Category Archives: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dental Issues

Bad Dental Habits, Dental Health, Dental Plan, Dental Visits, Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dental Issues

Having A Dental Plan: Protecting Your Family’s Oral Health

If you are like most people, you consider dental well-being a “very important” part of your overall health care plan. Having medical insurance typically takes the top billing on your health plan, but dental coverage is usually next up on your need-to-have list. But if you are in a situation that requires you to find dental coverage not only for you, but for other members of your family as well, and many people struggle to find out where to start?

Having some form of family dental plan can help you manage your family’s dental health AND dental care finances.

There are several places, online and regionally, that offer discount dental plan. These are designed for families to arrange preventive health care by making routine dental treatment accessible and affordable. The process seeks to have every member of your family visit a dentist regularly and keeps your family’s smiles healthy, but it also improves your family’s overall health and wellbeing. These are meant primarily as a preventative solution designed to avoid the costs of more serious dental issues by creating good habits early and often.

For example, tooth decay is the most prevalent disease among children — about five times more common than childhood asthma. Case studies show that if a child’s mouth hurts due to tooth decay, he or she is less likely to be able to concentrate at school and develops greater health issues beyond dental concerns. Issues like cavities, combined with a poor diet that are high in sugar, can also contribute to cognitive and growth problems and obesity.

By using a family dental plan to save money on dental care, taking regular visits to the family dentist can help alleviate dental problems before they become serious and expensive. According to Oral Health America, the cost of preventive dental treatment is 10 times less than the cost of managing symptoms of dental disease in a hospital emergency room.

So where do you start?

First: Understand Your Family’s Needs

Obviously, different age groups face different oral health challenges. Your age and the various ages of the members your family may affect the type of dental care you’ll need, so consider the following factors:

Ages 18-35

Most people in this age group generally face fewer oral health challenges. They benefit most from prevention and find value in a plan that covers basic cleanings and checkups. Regular yearly visits to the dentist will often cover most of this groups dental requirements.

Probably, if you fall within this age set, you are more likely to have a young family or to consider starting one soon. If your family has members that are young children, you will appreciate tools that encourage kids to learn and practice good oral health habits.

At this point, you might also consider orthodontic coverage for your children. Recent clinical studies suggest that pregnant women may benefit from additional dental cleanings, you may consider a plan that offers enhanced benefits that include such care.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should visit the dentist within six months of getting the first tooth – and no later than the first birthday.

Ages 36 – 59

At this stage in life you, odds are that you more likely to require restorative procedures, such as replacement fillings, root canals and crowns. Consider a plan that will help you manage your health and wellness by providing access to expert resources and offering choices to help confront oral health challenges.

Also, contemplate choosing a plan that offers lower deductibles and higher annual maximums in order to receive the best possible care. It is also recommended that you schedule approximately 3 to 4 regular, annual visits with your dentist as dental issues caught early can be a great money saver.

Ages 60 +

As you find yourself nearing retirement, you are more likely to face chronic dental conditions that simply happen over the course of a person’s lifetime. It’s important to look closely at plans that will help you manage the high expenses associated with more complicated conditions, such as gum disease. You may also be susceptible to dry mouth associated with medications or chronic diseases. Finally, procedures like dentures and implants can be very extensive AND expensive, so make certain that whatever plan you chose will be capable of handling those more demanding expenses.

Choosing the Right Dental Plan for You and Your Family

By understanding how oral health needs and coverage expectations vary by age, you can make better decisions about dental benefits for your family.

If your family doesn’t have a family dental insurance plan, you’re not alone. An estimated 132 million people in the United States don’t have dental insurance.

With the high sticker price of dental insurance for families, it’s no wonder that so many are going without it. The premium alone isn’t the only issue – family dental insurance plans are also associated with long waiting periods, deductibles, stringent annual plan maximums, limitations, exclusions, and health restrictions.

Today, fewer than 26 percent of adults age 65 and older have lost all their teeth. 20 years ago that figure was 46 percent.

