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Is my water fluoridated?
Public water fluoridation is considered one of
the top 10 greatest public health achievements
of the 20th century by the CDC. The CDC and ADA
have proposed ideal levels of safe and effective
fluoride for certain areas. The suggested
concentration in the upper Midwest is about 1
part per million. If you live in Decorah,
Cresco, Ossian or Calmar your city water is
adequately fluoridated or supplemented. Other
rural areas or towns such as Castalia, Freeport,
Spillville and Fort Atkinson are not adequately
fluoridated and some supplementation may be
suggested by your dentist of hygienist. For more
information on your area, visit
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/oral_health_fluoride.asp
or
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/tengpha.htm
What causes dental decay?
Dental decay is an infectious disease process
caused by the bacterium Streptococcus Mutans as well as others. This bacterium
uses carbohydrates, in the form of sugars,
pastas, breads, etc. to produce energy. A
byproduct of this energy is acid. The acid
produced has a pitting effect on the surfaces of
teeth. If the bacteria are allowed to
establish “long term residence” in the form of
dental plaque on the tooth surface, the surface
will become carious (cavitated).
What is periodontal disease (gum disease) and
how can it be treated?
Periodontal disease is a slow, relatively
painless process in which the supporting
structures (gum and bone) surrounding the tooth
is diminished leading to eventual tooth loss.
Periodontal disease is a multi-factorial
disease, meaning there are many causes.
The most common cause of periodontal disease is
inadequate plaque removal. Other factors
such as smoking, chewing, diabetes and stress
can aggravate and accelerate the bone loss.
Your dentist and hygienist can diagnose the
disease with dental radiographs and gum
measurements. If you have been diagnosed
with periodontal disease your dentist will make
a recommendation based on severity. For
incipient (early) periodontal disease, treatment
can be accomplished in the office through
scaling and root planning (deep cleanings).
If the disease has progressed significantly,
your dentist will refer you to a specialist in
LaCrosse, Rochester, Decorah or Waterloo/Cedar
Falls.
Are amalgam (metal) fillings safe?
There is quite a bit of controversy (mostly
online) over the safety of metal fillings. The
vast majority of researchers, dentists and other
health professionals agree that metal fillings
are safe and effective. Many long-term
studies have been accomplished with the goal of
identifying any ill-effects of metal fillings.
To date, no credible study has been done to
indicate amalgam fillings are unsafe in any way.
At West Side Dental, we use both amalgam and
composite (white) materials. If you do not
feel comfortable or do not want an amalgam
filling, just let your dentist know and we will
accommodate you.
What is a root canal and why are they
sometimes needed?
When the nerve and blood vessel inside a tooth
become injured through trauma or decay, an
infection (abscess) or pain (pulpitis) can
result. A root canal is a procedure that
allows your dentist to save a tooth that
otherwise would need to be extracted due to pain
or infection. Your dentist will
anesthetize (numb) the area and clean the canals
that house the pulp tissue (nerve and blood
vessel). After cleaning the canal a
filling is placed where the pulp used to exist.
A well done illustration of the procedure is
available on
Colgate’s website
How often should I have my mouth examined?
For most patients a yearly exam is adequate.
Due to numerous cavities or special needs, some
children and adults will need to be seen several
times per year. Your dentist or hygienist
will advise you on how frequently you should be
seen.
How much radiation am I exposed to through
dental radiographs?
Dental x rays (radiographs) are very low in
radiation. The average full mouth series
of radiographs (19 films) exposes a person to
about the same amount of radiation as a cross-
country flight on a commercial airline.
The average radiation you are exposed to during
a bitewing exam (four films) is roughly the same
as you would naturally be exposed to during one
day of ordinary living. Radiation comes
from many sources, including; minerals, soil,
sun and technology. Compared to films used
in medicine, dental radiation is very minimal.
However, if you are pregnant, let your dentist
know before taking films. We will likely
postpone most radiographs until after delivery
unless there is an emergency. There is
very helpful information on the ADA’s (American
Dental Association's) website regarding dental
radiographs:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/xrays_faq.asp
Why are baby teeth important?
Healthy primary teeth (baby teeth) are vitally important for several
reasons. Primary teeth allow a growing child to
chew and eat properly. Proper nutrition and
digestion are especially important in the
formative years. If a child is free of
cavities and infection, adequate nutrition
becomes much more attainable. Primary teeth
also provide a template for, and guide the
eruption of, the permanent teeth. If primary
teeth are missing or decayed, the permanent
teeth will likely erupt in an incorrect
position. This can complicate further
development of the mouth. If caught early
enough, childhood caries (cavities) can be
treated and space can be saved for the eruption
of permanent teeth.
How can I help care for my child’s teeth?
When your child’s first teeth appear (usually 5-9 months of age), begin
cleaning them daily with a soft brush or clean
washcloth. As more teeth appear, begin gently
introducing a twice daily brushing routine.
Fluoride toothpaste can be used very early (in
very small amounts). Make sure to brush the
child’s outside, inside and top tooth
surfaces. There will typically be fussing and
crying but this is normal. At about two years
of age all of the primary teeth will have
erupted. This is a good time to begin flossing
between the teeth that contact each other. Most
parents find that a small, disposable “floss on
a stick” device works well. There is a picture
of this device below.
At around age four or five a “disclosing” device can be introduced.
Disclosing tablets are the little red dye pills
that are chewed and spit out to help show a
child where the plaque is hiding. We can give
you these at your appointment.
Diet
is also an extremely integral part of oral
care. It is imperative not to place anything
but water into bottles at night. Soda and fruit
juices are a leading cause of childhood decay.
It is common knowledge that soda will lead to
decay, but many parents do not realize fruit
juices are equally harmful. Whole fruit, cut
into pieces, is the best way for a child to
obtain the nutritional benefits from fruit.
Help keep your child’s diet healthy by limiting
the quantity of processed foods that are
purchased. Whole fruits, vegetables, whole
wheat and complete, unbleached grains are a good
start. Unprocessed cheeses such as Swiss or
Mozzarella and milk are also good foods to have
around. Processed, refined sugars such as
Oreos, Sunny D, graham crackers, Pepsi, etc. are
the foods to avoid. By avoiding purchasing
these foods, you will not only be helping your
child’s oral health, but general health as well.
What
are dental implants?
Dental implants are a solution to replacing a
missing tooth or teeth. They can also be used
to help hold a denture into place. A dental
implant is a titanium post or screw which is
surgically placed into the jaw. The titanium is
specially prepared in such a way which allows
your bone cells to recognize the implant as
“self” and adhere to it. Several months after
an implant is inserted your dentist will take
models of your teeth and restore the implant
with a crown or bridge. The implant
manufacturer, Biomet 3i, has a well done patient
education website:
http://biomet3i.com/English/USA/PtEd_SingleToothReplacement_pg2.cfm
Implants have become the standard of care in
replacing missing teeth. Implants last longer
and provide better chewing function than a
bridge or partial denture and they do not
require aggressive tooth cutting on adjacent
teeth like a bridge. In certain situations,
however, your dentist may still recommend a
bridge over an implant. If you are interested
in, or have any questions regarding dental
implants please call us to schedule a brief
consultation. |
