What is a Dental Sealant?

A dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent cavities.

How effective are sealants?

Studies have proven that properly applied sealants are 100-percent effective in protecting the tooth surfaces from cavities. As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot penetrate through or around a sealant. Sealant protection is reduced or lost when part or all of the bond between the tooth and sealant is broken. However, clinical studies have shown that teeth that have lost sealants are no more susceptible to tooth decay than teeth that were never sealed.

Why can’t I just brush and floss?

While brushing and flossing help to remove food particles and Continue reading “What is a Dental Sealant?” »

Coffee and Doughnuts: A Disastrous Combo for Teeth?

Adult Nutrition
Coffee and Doughnuts: A Disastrous Combo for Teeth?

You’re late for work, skip breakfast and during the commute, pick up a doughnut and cup of coffee and you’re on your way. This common quick-fix breakfast scenario can lengthen your time spent in the dental chair, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). The sugars in doughnuts have been identified as a risk factor for gum inflammation and cavities. The amount of sugar and cream in your coffee also can have a direct effect on the amount of cavity-causing bacteria. If this is your breakfast of choice, learn what you can do to fight back against this combination of tooth terror.
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Why is Xylitol a better sweetener?

I have reviewed the medical research and feel confident recommending Epic Dental products as your “sugar free” choice for gum and mints. Here is what they have to say about Xylitol:

Xylitol – Not a Drug – Just a Wonder!
Epic Dental products contain xylitol, a powerful all-natural tool to improve your family’s oral health.
Not a chemical or a drug, xylitol’s completely natural and even produced by the human body during normal metabolism.

What It Does
Xylitol Prevents Cavities: Xylitol’s unique molecular structure works against bacteria. In fact, studies show that 6 grams of the xylitol found in Epic reduce acid-producing bacteria. By reducing the bacteria, you reduce cavities.
Xylitol Is Diabetic Friendly Sweetener: Our friends with diabetes have repeatedly thanked us for finding them a wonderful replacement to sugar. In fact, xylitol is only an 11 on the glycemic index, and since xylitol contains 40% fewer calories than sugar, you’ll be smiling each time you step on the scale as well.
Xylitol Soothes & Quenches Dry Mouth: Epic’s xylitol not only naturally stimulates saliva flow, but also fights the cause of the acid production. Both our gum and mints are ideal ways produce additional saliva. You’ll find our mouthwash an ideal catalyst for an extra dose of cavity-fighting-gentle-buffer-building goodness. Learn more about relief from dry mouth.
Xylitol Can Help Prevent Kids’ Ear Infections: Xylitol has been approved for use by people of all ages. Studies suggest that children especially, can benefit from using xylitol. In fact, in most of the xylitol research studies, children have been the key participants. Interestingly, studies have also shown that xylitol can strongly impact the bacteria that causes many inner-ear infections.
Xylitol? Too Good To Be True?
Xylitol is considered a healthy alternative to sugar and lacks major side effects. In fact, most users experience virtually no side effects when using the recommended dosage (usually 6-8 grams) for dental benefits. Some users, however, may experience some initial side effects when first using xylitol in large quantities.

Remember, xylitol’s not created in a lab. It comes from nature.

Reasons For A Root Canal

Many people flinch when their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While dentists are sympathetic to fears of pain, at Dentistry For Adults we also want you to know that root canal therapy has three purposes:

• Stop the toothache
• Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw
• Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a denture or bridge.

The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top surface of the tooth. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.

When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed; it’s the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, it’s harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.

For more information about how we at Dentistry For Adults can help you with your root canal problems, call us at (972) 981-8653, we will be happy to talk with you.

Root Canal Procedure

A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment procedure, the dentist removes the inflamed or infected tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canal space inside the tooth, and then fills and seals this space.

It may take one or more appointments to complete the procedure. A protective restoration should be placed after root canal treatment has been completed in order to restore the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture.

At Dentistry For Adults we think of a root canal as washing the invasive bacteria out of the root, filling it with a biocompatible material that soothes the area, then sealing it back up again. Top it off with a solid filling or a crown, and you’re as good as new. That means you get to keep your tooth. And that’s a good thing.

For more information about how we at Dentistry For Adults can help you with your root canal problems, call us at (972) 981-8653, we will be happy to talk with you.

Plaque build-up

One of the easiest problems to spot is a build-up of plaque. Plaque is the soft, sticky layer of bacteria, which is constantly forming on the teeth.

Usually it is invisible to the naked eye, but when a person is not brushing adequately, it can build up to where it appears to be a thick whitish coating on the teeth at the gum line. If not removed, it can lead to gum disease.

Another potential problem, which is easy to spot, is missing teeth. Many patients we see assume that if they are still able to eat, they are O.K.

But very often, losing just one tooth can lead to the loss of support, and teeth begin to drift into the empty space, causing a change in the bite. It also forces the remaining teeth to carry an additional load, sometimes past their ability to adapt. In most cases, when even one tooth is lost, the remaining teeth suffer and are more likely to be lost as well.

At Dentistry For Adults our focus is in the treatment of problems such as these. Call our office at (972) 981-8653 for the care you need.