To keep teeth as long as possible, it’s important to continue visiting the dentist on a regular basis for professional cleanings and preventative care. While one in seven 35-to-44-year-olds has gum disease, the occurrence rate increases to one in four among those over 65. As the saying goes – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Regardless of the dental plan you choose, making the decision to secure dental coverage for your family is the right choice. People with dental coverage exhibit healthier behaviors and better oral health habits – including brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, flossing daily and visiting the dentist regularly

Taking the proper time to make sure that you have a dental plan in place can make a world of difference to your health and to your smile.

 

If you would like help establishing a dental plan, contact us at our office located in the Stanley Park Professional Building in Overland Park at (913) 681-8668.  We would be very happy to help.

Bad Dental Habits, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dental Issues, Self-Confidence

10 Ways You Are Destroying Your Smile – And Might Not Know About It

Regular washing and teeth cleaning is not enough to preserve their appearance or their health. Sometimes small everyday habits can ruin your teeth without you knowing it. Some habits show its negative effect immediately (breaking of teeth), and some destroy teeth slowly and imperceptibly. The second type is worse because you aren’t aware of it happening . The smile is the mirror of your happiness, but no one wants a poor smile when they look at a mirror.

The real point is “Are you wrecking your teeth without even knowing it?”

If you chew your pencils or suck on Jolly Ranchers at work, you’re doing your pearly whites wrong. And did you know that biting your nails is not only bad for your fingers, it can actually hurt your teeth, too? People who use their teeth like a tool to tear open an envelope or pull a tough knot loose are wrecking their teeth.  You might not even be aware of the harm you are causing – it’s just not something you think about.

Carefully look at the following habits and find whether they are part of your everyday life!

Constant Snacking

Snacking produces less saliva than a meal, leaving food bits in your teeth for hours longer.  Avoiding starchy foods like potato chips and salty crackers is a good place to start. The bacteria in your mouth and in plaque break down starchy foods into acid. This acid can attack the teeth for the next 20 minutes — even longer if the food is stuck between the teeth or you snack often. You might want to floss after eating potato chips or other starchy foods that tend to get stuck in the teeth.

Saltine crackers are not so good for your oral teeth.  Saltine crackers convert to sugarcane immediately which means that it feeds the bacteria that is already in your mouth, which eventually can cause it to multiply and that causes high acidity in you mouth and is what will give you bad breath.

Avoid snacking too frequently, and stick to snacks that are low in sugar and starch — for example, carrot sticks.

Incorrect Dental Hygiene

Brushing your teeth regularly is part of good oral hygiene, but if you brush too vigorously, you can cause more harm than good.

Brushing your teeth too hard can wear down enamel, irritate your gums, make your teeth sensitive to cold, and even cause cavities.  Brushing two times a day is important, but so is how you brush: Too hard could hurt your teeth and lead to gum abrasion. To make sure you aren’t over-doing it, try to hold the toothbrush with two fingers and a thumb versus with your whole fist. That will usually give you the adequate amount of pressure that you need to.

Also, you could be using the wrong toothpaste. Wait, there is a such a thing as “wrong” toothpaste? Absolutely! Some toothpastes on the market are abrasive and can actually wear down enamel. Try buying toothpaste that contains fluoride and has the American Dental Association seal of approval.

Maybe you are really desiring a bright, white smile. But be careful. Frequent teeth whitening may do more harm than good. Over time, it can start to break down tooth enamel.  Check with a dentist to make sure that the products you use are done as directed to protect your pearly whites.

Taking diet pills or too many vitamins

Did you know that your quest for a thinner waistline may be negatively affecting your teeth?  There are certain diet pills that  contain chemicals which can cause a decreased salivary flow.  This results in a higher risk of tooth decay and oral problems. Remember, the saliva in your mouth not only naturally washes away food particles that cause decay, but it also helps to neutralize acid levels.  If the acid levels in your mouth become  too high, it can thin tooth enamel, making the teeth appear darker, not to mention more brittle and prone to chipping and cracking. So before you start taking diet pills to lose weight, make sure to consider how it might also affect your smile.  The goal should be to feel positive about your “entire” self.

Cough Drops

Just because cough drops are sold in the medicine aisle doesn’t mean they’re healthy. The truth is that most are loaded with high amounts of sugar to make them more pleasant to taste.  It’s important to keep in mind that after soothing your throat with a lozenge, be sure to brush well. Whether the sugar comes from a cough drop or a hard candy, it reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth in the same way. Then bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hello, cavities.  Remember – exposing your teeth to too much sugar, from whatever the source, is extremely bad for your body and your teeth.

