Almost everyone, young and old alike, have suffered to some degree from the pain of sensitive teeth. And, whether it is sensitivity to cold liquids, hot liquids, cold air, sugary food, it is always an annoying and worrying thing indeed. However, what causes teeth to be sensitive in the first place? Does it mean that there is something wrong with them?
Not necessarily. Regardless of what has caused this to happen, almost all incidences of sensitive teeth are due to the exposure of the dentin, with is is the soft layer of your teeth that is usually safely protected by enamel, and having areas of your teeth that do not have enough enamel is not necessarily a cause for extreme alarm, much of the time. It really depends on what has caused the enamel to wear away in the first place that is the biggest concern.
For instance, receding gums, the first stage of gum disease, can often cause sensitive teeth, due to the lack of enamel on the part of the tooth that used to be protected by the gum. Receding gums should always be monitored, and can be minimized by such simple actions as consistent brushing and staying away from acidic foods and drinks.
Speaking of acidic foods and drinks, another common culprit for causing teeth to be sensitive is the over-consumption of acidic drinks like coffee, tea and especially sodas, which are high in both sugar (which can irritate teeth and increase sensitivity) and acid. So, if you are trying to get to the root of your sensitive teeth problem, cutting down on these sorts of beverages would be a great place to start.
Believe it or not, another common cause of sensitive teeth is brushing too hard! I know; to many this can seem a somewhat counter-intuitive proposition, but the fact of the matter is that if you use too stiff of a brush, or brush with too much force (which some of us might do because we are attempting in vain to make up for not brushing frequently enough), you are actually wearing the protective coating of enamel off of your teeth, which can make them quite sensitive indeed. So, be sure to buy a toothbrush with soft bristles, and gently and thoroughly brush often (instead of trying to make up for skipped brushing sessions all at once!). Brushing regularly will also help avoid plague build up, which can lead to gum disease, and then; you got it, more sensitive teeth!
Also, having your teeth whitened will often make them extremely sensitive for a certain amount of time after the treatments. Be sure to use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth during those times. In fact, some dentists have recently started recommending that all of their patients always use this type of toothpaste since it is especially formulated to be gentle to your teeth's enamel coating.
Other causes: overly acidic mouth washes (try to find one that doesn't have alcohol in it), grinding your teeth (dentists make special mouth gaurds that can help with this one) and dehydration (you guessed it: make sure you drink enough water!).
So, in nut shell, there is a whole cornocopia of potential causes for sensitive teeth, some of them more serious than others. No matter what, don't put off seeing your dentist and telling him or her about the problem. They are there to help you, and can usually quite easily pinpoint the cause of this annoying sort of discomfort. And, they even have special treatments that they can do that can often cut down your sensitivity right away whle you work on changing whatever habit you had that caused your teeth to become so sensitive in the first place.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
All About Dental Bridges
No matter how careful you are with your teeth, sometimes unforeseen things like accidents or even gum disease can lead to missing teeth. When this happens, there are several different methods that can be used to replace the tooth, the easiest and most relatively inexpensive being the use of a dental bridge.
Indeed, a dental bridge is the perfect solution for someone who has suffered the loss of a molar, and has two healthy teeth adjacent to the spot where the missing tooth was originally. In this scenario, your dentist will more than likely suggest the use of a dental bridge, using the aforementioned healthy teeth to hold the new replacement tooth (called a "pontic") in place. Depending on the given circumstances surrounding the place where the bridge will be installed, and the preference of the patient his or herself, dental bridges can either be temporary or permanent.
The permanent option requires that the adjacent teeth be altered considerably, so that they can be crowned (see last month's "The Lowdown on Dental Crowns") so that the bridge has something to attach to on either side of the installation, therefore holding the artificial tooth securly in place. Common materials for permanent bridges are gold, porcelain and even porcelain fused together with metals. There are also resin-bonded bridges, but these are only used in cases where patients have very healthy teeth, and where missing tooth is not located near the back of the mouth, where most of the chewing takes place. Indeed, this type of bridge is usually only used when front teeth are missing.
If, however, a temporary, or "Maryland" bridge is all that is required, there is a special method in which your dentist will affix the artificial tooth using "wings" that wrap around the rear and far sides of the adjacent teeth, essentially tying the fake tooth to the adjacent real ones on either side. Temporary bridges are, as the term denotes, far more temporary than permanent ones. They are more prone to breaking and having the "wings" come unglued from the sides of the adjacent real teeth. Plus, there is the unsightly metal "wings" themselves, and, although there are more natural looking plastic wings, they are considerably more expensive, and often do not last as long as the metal ones.
