Austin Dental Center, Author at Austin Dental Center

How to Know if You Need a Root Canal

May 31, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

A root canal is a procedure done in an effort to save an infected tooth or one that is severely decayed. When the pulp and nerve tissue inside a tooth is damaged, bacteria begin to form inside the pulp chamber.

Bacteria can lead to decay, and decay can cause infection and result in an abscessed tooth. The gum tissue around the tooth may become infected as well.

During a root canal procedure, your dentist removes nerve and pulp from inside the tooth, then seals and cleans it. Once this is done, you can return to your normal eating habits. Your tooth will be completely functional.

Root Canal Symptoms

Although it’s entirely possible that you’ll experience no symptoms whatsoever and will still need a root canal, you may experience any or all of the following symptoms if you have a tooth that requires the procedure:

• You may experience a severe toothache, especially when you apply pressure on the tooth or use it to chew food

• The affected tooth may become discolored

• You may experience swelling in the gum tissue surrounding the tooth

• The surrounding gum tissue may be painful or tender

• You may notice extreme and prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks

• There may be a recurring pimple that appears on the gum tissue close to the affected tooth

A root canal procedure is an effective way to save a badly decayed tooth, which doesn’t need the nerve or pulp tissue to function. Usually, the procedure can be done in one or two office visits. Talk to your dentist for more information.

Source: WebMD | http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-root-canals

Photo: Toothache ¦ Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/45459399@N08/7558867436/Author: Bosc d’Anjou ¦ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Non-Surgical Treatments for Periodontal Disease

April 18, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a problem that is all too common in the U.S. In fact, a recent study by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) concluded that half of all adults aged 30 and over in the U.S. suffer from gum disease.

If you’re one of those people, and if your disease has progressed to a certain point, surgery may be required in order to repair the damage to your gums. Fortunately, surgery isn’t always necessary.

If you’re in the early stages of periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend non-surgical methods to stop the progression of the disease and return your gums to a healthy condition.

Non-Surgical Options

Regular dental cleanings:Your dentist may recommend a schedule of regular dental cleanings if you’re in the early stages of gum disease. These regular cleanings will remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Most dentists recommend that people without gum disease have their teeth cleaned twice a year. But if you suffer from the early stages of periodontal disease, your dentist will probably recommend that you have your teeth cleaned more often.
Scaling and root planing:More advanced stages of gum disease may require scaling and root planing. This procedure, done under a local anesthetic, removes plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line. Rough spots on teeth are smoothed (or planed) during the process. This procedure is usually recommended for people with tartar buildup under the gums.

If you suffer from gum disease, talk to your dentist about which treatment may be right for you.

Source: WebMD http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gum-disease-treatments

Keep yr teeth clean in 2013 | Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/newrafael/8332093274/Author: newrafael http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Different Methods for Whitening Your Teeth

March 15, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Teeth whitening has become all the rage over the last few years. You can choose to whiten your teeth with over-the-counter products, or visit your dentist to have it professionally done.

Whichever method you choose, it’s helpful to know how effective each one is and what will be required to get the job done:

Tray-based over-the-counter products:
One of the earliest forms of over-the-counter (or OTC) methods for teeth whitening came with tray-based products. These kits consist of a generic, one-size-fits-all tray and whitening gel. Most require you to spend two hours a day for a period of four weeks to achieve optimum results.

Strips:
One of the more popular OTC methods for brightening your smile is whitening strips. To get the best results with these products, you’ll usually have to apply them twice a day for two weeks. The results often last for several months.

Gels:
Another more recent advent in the world of teeth-whitening products is a gel that you apply directly on the teeth. Similar to strips, gels require twice-a-day application for two weeks, and results generally last about 4 months.

Rinses:
One of the newest innovations is the whitening rinse. All that’s required is simply rinsing your mouth twice a day for about 60 seconds each time. Although this method is certainly easier than others, it’s also not as effective.

Professional whitening:
Your dentist can provide the most effective means of whitening your teeth either in the dental office or with custom-made trays at home. Not only is this the most effective method for whitening, but it will also allow your dentist to help resolve any issues that may result from whitening procedures, such as increased sensitivity.

Read more about types of teeth whitening

Photo by: Smile (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rupertuk/4159721353/) / Rupert Taylor-Price (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rupertuk/) / CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Mussel Slime Could Fix Sensitive Teeth

February 20, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

A gooey substance, similar to the slimy material marine mussels utilize to securely attach themselves to rocks and other surfaces has been found to help fight tooth sensitivity and assist in remineralizing teeth.

This substance, according to a new study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces in November 2012, was found to cause the reformulation of dentin and enamel in teeth when bathed in the sticky substance.

