Dental Care for Seniors
Our teeth and gums show signs of wear, tear, and age, like our bodies do. Years of use in chewing, drinking caffeine, smoking, and taking medications can all add up to undesirable changes that show on your teeth. Teeth may be worn down and uneven. Dark stains cannot be removed with daily brushing. And the flow of saliva through the mouth may be reduced by certain medicines.
Fillings loosen and allow the start of decay on the tooth or even at the roots. Teeth may have hairline fractures from old fillings that need replacement. Regular visits allow us to keep on top of any of these problems. Gum disease and root decay are also very common conditions for seniors and require immediate attention. If you experience loose teeth, bleeding, or inflamed and red gums, please contact us immediately.
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
Learn more about the treatment for abscessed teeth.
What is Tooth Sensitivity?Tooth sensitivity is a common name for dentin hypersensitivity or root sensitivity. If hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing in cold air, makes your teeth or a tooth sensitive or painful then you have sensitive teeth.
Is Tooth Sensitivity Common? Tooth sensitivity is very common and it has been estimated that approximately half the population experiences tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time.
Why does Tooth Sensitivity (Dentin Hypersensitivity) Happen? Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by dentin on root areas exposed due to receded gums or periodontal disease. Receded gums are very common and up to four fifths of people have gum recession by the time they are 65.
When the root of a tooth becomes exposed it does not have a layer of enamel like the crowns of your teeth. Instead the roots have a very soft covering called cementum, which once lost leaves the dentin of the root exposed. Overzealous brushing or using a very abrasive toothpaste can also cause abrasion of the tooth's enamel surface and expose dentin. A very acidic diet - for example a diet with a lot of citrus food, pickles or sodapop - can cause tooth erosion and dissolve the tooth surface, exposing the dentin. Bulimia and GERD can also result in dental erosion and sensitivity due to acid in the mouth.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
Watertown Dental Care600 4th Street NE, Suite 207Watertown, SD 57201(605) 882-0747WatertownDentalCare.com
The Best Cavity Preventive Treatment for Children
Even careful brushing and flossing may not clean the back teeth thoroughly. As bacteria build up and teeth are exposed to more acid, plaque forms and eventually develops into cavities. Even the smallest cavity is permanent damage that needs a restoration. The good news is there is a quick and easy way to help prevent cavities. Dental sealants that are applied when a patient is still in his or her formative years have proven to greatly reduce the development of cavities.
After the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, one clear coat of dental sealants is applied to the surface area of each tooth. A curing light is used to bond the application to the tooth. And that is the whole procedure! There is no tooth reduction, shots, or drilling. It is completely painless and takes just minutes to apply. This treatment is one of the best techniques for both children and adolescents to preserve their own teeth throughout their lives.
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
Symptoms And Treatment Of Tooth Abscess
If you have a toothache that goes beyond mild to moderate tooth pain and reaches a level of severe, throbbing pain, it could be a sign of a tooth abscess. A tooth abscess is a pus-filled lesion at the roots of a tooth, and is caused by an infection. The first sign is a throbbing toothache that won’t go away.
At first, the tooth will likely be sensitive to chewing and biting, as well as to heat and cold. You also may develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes in your jaw or neck, or swelling on your face.
If the abscess ruptures, you’ll know because of the nasty-tasting discharge in your mouth. Although the pain may recede if the abscess ruptures, you still need to be treated by a dentist in order to get rid of the infection, save the tooth and avoid complications. If the abscess doesn’t rupture, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. This is not a problem to ignore.
Treatment will likely include draining the abscess if it hasn’t ruptured. Your dentist also may recommend that you take over-the-counter pain relievers, rinse your mouth with warm salt water, and take antibiotics. More severe abscesses may require a root canal to remove infected tissue, and the worst cases require extraction of the tooth.
A tooth abscess can get its start as an untreated tooth cavity, so the best way to prevent an abscess is to prevent the cavity in the first place by following a consistent oral health routine of twice daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. Regular visits to your dentist are important too, especially if you’ve been treated for an abscess. This allows your dentist to confirm that the infection has cleared.
The above article is from: OralB.com
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
The best way to find out why a tooth is sensitive is to have dental professional examine you. They can look for the signs of dentin exposure, and run tests to determine what the true cause of the sensitivity is. Sometimes, the sensitivity is due to a cavity or gum disease - these can be treated to address the sensitivity. Other times, the cause of the sensitivity is because the enamel has been lost through abrasion or erosion, or the gums have receded, causing the roots to be exposed.
What Can Be Done?If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.
However, if the cause is from dentin being exposed, then there are a number of professional and at home treatments that can be used to reduce the sensitivity.
In Office Procedures:
- Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin
- Fluoride foam or gel can be placed into a mouth tray; you then sit with this in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas
- Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity
At Home:
- Use a very soft bristle tooth brush, with low abrasive tooth paste
- Brush correctly and do not over brush
- Use a tooth paste specially formulated to soothe the nerve endings in the tooth
- Use a high concentration fluoride toothpaste (given to you by the dental professional) to strengthen the tooth surface
There are a number of treatments available, and your dental professional can help you find those that will work best, depending on your situation. Always seek a dental professional's help - do not try to diagnose this problem yourself. It may be the sign of something more serious, and only a dental professional can tell you what it really is.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
Watertown Dental Care600 4th Street NE, Suite 207Watertown, SD 57201(605) 882-0747WatertownDentalCare.com
Straight
Teeth in Just Six Months – No Kidding!
If
you never had braces as a child and needed them, you may still
be hiding your smile behind your hand. Many adults would love to
have a beautiful smile with straight, even teeth, but cannot
commit to long-term correction.
