Family Dentistry
Dental Crisis Treatment
Regular dental visits, combined with effective home care and early detection and correction of small dental problems is by far the most effective and least expensive to have sound dental health for you and your family. Many people, however, don't see the dentist on a regular basis, and see a dentist only when they feel they have a problem or crisis.
The thought probably is that they are saving money, but in reality, emergency crisis treatment and delay is much more costly in terms of money, time, and suffering. The reason is that most dental problems, develop slowly, don't hurt much, and can go unnoticed until the problems are advanced and difficult to treat.
One common example, is the small cavity that is ignored until pain, swelling or fever forces the patient to seek crisis care. By then emergency care, a root canal, build up and a crown are needed to save the tooth. Instead of the small filling which could have been done easily, several years before when the cavity was small.
It is true. In dentistry, prevention is the name of the game and "a stitch in time, saves nine"!
Dental Health and Diet
Diets low in certain nutrients reduce resistance to oral and dental infections, including periodontal (gum) disease and decay.
The consumption of sugar, especially in its sticky forms or in a baby bottle while sleeping, contributes to the rapid development of dental decay.
The consumption of acid containing foods such as citrus, or of acid drinks such as orange juice, can demineralize teeth and quickly render them vulnerable to decay. Carbonated drinks are especially destructive. If you put a penny in a glass of soda pop, the penny will dissolve-imagine what would happen to your teeth!
Fluoride is the great cavity fighter. Trace nutrient fluoride may not be present in your water if you live outside The Dalles. Check with the water department to determine if your water has enough fluoride for your health. If not, supplementation with oral tablets and topical application can reduce your families decay rate by up to 60 %.
Together, a balanced diet, daily use of fluoride, sensible eating habits, dental sealants, effective brushing, and regular checkups can reduce the risk of, or even prevent infectious dental decay.
Preventing Cavities With Dental Sealants
Regular brushing and flossing, combined with the use of various types an modes of fluoride have done much to help prevent tooth decay. But, since these preventive measures primarily act to protect and strengthen the smooth surfaces of the teeth, we are seeing an increase in hidden cavities and that are harder to find and fix until the decay is advanced and destructive. Often the decay is not found until the tooth has "caved in" or is destroyed from the inside out instead of outside in.
Today, the most decay prone areas of the teeth are in the grooves and depressions of the teeth, especially on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, which are almost impossible to clean, and allow germs to collect and seep into the fissures to attack the inside of the tooth.
To prevent this, the grooves are cleaned by a special micro-abrasion unit and then are sealed with a special plastic-like coating that is painted on the teeth. Especially the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Studies have shown that the addition of sealants to our preventive arsenal can reduce cavities and decay by 90 to 100%!
The American Dental Association recommends that dental sealants be used as a major part of dental decay prevention.
Placing sealants is simple, fast and painless.