 Gummy Candy

All sugary treats promote tooth decay, but some candies are worse than others. Gummies are very popular treats for kids and parents alike. The problem is that they stick in the teeth, keeping the sugar and resulting acids in contact with your enamel for hours. If your day just isn’t the same without a gummy critter, pop a couple during a meal instead of as a separate snack. More saliva is produced during meals, which helps rinse away candy bits and acids.

 Soda & Energy Drinks

Candy isn’t the only culprit when it comes to added sugar.  Did you know that sodas can have up to 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving. To add insult to injury, sodas also contain phosphoric and citric acids, which eat away at tooth enamel.

Diet soft drinks let you skip the sugar, but surprisingly, they may have actually even more acid in the form of the artificial sweeteners.

Cold sports drinks may help your body recover quicker from fatigue, but these drinks are usually high in sugar. Yes, most energy drinks replenish fluids and minerals that your body has lost during exercising,  But just like soda or candy, sugary sports drinks create an acid attack on the enamel of your teeth. Drinking them frequently can lead to decay. Truthfully, a better way to stay hydrated at the gym is to chug sugar-free, calorie-free water.

 Chewing on Things

Do you ever chew on your pencil when concentrating on work or when you are studying?  Many of us feel this helps us to focus and concentrate better. But this habit can also cause teeth to chip or crack.

Chewing on ice can cause similar damage to teeth. It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow.

Sugarless gum is by far a better option when you feel the need to chew. It will trigger the flow of saliva, which can make teeth stronger and protect against enamel-eating acids.Next time you get the urge for to chew something, chew some sugarless gum instead. It’s much better for your teeth in the long run.

Grinding.

Grinding your teeth is usually not something you are conscious of doing. Many people grind in their sleep and don’t realize it until teeth start breaking or wearing down. Grinding your teeth can lead to tooth breakage and painful problems with the jaw joint (TMJ). If you think you might grind your teeth talk to your dentist about a protective device that can be worn during sleep to protect your teeth and jaw.

Tongue Piercings

Tongue piercings may be trendy, but biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip piercings pose a similar risk. Also, when metal rubs against the gums, it can cause gum damage that may lead to tooth loss. The mouth is also a haven for bacteria, so piercings raise the risk of infections and sores. Also, with a tongue piercing there is a risk of accidentally piercing a large blood vessel, which can cause severe bleeding. Bottom line, discuss the health risks with your dentist first.

 Limit Your Time In The Pool

With the coming of Summer and with the kids let out on break swimming can be where your family spends much of their time escaping the heat.  Swimming is a sport many agree is one of the best exercises you can do. But, in the wrong environment, it can also  hurt your teeth. Yep, you read that right.

Swimming in pool water that is excessively chlorinated can erode and stain tooth enamel. Excessive chlorine lowers the pool’s pH level, making it dangerously acidic which erode tooth enamel and damages gums.

When you and your family head to the pool, take note. If you can smell chlorine, or if your eyes tend to get very sore when swimming – then perhaps it’s best to limit your time in the pool. If you’re a frequent swimmer, pack a toothbrush along with that towel of yours. Brushing your teeth and using a fluoride rinse immediately after swimming will help make a big difference.

 

Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dental Issues, Self-Confidence, Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening: DIY Methods vs Dentist Supervised

Teeth Whitening

Having  a dazzling smile is something that many of us seek to achieve.

Lots of people have smile makeovers to improve the attractiveness of their teeth and to feel better about themselves.  But many patients remain unaware of some of the other social and lifestyle benefits of good teeth.  A recent study done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has found a host of other – sometimes surprising – benefits to a great smile.

As you might expect, a great smile bestows many social advantages – and, conversely, a poor smile is detrimental.  84% of Americans ages 18 to 50 see an attractive smile as an important feature.  Likewise, the vast majority of people surveyed, 85%, say that a person’s smile is very or somewhat important when meeting someone for the first time.  Not surprisingly 9 out of 10 people surveyed also said that people with a good smile are more attractive and appear more intelligent and professional.

