Author: Zack Boyd

The molar and premolar teeth are predisposed to decay. Their chewing surfaces have fissures or grooves that are usually deep and narrow. Plaque can easily accumulate in these surfaces. The bacterial acids in plaque are likely to attack the enamel, and cause tooth decay.

Regular brushing of these surfaces helps in getting rid of most of the plaque. Fluoride also helps in protecting the surfaces and preventing dental caries. If you want to double up on the protection, you may want to consider using dental sealants on these pitted and grooved areas.

Your dentist will put sealants, or plastic coatings, on the chewing surface of your premolars and molars. The sealants make the surfaces smoother, preventing food debris and plaque from accumulating on them and causing decay.

When are sealants used?

Ideally, you should have dental sealants applied when the permanent molars appear and their chewing surfaces have fully erupted past the gum. The dental sealants seal the surfaces and give them the protection they need against the persistent buildup of plaque.

Dental sealants are commonly placed on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars and premolars. These areas normally have deep crevices vulnerable to plaque. If you have other permanent teeth with deep pits or grooves, you can also ask your dentist to put sealants on these teeth for protection. Some parents have their family dentists put sealants even on their kid’s baby teeth (molars) to protect them from decay, and save money on further dental visits and cleaning.

Kids and teenagers are the ideal candidates for dental sealants. They can avoid decay in the grooves and depressions found in their premolar and molar teeth. If you are an adult, and you do not have fillings or decay in your molars, you can also have your dentist put dental sealants to reduce the risk of dental caries.

What is the procedure for applying dental sealants?

Your dentist will prepare your tooth for the sealants by removing food particles and plaque from the surface. He will use a rotating brush and paste to do this. He will then wash the tooth with water, and allow it to dry.

He will then put an acidic solution on the pitted region of the chewing surface, leaving it there for a few seconds before rinsing it off completely. The acid creates microscopic rough surfaces ideal for making the dental sealant adhere to the tooth.

Once the tooth becomes dry, your dentist will put dental sealant in liquid form on the chewing surface. To harden the sealant, your dentist will use a light designed for this purpose. He may also opt to use a two-component sealant that does not require the use of light to set.

When the sealant hardens, it becomes a tough coating of plastic lacquer over the toothÕs depressions, effectively shielding the area from plaque, and protecting it from decay.

There are many types of dental problems. You can avoid many of them. Eat properly. Brush your teeth diligently. Floss your teeth regularly. Visit your dentist semi-annually for thorough checkups. These are the basic steps to prevent dental problems.

What are the common dental problems you should watch out for?

Halitosis or Bad Breath

It is absolutely embarrassing to have bad breath. You can try to use mouthwash to mask the foul odor but you cannot really cure it. Research shows that bad breath, also known as halitosis, is typically a result of some dental problem. Bad breath can be a symptom of oral cancer, gum disease, tooth decay, bacteria on your tongue, or dry mouth. If you do not address the real problem that causes bad breath, you cannot cure bad breath.

Tooth Decay

Next to the common cold, tooth decay is the second most widespread disease in the USA. Tooth decay causes cavities. When the plaque (the sticky clear film composed of natural oral bacteria) on your teeth comes together with the sugar or starch from the food particles in your mouth, it produces acids that wear away at the tooth enamel, and causes tooth decay.

You can prevent tooth decay by brushing and flossing your teeth to make sure that you get rid of the food particles in your mouth. Eat the right food, and stay away from sugar-laden food and drinks. Go to your dentist for routine cleaning to prevent plaque buildup.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is closely associated with strokes and heart disease. It is a dental condition that is common among older people.

Gum disease affects the gums that surround the teeth. It starts off as gingivitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the gums. When left untreated, the condition can become aggravated, and become periodontitis, a severe infection of the bone and soft tissue supporting the teeth.

You can prevent gum disease by regular brushing and flossing. You also need to visit the dentist regularly so he can check your gums for any signs of gum disease, and address symptoms right away.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is considered one of the most prevalent deadly diseases that threaten people by the millions. It is a form of cancer that affects the throat, lips, or mouth.

Mouth Sores

Thrush, cold sores, ulcers, fever blisters, and canker sores are the more common types of mouth sores. The condition can be uncomfortable and annoying. In most cases, however, a mouth sore will heal on its own in about a couple of weeks. You will need to practice effective oral hygiene to ensure healing.

Tooth Erosion

When acids attack the tooth enamel, the tooth may wear away, and lose its structure. This can lead to sensitivity to cold or hot food and drinks, pain, and cracking.