Just like having a crown installed, having a dental bridge put in usually requires two visits to your dentist's office. At the first appointment, your dentist will shape your adjacent teeth and take a mold of them, so that his or her laboratory can craft both the two crowns and one artificial tooth necessary for the assembly of the bridge. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will usually be installed to carry you through the usually week-long process of creating your dental bridge assembly.
The process of having a bridge installed is usually not a very painful one. In fact, the most common complaint people usual have is an increased sensitivity to the teeth that are adjacent to the artificial one, but this usually diminishes over time. However, if you experience any serious pain or discomfort after undergoing this common dental procedure, we would advise that you see your dentist immediately to make sure that all has, indeed, gone according to plan with your new dental bridge.
Indeed, a dental bridge is the perfect solution for someone who has suffered the loss of a molar, and has two healthy teeth adjacent to the spot where the missing tooth was originally. In this scenario, your dentist will more than likely suggest the use of a dental bridge, using the aforementioned healthy teeth to hold the new replacement tooth (called a "pontic") in place. Depending on the given circumstances surrounding the place where the bridge will be installed, and the preference of the patient his or herself, dental bridges can either be temporary or permanent.
The permanent option requires that the adjacent teeth be altered considerably, so that they can be crowned (see last month's "The Lowdown on Dental Crowns") so that the bridge has something to attach to on either side of the installation, therefore holding the artificial tooth securly in place. Common materials for permanent bridges are gold, porcelain and even porcelain fused together with metals. There are also resin-bonded bridges, but these are only used in cases where patients have very healthy teeth, and where missing tooth is not located near the back of the mouth, where most of the chewing takes place. Indeed, this type of bridge is usually only used when front teeth are missing.
If, however, a temporary, or "Maryland" bridge is all that is required, there is a special method in which your dentist will affix the artificial tooth using "wings" that wrap around the rear and far sides of the adjacent teeth, essentially tying the fake tooth to the adjacent real ones on either side. Temporary bridges are, as the term denotes, far more temporary than permanent ones. They are more prone to breaking and having the "wings" come unglued from the sides of the adjacent real teeth. Plus, there is the unsightly metal "wings" themselves, and, although there are more natural looking plastic wings, they are considerably more expensive, and often do not last as long as the metal ones.
Just like having a crown installed, having a dental bridge put in usually requires two visits to your dentist's office. At the first appointment, your dentist will shape your adjacent teeth and take a mold of them, so that his or her laboratory can craft both the two crowns and one artificial tooth necessary for the assembly of the bridge. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will usually be installed to carry you through the usually week-long process of creating your dental bridge assembly.
The process of having a bridge installed is usually not a very painful one. In fact, the most common complaint people usual have is an increased sensitivity to the teeth that are adjacent to the artificial one, but this usually diminishes over time. However, if you experience any serious pain or discomfort after undergoing this common dental procedure, we would advise that you see your dentist immediately to make sure that all has, indeed, gone according to plan with your new dental bridge.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Low-down on Dental Crowns
No matter how well we treat our teeth, the nature of our modern diet and certain hereditary predispositions makes is so that almost everyone ends up getting at least one cavity at some point in their life, and a large percentage of us will also end up getting at least one dental crown as well. But, what is a dental crown, anyway? Well, read on to find out more..
Basically, in a nut shell, dental crowns are used to repair teeth that have been damaged either through decay or injury, and are also used to support dental bridges and restore dental implants (we'll cover these two dental procedures in upcoming posts). Dental crowns, as their name implies, sit atop the damaged tooth, and are thus shaped like an actual tooth. They are made of metal and ceramic, the type of material used usually being determined by the type of damage the tooth underneath has indeed suffered, metal crowns being less popular because they do not resemble the color of natural teeth in any way, and are thus much more visibly obvious.
However, metal crowns (which can be made with many types of metal, gold and nickel to list just a few), are also much stronger and more durable than their ceramic counterparts, and thus are often considered the best choice for that reason, depending on the severity of the damage to the tooth it is supposed to rectify. Ceramic crowns, on the other hand, are usually made from porcelain or synthetic resins, and often preferred by patients because they more so resemble human teeth, being more or less the same color and even having a similar way in which light reflects off of them as well.
