Dentist Jefferson City Blog

Aug 11 2020

Dental Health For You And Your Baby During Pregnancy

ARE YOU PREGNANT OR THINKING ABOUT becoming pregnant? Do you know someone else who is? While you’re picking out tiny clothes and reading childcare books, remember the importance of your oral health!

When you’re expecting a baby you go through so many physical changes. You crave different things. Your hair feels different. In fact, just about everything feels different. And, your mouth is different, too. Not sure why it’s important to know that? Don’t worry… at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, we’re here to help.

Increased Gum Disease Risk

Pregnancy brings heightened hormone activity which can lead to increased gum disease risk and gum sensitivity. Just remember that being pregnant doesn’t cause gum disease—plaque does. Keep up your great oral care habits.

Are You Experiencing…?

Beginning around your second month, and often continuing through your eighth month you may be experiencing:

Bleeding gums
A potential increase in cavities
Granulomas (small, tumor-like growths inside your mouth)

Here Are A Few Simple Recommendations:

Brush and floss regularly.
Keep your regular checkup appointment during your pregnancy and let us know that you’re pregnant.
Lay low on the sweets.

Routine Checkups During Pregnancy

An ideal time for your check-up appointment is during your second trimester when you are stable, but not far enough along to risk stress-induced issues. In the old days, women were anxious about dental checkups while expecting a baby. Typically there’s never an issue. Just be sure to let us know you’re expecting.

Morning Sickness

DON’T brush your teeth right after being sick. Stomach acid makes your teeth softer and brushing can wear them down. Rinse out your mouth, and then wait a while before brushing.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! If you have questions, please ask! You can send us a direct message on our Facebook page!

We appreciate having you as our valued patient!

Aug 11 2020

Root Canal Therapy: Know Why And When It’s Helpful

What keeps your tooth alive and kicking? The blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue make up the dental pulp inside your tooth. They provide teeth with nutrients and have limited healing ability. When inflamed by invading germs, severe tooth pain usually follows. The conservative cure for many toothaches is root canal treatment. At Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, if you’re wondering what root canals area or why they’re recommended, we want you to know your options.

What is a root canal?

Nerves and blood vessels enter at the tip of the tooth’s roots. They travel the length of the tooth in narrow spaces called canals. Each root has at least one canal and some teeth have multiple roots.

Why might I need root canal therapy?

Tooth decay, fracture, or trauma may cause the pulp to become inflamed and/or infected. Often, this leads to the death of the pulp. Inflammation creates pain when chewing with the affected tooth, or when consuming hot or cold drinks. Without treatment, the infection may spread, eroding bone around the tooth. Eventually a blister filled with draining infection may develop on the gums.

What is root canal therapy?

Root canal therapy means the removal of infected or dead pulp from a tooth and the sealing of the canal. First the root canal space is cleaned and reshaped and then the canal is filled to prevent recontamination. In many cases this can be done in one appointment, but sometimes more than one visit is necessary, depending on various factors.

Following root canal therapy, preserving and protecting the structure of the tooth is crucial. The tooth needs to be restored to seal off the canal space and protect against fracture during chewing. For a broken or decayed tooth, a post, core buildup, and a crown may be our recommendation. In minimally affected front teeth, only a filling to seal the root canal opening may be needed.

How will I feel after treatment?

The intense pain that often precedes root canal therapy will be relieved afterwards. Some continued soreness from pre-existing inflammation may still remain in the area for a few days until it subsides. Over-the-counter pain relievers are helpful in controlling soreness until healing proceeds.

Are there any potential complications?

Some teeth are more challenging to successfully treat than others. A few rare cases have problems root canal therapy can’t cure. An example of such a problem is an undetected crack in a root. In such cases, additional follow-up and treatment may be necessary.

Are there any alternatives to root canal therapy?

The only alternative to root canal therapy is extraction of the infected tooth. Surrounding teeth can then drift or tip into the vacant space, upsetting your bite and altering your smile. Orthodontic treatment and/or an implant or bridge may be needed to restore your smile’s appearance and function after tooth loss. Root canal therapy is generally more cost effective by allowing you to keep your original tooth.

We’re glad to answer your questions about root canals and alternative options. Just give us a call at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, or enter your information in our Contact form to the right.

Aug 11 2020

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.

Aug 11 2020

Saliva – Essential To Your Oral Health

YOU PROBABLY DON’T OFTEN THINK ABOUT YOUR SPIT (and frankly, we’d be a little worried about you if you did). And yes, drooling babies are a nuisance. But did you know that saliva is a critical component for healthy teeth and great oral health—regardless of your age? Here at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, we’re concerned about BOTH your teeth and your complete oral health. We thought you may find it interesting to learn how saliva helps keep your mouth protected and healthy, even when we’re not around.

