The Dental Ranch: Blog
Find out more about dental news here:Anesthesia: What Should I Know ~ May 11, 2012
Many patients struggle with dental visits. Anxiety, stress and fear of the unknown play a major role in creating discomfort and worry during oral surgery and for some patients even regular check ups. Our dental team’s priority is to provide every patient with highest quality, appropriate oral care and creating a comfortable atmosphere during your visit. The staff and dentist are happy to work with you to choose the best way to approach your cleanings and surgery appointments. Several medications are available to ease patient anxiety and help with pain, and even sleep during dental treatments. It is important to discuss which approach is best suited for you, considering your overall health, dental treatment and recovery. Two common types of medication include analgesics and anesthesia.
Analgesics can be non-narcotic or narcotic. Non-narcotic means over the counter drugs used to relief minor toothache before or after dental treatment, such as Ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin and acetaminophen. Narcotic analgesics contain codeine, which affect the central nervous system to ease pain. These are typically used for more severe pain and need prescription.
Another option is anesthesia. Local anesthesia and general anesthesia differ in the way they are applied and the effect they have on the patient.
Local anesthesia is usually applied topically to the affected area with a swab or injection. This specifically numbs the area in preparation for dental treatment by blocking the nerves from transmitting pain. Many patients experience the so-called “fat-lip” feeling with local anesthesia, which mostly is used during fillings, or preparing teeth for bridges or crowns and treating gum disease.
General anesthesia, or sedatives, can help patients relax during treatment or visits, but still give them the opportunity to respond to touch and speech. These can be administered orally, through inhalation or injection before, during or after the dental procedures. In some cases, deep sedation may be needed to relieve pain and anxiety by causing complete loss of feeling and temporary loss of consciousness, helping the patient fall asleep during the procedure. This can be very helpful for patients who cannot control their movements during dental treatments and could cause harm to themselves or the dental team.
Before making any decisions, consult with your dentist about the safest approach for you or your child and be sure to educate yourself on the risks involved with taking any kind of medication or anesthesia. Talk to your dentist about your health status, any medications you currently take, and health conditions or allergic reactions you have or might have. Working together will ensure a safe and comfortable dental visit to keep you happy and healthy.
Concerns About Thumb Sucking ~ May 5, 2012
You may wonder how concerned you should be about your child’s thumb sucking. Is it harmful? At what age should I stop my child? What happens if my child does not stop?
Young children and babies have a natural reflex to suck. Some babies suck their thumbs before birth and continue into the first few months of their life. For most children and babies, sucking on their thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or any other object can make them feel safe and secure, as well as comforting, which can help them fall asleep. Some others do it because they feel bored, hungry or anxious and afraid. Nevertheless, children typically break the habit between 3 and 6 years of age.
When your child has his or her baby teeth, thumb sucking isn’t really an issue. As soon as the permanent teeth come in, however, severe thumb sucking can cause dental problems that will need to be addressed. Issues that can arise are improper growth and alignment of the teeth, changes to the roof of the mouth by pushing the teeth outward and causing an overbite. Mild cases can correct themselves naturally over time. Severe cases need to be addressed by your dentist for proper treatment advice. Speech can be affected by thumb sucking as well, which causes changes to the mouth and affects the way the tongue touches the roof of the mouth to form letters such as Ts and Ds. Lisping can become a problem in rare cases.
Thumb sucking becomes a problem if your child is past the age of 5-6 and continues to suck their thumb frequently and with great intensity.
Some ways to help your child break the habit are:
o Talk openly about thumb sucking and the dental and speech problems it can cause.
o Praise your child and reward them with stickers on a calendar for not sucking their thumb.
o Fasten a sock to their hands at night to stop them from putting their fingers in their mouth.
o Try a non-toxic bitter tasting nail coating to the fingernails before bedtime.
o Speak to your dentist about other ways to help your child stop thumb sucking.
Every organized sport, as well as recreational activity, has ways to prevent injuries. Some use knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, life vests or goggles, but one of the most important and widely used protective gear are mouth guards. This is an essential piece of protection that should be priority and a staple when outfitting your child to participate in sports or other activities that could lead to potential injuries of the mouth. In fact, studies have shown that people are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth when not wearing a mouth guard.
Many sports can cause major impact or blows to your teeth that could lead to broken teeth, cuts in your tongue, cheek or lip and jaw injuries. Mouth guards act as buffers to such injuries and may even reduce the risk of concussions. When we hear mouth guard we commonly think contact sports, such as lacrosse, rugby, football, hockey, boxing, soccer. However, typical non contact sports such as skateboarding and basketball also use mouth guards to prevent injuries to their mouth, teeth and jaw.
