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Dental Antibiotics

Why might my dentist want me to take antibiotics prior to treatment?
The answer is simple: Your dentist is taking measures to counteract the effects of bacteria that enter your bloodstream during and after a dental procedure. Certain bacteria from the mouth can affect the heart causing a condition known as sub-acute bacterial endocarditis (SBE), a serious inflammation of diseased heart valves or tissue.
Who might need to take dental antibiotics?
If you have certain heart conditions, recently had a joint replaced, or are affected by other conditions, you may need antibiotics.
What do I need to discuss with the dentist?
Be sure to inform the dentist of all medical conditions that affect (or have affected) you, as well as any medical procedures you have undergone, before beginning treatment. It is especially imperative to mention conditions related to the heart.
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Calcium

Recent Study: Calcium and Vitamin C reduce risk of periodontal disease
Monitoring your daily intake of calcium and vitamin C is a good way to manage dental health and keep periodontal (gum) disease in check, according to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology.
Calcium

The dental health benchmark for calcium intake is 500 milligrams (mg) per day. The study found that people who consume about half the recommended daily allowance each day are almost twice as likely to have periodontal diseases. People in their 20s and 30s are particularly at risk. To assess your individual risk, contact your dentist.
Vitamin C

The study also found increased dental health risk for people who consume less than 60 mg of vitamin C per day (the recommended amount, about as much as is in one orange). People who consumed less than the 60 mg dental health threshold were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop severe gingivitis as those who consumed three or more times the recommended daily amount. Gingivitis causes the gums around your teeth to turn red, swell, and bleed easily.
Additional Information

Other tips to aid your periodontal health and avoid tooth decay include brushing and flossing after consuming sticky foods or sweets. You can also improve dental health by drinking lots of water to help fend off decay, wash away food, and neutralize plaque.
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Common Dental Emergencies

Tooth Pain
Use warm water to rinse out your mouth, and remove any particles around the tooth with dental floss. Do not put a pain reliever directly on your tooth, however clove oil may be placed on the tooth temporarily. Also, if you keep your mouth closed, the pain will not be as intense because cold air will not get to the tooth. If the pain is severe, see your dentist.
Knocked-out tooth
First, find the tooth. Use a compress (a clean gauze or cotton cloth applied with mild pressure) to stop the bleeding. Holding the tooth by the crown (the white part you normally see), gently rinse the tooth with water if it is visibly dirty. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any tissue fragments. Replace the tooth in its socket if you can; otherwise place it in a cup of milk. Visit your dentist immediately with the tooth.
Object lodged between teeth
Use dental floss and attempt to take it out gently. Never use a sharp object to remove anything from between your teeth. If this technique doesn't work, see your dentist as soon as possible.
Bitten lip or tongue
Use a cloth to clean the area around the bite and cold compresses to reduce swelling. If the bleeding persists, see your dentist or go to the emergency room.
Broken tooth and swollen jaw
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area around the broken tooth, and use cold compresses to reduce the swelling. Contact your dentist.
Broken jaw
Cold compresses will ease the swelling, but if you think your jaw is broken, you should go to your hospital's emergency room or your dentist's office immediately.
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Cosmetic Dentistry

What is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is all about creating beautiful smiles. A Cosmetic Dentist can evaluate your smile and use dental techniques to create a new smile that is both attractive and comfortable.
Common cosmetic dentistry techniques:

Whitening (Bleaching): Accomplished in a variety of ways, whitening gives discolored teeth a fresh, white look.
Bonding: A tooth-colored material is applied to your teeth. When polished and complete, it will change the shape, color, and appearance of your teeth to make your smile more beautiful.
Veneers: Usually created in a laboratory, veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth to give a lifelike appearance to your smile.
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Dental Crowns and Bridges

When might you need a crown or bridge?
When you have a broken, lost, or heavily decayed tooth, your dentist may recommend a crown or dental bridge.
Types of crowns


The most common crown is a dental restoration that covers or replaces most or all the natural crown of a tooth.
Another type of crown, an abutment crown, is an artificial tooth that supports a dental prosthesis such as a dental bridge.

Types of bridges


A fixed partial dental bridge (or denture) is a prosthesis that replaces one or more missing natural teeth and is cemented to teeth or implants next to the missing tooth or teeth.
A removable partial dental bridge (or denture) is a dental prosthesis, which the patient can remove, that replaces one or more missing natural teeth.


