Dentist Jefferson City Blog

Aug 05 2021

Women’s Oral Health: What Every Woman Should Know

DID YOU KNOW THAT WOMEN HAVE special challenges when it comes to their oral health? Hormonal cycles can affect the way women’s bodies react to bacteria and plaque inside their mouths. If you’re a woman—or if you’d like to pass this information along to a woman who could benefit from it—our team at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri encourages you to learn more about these important women’s oral health facts.

Hormonal Cycles Can Affect Gums

Puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation cause increased progesterone and estrogen levels which can lead to increased gum sensitivity. There’s also a condition known as menstruation gingivitis, which can cause some women to experience increased bleeding and swollen gums right before menstruation. This condition is typically not serious and clears up quickly. Gingivitis during pregnancy can be more severe, and may even cause non-cancerous oral tumors. That’s another reason why it’s important for women’s oral health to keep their regular checkup appointments during pregnancy.

Oral contraceptives also increase hormonal levels in women’s bodies which can cause increased sensitivity and vulnerability to gum disease. During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can also create oral health problems including dry mouth syndrome, which can significantly add to tooth decay risk damaging women’s oral health.

Other Women’s Oral Health Problems That Occur More Than In Men

Women are almost twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders). TMD causes strain on one’s jaw joint and potential damage to teeth, often as a result of clenching and/or teeth grinding.

HPV is becoming more common, and research is increasingly suggesting a link between HPV and oral cancer. Regular oral cancer screenings are important whether or not a woman has high risk factors.

As you know, women are much more susceptible to osteoporosis than men which can cause jaw bone loss and associated periodontal disease problems.

The Great News? Women Take Better Care Of Their Oral Health!

As you might expect, a helpful remedy in many instances is to simply maintain good oral health habits! Fortunately, women are better at this than men! A recent studyof over 800 young men and women shows:

Women are more consistent when it comes to regular checkups
Women exhibit better attitudes toward dentistry in general
Women have better personal oral health habits

OK… Here’s Just A Fun Little Aside From “The View”
This isn’t dentistry specific, but it’s a fun little twist on our discussion. Enjoy!

Questions?
If you have any questions about your oral health or any of the special challenges we’ve talked about above, be sure to ask us! There are lots of easy ways to connect with us—and we promise to be very responsive! You can make a comment below, or even connect with us on our Facebook page.

YOU are a valued part of Stadium Dental Center. Thanks for being our patient!

Aug 05 2021

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]

Aug 05 2021

What Every Parent Should Know About Their Child’s First Dental Visit

There’s enormous lifelong value in getting your child off to a good start with his or her oral health. Their first dental visit will have a long lasting impact on the kind of life they enjoy because of their oral health habits. We love helping children get started on a life of great oral health at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri!

When should my child first see a dentist, and why?

Seeing your child within six months after his or her first baby teeth erupt—no later than by their first birthday—is an ideal time for our first dental visit with you and your child. It’s a prime time for us to observe and document the development of your child’s mouth. Identifying potential problems early saves trouble, time, and expense. For example, early tooth decay, teething discomfort, gum disease, and prolonged thumb- or pacifier-sucking are issues that may affect your child’s health and their smile. We can provide preventive strategies and, if needed, effective remedies for these conditions.

How do I prepare my child and myself for this first visit?

We appreciate it greatly when you bring records of your child’s complete medical history for his or her record to the first dental visit. It helps us provide the best care we can.

Sometimes, parents who’ve had their own difficult dental experiences transfer their fears to their children by how they talk to them about going to the dentist. Make the upcoming dental visit something for your child to look forward to by helping him or her understand what will happen during the visit. There are a number of children’s books about going to the dentist. Reading these books with your child before his or her first dental visit is an excellent way to help prevent or minimize their apprehension about an unfamiliar place.

Very young children may be fussy and restless. We understand it’s normal for a child to feel frightened and cry, so you don’t need to worry about that. On the other hand, some children will happily cooperate during their visit. Either way, we’re happy they’re in our office to be seen before bigger problems develop!

What happens during their first visit?

Your child’s first dental visit is a time to acquaint your child with us. Short, regularly recurring visits can build the child’s comfort with us and with our office. The visit should be scheduled when your child is alert, fed, and refreshed. You may be asked to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the first examination. The first visit usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and may include any of the following, depending on the child’s age and ability to cooperate:

A gentle but thorough exam of the teeth, jaw, bite, and oral soft tissues to monitor growth and development
A gentle cleaning, including polishing teeth to remove plaque, tartar build-up, and stains
X-rays (usually not before 4 years of age)
A demonstration of proper home care for your child’s mouth and teeth
Nutritional counseling
An application of fluoride to the teeth

We’re happy to answer any questions you have to make you and your child feel comfortable throughout the visit.

When should we schedule the next appointment?

