Beginning as young children, we’re told to brush our teeth twice a day to prevent cavities. Consistent and proper dental care is essential to maintain oral health, but there are factors that can help boost the benefits of regular cleaning. One of those cost factors is fluoride, a natural element in our environment, which can help prevent our teeth from decaying, improving oral health. In fact, fluoride has been determined to be so beneficial that our tap water has been altered to contain regulated levels of fluoride to improve our oral health. Not only is this beneficial element found in our water sources, but also in toothpaste. Dentists also place fluoride on our teeth when we get them cleaned every six months. Fluoride, it’s everywhere and it’s giving us a helping hand.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported two thirds of 16 to 19-year-olds experience tooth decay and 25% of 2 to 5-year-olds have one or more cavities. Proper care of our teeth is important and the use of fluoride is necessary to aid in the prevention of tooth decay. Over the years, scientists have observed populations who consume excess amounts of fluoride and concluded it having negative health side effects. It is reported by the Fluoride Action Network that individuals may experience hypersensitivity, arthritis, diabetes, cancer and much more.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates the fluoride in our drinking water, with a standard of 4.0 mg/L, to ensure negative health risks from occurring. Too much of anything is bad for our body, but completely removing fluoride from our water, toothpaste and dental offices will only allow tooth decay to progress within our society. Ask Bridge Dental about fluoride and treatments today at 843-225-0111 or visit us on Facebook.
Dr. Pratt has taken hundreds of hours in continueing education in placing and restoring dental implants including the MAXI Course in Atlanta, GA, the Engel Institute in Charlotte, NC, and The Implant Pathway course in Phoenix, AZ.
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DERMAL FILLERS
If you are looking for a non- surgical face lift or you just want to smooth out a few fine lines or fill in deep set wrinkles, injectables are for you. Millions of people use dermal fillers to achieve a more relaxed and smooth facial appearance while still having the freedom of expression.
Dermal fillers are smooth injectable gels made from naturally occurring hyaluronic acid. Dermal fillers add volume to weakened facial features and can stimulate collagen growth. Each dermal filler is unique in its own way but similar in two. First, they plump skin and gently lift it to restore collagen loss due to the normal aging process. Secondly, dermal fillers motivate the body to create its own natural collagen and restore your face to a more natural, youthful appearance.
Dermal fillers approved by the FDA are minimally invasive and very safe. As with any procedure, there are possible risks, the most common being post-procedure bruising and swelling which are usually very minimal and resolve quickly.
Dermal filler treatments typically take 20-40 minutes and the amount of dermal filler needed will depend on volume loss and the areas you would like to restore to its natural beauty. You will see maximum results in aproximately two weeks after treatment.
Most commonly, oral sedation (usually in the form of anti-anxiety pills also known as “happy pills”) is prescribed for relieving anxiety in the hours immediately before a dental appointment. An anti-anxiety or a sleeping pill taken the night before the appointment, an hour before going to bed, can help with falling asleep and getting some rest.
Anti-Anxiety Pills
In dentistry, the most commonly prescribed drugs for (or rather against!) anxiety belong to the “benzodiazepine” family. You’ve probably heard of them by their tradenames – for example, Valium, Halcion, Xanax, or Ativan.
Benzos decrease anxiety by binding with receptors in the brain which tone down activity in those parts of the brain responsible for fear.
Travel Warning!
You shouldn’t travel on your own after you’ve taken benzodiazepines in the doses mentioned here – make sure you have an escort, even if you’re walking there! It’s easy to become disorientated and miss your stop if going by bus or train, or walk straight in front of a car – or you might even forget that you’re on your way to your dentist’s (“hey cool” I hear you say :wink:)… So find someone to accompany you. And please don’t pop pills and drive!
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is a colorless gas that is often used for its calming effect. After reviewing your health history, we determine if nitrous oxide is right for you. Nitrous oxide is safe, effective and helps you feel more relaxed during your dental appointment.
