Although the aligners are removable, they must be worn at
all times, except when eating, flossing, brushing, or during dental visits. You
will typically visit your doctor every six weeks for progress checks. Not every
situation can be treated with Invisalign. Please visit www.invisalign.com for
more information, or call our office for your free Invisalign consultation. Just
mention “The Paper” please.
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An estimated 80 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal
disease. The cause of gum disease is plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film
that forms on the teeth and tongue. Daily brushing of the teeth and tongue, as
well as flossing and a healthy diet, along with regular dental visits usually
keeps periodontal disease at bay. However, it doesn’t take long for gum disease
to form if you are negligent in any of the above. Gum disease usually starts
with gingivitis which is characterized by red swollen gums and some bleeding
upon brushing and flossing. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to
periodontal disease. As plaque builds up around the teeth, especially under the
gums, the gum pockets will become deeper and the bacteria will destroy the gum
tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. Eventually, if left untreated, the
teeth lose their support and may be lost. Unfortunately, gum disease is silent
(it does not hurt until later stages) and can only be diagnosed by your dentist.
Although periodontal disease cannot be cured, it can be maintained with a team
effort between you and your dentist.
In the past few years there have been a number of studies linking periodontal
disease to many systemic diseases. When there are bacteria from plaque present
in the mouth, they will produce toxins. These toxins, in return, trigger a host
of immune responses and the release of cytokines to kill the bacteria. The
problem arises from the release of too many cytokines, which increases
inflammation which in turn, damages the tissue all over the body. These
reactions may be elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, and increased blood
clotting which can lead to a heart attack. There has been some research that
suggests bacteria from periodontal disease may lodge in the walls of blood
vessels, causing inflammation and thickening of the wall. This may contribute to
an increased chance of heart disease and heart attacks. Another study has
suggested that the risk of fatal heart disease doubles for persons with severe
periodontal disease.
Emerging evidence may link severe periodontal disease in pregnant women to a
sevenfold increase in the risk of delivering preterm, low-weight infants. A
recent study by the National Institute of Disease Control found that mothers
with preterm babies had significantly more severe forms of periodontal disease
than mothers of full term, normal weight babies. Other studies have also linked
gum disease to developing early signs of diabetes. Earlier this year, another
study by Harvard School of Public Health of 50,000 men showed that those with
gum disease had double the chance of getting pancreatic cancer.
Although more studies are on their way, one thing is clear. Gum inflammation is
very significant in a variety of diseases. The inflammatory response sent out by
the gum tissue travels throughout the body and can affect your overall health.
So, take care of your teeth and your gums and ,in turn, you will take care of
your body.
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Recommended Relief for Dentophobics/Sedation dentistry: comfort, relaxation &
control
Dentists have worked long and hard to diminish or eliminate patient pain.
Anxious and even phobic patients often discover that sedation dentistry can
offer the perfect, relaxing solution for maintaining good dental health. In one
study, 90% of the patients who experienced fearfulness about dentistry felt more
comfortable with sedation…and you are no different. We can make your next visit
a lot more comfortable. And of course, prior to administering any anesthesia,
we’ll discuss your needs, your medical history, and your current health with
you. There is more than one type of sedation used for dental treatment. What
type is used depends on the needs of the patient.
The easiest and most common type of dental relaxation assistance is nitrous
oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas. This is a gas that the patient
breathes during the appointment. It doesn’t put you to sleep, but allows you to
relax into a sort of “I know I’m having my teeth worked on but I don’t care”
state. Local anesthesia is still used during dentistry under nitrous oxide. One
of the advantages of this type of sedation is that when the procedure is over
and you stop breathing the gas, you go back to normal more quickly. For most
people this means they can return to work or home, but not all are OK to drive
immediately afterward so you may have a wait until you are completely normal.
This type of sedation dentistry is appropriate for those individuals who are
dental phobic and have a sensitive gag reflex, or who require surgery, or who
require extended and complex treatments.
The next type of sedation available is oral sedation (pills). With oral
sedation, patients can often undergo treatment for longer at each sitting, so
multiple procedures can be completed in fewer visits. During the use of this
type of relaxation, you would feel drowsier and possibly dose. Once again, in
most cases, we would use local anesthesia for treatment under oral sedation.
Like Nitrous oxide, oral sedation is also very safe, but it lasts for several
hours after the appointment. You are unlikely to go back to work or do anything
that requires a clear mind for several hours. You will need an escort home.
The last type of dental sedation is intravenous (IV) sedation. This is usually
done in a dental specialist’s office, although a few general dental offices have
it available. During this type of relaxation, you are mostly asleep and do not
remember having dental treatment. You definitely need a certain recovery time
from this sedation and someone to drive you home and stay with you until you are
back to normal. We do not offer IV sedation in our office, but can refer you to
someone who does, if this is the best method to allow you to have the dental
care you need.
Dental sedation is a safe and effective way to reduce the stress and anxiety
associated with your dental appointment. If you’re apprehensive about dental
visits, the first step is to call. We will work with you to eliminate this
barrier to better oral health.
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This is a topic that has generated a lot of interest in the dental field
in the past several years. I have tried to keep up with all of the studies
published about these fillings, but since a lot of the articles are in local
papers and some of the more “controversial” magazines, I’m sure I have missed
some. However, based on those articles that I have read, I do have an opinion on
the desirability of silver amalgam fillings.
The main area of controversy seems to be the fact that these fillings have a
small amount of mercury in them. The mercury is necessary to allow them to go
through the hardening process that makes them a strong filling. Some people
contend that the mercury that leaks out of these fillings after they are placed
and throughout the life of the filling, is harmful to the patient’s health.
The problem in evaluating this opinion is that there is currently no way to
scientifically measure an increase in the amount of mercury in the body as a
result of silver fillings. The idea seems valid, but there is no way to prove
it. Since silver filling have been used since the early 1900s and they have
undoubtedly saved many teeth, most dentists, myself included, need another
reason to eliminate them from our treatment choices.
And there is another reason. I have seen so many teeth with existing silver
fillings develop cracks, decay along the filling, and breakage at the filling,
that I have come to the conclusion that these fillings are the cause of the
tooth cracking. I know of no scientific way to measure this damage either, but
in my clinical experience, it happens. I think the reason for this is that
silver fillings are only held in by mechanical means, kind of like putting your
hand in a jar and making a fist and then it won’t come out. I think chewing on
these fillings drives them into the tooth and can cause teeth to split.
So I don’t recommend silver amalgam any more. What I do recommend, where
possible, are bonded composite fillings that glue to the sides of the tooth and
hold it together or, where necessary, crowns which hold the tooth together even
better.
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