So, you might be wondering what undergoing a dental crown procedure entails (especially if you stumbled on this article because you are about to have one, I suppose!). Well, dental crown procedures are basically comprised of two steps, the first being the removal of thin layers of enamel from the tooth to be crowned, as well as some enamel layers from adjacent teeth. This is done in order to make sure that the tightest merging possible is obtained between the crown and the natural tooth underneath. An impression mold of the to-be-crowned tooth is then taken, and the crown itself is then created in a dental laboratory, which usually takes about two weeks or so. In the meantime your dentist will give you what is called a temporary crown that will be placed on the tooth until the permanent one as been created. Then you will have to go back to the dentist to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent one cemented firmly in its place.
The lifetime of a dental crown can be as long as 15 years if proper oral hygiene is practiced by the individual in possession of the crown. After this amount of time, crowns usually need to be replaced, but not always. Of course, on the other hand, sometimes crowns need to be replaced much earlier due to wear, further dental decay, or having been improperly affixed by the dentist in the first place.
So, there you have it, the low-down on dental crowns. Like we said earlier, having to undergo dental procedures like crowns can often, but not always, be avoided if one eats right and practices good oral hygiene. However, if you have suffered a broken or damaged tooth, you can definitely benefit from this modern, relatively painless dental procedure.
Basically, in a nut shell, dental crowns are used to repair teeth that have been damaged either through decay or injury, and are also used to support dental bridges and restore dental implants (we'll cover these two dental procedures in upcoming posts). Dental crowns, as their name implies, sit atop the damaged tooth, and are thus shaped like an actual tooth. They are made of metal and ceramic, the type of material used usually being determined by the type of damage the tooth underneath has indeed suffered, metal crowns being less popular because they do not resemble the color of natural teeth in any way, and are thus much more visibly obvious.
However, metal crowns (which can be made with many types of metal, gold and nickel to list just a few), are also much stronger and more durable than their ceramic counterparts, and thus are often considered the best choice for that reason, depending on the severity of the damage to the tooth it is supposed to rectify. Ceramic crowns, on the other hand, are usually made from porcelain or synthetic resins, and often preferred by patients because they more so resemble human teeth, being more or less the same color and even having a similar way in which light reflects off of them as well.
So, you might be wondering what undergoing a dental crown procedure entails (especially if you stumbled on this article because you are about to have one, I suppose!). Well, dental crown procedures are basically comprised of two steps, the first being the removal of thin layers of enamel from the tooth to be crowned, as well as some enamel layers from adjacent teeth. This is done in order to make sure that the tightest merging possible is obtained between the crown and the natural tooth underneath. An impression mold of the to-be-crowned tooth is then taken, and the crown itself is then created in a dental laboratory, which usually takes about two weeks or so. In the meantime your dentist will give you what is called a temporary crown that will be placed on the tooth until the permanent one as been created. Then you will have to go back to the dentist to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent one cemented firmly in its place.
The lifetime of a dental crown can be as long as 15 years if proper oral hygiene is practiced by the individual in possession of the crown. After this amount of time, crowns usually need to be replaced, but not always. Of course, on the other hand, sometimes crowns need to be replaced much earlier due to wear, further dental decay, or having been improperly affixed by the dentist in the first place.
So, there you have it, the low-down on dental crowns. Like we said earlier, having to undergo dental procedures like crowns can often, but not always, be avoided if one eats right and practices good oral hygiene. However, if you have suffered a broken or damaged tooth, you can definitely benefit from this modern, relatively painless dental procedure.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Dental Assistants/Hygienists; A Closer Look
Without question, dental assistants are the great unsung heroes of any successful dental office. And, it's no wonder; the smile and general demeanor of the dental assistant is often the first impression a patient gets once they are finally invited out of the waiting room and into the treatment room itself. So, for this reason alone, dental assistants and hygienists have a huge influence over how the atmosphere of a dental office is expressed to the patients, whether they are receiving a general cleaning or a major dental procedure.
However, the importance and significance of dental assistants and hygienists goes far beyond just making the patient feel comfortable. Indeed, the dental assistant or hygienist is the right-hand-man or -woman to the dentist, and, when operating in full sync with the dentist in question, almost become an extension of him or her. For instance; it is the dental assistant that will first prepare the patient for any sort of procedure, who will pull out the patient's file for the perusal of the dentist, who will be present in the treatment room if any sort of assistance to the dentist is necessary. Indeed, whatever treatment you are undergoing, you are most likely to have more interaction with the dentist's assistant than you are with the dentist themselves (this, of course, also allows the dentist the luxury of being able to treat more patients at once, thereby increasing efficiency and driving dental costs down).