A dental bridge can help with chewing and speaking, as well as with maintaining the shape of your face and alleviating stress in your bite.
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Deep Cleaning

A deep cleaning (a.k.a. Scaling and Root Planing) is very different than a routine cleaning (a.k.a. Prophylaxis).
A routine cleaning focuses on preventive dental care and the maintenance of healthy teeth and oral tissues by the removal of calculus, plaque, and common stains. Typically performed twice a year by a Registered Dental Hygienist or dentist, it is usually completed in one appointment.
A deep cleaning is a therapeutic procedure designed to help avoid periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by a buildup of calculus, plaque, and stain on the crowns and root surfaces of teeth. It can begin as localized gingival inflammation and progress to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. Left untreated, this disease progresses to the ultimate loss of teeth.
In periodontal disease, gingival tissue may detach (pull away) from teeth, and periodontal pockets form. Scaling and Root Planing is intended to provide a healthy tissue environment in which tissues re-adapt to normal tooth surfaces.
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Dentists

Is there a difference between a D.D.S. and a D.M.D. degree?
All licensed dentists have one of two degrees: D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine). Both are professional degrees in dental health requiring significant training. The training is similar, and for practical purposes, the degrees are the same.
What are the different types of dentists?
General dentists are dental health care professionals who provide common dental services and treatment, much as a general physician provides common health care services.
Dental specialists are dental care professionals specially trained in and practicing a specific type of dental care. The most common dental specialists are:
Endodontists treat diseases of and injuries to the tooth pulp.
Orthodontists treat misaligned teeth and their surrounding structures. This is where you get braces.
Pedodontists treat children from birth through adolescence.
Periodontists treat diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.
Prosthodontists address the restoration of natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes.
Oral Surgeons perform the removal of teeth and treat trauma and malformations of the jaw and facial structures.


How do I find a dentist?

Ask for a recommendation from an acquaintance, physician, pharmacist, or your current dentist (if you are moving).
Contact a dental society, which may be listed in the phonebook under "dentists" or "associations."
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Dental Implants and Dentures

Implants
An implant is an artificial tooth surgically placed below the gums to replace lost natural teeth. Because implants fuse to bone, they provide additional stability that helps dentures and other forms of artificial teeth feel more natural and fit more comfortably.
How is an implant placed?
Placed over several dental appointments, an implant fuses with your jawbone and can serve as a base for placing individual teeth, bridges, or dentures.
Who can get an implant?
You must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. An evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate.
Dentures
Dentures are an option for replacing lost teeth and can be utilized with or independently of implants. Types of dentures include:
Full or Complete Denture: used when all teeth are missing in the upper or lower jaw
Partial Denture: used when some teeth are missing but others remain
Removable Dentures: can be taken out of the mouth for cleaning and dental hygiene
Fixed Dentures: may be anchored by implants to provide additional grip and stability
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Oral Cancer

Oral cancer (a.k.a. mouth cancer) is not a topic to take lightly. Fortunately, however, it's now easier than ever to detect, and with early detection, comes a greater chance of survival.
Where is it located?
Usually starting as a white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth, oral cancer can affect any portion of the oral cavity, including the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue, and the hard or soft palate.
Detection
An oral cancer screening should be a part of any routine dental exam. In about 10 percent of patients, dentists may notice flat and painless white or red spots. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. The dentist may choose to treat the sore and ask the patient to return for a follow up, or he or she may perform a brush biopsy, which is usually painless, to determine if dangerous cells are present.
Symptoms
In looking for mouth cancer, dentists check for many of the following symptoms, which you should also look for to increase your chances of early detection:

Color changes in tissues
Lumps, thickenings, rough spots, or small eroded areas
Mouth sores that bleed easily and do not heal
Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
Changes in the voice
Changes in the way your teeth fit together.
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The link between dental health and general health
Did you know that, by looking into a person's mouth, a dentist might be able to tell if he or she is a candidate for osteoporosis in the future?

It's true, and the relationship between dental and general health is not just limited to osteoporosis. Take a look at these important correlations between general and dental health:
Bone loss in the lower jaw may precede skeletal bone loss from osteoporosis.
Mouth lesions and other oral conditions may be early indicators of HIV infections and are used to determine the stage of infection and follow its progression to AIDS.
Called "the sixth complication of diabetes," periodontal disease is more likely in diabetics.
Certain cancer treatments may also damage mouth tissues and necessitate treatment for oral infections.
Studies show increased risk of heart disease and stroke in people with gum infections.
Some studies show that mothers of pre-term, low birth weight infants have more severe gum disease than mothers of babies with normal birth weights.
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Orthodontics