Over time it’s natural for teeth to become discolored and stained from all sorts of things such as drinking tea, coffee and red wine, or from the foods we eat.  Teeth can also become stained by smoking or chewing tobacco.

Brightening your smile is as easy as visiting your dentist for a whitening treatment, or purchasing one of the many at-home treatment options available.

Often people want to know about the difference between typical DIY treatments at home versus the treatment provided by a professional. So here’s a quick, simple breakdown of the facts:

What Is It?
Your teeth can become discolored by stains on the surface or by changes inside the tooth. There are three main types of tooth discoloration:

  • Extrinsic — This occurs when the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) is stained. Coffee, wine, cola or other drinks or foods can stain teeth. Smoking also causes extrinsic stains.
  • Intrinsic — This is when the inner structure of the tooth (the dentin) darkens or gets a yellow tint. You can get this type of discoloration from things like trauma that affected a tooth, or over-exposure to fluoride during early childhood. It may even be from a genetic disorder called dentinogenesis imperfecta. This causes gray, amber or purple discolorations.
  • Age-related — This type of discoloration is a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. As we age, dentin naturally yellows over time. The enamel that covers our teeth gets thinner as we get older, which allows the dentin to show through. Foods and smoking also can stain teeth as people get older. Finally, chips or other injuries can discolor a tooth, especially when the pulp has been damaged.

Many extrinsic stains caused by food and drink can be removed by regular professional cleanings and good home care. Good home care includes brushing, flossing and rinsing after meals.

Discoloration often can be removed by applying a bleaching agent to the tooth enamel. One technique is called “power bleaching.” With this method, the dentist applies a light-activated bleaching gel. It causes the teeth to get significantly whiter in about 30 to 45 minutes. We offer this type of treatment with our Phillips Zoom! treatment which produces wonderful results.  Sometimes follow-up treatments  may be needed to get the type of smile you are looking for, but there are also take-home bleaching trays that give you the flexibility to do-it-yourself.

It’s also possible to remove discoloration at home using over the counter products from your local grocer or drug store.  For example, there are several bleaching gels, like RapidEffect or Plus White Premier, which can also be quite effective. The bleaching gels designed for use at home aren’t as strong as those applied by a dentist, but they also tend to cost much less.  However, this means that the process takes longer — sometimes as long as three to five weeks.

You also can buy whitening products, like whitening strips, over the counter.  The main difference is that these products contain a  much weaker bleach than the products you can get from your dentist and tend to require a much longer time frame in order to produce good results. The whitening agent is applied as a gel placed in a mouthpiece or as a strip that sticks to your teeth.  One of the issues with over-the-counter mouthpieces is that the fit tends to be less secure than the kind you get from a dentist and the effects can be inconsistent.

There are also many whitening toothpastes which can remove minor stains. They can be good for steady maintenance of an already bright smile, but they do not actually change the overall color of your teeth.

If you happen to have a tooth that has darkened after due to a root canal or some type of tooth trauma, bleaching the enamel won’t help. This type of tooth discoloration  (intrinsic) is an internal staining.  In such instances, a dentist can apply a bleaching material to the inside of the tooth, or you may consider a crown or veneer.

Also, bleaching will not lighten some stains, such as tetracycline stains as discussed earlier. In this case, a dentist may recommend covering the discolored areas with a color-matched composite bonding material. Another option is to get veneers.  A tooth can be covered with thin ceramic shells that shield the outer surfaces of the teeth. This also may be useful when the tooth is chipped or badly damaged.

So When To Call a Professional
The truth is that tooth discoloration is mainly a cosmetic problem. If you are unhappy with how your teeth look you should really call a dentist  and set up an appointment to perform a detailed evaluation and to help set up a plan of treatment.

Finally, when dealing with discolorations in the teeth of children,  it is highly-recommended that you immediately seek the assistance of a dentist who can perform an in-depth evaluation as some of these discolorations can be indicators of more critical health concerns.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment, contact us at our office located in the Stanley Park Professional Building in Overland Park at (913) 681-8668.

We look forward to having the opportunity to be your Overland Park family dentist.