So, at this point you may be asking yourself, "what is the difference between a dental assistant and dental hygienist, anyway?". Well, although people often end up using both terms interchangeably, they are indeed two different things. A dental assistant's duties include, but are not necessarily limited to; assisting the dentist during most treatment procedures, taking (and developing) dental X-rays, making sure that all the dentist's tools are sterilized and clean, pulling and re-filing of dental records, making impression molds of patient's teeth, teaching proper brushing and flossing techniques, and, as mentioned before, meeting with patients before and after any dental procedure. Most states will allow anyone who has completed a year-long course to receive a dental assistant's certificate.
The dental hygienist, on the other hand, must usually receive a 2-4 year associate's or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene in order to become certified. And, along with sharing in common all of the duties and responsibilities of the dental assistant, the dental hygienist must shoulder additional responsibilities as well, including performing certain simpler dental procedures on their own. These procedures include removing calcium deposits and plague from a patient's teeth, applying fluoride to the patient's teeth, removing sutures and dressing after major dental procedures and administering local anesthetics as well. For this reason, the dental hygienist is often compensated more highly for his or her services, and rightly so; they are the bridge that connects the jobs of dental assistant and full-fledged dentist, many of them going on to pursue a master's degree, or even their doctorate so that they can become dentist's themselves.
So, there you have it; both the dental assistant and the slightly more advanced dental hygienist are indeed indispensable to the day-to-day operation and overall success of any dental practice. In fact, next time you enter the dental treatment room, why not give give your friendly dental assistant/hygienist and extra smile to let them know that you appreciate the valuable service that they provide? We here at the Oakville Place Dental Office Blog are almost positive they'll smile right back.
However, the importance and significance of dental assistants and hygienists goes far beyond just making the patient feel comfortable. Indeed, the dental assistant or hygienist is the right-hand-man or -woman to the dentist, and, when operating in full sync with the dentist in question, almost become an extension of him or her. For instance; it is the dental assistant that will first prepare the patient for any sort of procedure, who will pull out the patient's file for the perusal of the dentist, who will be present in the treatment room if any sort of assistance to the dentist is necessary. Indeed, whatever treatment you are undergoing, you are most likely to have more interaction with the dentist's assistant than you are with the dentist themselves (this, of course, also allows the dentist the luxury of being able to treat more patients at once, thereby increasing efficiency and driving dental costs down).
So, at this point you may be asking yourself, "what is the difference between a dental assistant and dental hygienist, anyway?". Well, although people often end up using both terms interchangeably, they are indeed two different things. A dental assistant's duties include, but are not necessarily limited to; assisting the dentist during most treatment procedures, taking (and developing) dental X-rays, making sure that all the dentist's tools are sterilized and clean, pulling and re-filing of dental records, making impression molds of patient's teeth, teaching proper brushing and flossing techniques, and, as mentioned before, meeting with patients before and after any dental procedure. Most states will allow anyone who has completed a year-long course to receive a dental assistant's certificate.
The dental hygienist, on the other hand, must usually receive a 2-4 year associate's or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene in order to become certified. And, along with sharing in common all of the duties and responsibilities of the dental assistant, the dental hygienist must shoulder additional responsibilities as well, including performing certain simpler dental procedures on their own. These procedures include removing calcium deposits and plague from a patient's teeth, applying fluoride to the patient's teeth, removing sutures and dressing after major dental procedures and administering local anesthetics as well. For this reason, the dental hygienist is often compensated more highly for his or her services, and rightly so; they are the bridge that connects the jobs of dental assistant and full-fledged dentist, many of them going on to pursue a master's degree, or even their doctorate so that they can become dentist's themselves.
So, there you have it; both the dental assistant and the slightly more advanced dental hygienist are indeed indispensable to the day-to-day operation and overall success of any dental practice. In fact, next time you enter the dental treatment room, why not give give your friendly dental assistant/hygienist and extra smile to let them know that you appreciate the valuable service that they provide? We here at the Oakville Place Dental Office Blog are almost positive they'll smile right back.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Top 5 Oral Health Misconceptions
When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, there are unfortunately many widespread, common misconceptions about how to go about it. This is, we believe, to a large extent due to the fact that there exists in the public's psyche at large a myriad of "old wives tales" that have been passed down so long throughout time that they often unfortunately become taken as truth. So, without further ado, we here at the Oakville Place Dental Office Blog present the top 5 misconceptions about oral health.
