By James and Michelle Horst, DDS, Associates in Dentistry
My husband, Dr. James Horst, and I are practicing general dentists. Together, we are proud to be serving the Peoria area. We both feel that the key to a healthy mouth is educating our patients on what they should (and shouldn’t) be doing at home. For this reason, we love to answer our patient’s questions in a way that they can understand and apply to their everyday lives.
Together, we have compiled a list of common dental questions that we encounter on a daily basis. In hopes of providing readers a better understanding of their dental health:
Q: I am nervous because it has been a long time since I have seen a dentist. What do I need to do to get back on track to taking care of my teeth and gums?
A: First off, congratulations for wanting to improve your oral health! We often see people that haven’t had a dental exam in many years, and want to get back on track to taking care of their bodies and improving their smiles. We like to set up a very thorough dental exam that includes taking x-rays, and reviewing your dental and medical histories; as well as checking the gums, tongue, cheeks, TMJ, and teeth very thoroughly. By collecting all of this information, we are able to specifically customize your treatment plan so that we can help you achieve a healthy mouth. In many cases, we also provide nutrition counseling and oral hygiene evaluations to make sure that you have all of the information that you need at home to improve your dental health on a daily basis.
Q: Which is better: an electric or manual toothbrush?
A: If a manual toothbrush is used for the appropriate amount of time, and done with proper technique, it can perform just as well as an electric toothbrush. However, many people don’t brush for the recommended two minutes, and in some cases, don’t have the proper manual dexterity to angle a toothbrush well enough to clean all of the surfaces of the teeth, gums, and tongue. We definitely recommend electric toothbrushes for children and the elderly, who may have difficulty brushing.
Q: What are dental sealants, and who should get them?
A: Dental sealants are thin plastic-like coatings that fill deep grooves in teeth. These grooves can harbor food and bacteria, and are often very difficult to keep clean. Sealing the six-year molars for children is recommended because they are the most common teeth to need a filling in a person’s lifetime. However, we generally recommend sealants for anyone who has deep grooves in their teeth. Sealants can easily be placed, and often involve no drilling or anesthetic. Sealants are an excellent way to prevent cavities.
Q: What is root canal therapy, and does it hurt?
A: Root canal therapy does not have to be scary! People often associate getting a “root canal” with great discomfort, but in most cases, it can be a very beneficial, comfortable procedure. If someone has a deep cavity that goes into the middle of the tooth, or they start getting dental pain as a result of trauma or a deep cavity, the nerve becomes damaged. If the damaged nerve is left in the tooth, it can lead to an abscess and pain. At this point, the dead or dying nerve needs to be taken out. A root canal does just that: it safely removes the nerve, allowing you to keep your tooth longer. A root canal procedure can be a tooth saver, and is very beneficial to maintaining a healthy mouth.
Q: What is the best thing to do if a tooth gets “knocked-out?”
A: With football season starting, and fall sports at full swing, we often get this question from parents. If there is an accident that involves a tooth, it is important to call your dentist immediately. We are aware that dental emergencies can happen, and will try our best to fit you into our schedules right away.
If an adult tooth is completely out of the gums, it is important to remove any debris very carefully while doing your best not to touch the root of the tooth. The tooth can be cleaned off with milk or saliva. If it can be put into the gums right away, the tooth may have the best prognosis. Your dentist will be able to evaluate the tooth and supporting bone to determine what can be done to save the tooth.
It is best to encourage your child to wear a sports mouth guard if they are playing contact sports. This can protect their teeth, and greatly reduce the occurrence of sports-related trauma. A well-fitted mouth guard can be fabricated at your dental office.
Q: I am concerned about dental x-rays. Isn’t that a lot of radiation?
A: Radiographs (x-rays) are extremely beneficial in diagnosing dental decay, finding abscesses, cysts, and other dangerous things that can be caught early. Your dentist cannot complete a comprehensive exam without recent x-rays. This is because x-rays reveal the parts of the tooth that are not visible by just looking in the mouth, such as inside the tooth and the root under the gums. The radiation you would receive from a dental x-ray is very low. Most up-to-date dental offices have digital x-rays available that reduce radiation by an additional 90 percent, compared to the old dental films.
You can expect 60 times as much radiation from a mammogram and 2,800 times more radiation from a CT scan compared to a dental x-ray. And did you know that you can get the same amount of radiation from eating about 50 bananas as you could from one dental x-ray?!
For further information regarding dental procedures visit us at www.associatesindentistry.com or “like us” on Facebook. With locations in Canton, Elmwood, Washington, Peoria, and Bartonville, Associates in Dentistry is ready to serve you and your family. Convenient weekend and evening appointments are available.
Sources available upon request.
Photo credit: svetikd/iStock