Tooth Sensitivity

Millions of individuals suffer from tooth sensitivity. When you have this condition, you will experience discomfort and pain from ice-cream, cold beverages, hot drinks, sweets, and even cold air. You may even find it painful to brush or floss your teeth.

Unattractive Smile

If you have unattractive teeth, you are said to have an unattractive smile. The condition can be helped by dental treatments ranging from teeth whitening, orthodontics, dental implants, and other cosmetic dental interventions.

Sedation dentistry is a way for people who are afraid of going to the dentist to receive the care that they need. Millions of people suffer from dental phobia, a condition that makes them avoid the dentist out of fear. This phobia compromises their oral health, making them more vulnerable to problems such as cavities and gum disease. In addition, poor dental health can also contribute to developing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease.

Sedation involves the use of drugs to put the patient into a state of conscious relaxation. This enables the patient to go through the procedure without experiencing the fear of pain. In fact, the sedation process helps increase the pain threshold of the patient.

Sedation dentistry is also recommended for patients who are suffering from a condition that makes them unable to control their movements, such as those with Parkinson’s disease. Sedation provides them with temporary relief by putting them into an extremely relaxed state.

Sedation also does not mean that you will be unconscious during the procedure. The patient remains conscious throughout so that he can cooperate with the dentist.

The levels of sedation used range from minimal, in which the patient is relaxed and still awake, to deep sedation, in which the patient is on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened.

While sedation involves additional costs to the procedure, it can save the patient more money in the long run. A dentist can work on a sedated patient more quickly than on one who is nervous and fidgety. This shortens the time it takes to complete the procedure, reducing the number of visits required.

Being sedated does not involve the use of a syringe, which is another benefit for those who are afraid of needles. Instead, it is applied using the following methods:

A) Inhalation – The dentist puts a mask over your face through which you will breath in a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen. This type of sedation tends to wear off quickly, so you will constantly need to wear the mask during the procedure, but it also means you can drive home by yourself afterwards.

B) Oral – The patient takes a pill to induce mild to moderate sedation around an hour before the procedure. The sedative can make you groggy enough to fall asleep although you can still be easily awakened.

When stronger sedation is required, however, the doctor may use an IV so that the sedative goes directly into the vein. This method also allows the dentist to adjust how deep the sedation will be.

It should be noted that being sedated does not mean that you will not receive anesthetic. The dentist will still apply local anesthetic to your mouth in order to deaden the sensation in areas that he is working on.

Are you in pain? Did you just have a tooth break? Do you need a check-up to get your dental needs taken care of? Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?

It is always a challenge to find a dentist for an immediate need or to establish a long term relationship. Now for the more frequent situation of finding a dentist to take care of you or your family on an ongoing basis. Where do you turn?

As in Do You Want To Be A Millionaire, you can ask a friend, do it on your own or do the 50/50. What are you looking for? There should be basic expectations of what you can expect from any dental clinic.

Your dentist should be competent, answer all your questions and create a treatment plan that answers your needs and is accessible. When you find a dentist you should feel that you have found a dental home. Would it be too much to ask for a place that is OK maybe even pleasant to go to where you are greeted as a friend, were they remember your name, know about your family and are looking forward to share the events in your life? The dental team should feel like they are part of your extended family but maybe with less privileges.

At your dental home, you must feel that treatment has been explained and that you have been given options for possible treatment. You have arrived at what is called informed consent. The treatment is understood and explained and you have been made aware of costs and are ready to proceed with treatment.
The dentist should also be surrounded with a warm friendly and caring staff who could be the receptionist, the CDA or the hygienist. If you have had an especially rough appointment, it is always nice that there is a follow up call the next day.

A clean well maintained office would not be a bad thing either. If you have complex dental work done you could ask what laboratory the Doctor uses with CSA approved materials. Not all labs are created equal and some labs use grey market or poorer quality materials.

The ability to stand behind the work they do is also important. If anything fails within the year, you need to feel confident that they will repair, redo or refund without any questions.

Now you have found your perfect clinic.

You know that the very best way to keeping your smile white is by quitting smoking. But, if you have yet to commit to quitting smoking now, there are a few things you can do to keep your teeth from getting discolored or permanently stained . Always brush your teeth. The recommendation is to brush teeth two times a day. If you can remember to do so, brush your teeth a third time for added protection against the discoloration that tobacco can do to teeth. If possible brush right after smoking and brush for two minutes. You might want to make use of a smokers toothpaste as well. These products contain alumina, baking soda and other strong cleansers to help get rid of tar and nicotine from teeth. If brushing your teeth after a cigarette is not possible or convenient, you can back up your cleaning regimen by using an anti-tar mouthwash made for smokers. Keep this with you at work or in your car so you have it ready to go at any time.