1. Hard Bristles Equal a Thorough Brushing
Although we've covered this topic before on this blog, it seems to us that it bears repeating, due to just how commonly held this misconception is by so may people. Of course, probably one of the reasons that so many people continue to believe that a stiff brush will more effectively clean teeth is a pretty logical one; just like a scrub-brush will do a better job of cleaning the dishes than a simple sponge, it is believed that applying a harsher tool to the teeth will make more efficient work of ridding them of plague build-up. However, the use of too stiff of a brush can lead to early erosion of the enamel of your teeth, so it is important to use a soft brush, and then just brush more thoroughly.
2. Using Toothpicks is Good for Your Gums
Unfortunately, there is a new school of thought that using toothpicks thoroughly along the gum line can increase circulation and thus improve gum health. Some folks even believe that using toothpicks can serve as a replacement for dental floss! However, this is sadly not the case, because the use of toothpicks to clean out food in between the teeth can often cause more harm than good, leading to injured gums and even further erosion of the teeth themselves, due to the often rough surfaces of toothpicks. So; stick to dental floss!
3. The Use of Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Agents
What with the relatively high price of having your teeth whitened by a professional, many end up believing that they can save money, and even time, by using over-the-counter teeth-whitening products. While it is true that many of these products can help whiten your teeth a certain amount, the results that they generally yield do not even come close to touching the level of whitening that you can be achieved by having it done professionally. Also, there is what is called a "catch-22" situation that can arise when it comes to these OTC whitening products, because the more potentially effective these products can be, the more likely that they can be dangerous for the consumer if they are used improperly, which generally isn't that hard to do, considering the dedication that it takes to use them correctly in the first place. In addition to this, by having the whitening treatment done by your dentist, you are more likely to enjoy more lasting results, as well.
4. The Avoidance of Brushing Due to Bleeding Gums
Though this may seem counter-intuitive to most of us, there are some folks out there who believe that if their gums start bleeding, they should lighten up on the brushing, usually because this is when their gums are more likely to bleed in the first place. However, quite the opposite is usually the case; most people who experience bleeding of the gums are having this happen due to the fact that they haven't been brushing (and flossing) enough in the first place, which can cause inflammation of the gums, and they just need to continue practicing the act of thorough brushing (with a soft bristled brush, of course!) and the situation will usually resolve itself as the gums slowly toughen up. However, it should be stated that if you experience long-term bleeding of the gums you should definitely inform your dentist of this, and, actually, any incedence of bleeding of the gums should be mentioned to your dentist as well.
5. Misconceptions About Children's Teeth
Although it is easy to understand why there would be many misconceptions when it comes to dental care for young children (first-time parents especially), the most common of these misconceptions can be very harmful to the children involved. The first of these involves the common and seemingly innocuous act of leaving a baby's bottle in the child's mouth to calm it down. Unfortunately, most milk products contain a certain amount of sugar, and by leaving the bottle in the baby's mouth they are creating a scenario in which the child's teeth will be immersed in milk for long periods of time, which can promote the existence of bacteria and decay of the teeth in the not-so-distant future.
Which brings us to the other common misconception about dental health that specifically applies to children; many parents unfortunately believe that, since children's "baby teeth" will all be eventually replaced by adult teeth, they do not need the attention and care that adult teeth require. However, this is indeed false. From as early as age two, young children can indeed benefit from dental care, if only to teach the children as early on as possible the importance of taking care of their teeth. Also, just because baby teeth are essentially temporary, if problems with them become serious enough they can effect the young child's overall health, so consistently taking young children to their dental visits is of the utmost importance.
1. Hard Bristles Equal a Thorough Brushing
Although we've covered this topic before on this blog, it seems to us that it bears repeating, due to just how commonly held this misconception is by so may people. Of course, probably one of the reasons that so many people continue to believe that a stiff brush will more effectively clean teeth is a pretty logical one; just like a scrub-brush will do a better job of cleaning the dishes than a simple sponge, it is believed that applying a harsher tool to the teeth will make more efficient work of ridding them of plague build-up. However, the use of too stiff of a brush can lead to early erosion of the enamel of your teeth, so it is important to use a soft brush, and then just brush more thoroughly.