The study authors, Chun Hung Chu, Yun-Zhi Zhou, Quan-Li L, Ying Cao, and Wei Liu say that approximately 75 percent (three out of every four) people have teeth sensitivity. In particular, people teeth are sensitive to cold, hot, sour, and sweet drinks and foods. Teeth sensitivity happens when the hard enamel on the outer layer of teeth become softer when the supporting dentin underlying wears away. This stimulates the nerves inside the teeth, causing the teeth to become sensitive, particularly to temperature.

While special toothpaste and certain sugar-free chewing gums can help reduce tooth hyper-sensitivity in some people, the authors indicated the need for a material that not only rebuilt enamel, but dentin simulatanously.

After conducting laboratory tests, the scientist concluded that the sticky material “may be a simple universal technique to induce enamel and dentin remineralization simultaneously.”

For more information, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Mussels / Rannakarbid / Pille / CC BY 2.0

PEW Reports Child Dental Health Unsatisfactory

February 13, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

According to a new “Falling Short: Most States Lag on Dental Sealants” report by Pew Center on the States, the majority of states are lacking in preventing tooth decay, and is one of the catalysts of health care cost increases for taxpayers and families.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia received a letter grade of D or F in providing kids with dental sealants, which are plastic clear-colored coating affixed to molars’ chewing surfaces – the most cavity prone of the teeth — to prevent tooth decay. These preventative sealants run at a cost of one-third that of filling a cavity, according to a Pew Center press release.

Key Findings of the Pew Center Report

— Only two states (New Hampshire and Maine) received the total number of maximum points possible.
— Only five states received an “A”.
— Eight states received a “B”, but only four of these had a dental sealant program
— Fifteen and seventeen states received letter grades of “D” and “C”, respectively.
— New Jersey, North Carolina, Wyoming, District of Columbia, and Hawaii all earned a letter grade “F”.

Based on the state’s policies in place as of July 1, 2012, states received grades based on four criteria:

1) having a sealant program in high-need areas schools
2) meeting national objectives on sealants set up by the Health People 2010 federal government goals
3) regularly gathering data on school age children’s dental health combined with submitted it to a national database
4) enabling dental hygienists to incorporate sealants in school programs without needing a dentist’s examination

For more information, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Don’t mess with Texas / Rishabh Mishra / CC BY 2.0

Why Periodontal Disease Causing Bacteria Must Be Caught Early

February 6, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Bacteria, known as Porphyromonas gingivalis, that causes periodontal gum disease alters the body’s immune system, which shuts down the normal functions in place that would otherwise kill the bacteria, according to new research from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birhingham.

“Since greater than 50 percent of the U.S. population over 50 years-of-age develop adult periodontal disease, we hope that the results of our study will ultimately help in the development of novel treatments that could prevent or ameliorate the chronic infection caused by the pathogen P. gingivalis,'” said Jannet Katz, D.D.S., Ph.D., a researcher involved in the study.

Gum diseases, like periodontal disease, and the infections that cause them are often immensely troublesome to treat. Now, this new study, and other similar research, reveals just how problematic these bacteria are because they extend beyond the body’s built-in defenses, and actually manhandle our body’s immune system so they can survive, comments John Wherry, Ph.D., who is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, where the study is published.

The study findings highlight the importance early prevention of periodontal disease or swift intervention to eradicate the bacteria through customized treatment procedures or invention of a effective periodontal disease bacteria vaccine.

One out of every two adults in America over the age of 30 have periodontal disease, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more information, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Fío dental / Certo Xornal / CC BY 2.0

Toothpaste Study Helps Determine Which Kind is Best

January 29, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

When you visit the oral care aisle at your local retail store, you are likely overwhelmed by the sheer number of toothpastes available today.

Once upon a time, the choice was quite simple, but today, you must weigh your options carefully, or you could just consider the findings of coming studies.

The researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM and the Microtribology Centre tested a wide range of the available toothpastes to create a new and improved way to measure the abrasive nature of the cleaning agents currently available.

Abrasives are an important part of toothpastes as the small particles help to scrape away dental plaque that would otherwise lead to decay. However, as time goes by, too much abrasion can wear away the enamel. The abrasive nature of toothpaste depends on the size, amount and hardness of the particles within it. The degree of abrasion possible with a toothpaste is measured as an RDA level (radioactive dentin abrasion). The current range is thirty to two-hundred. The new measuring methods of this study will make these rating more uniform than they have been in the past.

The test utilized a single bristle and a mixture of toothpaste, saliva, and water to recreate the typical brushing habits of people. Movements were made in both straight lines and circular motions to further mimic daily brushing, but the movements were made up to eight thousand times to measure the impact on the teeth.