One important consideration to make is that smoking can damage more than just your tooth color. It can also wear gums down and put you at a much higher risk for periodontal or gum disease. Learn more about smoking and the effects on teeth at http://yourbrightestsmile.com For this reason, you have to be vigilant about flossing every single day. Using your anti-tar or smokers toothpaste might be hard on your tooth enamel because of how powerful and abrasive they are. You can ward off tooth enamel damage by alternating smokers toothpaste with regular toothpaste every other day. If you cannot find a specially formulated smokers mouthwash try and use an anti-gingivitis formula mouthwash.

You want to work to keep tar and nicotine from embedding themselves in your gums and causing gum disease. One of the first signs of gum disease is bleeding. The more you floss and take care of your gums, the less likely you are going to have to endure this problem. Aim to floss your teeth once each day. Try rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide from time to time. This will help clear away any remaining tar and nicotine from your mouth and it is an excellent natural tooth whitener. You might also brush with baking soda, but if you are also using an abrasive smokers toothpaste this can add to the potential for damaging your tooth enamel if you brush too hard.

Make sure to visit your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning. Your dental cleaning will further eliminate stains from taking hold and or becoming worse. Also, your dentist can check to make sure your teeth and gums are as healthy as they can be. If all of this sounds like it is a bit of work, just think of how much better your teeth will look. Smoking can easily yellow teeth and yellow them fast. The more you can take preventative action, the better your teeth and gums will be until you do decide to quit smoking. New and better options, some natural are being introduced on a regualr basis to help you quit this terrible habit for good. A habit which causes much heartache, costs billions of dollars and shortens the live’s of many individuals on the planet each year.

If the title scares you, it shouldnt really. Thats because most all over the counter and professional tooth whitening products are perfectly safe to use. However, what you do want to be careful of is overusing any type of whitening product even if it is offered by your dentist. Here is more information about the potential dangers and side effects of teeth whitening products. One of the biggest side effects from whitening your teeth is sensitivity. This can apply to both your teeth and your gums. This can happen from a one-time dental session or from too many strips being used too often. When you go to your dentist for a whitening treatment, he or she will already have a desensitizing agent to use together with your bleaching product. Still confused? Learn more at this website.

When you use over-the-counter products, you might not be aware of just how much sensitivity they can cause until you are hit with a screeching pain in your mouth. If it is bad enough, you just might be inclined to make an emergency visit to your dentist. It could be that the whitener has hit a cavity or a crack in a tooth, which could require, in extreme instances, a root canal. If you do decide to use over-the-counter products, be cautious. Only use them to get your teeth as white as necessary. Some people get almost addicted to the notion that their teeth can be even whiter and take to using their whitening products too much and too often. This can cause extreme tooth and gum sensitivity and can lead to more expensive treatments such as root canals. In most cases, mild sensitivity or pain will clear up as soon as you stop using your chosen whitener. Before you decide on any tooth whitener, even over-the-counter products, you might want to consult with your dentist. While professional treatments are more costly, they are also usually more effective after just one session. They are also used with professional desensitizers to keep your mouth as comfortable as can be after you have achieved the white teeth you want.

Your dentist can also recommend what store-brand products are best for you. They can also recommend how often to use them and when to stop so that you will not overdo your whitening. In addition to pain or sensitivity, you could use whiteners to the point where your teeth get whitened unevenly. In severe cases of over-whitening your teeth, they made take on a blue tinge. Thats probably not what you are after when you go to whiten your teeth. In some cases, a dentist might recommend that a patient gets porcelain veneers instead of using any whitener.

While the risks are slight, they do exist when it comes to professional and over-the-counter whiteners. As long as you use them in moderation, you should be fine. It is wise, however, to always consult with your dentist before trying any whitener for the first time. If you have used over-the-counter products in the past and you wish to try a professional treatment, your dentist can advise you if that is the right course for you. If you have existing cavities or bonded teeth, your dentist will probably have you take care of these before choosing a whitening method. Most all whiteners are very safe to use, but they do come with some dangers if they are not used as directed. Always read and adhere to the instructions that come with the products you choose. If you choose a professional method, make sure to follow your dentists instructions for taking care of your new white smile. They have invested many years in their profession and are continually learning new and better ways to give you the healthy and attractive smile that you deserve.