Dentist Jefferson City Blog

Dec 09 2022

Wondering About Dentures In Jefferson City?

The benefits of having teeth—allowing you to eat what you like; speak, smile, and laugh with confidence—can really be missed when they’re gone. Dentures have replaced lost teeth for centuries, but the materials and techniques for making them have improved dramatically. Today there are better options available than ever before to make dentures a satisfying solution for missing teeth. At Stadium Dental Center‘s Jefferson City office, we enjoy working with people who want to have well-made custom dentures.

What types of dentures are there?

Anyone who has lost or may lose all or most of their teeth can receive complete dentures to replace all of their teeth. If there are some sturdy natural teeth left, then a partial denture can serve to fill in the space left by missing teeth and prevent other teeth from gradually tipping or drifting. This type of denture has replacement teeth in a pink or gum-colored polymer base held in the mouth by a flexible polymer or rigid metal framework.

Conventional complete dentures are placed in the mouth after any remaining teeth are removed and the tissue has fully healed for several months. Immediate dentures are placed in the mouth the same day that the remaining teeth are removed so you won’t be left without teeth during the healing period, but your dentures will need to be relined or possibly remade after healing alters the shape of the supporting bone in the first year or so.

Overdentures use a small number of remaining teeth (or dental implants) to improve denture retention and stability in the mouth. When conditions allow, we may be able to retain and use certain natural teeth. Saving these teeth can help preserve your jawbone and provide better support for the denture.

How do I get dentures?

The process of having dentures made takes about three to five weeks over three to four appointments. After the initial examination, we make impressions and measurements of your jaw to determine the dentures’ form and design. The dentures’ color, shape, and fit are evaluated during try-in visits before the final products are made. After you receive the final dentures, we will make adjustments to refine the fit for comfortable function.

What should I expect from my new dentures?

Using a new set of dentures is a bit like learning to ride a bike for the first time—just about anyone can succeed, but it takes time and practice. Living with new dentures takes some adjustment as your lip, cheek and tongue muscles learn to keep them in place. Speaking with them will become natural as you adapt to them, and saliva flow may temporarily increase. Some minor irritation and soreness is expected at first. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems will be resolved with our help and your patience!

How long should I wear my dentures?

We ask immediate denture patients to wear them all the time, including during sleep, for the first 24 hours to highlight areas that need adjustment. Under normal circumstances, we advise that you remove your dentures every night to allow the tissues to rebound.

How do I care for my dentures?

Dentures should be thoroughly brushed daily inside and out to remove food and plaque and to prevent staining. After rinsing the denture, brush it everywhere using a nylon-bristle brush and nonabrasive denture cleaner (not toothpaste).

When you’re not wearing your dentures, protect them in a safe container and soak them in water to keep them from losing their shape. If you use a denture adhesive, follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

To keep the supporting tissues healthy, brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth with a soft-bristled brush to promote circulation and reduce odor-causing bacteria and fungi. In addition to maintaining good home care, you should continue to see us for follow-up visits and regular checkups. We’ll help you get the best service in Jefferson City from your new dentures!

Dec 09 2022

Treating Periodontal Disease In Jefferson City

Anyone who’s gone to a Jefferson City dentist already knows it’s important to brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, and floss between them at least once a day. Problem is, not enough folks acquire the habit. Putting these simple oral health habits into practice can prevent the buildup of foul-smelling plaque between your teeth, which can cause gum disease or periodontal disease that has been known as “pyorrhea.” About 80 percent of American adults have some form of gum disease. Here are some facts about what gum disease is and how you can avoid it.

What is gum (periodontal) disease?

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting your teeth. It starts when plaque gathers along your gum line, triggering inflammation in your gums. Healthy gums are usually coral pink in color and firm, forming a sharp edge or point around the neck of your tooth. The most common form of gum disease is “gingivitis.” Hallmarks are reddened gums that look swollen and bleed easily. There is usually little to no pain with gingivitis.

What causes gum disease?

Plaque buildup is the main cause of gum disease. When plaque isn’t removed daily by brushing and flossing, it hardens. Hard plaque, known as tartar, harbors germs that can irritate gums and break down the attachment fibers connecting the gums to the teeth, creating periodontal pockets that fill with more bacteria. Pockets can become severely infected, painful, and swollen. Loosening of your tooth or teeth may happen and lead to their removal. Other things linked to gum disease include smoking and tobacco use, pregnancy, clenching or grinding of teeth, an unhealthy diet, diabetes, and hereditary tendencies.

Can gum disease affect my overall health?

No doubt about it! People with gum disease may be more likely to have heart disease or have trouble controlling their blood sugar, and pregnant women with gum disease are more likely to deliver preterm, low birth-weight babies than those with healthy gums.

How will Stadium Dental Center treat my gum disease?

