O'Fallon Family & Cosmetic Dentist

         As the average lifespan of our nation’s population is increasing, so too is the need for maintaining proper oral health care.  The goal, of course, is to retain our teeth for all of these extended years.  Though aging can have some negative effects on our teeth, I am encouraged to report that many of my elderly clientele are even more diligent and knowledgeable in the area of oral hygiene than some of their younger cohorts.  While dentures are still available, their prevalence in the dental office is significantly reduced from years in the past.

            It is important for the aging population to pay attention to certain scenarios that may present in the oral environment with age.  The saying, “He’s a bit long in the tooth,” originates from the fact that gum recession over time tends to expose more and more of the root surfaces of one’s teeth.  Often associated with this root exposure is increased sensitivity to cold and hot liquids and air brought in through the mouth.  A simple solution to this problem is to have your dentist bond a desensitizing agent to the tooth or to place a filling on the exposed surface.  These treatments are incredibly effective at eliminating tooth sensitivity both painlessly and immediately.  Patients are thus free to enjoy ice cream, coffee and cold beverages that same day.

            Exposed roots are also more predisposed to cavities, or “root caries” as we call them.  This is because the tooth structure below the gum line consists of a softer mineral than the more resistant enamel on the outer portion of a tooth.  Routine cleanings and check-ups, sometimes with even greater regularity than the typical six-month recall, can serve to head off at the pass any cavities that may otherwise run amuck.

            Decreased salivary flow can result with age as well.  Our saliva contains a buffer against the acids that result when foods breakdown in our mouths.  The absence of this saliva leaves our teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.   Certain medications can interfere with normal salivary production as well.   A dentist may elect to counteract this decreased salivary flow with other medications.  The best defense against the harmful effects of low salivary flow is the same as that for most age-related dental challenges: immaculate oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist!

            I am often reminded of a lecture I attended in dental school in which the instructor offered, “If you put a tooth in a glass of soda, the tooth will be gone in three weeks!”  Though I have never attempted this experiment, it sounds like a nice science project for a young child.  The earlier kids learn about the harmful effects of soda, pop, Coke or whatever it is called in your area of the country, the less likely they might be to subject their teeth to overexposure to these beverages.

            Despite the popular thinking that sugar is the enemy in soda, the key ingredient responsible for the majority of tooth destruction is the acid in these drinks.  This fact supports the line of reasoning that diet soft drinks can be just as harmful to the oral environment as sugar-laden beverages.  The introduction of energy drinks to the market and the overwhelming number of teens enjoying them have led to the increased incidence of decay in this demographic. 

            Adults would be wise to follow the same advice and limit the intake of these beverages.  Diligent oral hygiene practice and rinsing with water after drinking soda or energy drinks can help to reduce potential damage to tooth structure.  As always, be sure to maintain regular dental check-ups for diagnosis and cleaning.  These things all assist in the relegation of the dental drill to the mouths of other people, a principle desired by the overwhelming majority of my patient population!

            This is no longer the Dark Ages of Dentistry.  Gentle dentistry can now be performed through advances in technology and dental delivery techniques.  While most people are somewhat nervous when receiving dental treatment, there is much less to be worried about now than there was in the past.  A dentist can make patients comfortable during anesthetic injections by wiggling the cheek, pulling the tissue over the needle rather than actually putting the needle into the tissue and very slowly delivering the anesthetic.  Most often, my patients comment that they did not even feel the needle or any of the injection.

            Virtual reality glasses allow patients to watch movies during treatment, taking their mind and ears off the procedure being performed.  Headphones playing music are a great option as well.  For those who remain fearful, nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas” can be delivered.  Oral sedation medications allow the patient to maintain an airway and not go to sleep altogether, but to be very relaxed during treatment, almost forgetting the anything happened.  If that is not enough, sleep dentistry can be performed by practitioners with advanced licenses.

            Not only does the injection not need to be painful anymore, the anesthetic agents used are now much more profound.  I routinely administer less than half the dose that was once required to achieve numbness.  These anesthetics also provide an even deeper level of numbness and are considerably faster-acting.  So now that the shots do not hurt and you cannot feel the drill, what are you waiting for?  Go to the dentist!