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Here are a list of questions related to preventative dentistry. Just click on a question to see the answer. Click here to return to list of Question & Answer topics. Cancer treatment related complications in the mouth Dental disease during pregnancy Infections in joint replacements can be instigated by severe disease Lost teeth impact total health Periodontal disease - silent and deadly What about Painless Dentistry? Some dental problems are easy to see!
Cancer
treatment related complications in the mouth It is recommended that whenever possible, a pre-therapy dental evaluation with a full set of mouth x-rays be performed. Any decay, gum disease and abscesses should be treated, if time permits, prior to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Even patients who have no pain or dental disorders need a thorough cleaning. The goal should be to have the patient's mouth in optimal health prior to beginning anti-cancer therapy. If you have questions regarding cancer treatment and your dental health, please call our office. Crisis
Treatment An example is tooth decay. We hear all the time, "Nothing hurts...I don't have any problems". But tooth decay doesn't hurt! Until, that is, it gets close to the nerve of the tooth. Then a root canal and crown are usually necessary, instead of the small filling, which could have been placed several years ago when the cavity was small. We can usually detect a cavity 3-4 years before it may develop any symptoms. It is not uncommon to see a patient with a tremendous cavity and they have never felt a thing! Decayed
(Baby) erupting teeth Children who have erupted teeth or are past the age to be weaned are highly susceptible to rotted front teeth when being put to bed with a bottle containing milk, juice or other sugar-containing liquids. There is decreased salivary flow during sleep and clearance of the liquid from the teeth is slowed. The liquid pools around the upper front teeth and creates an excellent environment to promote the growth of decay-causing bacteria. Removing the bottle before the first tooth appears and wiping the child's gums and teeth with a soft cloth before being put to bed can help prevent decay. At 18 months of age, parents should be encouraged to ask their dentist to examine their child and recommend home care. Dental
decay "cavities" To prevent decay, a plastic-like coating called a sealant should be painted on the chewing surfaces of all the back teeth. Studies have shown that sealants can reduce tooth decay by as much as 90% to 100%. The American Dental Association recommends sealants be placed as soon as the first adult back teeth come in at age 6 or 7. Sealants should continue to be used as each adult back tooth comes into the mouth. All back teeth that need to be sealed are present by age 13. Sealant application is simple, fast, and painless. Please call our office with any questions you may have about the benefits using a sealant in preventing dental decay. Dental
Disease During Pregnancy There are three basic events that happen during pregnancy which make the patient more susceptible to dental disease. First, hormonal changes may make the gums more susceptible to gum disease. Second, pregnant women tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals, exposing their teeth and gums to sugars and acids more often. Third, cravings for "junk foods" and inadequate oral hygiene pose an increased threat to the teeth and gums. Pregnant women should be advised to schedule a dental evaluation and receive preventive dental care. Personalized oral hygiene instruction should also be given to fight disease and promote overall good health for the mother and her baby. Diet and
Dental Health Counseling in the Four Basic Food groups will improve dental health and general health. The consumption of sugar, especially in sticky forms or in a baby bottle while sleeping, contributes to the rapid development of dental decay. The trace nutrient fluoride, may not be adequately supplied by bottle or municipal water supplies. Supplementation with oral tablets and topical application will reduce the incidence of dental decay by more than 60%. Together, a balanced diet, daily use of fluoride, effective brushing, and sensible eating habits can reduce the risk of, or even prevent, infectious dental disease. Please don't hesitate to call our office if you need more information on diet or fluoride supplementation and its relationship to dental health. Dry Mouth Anyone on a medication causing a dry mouth effect should be encouraged to see their dentist for regular dental cleanings and topical fluoride rinses. For more information regarding dental problems of the elderly, please call our office. Infections
in joint replacements can be instigated by severe gum problems Periodontal disease is a commonly occurring oral infection of the adult population (80% of adults are affected) destroying the bony support of the teeth. This infection slowly progresses over the lifetime of the patient and is often manifested in the advanced stage in the senior population. Because of the lack of any discomfort to the patient until total loss of bony support to the teeth, many adults are unaware that they have this infection. However, the bacteria from this bone destroying disease, especially in the more advanced cases, has been attributed to possible infection of joint replacements. Candidates for joint replacements who have not been seen by a dentist in over a year should be considered for a thorough dental evaluation of their teeth and gums before surgery. Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment of gum infections and tooth abscesses may take from two weeks to two months before the patient reaches adequate health before surgery. If you have any questions about infection in joint replacements, please call our office. Lost
Teeth Impact Total Health While such ignorance is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, there is still not a general awareness of the seriousness of edentulism. Multiple tooth loss is most commonly caused by periodontal disease, i.e. gum and bone disease. Periodontal disease has a high statistical correlation with chronic debilitating disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. So it is not very surprising that studies now show a shortened life expectancy by as much as 10 years for persons who have lost their natural teeth, when compared to those who have kept their teeth. In addition to longevity, quality-of-life differences are just as significant. The functional efficiency of dentures has been measured to be only 20% of that of natural teeth. Can there be any doubt that nutritional deficiencies will be much more prevalent in those without their natural teeth? Loss of teeth often causes a feeling of loss of wholeness and a sense of deterioration and aging. Given these factors, preservation of the natural teeth is integral to whole-person wellness. Why
should you wear a mouthguard? Do: Wear a mouthguard at all times when playing sports. Wear a mouthguard custom-fitted by your dentist, especially if you wear bridges or braces. Don't: Wear removable appliances like retainers when playing sports. There are two types of mouthguards: Dental
Health for Seniors Changes of the teeth and gums: Teeth will darken because of long-term exposure to plaque and changes in the dentin within the tooth. The gums may recede and uncover the roots. Exposed roots will be darker than the enamel part of the tooth and are prone to decay. Fillings can decay and darken, too, as they weaken over time. "Dry Mouth" may develop: Saliva is useful to lubricate, wash away plaque, and neutralize the acid produced by plaque. Flow of saliva can be reduced by a medical disorder or be a side effect of antihistamine, decongestants, pain killers or diuretics. The build-up of plaque will accelerate tooth decay. There will also be more gum infection which will cause a loss of bone support for the teeth. Poorly-fitting or poorly-cleaned dentures, illness, and some medications increase the severity of the problem. For more information regarding dental problems of the elderly, please call our office. Periodontal
disease-silent and deadly Early detection and adequate diagnosis require measurement of pockets (the crevice between the tooth and gum) with a periodontal probe. Effective prevention and treatment is available, but the damage caused as the disease progresses is irreversible. Early detection and treatment is critical to prevent tooth loss and disfigurement. Although the procedure is simple, painless and requires only a few minutes, millions of American adults have never had it done. Signs of periodontal disease - bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, breath odor, receding gums, mobility of teeth. Prevent
Tooth Decay When supplements are needed, the administration of fluoride supplements should begin shortly after birth and continue through the time of eruption of the second permanent molars (approx. 12 years of age). Regular dental check-ups should begin no later than 18 months of age. If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate to call. What about Painless Dentistry? Some
dental problems are easy to see! Another potential problem, which is easy to spot, is missing teeth. Many patients assume that if they are still able to eat, they are O.K. But very often, losing just one tooth can lead to the loss of support, and teeth begin to drift into the empty space, causing a change in the bite. It also forces the remaining teeth to carry an additional load, sometimes past their ability to adapt. In most cases, when even one tooth is lost, the remaining teeth suffer and are more likely to be lost as well. We specialize in the treatment of problems such as these. Call our office for the care you need.
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