Dentist Jefferson City Blog

May 26 2022

5 Things You’ve Gotta Know About Crowns

If all our teeth were properly formed and arranged, we’d have a lot less fuss with our teeth. The reality is that for most of us, things go wrong with our teeth for reasons such as wear and tear, disease, trauma, heredity, diet, etc. When such things affect the building blocks of our smiles, dental restorations such as crowns can restore the useful function, toughness, and appearance of lost or heavily weakened or damaged tooth structure. At Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, MO, we want you to know your options when it comes to crowns.

What is a crown?

A crown covers (or “caps”) the visible part of a tooth to restore its ideal shape and size, strengthening and improving the appearance of the tooth. People often ask, “Can you just fill the tooth instead of using a crown?” in order to save time and money. Fillings work dependably when enough sides of a tooth are present and strong enough to retain the filling material. When the sides of the tooth are lost or badly weakened, a crown is the longest lasting solution to restoring a tooth to useful function. Crowns can protect weak teeth from fracturing and prevent a cracked tooth from greater damage. They also correct discolored or misshapen teeth for a more visually pleasing smile.

What’s involved in having a crown made?

Receiving a crown usually spans two dental visits in our Jefferson City dentist office. During the first visit we do an examination of the tooth to see how it should be restored and shape the tooth for the crown. If the tooth lacks sides with enough height, a core build-up (sometimes including a post), is done to ensure the crown stays securely on the tooth during normal use. A provisional crown is produced and temporarily cemented on after making an impression or mold of the tooth for the laboratory. Next comes the insertion of the final crown, produced in a laboratory, a couple of weeks later.

What’s a post and core build-up?

We add a filling material to create a more ideal shape for supporting and retaining a crown (core build-up) when decay or fracture shortens or weakens the tooth’s sides. When much of the visible portion of the tooth is missing, a root canal treatment may be recommended to allow use of a small peg or post within the root to retain the buildup supporting the crown.

Will a crown look natural?

It can, depending on the type of crown you choose to have made. A crown can be fabricated from ceramic, from precious metal, or from a combination of ceramic and metal. A ceramic crown can look so much like a natural tooth you’d swear it was the ‘real thing’. The material chosen for your crown depends on location, visibility, wear patterns on the teeth, underlying color, and perhaps other factors, too.

How should I take care of my crown?

Crowns are very tough and durable, but they’re not completely indestructible, so it’s wise to avoid chewing extremely hard foods and ice. Grinding or clenching your teeth can damage either crowns or the teeth they oppose. It’s always advisable to brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit our Jefferson City dentist office regularly for checkups and hygiene treatment. If you’ve invested in a crown, you want to protect that investment!

May 26 2022

The Connection Between Gum Disease And Rheumatoid Arthritis

A growing body of research linking periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis suggests that taking care of our teeth may also be a really good way to take care of our joints. Researchers found that porphyromonas gingivalis, the same bacteria primarily responsible for gum disease, can also be found in the knee joints of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Oral Health Problems Don’t Remain Isolated In Our Mouths

There are significant links between our oral health and our whole body health. The connection between gum disease and RA isn’t the only evidence studies have found of oral bacteria migrating to other parts of the body. Gum health has also been linked by some researchers to many other systemic conditions including diabetes, heart health, Alzheimer’s, and more.

The Common Thread

RA is an inflammatory immune disorder. Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria in your mouth may release an enzyme which makes the residue of certain proteins in your body appear to be foreign intruders. If you have RA, this can cause your immune system to attack your own body.

What Can You Do?

When monitoring the health of our bodies, a great place to start is with our mouths. The simplest of things can help prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and spreading throughout the body.

· Brush once or twice each day.

· Floss daily.

· Use an Oral Rinse every day

· Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper

· Schedule regular cleanings and exams (remembering that you may need more frequent appointments if you have signs of gum disease).

Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Make Dental Hygiene More Difficult

Do you have RA? Or, does someone you care for (an aging parent, for example) have RA? Don’t forget that it may be harder for people who suffer from RA to do simple things like properly and thoroughly brush teeth. And, flossing can be even harder because of limited hand flexibility.

If you’re in a position where you need to assist someone with RA (or yourself), please let us know! We can help you brainstorm alternate methods for oral health care that will help.

Thanks for your trust in Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri!

May 26 2022

Bad Breath: Could It Suggest A More Serious Problem?

DOES YOUR BREATH STINK? Do you know if your breath stinks? What causes it? What can be done about it? Here at our practice we get lots of questions about bad breath. Sometimes the questions come from a long-suffering friend or family member of somebody else with bad breath.

Causes Of Bad Breath (often called “halitosis”)
Halitosis can be caused by a number of things—some more serious than others. Here are the most common causes:

Things You Eat, Like Garlic And Onions
Foods like garlic and onions contain oils that transfer through your bloodstream into your lungs, causing odor to be emitted each time you exhale.
Things You Don’t Eat, And A Dry Mouth
Dieting can trigger different chemical processes that can make you more susceptible to bad breath. Also, not eating slows down saliva production, decreasing your mouth’s ability to clean away bacterial build-up. That’s why “morning breath” is unpleasant. Also, certain prescription medications can cause dry mouth.
The Way You Feel
Sometimes a cold or sore throat can be the culprit with odors coming directly from the bacteria or mucus trapped in your mouth or sinus area. Typically, these problems won’t go away until the symptoms causing them are gone.
Things That May Be More Serious
More serious causes include things like gum disease, kidney problems, diabetes, oral cancer, anorexia/bulimia and others. That’s why it’s so important to contact us about chronic bad breath problems that you just can’t seem to solve.

Things You Can Do That Help

Remember, chronic or extreme bad breath is not normal. If you have any questions about causes, symptoms, or remedies talk with our team.

Practice good oral hygiene! You know—brush and floss!
Gently brush your tongue.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
Eat healthy, drink enough water, and don’t smoke.
Occasionally chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless mint.
If you wear any oral appliance, or have dentures, clean them thoroughly.
Don’t miss or postpone regular dental checkups.

A Little Fun With “a new sense of daintiness…”

Contrary to the popular legend that Listerine coined the term “halitosis”, it actually dates back to the 1870’s. However, Listerine made the term commonplace by using it in many of their ad campaigns. Halitosis combines the Latin “halitus”, meaning “breath”, with the Greek suffix “osis” used to describe a medical condition.

Thanks, As Always, For Being Our Valued Patient
We sincerely appreciate the trust you place in us. And thanks for your kind referrals of friends, family members, and coworkers. Leave us a comment below or send us a direct message on our Facebook page!

May 26 2022

Don’t Know Much About Dental Extractions?

At Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, MO we do our best to preserve your natural smile but circumstances may lead you to choose to remove one or more of your teeth—what we call a dental extraction.

Why are teeth extracted?

Teeth are most often extracted because disease and/or damage have left the tooth beyond salvage without–or maybe even with–“heroic” efforts. Patients suffering from periodontal (gum) disease also may have extractions to remove loose teeth.

Dental extractions also may need to be done as part of orthodontic treatment plans. In order to properly align your teeth, your orthodontist may recommend extraction to provide the room needed to accomplish this goal. Another reason for extraction involves teeth that are impacted—meaning they’re unable to emerge through the gumline. This condition, left untreated, may lead to future dental problems.

What happens in extraction procedures?
We begin by numbing the area around the extraction site. No dental extraction will begin before the numbing has taken effect! Sometimes sedation or nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) help with relieving anxiety and increasing comfort if you request one of these options.

When extracting an impacted tooth, we retract the gum tissue and remove bone to expose the tooth. While a tooth is usually removed in one piece, it’s sometimes faster and easier to “divide and conquer” hard-to-remove teeth in separate segments.

