O'Fallon Family & Cosmetic Dentist

With the increased prevalence of fluoridated water has come the propensity of teeth to mask or seal over decay.  Traditional methods of cavity detection, including dental x-rays and probing with a metal explorer, can miss the presence of decay, especially that which occurs in the grooves of the biting surface of molar teeth.  The surface of the tooth being probed with an explorer (the metal pick used to detect cavities) may appear to be healthy tooth structure, while the underlying tooth is actually being consumed by soft decay.  

Recent technology has led to the creation of a laser cavity detection tool which is FDA approved for dental offices in the United States.  The DIAGNOdent laser cavity indicator provides a handheld wand which the dentist can use in a manner similar to the traditional explorer instrument.  Instead of “picking” into the tooth, the wand is waved over the tooth and an audible tone is emitted when decay is detected.  The tone increases in intensity in tandem with the depth of the cavity.  A digital numeric reading is also displayed, consistent with the degree of the decay.  Laser cavity detection through the use of a DIAGNOdent laser allows penetration through the superficial layer of the tooth and thus captures the true health of the tooth structure below. 

 The DIAGNOdent laser cavity detector allows us to identify small areas of decay so that problems can be resolved before the decay spreads.  This allows for more conservative and less expensive treatment. This invention enables dentists to treat cavities in their early stages, before a root canal or tooth extraction becomes necessary.   

Dr. Logan & Associates use DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection when performing exams.  This is included in the regular cost of the exam and does not cost the patient extra.  Laser cavity detection is quick, pain-free and safe.

Click on the link to see a news story demonstrating the use and benefits of laser cavity detection.

Seventy-five percent of all broken, lost, loosened, or chipped teeth occur in children under 15 years of age.  Luckily, recent advances in dentistry make it more likely that these teeth can be repaired or saved.    However, for the best results, parents must act quickly.  Even if no visible tooth damage has occurred, when a child falls or receives a hit to the mouth, soft tissue inside the tooth may be damaged.

Here are some quick tips for dealing with a tooth that has been chipped or knocked out:

• Have your dentist’s number readily available. Add your dentist’s office as a contact in your cell phone.
• Try to find all parts of the tooth.
• Handle the tooth by the top, not the root.
• Gently rinse the tooth root if it is dirty.
• Apply sterile gauze to stop any bleeding.
• Reinsert the tooth if possible.  If not, store the tooth in a cup of water or milk
• See the dentist as soon as possible.  The sooner a dentist can return the tooth to its socket, the greater chance the tooth has of being saved.
• If braces or wires have broken, cover the sharp edges with gauze, cotton, or gum, but do not try to remove any wires that are stuck in the gums, cheek, or tongue.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Oral, head and neck cancer awareness week is from April 12 – April 18th.  The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance has coordinated with hospitals and cancer centers throughout the United States to provide free screenings.  Their website provides a map of participating centers and educational information on symptoms and causes of oral cancer.  Oral, head and neck cancer is the 6th most common type of cancer in the United States.

WebMD outlines the following signs and symptoms of oral cancer which should be investigated further by your dentist or doctor: 

Unexplained bleeding in the mouth,

Persistent sores in the mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within two weeks,

Velvety white, red or speckled patches in the mouth,

Swelling, bumps and rough spots in the mouth or on the lips,

Unexplained numbness or discomfort in any part of the mouth,

Difficulty chewing, swallowing, talking or moving the jaw or tongue,

Soreness or feeling like something is caught in the back of your throat,

Dramatic weight loss,

Change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together.

Some of these symptoms have other more common causes like decay and gum disease.  Regular checkups with a dentist can help recognize unusual symptoms which may indicate oral cancer.  As with any cancer, early diagnosis and treatment is best.

The following sources contain more information on common signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/oral-cancer

http://www.ohancaw.com/hanca-education/

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/10332-spot-signs-oral-cancer/

Teeth whitening is a very simple procedure that can produce remarkable results.  When you choose whitening in our office, we will take a quick impression of your teeth to make custom-molded trays.  The trays are worn with a whitening solution for 15 minutes a day for up to two weeks.  The solution comes with a rinse which removes residual whitening agent helping to alleviate teeth and gum sensitivity that are sometimes associated with whitening.  While over the counter whitening tray products have flooded the market, professional teeth whitening products provide a stronger whitening agent.  It is important to have your teeth and gums examined by a dentist to detect any problems that may cause greater sensitivity or difficulty with teeth whitening.

Personal habits like smoking, drinking wine, and eating certain foods can effect how long the whitening lasts.  Teeth whitening works on natural tooth enamel and will not whiten areas that may need new restorations like areas of decay, old fillings or crowns.  These areas can be treated with new restorations that will match the surrounding teeth that have been whitened.

Many patients have taken advantage of our Lifetime Whitening Program.  For an enrollment fee of half the usual cost of whitening your teeth once, we will make your custom-fit whitening trays and then give you new whitening gel at every recall appointment, as long as you remain a patient in good standing.  Ask about it the next time you are in the office or call today to make an appointment for whitening trays.

It’s the perfect time of year for this recipe as strawberries and spinach are in season.

Ingredients

10 ounces fresh spinach torn into smaller pieces

1 quart sliced strawberries

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Dressing Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 Tbl sesame seeds

1 Tbl minced onions

1 tsp minced garlic

Layer spinach and strawberries on individual plates.  Whisk the dressing ingredients together.  Drizzle dressing over spinach and strawberries.  Top with slivered almonds.

I was looking for some spring activities in my area and found some fun events that are happening soon.

