Prevention

Tooth Decay Detection & Prevention

Tooth decay is a progressive disease resulting in the interaction of bacteria that naturally occur on the teeth and sugars in the everyday diet. Sugar causes a reaction in the bacteria, causing it to produce acids that break down the mineral in teeth, forming a cavity. Dentists remove the decay and fill the tooth using a variety of fillings, restoring the tooth to a healthy state. Nerve damage can result from severe decay and may require a crown (a crown is like a large filling that can cap a tooth, making it stronger or covering it). Avoiding unnecessary decay simply requires strict adherence to a dental hygiene regimen: brushing and flossing twice a day, regular dental checkups, diet control and fluoride treatment. Practicing good hygiene avoids unhealthy teeth and costly treatment. Using Laser Cavity Detection enables us to find beginning cavities before they become large cavities with greater expense to treat.

Sealants

The grooves and depressions that form the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean of bacteria and food. As the bacteria reacts with the food, acids form and break down the tooth enamel, causing cavities. Recent studies indicate that 88 percent of total cavities in American school children are caused this way.

Tooth sealants protect these susceptible areas by sealing the grooves and depressions, preventing bacteria and food particles from residing in these areas. Sealant material is a resin typically applied to the back teeth, molars and premolars and areas prone to cavities. It lasts for several years but needs to be checked during regular appointments.

Fluoride

Fluoride is generally not used in our office as there are a number of possible side effects, however controversial. Instead a fluoride varnish, which has been shown to be very effective, is recommended for those individuals with repetitive decay or those individuals seeking to  prevent decay in suspicious areas of their mouth.

Newer agents such as MI paste with amorphous calcium phosphate have been shown to be effective in preventing or healing pre-cavity areas for those wishing to avoid fluoride altogether.

Xylitol gum and or toothpaste has been shown to reduce the bacteria causing decay.

Thumb Sucking

Sucking is a natural reflex that relaxes and comforts babies and toddlers. Children usually cease thumb sucking when the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Typically, children stop between the ages of 2 and 4 years. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of primary teeth can cause improper growth of the mouth and misalignment of the teeth. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous thumb sucking behavior in your child, talk to your dentist.

Here are some ways to help your child outgrow thumb sucking:

  • Don’t scold a child when they exhibit thumb sucking behavior; instead, praise them when they don’t thumb suck.
  • Focus on eliminating the cause of anxiety—thumb sucking is a comfort device that helps children cope with stress or discomfort.
  • Praise them when they refrain from the habit during difficult periods.
  • Place a bandage on the thumb or a sock on their hand at night.

Early Cancer Screening

With oral cancer on the rise it has become increasingly important to not only perform a cancer exam by palpation of the oral structures but to use state-of-the-art chemoilluminescent testing to assess the presence of hidden pre-cancerous or cancerous areas. If found, a simple biopsy called ORAL CDX can be used to verify what type of lesion it may be.

Temporomandibular (Jaw joint, TMJ Screening)

The "Temporomandibular Joint," more commonly referred to as the "jaw joint," assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that "popping" sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a "popping" sound is present when chewing or talking.

We offer a TMJ exam that evaluates the joint tissue in the "hinge" of the jaw. Possible problems include swelling, deterioration of the joint tissue or damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth). Common pain relievers and cold compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ.

For more serious cases of TMJ, we will recommend alternate treatments. Often, we will suggest using a mouth guard to relieve teeth grinding. In some cases, we will instruct you to use orthodontic appliances or retainers to alleviate discomfort or redirect positioning of the TMJ joint. For the most severe cases of TMJ, we may recommend certain invasive procedures.

Depending on the problems you may be experiencing with your jaw joints, a more involved examination may be necessary to determine the extent of pathology (disease) of the joints.

Often individuals that have a jaw joint problem also have a cervical (neck) problem that  is being perpepuated by  the jaw problem either through a bad bite or a parafuntional (clenching, grinding) habit.  90% of individuals that due clench or grind their teeth, during sleep, are not aware of it  and are needlessly spending time and money on other forms of treatment that may not be totally effective over the long run.  It also should be noted that TMJ problems may be associated with sleep disorders.  Some of the symptoms  of sleep disorders include  snoring, insomnia, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, narcolepsy ,  and depression to mention a few.  A simple in office test can assist in determining your chances of having a sleep disorder.