You will be very happy to learn of Six Month Smiles™, an
innovative technique that changes only the teeth that are
noticeable when you smile. This accelerated method takes care of
overlapping, crowding, and gaps in just six months and sometimes
even less time!
These braces are barely noticeable because the brackets are
clear and the wires white or clear. They work with a low-force
method and are comfortable to wear. The shorter amount of
wearing time allows for better hygiene for a clean look when
treatment is completed. And Six Month Smiles is very affordable
– less expensive than veneers, aligners, or traditional braces.
Be ready to welcome your new smile in just six months!
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
Cold Sores and Canker Sores Compared
It’s easy to confuse cold sores and canker sores.
Unlike a cold sore, a canker sore is not contagious, and it appears on the inside tissues of the mouth rather than the outer surface of the lip (which is where cold sores appear). A canker sore, also known as an apthous ulcer, looks like a small, round or oval lesion that has a white or yellowish center surrounded by red. They tend to be indented, like a crater, rather than raised, like a bump.
Canker sores most often appear on the inside of the cheeks and lips or at the base of the gum. Canker sores are not usually associated with bleeding gums, so if you are experiencing bleeding gums you should see your dentist to be evaluated for possible gum disease.
The majority of canker sores are mild. Mild canker sores are less than one-third of an inch long and usually heal on their own after a few weeks.
But major apthous ulcers, defined as larger than 10 mm in size, can take more than a month to heal and can cause scarring when they finally do heal. So it’s important to visit your doctor or dentist if you have a canker sore that has persisted for more than a few weeks. These large ulcers are most common in young adults after puberty, and they are more likely to recur than smaller sores. Older adults are more prone to herpetiform lesions, in which dozens of tiny lesions group together to form a large ulcer.
The exact cause of canker sores remains uncertain, but possible factors include an allergic reaction to bacteria in the mouth, a minor injury to the inside of the mouth due to dental work or poorly fitting dental appliances, food allergies or health problems, such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Although most canker sores resolve on their own, if you have a large or stubborn lesion, your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic mouth rinse, topical paste to apply to the lesion, or a nutritional supplement if poor nutrition may be the cause of the canker sore.
The above article is from: OralB.com
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
The Main Reason for Tooth Loss
Most people think that teeth are mostly lost due to decay. But the most common reason is gum disease. Sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms up to the point of losing your teeth. Bleeding gums from brushing or flossing and shifting or loose teeth are signs of gum infection. If treated in the earlier stages of the problem, there are nonsurgical methods to reverse the problem. Once the infection has been chronic, surgery may be the only option.
Gum Disease Has an Effect on Serious Health Conditions
You may be surprised to hear the conclusions of recent medical research. Bacterial infections of the gums can contribute to strokes, diabetes, and respiratory and heart illnesses. As these conditions can be fatal, dentists are now regarding gum disease as a very serious problem. The American Dental Association has provided statistics that indicate 80% of Americans have gum disease. Dentists regard this high percentage to be an epidemic and now consider periodontal disease to be a bigger problem than just losing your teeth.
The bacteria in the gums travels throughout the bloodstream, affecting vital and life-giving areas of the body. The American Academy of Periodontology reports that “studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.”
Easier Treatment for Gum Disease
When gum disease is detected early, there are various nonsurgical methods that can work well to reverse the condition. Surgery may be necessary if the infection is advanced, and it is typically successful in controlling periodontal disease. Both levels of care are usually provided for by most dental insurance coverages.
Is There a Problem with a Missing Tooth?
Yes, even one missing tooth can allow other teeth to shift. This is not good as chewing can be affected and fewer nutrients will be absorbed from the food. It may become more difficult to chew raw fruits and vegetables and instead, softer foods of a higher calorie content may be consumed more often. This can result in unwanted weight gain. Fuller facial contours may be lost without a full set of teeth, which can change the shape of your face to make you look older. Your speech may not always be easy to understand. You can avoid these problems with the replacement of lost teeth with dental implants. They look and perform just like real teeth, and they will feel like they are your natural teeth.
Treating Bleeding or Receding Gums or Chronic Bad Breath
These symptoms are usually an indication of periodontal (gum) disease. The American Dental Association has indicated that most Americans aged 33 to 45 have gum disease at some stage – 90% of the population in this age group! Treatments vary and include deep cleaning, scaling, and surgery. We also offer a very effective, FDA-approved treatment that is an alternative to surgery. With Perio Protect™, you can treat your gums effectively without surgery. It is painless and produces great results. It is easy to do – you simply insert trays that resemble teeth whitening trays over your dental arches. When the necessary medication is just applied to the area, saliva washes it away. But when applied with the trays, Perio Protect maintains the medicine where it needs to be for the amount of time for its ultimate effectiveness. This means less time for healing and returning your gums to a healthy state.
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
What Are TMJ Diseases And Disorders?
TMJ diseases and disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain in and around the jaw joint (called the Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ) and nearby muscles. Jaw problems affect a person's ability to speak, eat, chew, swallow and even breathe.
What Are Symptoms Of TMJ?
Pain is the most common symptom of TMJ; however, some people have no pain but still have problems using their jaws. Specific symptoms include:
Face pain
Pain in the jaw joint and nearby areas, including the ear
Back pain
Inability to open the mouth comfortably
Clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joint
Locking of the jaw when attempting to open the mouth
Headaches
A bite that is uncomfortable or feels “off”
Swelling on the side of the face, neck or shoulder
Other symptoms may include ringing in the ears, decreased hearing, dizziness and vision problems.
Keep in mind that occasional discomfort in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is common and is not a cause for concern. Many people with TMJ problems get better without treatment. Often the problem goes away on its own in several weeks to months.
To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