You can choose between three types of mouth guards: the readymade mouth guard, the “boil and bite” mouth guard that forms to your teeth after you soften the plastic, and the custom mouth guard made by your dentist. When you chose which one is right for you, think of how tear resistant it needs to be, how properly it should fit, ease of cleaning, does not limit breathing or speaking. The best kind of mouth guard for any sport is a custom fitted one from your dentist, which gives you ease of mind that you or your child will have the best protective mouth guard available. It is an investment, but also worthwhile. However, if you cannot afford a custom mouth guard, then discuss other types available with your dentist.
It is extremely important to properly care for your mouth guard as they can develop harmful bacteria and mildew if neglected. Make sure you brush your mouth guard after every use with a toothbrush and toothpaste and place it in a sturdy container, preferably with vents to make sure it dries properly. Do not leave it exposed to heat as it can alter the plastic. Check your mouth guard regularly for wear and tear, or simply bring it to your regular dental visits to have your dentist keep an eye on it for you.
Let’s Talk Braces ~ April 5, 2012
Not every child is excited to get braces. Some are worried about what they will look like with them and what it will be like. The more you know about braces, the easier it is to get comfortable with the idea of wearing them for a while to help straighten your teeth and give you a better looking smile.
Many kids don’t have perfect teeth. This is normal. Sometimes teeth just don’t grow straight and evenly. In some cases this can be due to sucking your thumb or from having an overbite (where you upper jaw is bigger then your lower jaw) or an underbite (where your lower jaw is bigger than your upper jaw). If you dentist recognizes one of these problems, then you might be recommended to see an Orthodontist, the person who can help you with braces and finding out which ones are best for you.
There are many different and new types of braces. You can still see the metal braces that we are used to when we think of braces. But today there are also other kinds of braces, such as clear braces or braces that have the same color as your teeth. Some braces go behind your teeth, so you can’t even see them. You can also change the colors of your braces from regular colors to funky ones, expressing your own individuality. The materials used for braces are better nowadays too, helping to straighten your teeth faster and easier.
The rubber bands on braces help align your teeth properly and the metal wire helps move your teeth. Most kids wear these types of traditional braces, however, some kids have to wear headgear or neckgear for extra help. But don’t panic if you do, most of the time you will wear it either at night when you sleep or when you are home in the evening. Typically people wear braces for about 2 years, but once they come off you might have to wear a retainer, which most of the time is a thin piece of plastic shaped like a mouthguard, to help keep your teeth in place. These you typically wear at night or sometimes also during the day. For how long you have to wear them depends on your teeth. It could be 6 month, 2 years or for many years.
When you wear braces, you have to clean them accordingly, which means more attention than just brushing and flossing. Food tends to get stuck easier in braces, so you might use a special flosser. In some cases, you might change your diet and stay away from foods that cause problems for your braces, such as popcorn, hard candies, gum or any other sticky food. Sugary foods, sodas and juices can be a problem, too, because the sugar causes bacteria to stay on your teeth, which turns into acid and results in tooth decay, called cavities.
If you have braces, it is important to understand how they work and how to properly take care of them and your teeth, to make sure that the time you spend wearing the braces is time invested in your smile for the future.
If you have any other questions, always feel free to contact your dentist and discuss the possibility of braces for you.
Diet and Children’s Oral Care ~ March 6, 2012
In general, our focus for oral health care is in visiting the dentist every 6 months for cleanings as well as brushing and flossing daily. But what about the foods we eat? Did you know that many of the foods you chose to eat every day can either help keep your teeth strong and healthy or they can make your teeth weak and prone to cavities? Every day we wake up and brush our teeth, but many times we are either too lazy or forget to brush our teeth in the evening before we go to bed. However, the meals we ate all day have a variety of foods that need to be washed and brushed off your teeth to keep them clean and strong. Especially for children it is important to set a positive example and teach good eating habits to support positive oral health care habits for them in the long run.
Here are a few tips to make the right choices in your nutrition to help you along the way. Most foods we eat have sugar in them in some form. Some foods have more sugar and processed sugars in them than other foods. Sugar is the main culprit in tooth decay. Especially sticky foods, such as caramels, hard candies, toffees, raisins or any other dried fruit, which are not quickly diluted by saliva can stay in your mouth and on your teeth for quite a while, meaning the sugar in them is on your tooth for longer than it should be. This starts the decay process and if not cleaned off or brushed off later, can over time turn into cavities. Most soft foods, such as white bread, pastries, doughnuts, rolls and processed cereals are some of the biggest causes of tooth caries and should be avoided if possible. Carbohydrates should be given to children in their natural forms as often as possible. Hard fruits, such as apples and pears are very good for your teeth as these act as a natural toothbrush by loosening the foods on or around your teeth when you chew.
Remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially before going to bed as well, and floss regularly to keep your teeth clean and eat a healthy balanced diet to ensure strong healthy teeth.
Dental Problems in Children February 20, 2012
Dental problems are not hereditary, but your children may be at higher risk for tooth decay or gum disease if you are prone to it as well. If your child complains about tooth pain, be sure to contact your dentist, because this could be sign of a cavity that needs to be treated. Even the most diligent flossing and brushing will not always prevent cavities. However, there are many new materials for pediatric dentists as options to use for fillings, such as composite resins. These can be tooth colored in order to blend with the rest of your teeth, and bond to the tooth so the filling won’t easily pop out. Nevertheless, silver still remains the most popular choice for permanent teeth.