Friday, March 26th

Adult Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt – Civic Park in O’Fallon, MO.  Visit www.renaudspiritcenter.com before Thursday to register. Tickets are $12/$17

Saturday, March 27th -

Breakfast with the Bunny at O’Fallon’s Civic Hall. 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.  Call 636-474-2732 for details.

Easter Eggstravaganza – Morning Star Church – 1600 Feise Road, O’Fallon, MO - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Free event featuring an egg hunt, crafts, snacks and a scavenger hunt. Visit their website at www.mscwired.org/eggstravaganza or call 636-561-5680 for more details.

Easter Egg Hunt – Rotary Park – 2755 W. Meyer Road, Foristell, MO – 9:30 a.m. – Hunt for plastic eggs filled with candy and prizes.  Ages 1 – 10 years old.  Visit www.wentzvillemo.org for more information.

April 17th – O’Fallon Farmers’ and Artists’ Market opens for the season. Located in the parking lot of TR Hughes Ball Park – 900 T.R. Hughes Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63366.  Open on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon  from April 17 – October 16 and Wednesdays from 3:00 – 7:00 from June 16 – September 1.   For more information visit www.ofallonfarmersmarket.com.

Comment or let me know if you know of other local activities that should be shared here.

     For millions of people, sensitive teeth can make life miserable.  The pain and discomfort make even favorite cold drinks and foods impossible to enjoy.  Pain is often felt more acutely in winter when cold air can cause problems in already sensitive spots.  Tooth sensitivity typically first presents as temporary discomfort when eating cold food or drinks or breathing cold air.  If decay is ruled out as the culprit of sensitive teeth, many people believe there are no good options for treating their pain.  However, in many cases tooth sensitivity can be treated quickly and successfully.

     When tooth decay is not leading to tooth sensitivity, gum recession is often the cause of the problem.  The gums cover the roots of teeth like a protective blanket, but when gums recede the underlying roots may be exposed.  The three most common causes of gum recession are brushing teeth too hard, poor dental hygiene and the aging process.  It has been estimated that over half of people brush their teeth with too much pressure which can remove significant gum tissue, thereby exposing the tooth roots.  We recommend using a soft bristled toothbrush and brushing gently at the gum line.

      If gum recession is due to brushing too hard, a small amount of the same material used in tooth colored fillings can be placed to fill in areas where the gum has receded.  These bonding agents close the pores of the tooth root.  This simple treatment effectively eliminates sensitivity to cold or hot liquids immediately, pain-free and without the need for anesthetic or the dental drill.  If you have been plagued by tooth sensitivity with no underlying decay issues, this simple bonding procedure may end your discomfort.

     Poor oral hygiene can lead to plaque build-up around teeth and gums.  Over time this plaque hardens into tartar.  Bacteria in this tartar is responsible for gingivitis and periodontal disease that causes gum recession.  The exposed roots contain small pores which lead directly to the nerve of the tooth.  Pain, pressure and cold stimuli can travel down the pores and trigger pain in the tooth nerve.  Often this pain makes it uncomfortable to brush or floss this area of the mouth which can exarcerbate the problem.  When oral hygiene is the cause of sensitivity, a person may need a more frequent schedule of thorough cleanings and periodontal health check-ups.  Often this can relieve pain and sensitivity that have caused problems for years.

Tooth color is effected by many factors, including your genes and the aging process.  While you cannot control your genetic make-up or stop yourself from aging, there are several steps you can take to keep your teeth their whitest.

1.  Eliminate tobacco use.

2.  Limit your intake of coffee, tea and soda.  It is common for people to sip these beverages throughout their entire day exposing teeth to these stain causing agents for hours at a time.  A better practice is to drink one or two servings and then brush afterwards rather than exposing your teeth to these beverages throughout the day.  Cold liquids can be sipped through a straw to better protect teeth’s exposure.

3.  Brush after eating dark berries, soy sauce and curry.  Dark berries like blueberries are wonderful for your overall health so I would not advise eliminating these foods. 

4.  Limit your intake of wine.  Red wine is a known culprit of teeth staining, but recent studies have shown that white wine can also effect tooth color by wearing down the enamel.

5.  Brush your teeth after every meal and after consuming stain causing foods.

6.  Floss your teeth daily.  Teeth can display a great deal of staining at their edges where teeth meet.  This is due to a build-up of plaque that can be avoided by flossing between teeth.

7.  Have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.

8.  If you are concerned about the color of your teeth, talk to your dentist about safe and effective teeth whitening options.

I just found a source for several different variations of charts to keep track of children’s toothbrushing.  These charts could be created on your own or modified to include flossing once a day as well.  Children who are old enough to brush their teeth on their own usually do not spend enough time brushing.  It might be helpful to use a watch timer or a sand hourglass timer found in one of your childrens’ games to help remind them how long they need to brush.  Encourage your children to brush every surface of every tooth, including the outer, inner and biting surfaces.  They will need to pay special attention to the biting surface of their back teeth (molars) as these are the most likely teeth to harbor harmful bacteria due to their pitted surface.  Placing sealants on these teeth can help to prevent the development of cavities.

In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month (yes, there is such a thing), I thought I would share a few resources for parents and teachers.  In schools across the nation, children are receiving free dental health screenings this month.  This month provides a good opportunity for parents and teachers to remind children about healthy teeth habits.  The ADA provides a list of dental health activities for children, as well as ideas for classroom presentations on dental health.   Other ideas for teaching children about dental health can be found at the Apples4TheTeacher website.

I have written a short article on how to prepare your child for the first visit to the dentist.  As well as a blog post on 8 tips for good dental hygiene in young children.   I hope parents and teachers find this information useful in continuing to teach children the importance of caring for their teeth.