2. Using Toothpicks is Good for Your Gums
Unfortunately, there is a new school of thought that using toothpicks thoroughly along the gum line can increase circulation and thus improve gum health. Some folks even believe that using toothpicks can serve as a replacement for dental floss! However, this is sadly not the case, because the use of toothpicks to clean out food in between the teeth can often cause more harm than good, leading to injured gums and even further erosion of the teeth themselves, due to the often rough surfaces of toothpicks. So; stick to dental floss!
3. The Use of Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Agents
What with the relatively high price of having your teeth whitened by a professional, many end up believing that they can save money, and even time, by using over-the-counter teeth-whitening products. While it is true that many of these products can help whiten your teeth a certain amount, the results that they generally yield do not even come close to touching the level of whitening that you can be achieved by having it done professionally. Also, there is what is called a "catch-22" situation that can arise when it comes to these OTC whitening products, because the more potentially effective these products can be, the more likely that they can be dangerous for the consumer if they are used improperly, which generally isn't that hard to do, considering the dedication that it takes to use them correctly in the first place. In addition to this, by having the whitening treatment done by your dentist, you are more likely to enjoy more lasting results, as well.
4. The Avoidance of Brushing Due to Bleeding Gums
Though this may seem counter-intuitive to most of us, there are some folks out there who believe that if their gums start bleeding, they should lighten up on the brushing, usually because this is when their gums are more likely to bleed in the first place. However, quite the opposite is usually the case; most people who experience bleeding of the gums are having this happen due to the fact that they haven't been brushing (and flossing) enough in the first place, which can cause inflammation of the gums, and they just need to continue practicing the act of thorough brushing (with a soft bristled brush, of course!) and the situation will usually resolve itself as the gums slowly toughen up. However, it should be stated that if you experience long-term bleeding of the gums you should definitely inform your dentist of this, and, actually, any incedence of bleeding of the gums should be mentioned to your dentist as well.
5. Misconceptions About Children's Teeth
Although it is easy to understand why there would be many misconceptions when it comes to dental care for young children (first-time parents especially), the most common of these misconceptions can be very harmful to the children involved. The first of these involves the common and seemingly innocuous act of leaving a baby's bottle in the child's mouth to calm it down. Unfortunately, most milk products contain a certain amount of sugar, and by leaving the bottle in the baby's mouth they are creating a scenario in which the child's teeth will be immersed in milk for long periods of time, which can promote the existence of bacteria and decay of the teeth in the not-so-distant future.
Which brings us to the other common misconception about dental health that specifically applies to children; many parents unfortunately believe that, since children's "baby teeth" will all be eventually replaced by adult teeth, they do not need the attention and care that adult teeth require. However, this is indeed false. From as early as age two, young children can indeed benefit from dental care, if only to teach the children as early on as possible the importance of taking care of their teeth. Also, just because baby teeth are essentially temporary, if problems with them become serious enough they can effect the young child's overall health, so consistently taking young children to their dental visits is of the utmost importance.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Modern Day Reality of Pain-Free Dentistry
Although we may have already covered this topic a bit before on this blog (see: "Cure Your Odontophobia Today!"), the following cannot be stressed enough: if you put off going to the dentist, you are just going to end up making things harder for yourself in the end, because the earlier that dental problems are discovered by your dentist, the easier the procedure for dealing with them will be. Regardless of this, many people unfortunately end up putting-off going to the dentist as long as they can, and it's usually mostly out of fear of experiencing pain while in the dentist's chair. However, luckily for anyone that doesn't like pain (which, I would bet includes most all of us!), this common fear is entirely unjustified, due to many wonderful recent (and not-so-recent) advances in the way that dental care is administered.
Indeed, pain-free dentistry is now a reality, and can make even the most extreme of dental procedures more than easy to deal with. But, regardless of this fact, many people, when considering the prospect of going to the dentist, still think of the "Wild West" days of dental care, when the only pain-management system was Doc Holiday's bottle of whiskey. However, nowadays dentists have at their disposal all sorts of modern and advanced tools, chemicals and procedures that leave those dreaded days of dental nightmares in the dust, where they belong!