We recommend regular checkups every six months for children and adults. If treatment needs warrant, a more frequent interval for simple, non-threatening visits can help build your child’s confidence in coming to our office to make it easier for them to have their treatment done. In time, coming to see their Jefferson City family dentist to stay healthy will become an easy, ordinary thing to your child!

Aug 05 2021

A Quick History Lesson About Dental Anesthesia And Comfort

DID YOU KNOW THAT A DENTIST discovered anesthetic? It’s true. Life-saving surgeries were made possible in part by a dentist’s attempts to make his patients more comfortable!

Before the days of “preventative” dental care, painful tooth extractions were a way of life. Here are a few people who helped change that…

Horace Wells Discovered Nitrous Oxide At A Street Performance

Horace Wells was a Connecticut dentist. In 1844 he watched a traveling street show using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to entertain passersby. Noticing that it dulled pain, he began experimenting with it in his dental practice!

The Power To Cure, From A Surgical Perspective

W.T.G. Morton and Dr. Wells were colleagues who experimented together to discover better pain-relief methods for their patients. Looking for something more consistent and powerful than nitrous oxide, W.T.G. Morton started using ether in his practice. The end result of that idea revolutionized medicine, as explained in this short video:

The Early 1900’s Brought Localized Anesthetic

Novocaine, administered to numb specific areas of the mouth, was discovered by German chemist Alfred Einhorn, and was brought into medical use by surgeon Heinrich Braun. Although novocaine is perhaps the most well-known dental anesthetic, most dentists today use lidocaine, which is commonly considered less likely to prompt allergic reactions and is more consistent and efficient.

We’re On Dentistry’s Leading Edge For YOU At Stadium Dental Center!

Since Wells’ and Morton’s time, methods in dental anesthesia for patient comfort have been refined and perfected. We keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and techniques to provide the best oral health solutions for YOU, our valued patients and friends. If you ever have any questions about your dental comfort, please ask! We love to hear from you.

Thanks for your trust in our Jefferson City, Missouri dental office!

Aug 05 2021

Sedation Brings Relief From Dental Anxiety In Jefferson City Dentist Office

Jefferson City dental patients have the same feelings towards dental procedures as people I’ve worked with all over the world—even the mere suggestion of them can be enough to trigger anxiety. Our team at Stadium Dental Center understands how you feel and we have effective ways to help relieve your dental anxieties. What triggers them and how can you overcome them? Here are some tips on the subject.

Why do people experience dental anxiety?
Your individual feelings towards dentistry may include one or more of these triggers of dental anxiety:

Fears of a loss of control or helplessness
Concerns with pain during and after dental procedures
Embarrassment about your dental condition
The memory of unpleasant prior dental experiences, either your own or those of your family or friends
Fear of needles, drills, unwelcome tastes/smells and gagging
Costly and/or extensive treatment

Don’t let these fears keep you from getting the care you need to keep your smile healthy. With a little help, you too can overcome these fears like many of our Stadium Dental Center clients have.

How can Stadium Dental Center help?

Our highly trained team can help you understand what to expect during your visit. There’s no need to fear the unknown—we’ll keep you informed to help ease your anxiety. We’re committed to answering your questions and giving you the info you need to understand you proposed treatment.

What can I do to relax?

Prior to your visit, try not to load up on caffeine and sugar, since they’ll make it harder for you to relax. While you’re in our patient lounge, some constructive distraction can help: browse through magazines, listen to soothing music, or watch television. Before treatment, share your concerns with one of our team members.

During your treatment, focus on deep, slow breathing—don’t hold your breath or hyperventilate. Rapid or shallow breathing contributes to anxieties and anesthetic effectiveness. Schedule your appointments when you feel well rested. We’ll follow up with you by phone or text later in the day of your visit to see how well you’re feeling and to answer questions about your treatment after you get home.

What if my self-relaxation attempts don’t work?

When discussing your treatment plan, you can ask us about sedation options. We offer three sedation methods. Nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation (‘laughing gas’) provides a measure of relief for mild to moderate anxieties. Sedative medications can also be given by mouth or by intravenous routes using a superficial vein. The effect of sedation is to make you feel more relaxed and somewhat sleepy. We’re trained in the safe administration of sedation, and combined with profound local anesthesia, dental procedures can be accomplished very comfortably. Prior to the sedation visit a thorough assessment of relevant medical factors is done to ensure there will be no serious risks for you. If you have anxiety before, during, or after your dental visits, please talk with us about it!

Hormonal Cycles Can Affect Gums

Other Women’s Oral Health Problems That Occur More Than In Men

The Great News? Women Take Better Care Of Their Oral Health!

What causes FASD?

What are the birth effects of FASD?

Whose pregnancy is at risk?

How can FASD be prevented when pregnant?

When should my child first see a dentist, and why?

How do I prepare my child and myself for this first visit?

What happens during their first visit?

When should we schedule the next appointment?

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