After completing the dental extraction, a gauze pad is placed over the socket to control bleeding. Sometimes we’ll stitch gum tissue around the extraction site to help it heal quickly.

Are there any risks associated with dental extractions?
Tooth extractions are a common surgical experience so, as with most surgeries, there is a slight chance of post-treatment infection. Before having your extraction, advise us of any medications and conditions you may have. Your medical history will guide us in creating the pre- and post-treatment plan best suited to your needs. We’ll advise you if there are specific anatomic risks related to certain extractions.

What should I do after a dental extraction?
To have the smoothest recovery, you should follow the post-extraction instructions outlined by your Jefferson City dental team. To reduce post-extraction pain and swelling, we prescribe pain medication and the use of ice on the affected area. We may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent the extraction area from becoming infected.

Gently (!) keep the extraction site clean. We recommend that you avoid smoking and drinking milkshakes from a straw within the first 24 hours after an extraction. This isn’t the time to stop brushing and flossing your teeth, but take care near the extraction site to avoid irritating it. We recommend that you rinse your mouth with tap water or a homemade salt-water solution. Swish gently to avoid dislodging the blood clot present in the extraction site.

If you experience any symptoms, such as uncontrolled pain, increased swelling, nausea or vomiting, redness or discharge from the extraction site, or shortness of breath, contact Stadium Dental Center immediately. These symptoms could indicate treatment complications needing our urgent attention.

What about tooth replacement after dental extraction?
Depending on your circumstances, we may recommend replacing extracted teeth with implants, dentures, or a bridge. We’re happy to discuss your situation so you can learn more about your available options.

May 26 2022

Pregnancy and Prevention: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol while pregnant. FASD affect an estimated 40,000 infants each year—more than spina bifida, Down syndrome, and muscular dystrophy combined.

What causes FASD?

The ultimate cause of FASD is alcohol intake by a pregnant mother. However, alcohol itself may not be
directly responsible for all (or any) of the effects of FASD. What may be responsible are byproducts gen-
erated when the body metabolizes (“burns”) alcohol. The end result is a decrease in the number of brain
cells (neurons), abnormal location of neurons (due to disturbance of their normal migration during fetal
development), and gross malformation of the brain. Damage to the unborn baby is permanent. There is no cure for FASD.

What are the birth effects of FASD?

The effects of FASD vary among affected individuals. The effects can include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. Often, a person has a mix of these problems. FASD include the following categories:

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)—This is indicated by a pattern of neurological, behavioral, and cognitive de cits along with speci c facial features.

Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)—This term is used when only central nervous system abnormali- ties are present as a result of fetal alcohol exposure. ARND is characterized by problems with memory and motor skills.

Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD)—This is indicated by defects in the growth of skeletal and major organ systems.

Fetal alcohol effects (FAE)—This term is sometimes used to describe children who had prenatal exposure to alcohol but do not have all of the symptoms (particularly the facial fea- tures) associated with FAS.

Whose pregnancy is at risk?

Any pregnant woman who drinks alcohol is at risk of having a child with FASD, regardless of her education, income, or ethnicity. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women who are at particularly high risk of drinking during pregnancy and having a child with FASD include:

• Women with substance abuse or mental health problems

• Women who have already had a child with FASD

• Recent drug users

• Smokers

• Women who have multiple sex partners

• Recent victims of abuse and violence

How can FASD be prevented when pregnant?

While there is no cure for FASD, it is 100 percent preventable when pregnant women abstain from alcohol. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. There also is no safe time during pregnancy to drink and no safe kind of alcohol. Good reproductive care before knowledge of pregnancy also assists to a great extent in the prevention of FASD. If you have questions about FASD, talk to your primary care physician or to Dr. Cardon at Stadium Dental Center.

Learn more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder

[Reprinted with permission of Academy of General Dentistry]

Things You Can Do That Help

A Little Fun With “a new sense of daintiness…”

What causes FASD?

What are the birth effects of FASD?

Whose pregnancy is at risk?

How can FASD be prevented when pregnant?

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