Besides the obvious pain-alleviators, like Novocain, there now exists a range of sedatives that dentists commonly use to ensure that their patient's procedure is entirely pain-free. After all; while Novocain does indeed numb the mouth in preparation for having dental work done, some people suffer intense fear of the needle itself, and even claim that it hurts to get the shot in the first place. And, whereas before most sedatives were given to patients intravenously, by using orally-administered sedatives, the patient can be relaxed and less-worried before the local anesthetic is even applied.
By the use of short-term sedatives like Valium, and the old standard nitrous-oxide (AKA "laughing gas"), the patient can start any procedure out right by being relaxed and in the right frame of mind. However, for some people, the relatively new practice of "sleep-dentistry" is desirable. With this most modern form of anesthesiology, the patient is intravenously administered a serum that puts them in a state called "conscious sedation", in which they, although not technically unconscious or, indeed, asleep, enter a dream-like state that soothes and relaxes the patient to the point that they often don't even remember what happened in the dental chair at all!
So, you might be wondering; what type of sedation and pain-relief will your dentist prescribe? Well, that will, of course, depend on many things, including whether or not you take any other medication, and how sensitive or fearful you tend to be when undergoing dental procedures. For this reason it is important that you discuss thoroughly any mental of physical concerns you may have with your dentist so that he or she can make the most informed decision when it comes to choosing which method to use in order to insure that your dental experience as comfortable as possible.
Pain-free dentistry is indeed a modern day reality, and, when it comes down to it, the advantage is two-fold; the patient gets to experience much less discomfort and pain while in the dental chair, and the dentist is able to concentrate on their task at hand more efficiently and quickly, due to not having to deal with all those stressed-out, fearful patients of days gone by.
Indeed, pain-free dentistry is now a reality, and can make even the most extreme of dental procedures more than easy to deal with. But, regardless of this fact, many people, when considering the prospect of going to the dentist, still think of the "Wild West" days of dental care, when the only pain-management system was Doc Holiday's bottle of whiskey. However, nowadays dentists have at their disposal all sorts of modern and advanced tools, chemicals and procedures that leave those dreaded days of dental nightmares in the dust, where they belong!
Besides the obvious pain-alleviators, like Novocain, there now exists a range of sedatives that dentists commonly use to ensure that their patient's procedure is entirely pain-free. After all; while Novocain does indeed numb the mouth in preparation for having dental work done, some people suffer intense fear of the needle itself, and even claim that it hurts to get the shot in the first place. And, whereas before most sedatives were given to patients intravenously, by using orally-administered sedatives, the patient can be relaxed and less-worried before the local anesthetic is even applied.
By the use of short-term sedatives like Valium, and the old standard nitrous-oxide (AKA "laughing gas"), the patient can start any procedure out right by being relaxed and in the right frame of mind. However, for some people, the relatively new practice of "sleep-dentistry" is desirable. With this most modern form of anesthesiology, the patient is intravenously administered a serum that puts them in a state called "conscious sedation", in which they, although not technically unconscious or, indeed, asleep, enter a dream-like state that soothes and relaxes the patient to the point that they often don't even remember what happened in the dental chair at all!
So, you might be wondering; what type of sedation and pain-relief will your dentist prescribe? Well, that will, of course, depend on many things, including whether or not you take any other medication, and how sensitive or fearful you tend to be when undergoing dental procedures. For this reason it is important that you discuss thoroughly any mental of physical concerns you may have with your dentist so that he or she can make the most informed decision when it comes to choosing which method to use in order to insure that your dental experience as comfortable as possible.
Pain-free dentistry is indeed a modern day reality, and, when it comes down to it, the advantage is two-fold; the patient gets to experience much less discomfort and pain while in the dental chair, and the dentist is able to concentrate on their task at hand more efficiently and quickly, due to not having to deal with all those stressed-out, fearful patients of days gone by.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Choosing the Right Manual Toothbrush
When it comes to maintaining your smile's radiance between dental visits, there is nothing more important than having the right toothbrush. However, one little journey into the heart of the dental care section of any local supermarket or drug store can often make one feel confused and overwhelmed as to which sort of toothbrush to get. Indeed; the galaxy of colors and styles of toothbrushes has multiplied over the years as new technologies have come about, and it is important to cut through all of the hype in order to find the right brush for the job. So, for this article we will be focusing only on the most common type of toothbrush that people use; the old-fashioned manual kind, saving discussion about the myriad of electronic brushes that are currently available for another article in the future.