Most treatments for gum disease begin with a special cleaning by Dr. Cardon or our hygienist, called a scaling and root planing. Scaling means removing the tartar from above and below your gum line. Root planing eliminates rough spots on your tooth root where germs accumulate to remove those inflammation-causing actors from your mouth. We also may prescribe special mouthwashes or topical treatments. Lasers also may be used to provide fast and minimally-invasive gum disease treatment. More advanced cases may warrant referral to a specialist to help preserve the life of severely affected teeth.

How is gum disease prevented?

No secret here–removing plaque by daily brushing and flossing and regular dental visits twice a year for cleanings are your best bet to minimize your risk of gum disease. You also can reduce your risk by eating a healthy diet and curing cigarette and tobacco use.

It ‘s important to catch gum disease early. Visit our conveniently located Jefferson City Stadium Dental Center office routinely to avoid plaque buildup, and get your questions answered about your gum disease and its prevention.

Dec 09 2022

What’s The Link Between Diabetes and Gum Disease?

Estimates say there may be 20 million people who have diabetes. Up to one-third of these people have never been diagnosed. Studies indicate that diabetics have a greater risk of developing oral infections and periodontal (gum) disease compared to non-diabetics. The potential for a vicious spiral exists because serious gum disease may affect blood sugar control and contribute to the worsening of diabetes. So diabetes contributes to disease risk in the mouth, and gum disease can contribute to poor blood sugar control. That’s why it’s important to visit Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri regularly and keep us informed about your oral and overall health if you have diabetes.

How are gum disease and diabetes related?

Because diabetes reduces your resistance to infection, the risk threshold for inflamed gums or gingivitis is lowered. Common oral bacteria produce a toxic sticky film coating the teeth both above and below the gum line. This triggers a typically painless inflammatory response in the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis may evolve into periodontitis, an irreversible destruction of the surrounding and supporting dental tissues.

What other problems are associated with diabetes?

Other oral conditions linked to diabetes include thrush (or candidiasis), a fungal infection of the mouth, and dry mouth, which can lead to soreness, ulcers, infections, and cavities. To prevent problems with bacterial infections in the mouth, antibiotics, medicated mouth rinses, and more frequent cleanings are useful therapeutic tools.

How can I stay healthy?

Brush your teeth with an ADA-recommended toothpaste containing flouride and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash at least twice a day. A diabetic’s best chance of avoiding gum disease is to receive regular dental care and maintain good blood sugar control.

To improve your quality of life and your oral health, keep your medical and dental providers informed about your medical history and gum (periodontal) status. Monitor your blood sugar levels closely in addition to having your triglycerides and cholesterol levels checked regularly. And pay attention to diet and exercise recommendations from your providers if you want to stay healthy!

What is the best time to receive dental care?

If your blood sugar is not under control, talk with both your dentist and physician about receiving elective dental care. Decisions regarding procedures and appointment timing may depend on diabetic control indicators. Also, morning appointments may be favored because blood sugar levels tend to be more stable at this time of day. If you have a scheduled appointment, eat and take your medications as directed. We can help you most if we see you on a regular basis and are kept informed of your current health status.

Dec 09 2022

Dental Emergency? Five Items To Have On Hand

OUR TEETH DEAL with a lot when we’re out and about. Basketball games, pie-eating contests, rogue popcorn kernels… it’s a rough life. Usually our teeth are strong enough (or we’re lucky enough) to not suffer any major problems.

However, accidents happen. And fortune favors the prepared, so here are some tips for guarding yourself against dental emergencies when our team at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri is unavailable to you.

You’re Less Likely To Suffer A Dental Emergency If You…

Wear a mouth guard during sports
Keep good, regular care of your teeth and gums
Keep your regularly scheduled appointments to check on teeth and dental work

Just In Case Of A Dental Emergency, Here Are Five Items To Have On Hand

Keep these items in a little dental emergency kit that you can keep on hand—at home, in you car, and while you travel.

Painkiller: An all-natural topical painkiller that many people find useful is clove oil. Remember, NEVER put aspirin right ON the tooth.
Orthodontic wax: It’s handy even if you don’t have braces. In case of a popped-off filling, you can use wax to cover the gap until you get it repaired.
Floss: This is handy if something uncomfortable gets wedged between teeth.
Gauze: In case of a knocked-out or loose tooth, you can put the tooth back in place, and bite on some gauze to keep it there until you get professional care.
Our contact info: Be ready to contact us. If you’re on vacation, we can give you professional advice and maybe refer you to someone nearby.

Are You Going On A Vacation?

Remember the tips above. If it’s time for your check-up, visit us before your trip. Nothing ruins a vacation day faster than dental trauma. Pack an emergency dental kit, and then keep it around when you get back from vacation. You never know when it will be handy!

Here Is One Other Person’s Ideas Too

We don’t endorse the content below, but there’s some good info here…

Let us know where you’re going on vacation! We’d also LOVE to see your photos. You can share them on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice at Stadium Dental Center. Stay safe, and have fun!

Dec 09 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.

You’re Less Likely To Suffer A Dental Emergency If You…

Just In Case Of A Dental Emergency, Here Are Five Items To Have On Hand

Are You Going On A Vacation?

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