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If a Tooth Gets Knocked Out, Act Quickly!
If you respond quickly, a tooth that is knocked out can actually be re-implanted and retained for life. Studies show a success rate if the time outside the mouth is limited to only five minutes up to an hour.
Here are some do’s and don’ts:
1) Do not touch the root part of the tooth ( grasp the crown or enamel part of the tooth)
2) If the tooth is dirty, rinse with milk or water
3) If the tooth cannot be inserted right away, store the tooth in milk, saline, or saliva en route to the dentist
4) Note: Do not try to place a “baby tooth” back into the socket
No Surprises with New Smile
No surprises with new smile!
Making a change in your smile can be exciting but can create some apprehension. What will I look like? Will I still look like me? Will it look natural? , etc….
We have developed in our office an almost fool-proof way of getting you the exact smile you are looking for with cosmetic veneers. Here are the steps to ensure there are no surprises.
1) We begin by taking a photo and models of your current smile.
2) We discuss it together, look at other smiles and get an idea of what will look best.
3) We then create from your original picture a virtual picture of what your smile should look like, based on our discussion.
4) We discuss this new smile picture together and make sure we’re on track
5) We then create a 3-dimensional “ wax-up” of this smile to look at to better get a feel for it
6) Once approved, we create temporaries to actually wear on your teeth to see how you like it
7) We can alter any changes at this time. Usually, because of all the previous steps, there is very little tweaking.
8 ) Once you wear them for a while and approve of them, we create your permanent smile designed from an exact impression of the approved temporaries
9) And finally, we have the laboratory technician chairside at delivery for any final tweaking of shading or other minor changes so everything is exact!
10) No Surprises!.. Just a beautiful smile!
Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
To me, it’s more important how you brush your teeth than the type of toothbrush or toothpaste you happen to use. You want to especially concentrate brushing on the junction where the tooth meets the gum and all chewing surfaces. Two full minutes of not brushing too hard is the goal.
I recommend soft toothbrushes to my patients. Some people do like hard brushes because they feel like they’re getting their teeth cleaner, but in my opinion you can do just as well with a soft brush without the risk of damaging your gums and teeth.
Electric toothbrushes are designed to be more efficient and effective than manual toothbrushes. It’s the same analogy as waxing your car. You can still get the job done by hand, but using a power buffer takes less effort, less time, and probably does a better job. Another advantage of the electric toothbrush is that it helps control the force that is applied to the tooth. This is especially valuable for the person who naturally tends to brush too hard manually.
The two main features, in my opinion, to look for when choosing a toothpaste are that it contains fluoride and that has the “Approved by ADA” logo. Fluoride strengthens teeth which helps prevent cavities and helps somewhat with tooth sensitivity. Approval by the ADA ensures safety. Besides these two features, personal preference is the best guide. It has been said “The best toothpaste is the one you like.”
Today there are also many choices for toothbrushes. Much research over the past several years has gone into design. Toothbrush bristles used to be flat across and handles were straight. We know the surfaces of teeth are not flat. The manufacturers in turn have designed the bristles to adapt better to the natural curves and valleys of tooth surfaces. The angled handle evolved to make it easier to reach the back teeth. Each company has a slightly different design that their researchers believe is the best. At the end of the day, its what seems to work best for you and what you like using.
Magic! Immediate Pain Relief!
I have had a laser for a while and have found it very useful for gently doing minor gum procedures without cutting or sutures.
I had a patient come in last week who had been up all night with pain. Her lower back tooth had chipped and left a sharp edge. It wasn’t the tooth that was hurting her, it was the tongue! She had a large ulcer and every time she swallowed, the pain was intense.
I wanted to help her. Ointment would only help for minutes. Numbing her would only give her a few hours of relief. She and I were both desperate for an answer.
It was then that I remembered reading an article by a dentist from Arizona who had success using a laser at a very low setting to desensitize an ulcer. The technique was to wave it near the ulcer in circles like a wand, but not touching it.
I tried it. Magic! Her pain went from a “10” to a “3”! I did it one more time and it went to a 0. I couldn’t believe it! It works by dulling the surface nerve endings. The ulcer will still run its course, but without pain and all feeling is restored.
There’s now one more doctor and one more patient that believe in the magic of laser desensitization.
Oral Cancer – Not to be taken lightly
One American dies every hour from oral cancer. Each year in the US, approximately 34,000 individuals are newly diagnosed with oral cancer. About half of those diagnosed will not survive for more than five years.
In order to receive optimal treatment, it is best to detect cancer of the mouth at the earliest possible stage. If discovered later, oral cancer spreads to other areas of the body, which leads to a much poorer prognosis.
The good news is with early detection the five year survival is as high as 82%.
A quick cancer examination will allow a serious condition to be caught at the earliest possible time, when treatments are most effective.
We are here to help keep you healthy. Feel free to ask us further about this important topic.
Harris L. Rittenberg, DMD