To start off, one of the main (and most highly understandable) misconceptions about buying a tooth brush is that you should try to have one with stiff bristles. This is probably due to the fact that, over the years, dentists have somewhat changed their tune when it comes to this issue, now realizing that if you brush too hard you run the risk of taking too much enamel off of your teeth, and perhaps even irritating or damaging your gums in the process as well. So, one of the first things to keep in mind when choosing your next toothbrush is to find one with soft bristles so that you will be giving your teeth and gums enough even stimulation without overdoing it and working against yourself.
Secondly, there is what the toothbrush bristles are made of in the first place. Nowadays, toothbrushes are usually made out of nylon bristles, which is the considered by most dentists to be the best way to go. And, yes; some toothbrush manufacturers are boasting about the use of more fancy, experimental elements in their brushes, most notably the new "nano-silver particles" that are supposed to help with the cleaning process. However, while some research shows that using "toothbrush additives" like nano-silver (they even have nano-gold!) can supposedly be beneficial, there is overall not enough evidence in this department to warrant their extremely high cost. So, stick to nylon brushes and you will be fine.
When it comes to the size of the brush, smaller heads usually ends up being the better option to go for. Unfortunately, a lot of people end up thinking that a bigger brush will mean that they don't have to work as hard to get the same tooth-cleaning results. However, a smaller brush head will mean more overall ability to make contact with all the tooth surfaces in your mouth, which usually ends up being harder to do with a larger brush. Also, the type of handle that the brush has can be important as well. Make sure to find one that is easy to grip, the more comfortable the better. And the more modern, curved style handle is ultimately more preferable to the old-fashioned straight kind, the angle itself making it more ergonomically possible to get that brush everywhere it needs to go in your mouth with ease.
Overall, the most important thing for you to keep in mind when choosing a new brush is that, when it comes down to it, having the right brush is just as important as how well you brush your teeth in the first place! Indeed; a worn-out or inappropriate toothbrush can make it so that you are essentially working against yourself, or at the very least working harder than you have to. Also, another motivator for taking the time to pick the right brush and replace it often (dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months) is that the act of brushing itself will be more pleasurable, both because it will be easier, and you will have the peace of mind that you have, indeed, found the right tool for the job.
To start off, one of the main (and most highly understandable) misconceptions about buying a tooth brush is that you should try to have one with stiff bristles. This is probably due to the fact that, over the years, dentists have somewhat changed their tune when it comes to this issue, now realizing that if you brush too hard you run the risk of taking too much enamel off of your teeth, and perhaps even irritating or damaging your gums in the process as well. So, one of the first things to keep in mind when choosing your next toothbrush is to find one with soft bristles so that you will be giving your teeth and gums enough even stimulation without overdoing it and working against yourself.
Secondly, there is what the toothbrush bristles are made of in the first place. Nowadays, toothbrushes are usually made out of nylon bristles, which is the considered by most dentists to be the best way to go. And, yes; some toothbrush manufacturers are boasting about the use of more fancy, experimental elements in their brushes, most notably the new "nano-silver particles" that are supposed to help with the cleaning process. However, while some research shows that using "toothbrush additives" like nano-silver (they even have nano-gold!) can supposedly be beneficial, there is overall not enough evidence in this department to warrant their extremely high cost. So, stick to nylon brushes and you will be fine.
When it comes to the size of the brush, smaller heads usually ends up being the better option to go for. Unfortunately, a lot of people end up thinking that a bigger brush will mean that they don't have to work as hard to get the same tooth-cleaning results. However, a smaller brush head will mean more overall ability to make contact with all the tooth surfaces in your mouth, which usually ends up being harder to do with a larger brush. Also, the type of handle that the brush has can be important as well. Make sure to find one that is easy to grip, the more comfortable the better. And the more modern, curved style handle is ultimately more preferable to the old-fashioned straight kind, the angle itself making it more ergonomically possible to get that brush everywhere it needs to go in your mouth with ease.
Overall, the most important thing for you to keep in mind when choosing a new brush is that, when it comes down to it, having the right brush is just as important as how well you brush your teeth in the first place! Indeed; a worn-out or inappropriate toothbrush can make it so that you are essentially working against yourself, or at the very least working harder than you have to. Also, another motivator for taking the time to pick the right brush and replace it often (dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months) is that the act of brushing itself will be more pleasurable, both because it will be easier, and you will have the peace of mind that you have, indeed, found the right tool for the job.
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