Dental Info

Experienced dentists, almost by definition, have made many dental mistakes in their past. That may be why sometimes they are better able to avoid them now.   If they are estute they tend to see potential problems in advance and take evasive action before they cause unexpected negative outcomes. I sometimes see this while teaching dental students. Prior to starting a dental procedure I go over any special circumstances I detect involving a patients tooth that may make a successful outcome less likely. At times, probably due to their relative inexperience, a student isn't completely aware of the problem or possibly doesn't have a viable strategy for dealing with it, so that a good outcome would be more likely. I am not criticizing them, since all dentists, even grizzled veterans like myself, have been there before. The point is that when you haven't experienced a particular problem, you may not be as likely to see it coming. This is exactly the point mentioned in a recent...

 Often when dentists place a filling or cement a restoration, excess filling or cement can remain adjacent to a newly placed restoration. This "flash" is what I am referring to. Although this excess can be difficult to detect to a patient or a dentist looking at a new filling or crown, it creates a hiding place for plaque that will cause gingival inflammation and can even cause eventual bone loss. Often this excess is not visible because it is sub gingival and only can be detected with a sharp explorer, positioned at the correct angle. After I place a restoration, I always use a piggy tail explorer to seek out any possible "flash" and if I detect it, I will either clean it off with a curette, scaler or use a tiny fine diamond to smooth the interface so that no flash remains. Where dental restorations are concerned, smooth "margins" ( the termination of a dental restoration) are clearly more biocompatible than rough ones. Some really great looking restora...

Someone once said, “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.” How true!  While it can be frustrating to watch your health change as you age, you don’t have to accept poor oral health and tooth loss as just an inevitable part of the aging process. Your oral health is just as important now as it has ever been, and it has a great deal to do with your overall health and wellness. When it comes to senior dentistry and oral health, Dr. James Fili shares the top concerns you may have, and how to address them. Gum Disease A shocking 70% of adults over 65 years of age have gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among seniors. Gum disease is your body’s way of trying to kill germs that infect and inflame gum tissues.  Chronic exposure to inflammation in the body quadruples your chance of developing Alzheimer’s later in life, according to the American Dental Association . ...

Cancer is always a scary word—but it doesn’t have to be the last word. Equipped with good information and the best doctors, you can feel empowered to navigate whatever stands before you or your loved one. Oral cancer is common, affecting approximately 50,000 Americans every year. If you have more questions about oral cancer, read more below from Natural Smiles Dentistry in Salt Lake City. Signs of Oral Cancer Oral cancer is most common among people ages 41-60, and men are at a greater risk of developing it than women. Oral cancer can affect your tongue, cheeks, lips, sinuses, throat, teeth, gums, and roof of the mouth or below your tongue.  Unfortunately, it is often detected later than many other types of cancer. This is one reason why it’s so important to know your body and what’s normal (or not) for you. The earlier you can detect any sign of changes in your mouth, the better.  Regular visits to the dentist include regular screenings for abnormalities that may be signs...

Most Portland folks have had some exposure to the concept of wisdom teeth. Perhaps you have had yours removed, are considering a removal, or Dr. David Case has just shown you an X-ray with the dreaded third molars creeping into view. It’s common to hear patients ask how they are removed, but we rarely hear people talking about the reasons for getting rid of wisdom teeth. Today, we at Family Dental Health are going to explain what wisdom teeth are, why they don’t deserve to stay in your mouth, and how we can help! What are Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth are the third set of adult molars. Unlike the rest of your adult teeth, they appear many years later, typically between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people get four wisdom teeth (one in each back corner), but some get fewer, some get more, and some lucky folks never get any. Despite their name, wisdom teeth do not confer any special knowledge or enlightenment upon their owners. They just happen to show up later in life than the rest. W...

Xerostomia is the technical term for dry mouth, the condition that results from absent or reduced saliva flow. It is not a disease on its own, but it may be a side effect of medication or radiation treatments.  Xerostomia affects about 20% of the elderly population—not because of their age, but due to the increased likelihood of using medication or having radiation therapy that causes dry mouth. The Las Vegas dentists of Wagner Dental are here to discuss some foods and beverages to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth. Food & Beverages that Help Dry Mouth 8-12 glasses of water per day is ideal to keep saliva production on track, so making a habit of carrying a water bottle with you is a great idea. Sugar-free juices, reduced-sugar sports drinks, club soda, and herbal tea with lemon are good beverage choices when you just can’t stand the idea of drinking any more water. A soft, high-protein diet is recommended for people with dry mouth. Substitute moist fish, eggs, and chees...

You love your teeth. You brush them twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly. Right? We love your teeth, too! In fact, there’s so much to know about caring for your oral health that dentistry has quite a few categories of specialties and different kinds of dentists. The primary dentist in your life should be your family dentist, also known as a general dentist. Your family dentist is whom you will see most often for dental checkups. But how exactly is family dentistry different from other kinds of dentistry? St. Augustine dentists Drs. Jeremy Gordon and Sarah Hutson share more below about family dentistry. Types of Dentistry All dentists have an undergraduate degree and then go on to about four years of dental school. This earns them either a doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) or doctorate of dental surgery (DDS). To become more specialized, the dentist will need additional education and clinical experience. General Dentist : A family dentist is a general den...