Orthodontics corrects the alignment of the teeth to create a beautiful smile and a healthy occlusion (bite). Braces are often used, but new techniques with retainers and removable plastic mouthpieces may eliminate the need for braces.
Orthodontists
An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of dental and facial irregularities by using braces and other techniques to create a healthy bite. An orthodontist helps permanent teeth enter the mouth in a healthy alignment.
When to take your child to the orthodontist
It is recommended that you ask your general dentist about orthodontics when your child's permanent teeth first appear. If teeth enter the mouth and become tipped, rotated, or out of position, they can be moved back by having braces applied to the teeth. Parents should be certain to inquire about orthodontics if they notice the permanent teeth coming in this way, if the child has a pronounced overbite or underbite, or if the child sucks a thumb, finger, or pacifier past the age of five. When a child is examined at an early age, interceptive orthodontics can guide the permanent teeth into position as they erupt into the mouth, sometimes preventing the need for braces at a later age.
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Preventive Dentistry

Improving Outcomes: Preventive Dentistry Is Essential to Good Oral Health.
There's no question that the science of dentistry has improved over the past 50 years – and dramatically improved people's lives. Consider this: In the 1950s, most Americans age 65 and older had lost all their teeth. Today, more than half the people in this age group report that they have lost five teeth or fewer.
Five preventive factors in modern dentistry have combined to provide these better outcomes: the prevalence of fluoridated water, use of sealants, decreasing tobacco use, tooth brushing and flossing, and professional prophylaxis (routine cleanings).
Other advances in dental care have improved overall dental health, including:
Improvements in periodontic (treatment of gum disease) and endodontic (treatment of tooth root and pulp diseases) therapy
The use of porcelain and resins to restore teeth while achieving life-like results
Implant prosthetics that allow for preservation of natural teeth
Improvements in home dental care, including dental floss and water picks
Increases in dental insurance benefits that encourage wider, earlier, and more frequent use of dentistry.

The future
Although most dental disease is considered preventable, work remains to be done to ensure that all Americans have access to adequate preventive care. Water fluoridation provides an example of this. The U.S. Public Health Service reports that "community water fluoridation, an effective, safe, and ideal public health measure, benefits individuals of all ages and socioeconomic strata. Unfortunately, more than one third of the U.S. population (100 million people) is without this critical health measure."
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Dental Sealants

What are sealants?
A dental sealant is a thin plastic film applied to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, they are one of the best ways to protect your children's teeth from cavities (caries).
Sealant application
Applying a sealant is easy and generally painless. First, the dentist will clean the surface of the tooth and apply an etching solution or gel. After a few seconds, the solution is rinsed away with water, and the tooth is dried. The sealant material is then applied and allowed to harden, either chemically or by being "cured" by a special curing light.
Sealant life and maintenance
Sealants typically last five years, but can last for as long as ten years. Your dentist will examine the integrity of your child's sealants at return visits.
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Tooth Decay

What causes tooth decay?
Tooth decay (a.k.a. dental caries) usually starts as a result of bacteria in the mouth interacting with sugars from food, causing the formation of acid. The acid breaks down tooth enamel, making the tooth even more susceptible to bacteria. The result is decay.
What can I do to reduce my chances of tooth decay?
Brush with a fluoride toothpaste and floss twice a day.
Eat nutritious meals and limit processed sugar and between-meals snacks.
Use a supplemental fluoride, which makes your teeth more resistant to acid.
Ask your dentist about putting dental sealants on your back teeth to protect them.
Visit your dentist twice each year for a cleaning and an examination.


What other kinds of damage can tooth decay cause?
Tooth decay can strike when gingival tissues recede or "pull away" from your teeth and expose tooth roots to calculus and plaque. This can lead to periodontal disease. Also the roots of your teeth can decay if they are exposed to acids produced by bacteria. An early sign that might indicate decay at the roots of your teeth is sensitivity to hot and cold.
Just because you've had a tooth filled doesn't mean it is no longer susceptible to decay. As fillings age, they fracture or leak, leaving tiny places for bacteria to thrive. If this happens, decay can occur around the fillings.
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Toothbrushes

Softer Brush, Lighter Strokes Key to Oral Health
An article in BusinessWeek explains that it is possible to "brush your teeth away." Harsh strokes with your toothbrush - especially when coupled with a toothbrush that is too firm – can cause an increase of tooth and gum abrasion, gum recession, and periodontal disease. For the best oral health, relax the brush strokes and use a soft brush.
How to brush
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
Brush all surfaces of the teeth.
Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.


Replacing your toothbrush
The American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes every three or four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed. Children's toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adult toothbrushes.