A typical visit with nitrous oxide
To use nitrous oxide, we place a small mask over your nose, and you simply breathe in normally. It takes just a few minutes for you to notice the effects. People most often describe the feeling as being relaxed, unconcerned, happy, slightly numb, and disconnected from what is happening around them.
Since nitrous oxide does not numb the teeth, we may also recommend anesthetic for some dental procedures.
Controlling the effects
During the procedure, let us know if you want us to adjust the dosage of the nitrous oxide gas to fit your needs. You can also control the dosage by your breathing. The more deeply you breathe through your nose, the more you feel nitrous oxide’s effect.
After a dental appointment with nitrous oxide, it is safe for you to drive because there are no long-lasting effects.
When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or dies, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. It is generally comfortable treatment that can save your tooth and keep your mouth healthy.
Symptoms of infection
You may realize that you have an infected tooth when—
The tooth is sensitive to hot or cold.
The tooth hurts with biting or pressure.
There is throbbing, severe tooth pain.
The area is swollen.
You have a bad taste in your mouth.
You may also be unaware of the problem because there are no symptoms at all.
Causes of infection
The pulp becomes infected when bacteria invade the inner layers of the tooth. The tooth pulp is a soft tissue made up of nerves and blood vessels. It is contained in the pulp chamber that extends from the middle of the tooth down through the tooth roots.
Infection occurs most commonly through a deep cavity that allows bacteria through the enamel and dentin layers and into the pulp. Sometimes the pulp simply dies due to a fracture or a blow to the tooth.
Diagnosis and treatment
To determine if your tooth has an infected pulp, we do a thorough examination. The exam often includes x-rays and sometimes includes checking the health of the pulp with a pulp tester. We may also apply heat or cold, tap lightly on the tooth to see if it is sensitive, look for changes in the tooth’s color, or press gently on the gums next to the tooth to check for pain.
If we determine that you have an infected tooth, we talk with you about root canal therapy to remove the infection and save the tooth. It is important to treat an infected tooth in order to prevent the infection from traveling through the root tips and causing a painful abscess in the jawbone.
Generally, we recommend treatments that will save teeth, but when a tooth is so damaged that it cannot be saved, extraction is the best choice. Extraction might be best for
Teeth that are fractured below the gum line.
Severe tooth decay.
Advanced periodontal disease.
Primary teeth that are too crowded or not falling out properly.
An impacted wisdom tooth.
Taking care of yourself after the extraction
To minimize problems after your tooth is removed, you’ll need to follow our post-operative instructions carefully, especially for the first 24 hours. These instructions will explain how to control bleeding, how to relieve pain and minimize swelling, how to prevent dry socket, and what to eat and not eat.
The benefits of extracting teeth
An extraction is sometimes the best treatment choice for preventing many future dental problems. Depending on your situation, these problems might include the risk of infection, the spread of periodontal disease, cysts in the jawbone, or severely crowded or misaligned teeth.
When a tooth needs a restoration, sometimes the best choice is a gold crown. A gold crown is precision-crafted in a dental laboratory, so it may take two or more appointments to restore your tooth with a gold crown.
Placing a gold crown
On your first visit, we numb the area to make you comfortable. We may also use a rubber dam to protect your mouth and the back of your throat while we work. Using the handpiece, we remove any decay and shape the tooth, so it will securely hold the crown. Next, we take an impression of your teeth. The dental lab uses this impression to make an accurate model of your mouth; then they use the model to create a crown that precisely fits your tooth and bite. In the meantime, we often place a temporary crown to protect your tooth. On your next visit, we remove the temporary crown and try in your new gold crown. We check the fit and your bite, and when everything is right, we cement the crown in place.
The benefits of a gold crown
A gold crown has several benefits. Like all crowns, it covers and protects your tooth. But in addition, a gold crown is
Gentle on opposing teeth when you chew.
Very strong, so it withstands heavy biting forces.
Composite resins, or tooth-colored fillings, provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small- to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They can be used on either front or back teeth. They are a good choice for people who prefer that their fillings look more natural. Tooth-colored fillings are now used more often than amalgam or gold fillings, probably due to cosmetics. In a society focused on a white, bright smile, people tend to want fillings that blend with the natural color of their teeth.