This new way of testing toothpastes will provide the mass market a better way to compare those on the shelves today. For more information, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: All the toothpaste you actually need / Kenneth Lu / CC BY 2.0

How to Treat Morning Breath

January 24, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Do you hide away in the morning hours?

Do you avoid conversation for the couple of hours after waking?

Does that have more to do with your mouth than it does with your mood in the AM?

If it makes you feel any better, morning breath is a problem that impacts everyone to some degree. Even those who don’t regular worry about bad breath can wake with a bad taste resting about their teeth and gums.

There are, of course, things that can make morning breath worse, such as certain medical conditions, many pungent foods, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use.

There are also measures that can be taken to improve the condition of your mouth in the early hours of the day.

Avoid Dehydration: A dry mouth is far more likely to carry a foul smell because there is nothing there to wash away the bacteria responsible for bad breath. Of course, you aren’t going to set your alarm to get up and drink a glass of water, but you can help the problem by staying well hydrated during the day.

Practice Proper Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing just before bed removes the food particles that bad bacteria feed upon, which means less risk of bad breath.

Don’t Miss Your Tongue: Before you hop in bed, before you leave your toothbrush behind, make sure you attack your tongue. This is a breeding ground for bacteria, so be sure you are washing it away every time you brush. Bacteria can also be tackled with mouthwash.

Eat Right: For once, ‘eat right’ doesn’t necessarily mean replacing your cookie with an apple. In this case, it means that you should eat foods that are not likely to add to your bad breath – garlic, onions, and jalapeños. For some, dairy is a contributing factor as well.

For more helpful hints, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Big Yawn! / clickit07 / CC BY 2.0

Are Coffee’s Health Benefits Worth It For Your Teeth?

January 19, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

There have been many studies recently that report the regular drinking of coffee playing a big role in the prevention of mouth and throat cancer. However, Martin Hogan of Loyola University Health System is not so quick to recommend the habit to his patients.

Why? Despite the evidence of a correlation between coffee drinking and reduce chance of cancer, there are still downsides to the regular java boost – enamel loss.

Coffee is a leading cause of enamel loss, ranking near the top of the list with other beverages such as tea and red wine. While the findings regarding cancer prevention are promising, Hogan argues that the enamel loss that would be caused by increased coffee consumption is not worth the risk when there are so many factors that still need to be considered with further research.

He believes that researchers need to truly eliminate other factors in their studies of coffee’s impact on cancer development – tobacco use, alcohol consumption levels, HPV virus diagnoses, the presence of fungal infections, etc. All of these factors are known causes of oral cancer and could skew the findings in the coffee studies.

If, for instance, a large percentage of non-coffee drinkers are drinking alcohol in large quantities or if they are more likely to be diagnosed with HPV than the coffee drinkers, the correlation between coffee and reduced cancer risk would be circumstantial.

Until those factors can be ruled out, Hogan suggests that patients limit their coffee consumption and be aware of the common signs of oral and throat cancer such as chronic sores, a lasting sore throat, difficulty chewing, or an unusual lump in the cheek.

To better understand Hogan’s view on the matter, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Coffee time / Roger Price / CC BY 2.0

Can Periodontal Disease Be Stopped in its Tracks?

January 16, 2013 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Periodontal disease is not a phrase that is as well known as gum disease, but it is a very common form of the problem, which occurs when the bacterial balance falls out of equilibrium. That is to say that when bad bacteria outweigh good bacteria in the mouth for an extended period of time, periodontal disease is allowed to spread. It causes inflammation, discomfort, and can even result in bone deterioration. If it is allowed to progress, it can even impact overall systemic health.

As scary as this dental problem is, there may be renewed hope of its prevention. A recent study utilizing lab mice allowed researchers to both thwart the disease all together and to stop its progression after diagnosis. The researchers were a team from the Department of Microbiology in Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, and they found it possible to block a molecular receptor that was a known target of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

The receptor, referred to as C5aR, was attacked by harmful bacteria, thereby stopping the immune response typical in a human body and increasing gum inflammation. Another set of receptors, referred to as TLRs, complement the C5aR response. In order to demonstrate the part that these receptors play in the formation of gum disease, the researchers injected molecules (known to activate C5aR and the TLRs) into the gums. It was noted that inflammation increased substantially, but when the researchers used a synthesized molecule, called C5aRA, they were able to stop 80% of the inflammation seen in typical periodontal disease and even in those mice already affected, they could reduce the swelling by 70%.

To better understand what this means to the dental community, continue reading the full article.

Photo by: Dr. Alan Carr points out the broken root or bad root canal of a right rear molar (tooth), dental tool, orthodontist’s office, full jaw Xray, Factoria, Washington, USA / Wonderlane / CC BY 2.0

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