Four Reasons Your Saliva Is Awesome

Your saliva slowly and continually builds your teeth into tiny fortresses. It carries minerals like calcium and phosphate ions which reinforce your enamel.
Saliva is an important part of your immune system. It contains immunoproteins that police your mouth, fighting bacteria and coating teeth in a protective layer.
It’s a lubricant. Thanks to saliva, your mouth and tongue are flexible. Talking and eating would be seriously difficult without it.
Saliva keeps your mouth clean. It washes away food particles and rebalances the pH level in your mouth every time you eat.

Xerostomia (a.k.a. Dry Mouth) Can Be A Problem

Now that you understand how much your saliva does for you, you probably see what a problem it could be if it weren’t there. When your body isn’t producing enough saliva, it’s called dry mouth, or xerostomia (pronounced “zeer-uh-stoh-mee-uh”). It’s often caused by common medications like antihistamines or antidepressants. It can also be a side effect of dehydration or diseases like Parkinson’s and cystic fibrosis. Sometimes it’s simply a result of aging.

Here Are A Few Suggestions That May Help You

If you’re having trouble with xerostomia, ask us about it! We’ll be sure it’s not part of a bigger problem. In addition to the simple suggestions below, there may be other things our team can suggest that will help:

Rinse your mouth regularly with water.
Chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless candy to help stimulate saliva flow.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco, which can both be dry mouth contributing factors.

Remember that if you ever have questions, you can call us, or send us a direct message on our Facebook page.

Thanks for the continued trust you place in Stadium Dental Center! We appreciate you.

Aug 11 2020

Could Oral Cancer Be Lurking Inside Your Mouth?

Did you know that new oral cancer cases are reported roughly 35,000 times annually in the USA? How would you know if your mouth is cancer-free? That’s one more reason it’s important to visit your dentist regularly so you can receive a thorough screening for any of the many variants of oral cancer. It’s found most frequently on the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the soft palate, and the tissues of the lips, gums, and back of the tongue. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to prevent the spread of oral cancer, with the potential onset of chronic pain, loss of oral function, irreparable facial and oral disfigurement following surgery, and even death.

How do we screen for oral cancer at Stadium Dental Center?

Mendy, our hygienist, and Dr. Cardon will screen for oral cancer during routine checkups. During the screening, he or she will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, cheeks, and oral cavity and will thoroughly examine the soft tissues in your mouth, specifically looking for sores or discolored tissues.

What causes oral cancer?

No research has found a single, consistent cause of any form of oral cancer. There are, however, proven risk factors such as the carcinogens in tobacco products and alcohol and excessive exposure to the sun that are associated with an increase in the occurrence of oral cancer. Research also indicates that some forms of oral cancer may be triggered by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).

What are the warning signs?

Oral cancer—identified by red, white, or mixed color lesions, irregularly textured tissue patches, or lumps and bumps in and around the mouth—is typically painless in its early stages. When cancer malignantly spreads and destroys healthy tissue, pain may occur in the lesions or lumps. Contact our office immediately if you find any sore that persists more than two weeks; a swelling, growth, or lump anywhere in or around the mouth or neck; white or red patches in the mouth or on the lips; recurring bleeding within the mouth or throat; painful or difficult swallowing; or persistent hoarseness.

How can I prevent oral cancer?

You can help prevent oral cancer by avoiding all forms of tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption, which multiply your risk when used together. According to a study reported in the April 2015 issue of the journal Cancer, vaccines that have been developed to prevent HPV may also lower the risk of developing oral cancer. Because successful treatment and rehabilitation depend on early detection, it’s vital to regularly check your mouth for changes in appearance at home and visit our Jefferson City dental office for an oral cancer screening and regular checkup at least every six months. Survival rates go much higher the sooner oral cancer is discovered and treated. During your next dental visit, we’ll do an oral cancer screening so you can have peace of mind knowing what your cancer status is.

Dental Health For You And Your Baby During Pregnancy

Root Canal Therapy: Know Why And When It’s Helpful

Don’t Know Much About Dental Extractions?

Saliva – Essential To Your Oral Health

Four Reasons Your Saliva Is Awesome

Xerostomia (a.k.a. Dry Mouth) Can Be A Problem

Could Oral Cancer Be Lurking Inside Your Mouth?

Affordable Family Dentistry Serving Jefferson City, Cedar City & Apache Flats

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Four Reasons Your Saliva Is Awesome

Xerostomia (a.k.a. Dry Mouth) Can Be A Problem

Affordable Family Dentistry Serving Jefferson City, Cedar City & Apache Flats

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Schedule an Appointment