What’s in Your Mouth?
To understand what happens when your teeth decay, it’s helpful to know what’s in your mouth naturally. Here are a few of the elements:
Saliva — Your mouth and teeth are constantly bathed in saliva. We never give much thought to our spit, but this fluid is remarkable for what it does to help protect our oral health. Saliva keeps teeth and other parts of your mouth moist and washes away bits of food. Saliva contains minerals that strengthen teeth. It includes buffering agents. They reduce the levels of acid that can decay teeth. Saliva also protects against some viruses and bacteria.
Plaque — Plaque is a soft, gooey substance that sticks to the teeth a bit like jam sticks to a spoon. Like the slime that clings to the bottom of a swimming pool, plaque is a type of biofilm. It contains large numbers of closely packed bacteria, components taken from saliva, and bits of food. Also in the mix are bacterial byproducts and white blood cells. Plaque grows when bacteria attach to the tooth and begin to multiply. Plaque starts forming right after a tooth is cleaned. Within an hour, there’s enough to measure. As time goes on, the plaque thickens. Within two to six hours, the plaque teems with bacteria that can cause cavities and periodontal (gum) disease.
Calculus — If left alone long enough, plaque absorbs minerals from saliva. These minerals form crystals and harden into calculus. Then new plaque forms on top of existing calculus. This new layer can also become hard.
Bacteria — We have many types of bacteria in our mouths. Some bacteria are good; they help control destructive bacteria. When it comes to decay, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli are the bacteria that cause the most damage to teeth.
How Your Teeth Decay
The bacteria in your mouth need food to live and multiply. When you eat sugary foods, or even starches such as rice, the bacteria use them as food, too. The bacteria then produce acids that can dissolve tooth enamel (outer layer of the tooth).
It’s not just candy and ice cream we’re talking about. All carbohydrate foods eventually break down into simple sugars. Some of this process begins in the mouth.
Foods that break down into simple sugars in the mouth are called fermentable carbohydrates. These include the obvious sugary foods, such as cookies, cakes, soft drinks and candy. But they also include pretzels, crackers, bananas, potato chips and breakfast cereals.
Bacteria in your mouth turn the sugars in these foods into acids. These acids begin to dissolve the mineral crystals in teeth. The more times you eat each day, the more times your teeth are exposed to an acid attack.
This attack can lead to tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities. First, the acid begins to dissolve calcium and phosphate crystals inside a tooth. A white spot may appear on the enamel in this weakened area. But the loss of minerals develops beneath the surface of the enamel. The surface may still be smooth.
At this stage, the tooth can be repaired with the help of fluoride, proteins and minerals (calcium and phosphate) in the saliva. The saliva also helps reduce the acid levels from bacteria that attack the tooth.
Once the decay breaks through the enamel to cause a cavity, the damage is permanent. A dentist must clean out the decay and fill the cavity. Left untreated, the decay will get worse. It can destroy a tooth all the way through the enamel, through the inside dentin layer and down to the pulp or nerve of the tooth. That’s why it is important to treat caries at a very early stage, when the process can be reversed.
When all your upper or lower teeth are missing, a full denture is a good treatment for replacing them.
With proper home care and regular adjustments and relines, your denture can provide a functional bite and a natural-looking smile.
The benefits of a full denture
Dentures have many benefits. When your natural teeth are missing, dentures enable you to eat nutritious foods more easily and to speak more clearly. In addition, they support your lips and cheeks for a more attractive and youthful appearance.
Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases. Depending on your needs, your dentist will design a partial denture for you. A partial denture may have a metal framework and clasps that connect to your teeth, or they can have other connectors that are more natural looking. In some cases, a removable partial denture is made to attach to your natural teeth with devices called precision attachments. Precision attachments are generally more esthetic than clasps.
Crowns on your natural teeth are sometimes needed to improve the fit of a removable partial denture and they are usually required with attachments. Partial dentures with precision attachments generally cost more than those with clasps. Consult with your dentist to find out which type is right for you.