For fractions or intense decay, your dentist may still opt for stainless steel crowns, which prevent decay from spreading.
Throughout childhood and teenage years, development of straightness and bite can become an issue for their teeth. Luckily, old-fashioned metal contraptions, wires and braces are in the past. Nowadays, children as young as 7 years of age wear corrective mouth guards and appliances made from efficient, plastic-based materials. Dentists know that catching aesthetic issues at a younger age can be easier and less painfully corrected, thus preventing major orthodontic procedures later in a child’s life.
In order to prevent any kind of extensive dental work, the best solution is to give your child an early start on dental visits and check ups. This way, minor problems can easily be addressed without turning into major issues down the road. If your child will have to undergo a more complicated procedure for which anesthesia will be used, to not hesitate to question your dentist and make sure a trained anesthesiologist or oral surgeon is administering the medicine. Another important reminder should be for your child to use a protective mouthguard during sports to prevent or minimize serious dental injuries. During your child’s development and growth, plan regular dental check ups around every 6 months, depending on the dentist’s recommendations.
Of course, maintain proper brushing and flossing routines and limit high sugar foods to support your child’s dental health.
Do You Know Your Teeth? February 17, 2012
Source: ADHA Kids Stuff
The part of the tooth you see is called the crown. The rounded high parts of the back teeth are cusps. The hard white outer covering of the tooth is the enamel. Below the gumline, holding the tooth in the jawbone is the root of the tooth. You can’t see the roots. The inner portions of the tooth consist of the dentin, a bonelike tissue, and the pulp. The pulp is like a house for the nerves and blood vessels at the center of the crown and root.
Teeth have different shapes for different jobs. For example, when you eat, the upper teeth work together with the lower teeth of the same shape to bite, chew, and tear food. The names of these teeth are
- Incisors: There are eight incisors located in the front of the mouth (four on the top and four on the bottom). They have sharp, chisel-haped crowns that cut food.
- Cuspids: The four cuspids are next to each incisor. Cuspids have a pointed edge to tear food.
- Premolars: Also called bicuspids, the four pairs of molars are located next to the cuspids. They crush and tear food.
- Molars: There are twelve molars, in sets of three, at the back of the mouth. They have wide surfaces that help to grind food.
Adults have 32 teeth. Depending on their age, children may have fewer because they lose baby teeth as adult teeth grow.
In addition to chewing, teeth help you to speak clearly. The shape of the arch inside the mouth helps you talk. Many letters of the alphabet cannot be sounded without the help of teeth.
Teeth also give your face its shape and add to the way you look. Not only do clean, healthy teeth help you look good, they contribute to total body health and well-being. And a smile always helps you look your best.
Preventing Tooth Decay in Children February 13, 2012
Source: HealthyChildren.org
Take the following steps to prevent tooth decay:
- Take good care of your own oral health.
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Take good care of your baby's teeth.
- Birth to 12 months. Keep your baby's mouth clean by gently wiping the gums with a clean baby washcloth. Once you see the first teeth, gently brush using a soft baby toothbrush and water. Ask your child's doctor or dentist about fluoride.
- 12 to 24 months. Brush your child's teeth at least 2 times a day. If your child's doctor or dentist recommends fluoride toothpaste, use only a smear for children younger than 2 years. The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed.
- Never put your child to bed with a bottle or food. Not only does this expose your child's teeth to sugars, it can also put your child at risk for ear infections and choking.
- Give your child a bottle only during meals. Do not use a bottle or sippy cup as a pacifier or let your child walk around with or drink from them for long periods.
- Check to see if your water is fluoridated. If your tap water comes from a well, your child's doctor or dentist may want to have a water sample tested for natural fluoride content. If your tap water does not have enough fluoride, your child's doctor or dentist will prescribe an appropriate fluoride supplement if your child is at increased risk for tooth decay.
- Teach your child to drink from a regular cup as soon as possible, preferably by 12 to 15 months of age. Drinking from a cup is less likely to cause the liquid to collect around the teeth. Also, a cup cannot be taken to bed.
- If your child must have a bottle or sippy cup for long periods, fill it with water only. During car rides, offer only water if your child is thirsty.
- Don't let your child eat sweet or sticky foods, like candy, gummies, cookies, or fruit roll-ups. There is sugar in foods like crackers and chips too. These foods are especially bad if your child snacks on them a lot. They should only be eaten at mealtime. Teach your child to use his or her tongue to clean food immediately off the teeth.
- Serve juice only during meals and limit it to 4 to 6 ounces per day. Also, juice is not recommended for babies younger than 6 months.
- Make an appointment to have your child see the dentist before age 1 if you have any concerns, see any problems, or need more information.