What you should know about Dental X-Rays

You may have noticed that dental x-rays have been in the media lately.  The stories do not always tell the entire truth and are most often not scientifically based.  We would never want to harm a patient or their family member(s).  Here is some information I have recently uncovered they may alleviate the anxieties and fears of dental x-rays.
Our technology has solved the issue of high radiation in x-rays.  The radiation exposure in cavity detecting x-rays is remarkably low.  The American Nuclear Society states that "the average radiation level per person per year is 620 millirems (mrems) per year.  Safe allowable dose for nuclear plant workers, or those exposed to radiation in their work is 5,000 mrems per year."  Let's keep those numbers in mind.
Statistics show the following examples of common radiation exposure:

• 2 hours in a jet plane = 1 mrem
• Living in a stone or adobe house = 7 mrem per year
• 1 pack of cigarettes each day = 36 mrem per year (This surprised me greatly)
• A whole body CT scan = 1000 mrem
• 1 Bitewing or PA Dental X-ray = 0.08 mrem

Hopefully this is comforting to those of you who worried or wondered how much radiation you were getting at our office with Dental X-rays.  The great news is that we at Spring Street Family Dentistry care about you and want to offer you the best and latest procedures with the most up to date equipment.  We have been offering digital X-Rays for over 5 years and will always continue on a path to less invasive and more up to date technology.

Thanks,

Joshua DuBose DMD

Baseball Season

I will not lie, baseball season is very special to me and I love the start of a new season.  I start each year off with aspirations of a Braves World Series and a LaGrange College National Championship (a little biased because this is where I played).

Yet, I am always reminded of safety factors involved in sports.  The MOUTHPIECE can play a vital role in saving the teeth of your child. It is reported that every year, 3.5 million children ages 14 and under receive medical care for injuries.  Fortunately, not all of these are dental related.  However, many are.

Most of us think of football and hockey (yes hockey to those unfamiliar with it in the South) players as the only ones needing mouthpieces.  However, any sport that involves physical contact should have a child wearing a mouthpiece.  Custom fit mouthpieces will be less bulky and easier to wear for your child.  Easier to wear leads to better compliance.  As a father of three, I am extremely knowledgeable of how difficult compliance can be!

So, baseball players and basketball players, pop in your mouthpiece and play hard.  It only takes one bad hop or one under and over fake to break or knockout a tooth.  Look at our sports heroes in Derek Jeter and LeBron James.  Both can be seen wearing their mouthpieces during the game.  Million dollar smiles must be protected.
Thanks,
Joshua A. DuBose DMD

Why should my child get sealants?

As a dentist, I am often approached with this question: "Why should my child have dental sealants?  Here is some insight to what they are, how they work, and why we place them!

A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth -- usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars) -- to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque.  Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Who Should Get Sealants?

Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are obvious candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.

Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.

In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child's baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.

How Are Sealants Applied?

Applying sealants is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. The application steps are as follows:

1. First the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned.

2. Each tooth is then dried and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry.

3. An acid solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant bond to the teeth.

4. The teeth are then rinsed and dried.

5. Sealant is then painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. A special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

Thanks,

Dr. Josh

Why should I get my teeth checked? They don't hurt!

Another popular question I hear around town and from my friends is the following:  Why should I get my teeth checked?  They don't hurt!  Great question.  Here are some answers.
1.  Teeth do not have to hurt to have underlying problems.
2.  Check-ups prevent small problems from becoming larger expensive problem (example: a small cavity needing a simple filling vs. a large undiagnosed cavity that had not been hurting becoming a root canal or an extraction).
3.  Gum disease can be prevented and helps to control your body's total health.
4.  We will screen for oral lesions that could be precancerous or cancerous (especially important in people with history of tobacco use and alcohol use).
5.  Everyone loves a healthy mouth and as the old adage states "an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure."

Remember, we are always accepting new patients and look forward to seeing you all.
Thanks,
Dr. Josh

Gingivitis

Do you see pink in the sink when you brush your teeth?  Are your gums puffy, red or swollen?  Puffy, red, tender or bleeding gums are not normal and chances are you have gingivitis.
So often we hear "well they only bleed when I brush them", or "I don't floss because it makes my gums bleed and it hurts".  All of these symptoms are signs of gingivitis.
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that is caused by the buildup of plaque at the base of your teeth (the gingiva).
This plaque is a sticky yellowish film of bacteria as well as food particles that develops naturally on our teeth.  It forms into colonies and sets up camp on the smooth surfaces.  When it first forms it is soft enough to come off easily, but it starts to harden within 24-48 hours.  Once it hardens it is called tartar (or calculus) and you will not be able to brush or floss it off.
This tartar acts much like a splinter between your teeth and your gums, causing the gums to become red, irritated and swollen.  When this happens they will begin to bleed when brushing.

Here are some other conditions that can add to this problem making gingivitis more difficult to treat:
1. Crooked or misaligned teeth
2. Poor diet
3. Smoking
4. Hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause)
5. Medications and some medical conditions

Here are 5 simple tips to give gingivitis the "brush off":
1. Get regular professional dental cleanings and exams at least twice a year
2. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush.
3. Floss your teeth everyday
4, Follow your dentist's and hygienist's advice on other products they may want you to use: Sonicare toothbrushes, mouth rinses, toothpastes, etc.
5. Replace older worn out fillings as recommended

With proper care, gingivitis is completely reversible.  If your gums are tender or bleed, don't wait, make an appointment now!  If it goes ignored it will progress to a more serious and irreversible dental disease (Periodontal disease) that could lead to tooth lose.

Thanks,
Michelle Gerrity

Why Should I Floss?

Why should I floss my teeth?  That's a question I hear daily and the answer is simple: Flossing is the best way to clean in between your teeth and help keep your gums healthy.  Believe it or not the bristles of your tooth brush are just too big to fit in between your teeth.  We recommend daily flossing in addition to brushing two times a day to help prevent cavities and gum disease.
To use manual (regular) floss, start by pulling out a section of floss about 18 inches long.  Wrap the floss around your middle fingers on each hand leaving 1-2 inches free to work with between them.  Using your index fingers to guide the floss, start in one area of the mouth and work your way around the arch then do the same with the opposite arch.  Make sure you floss both sides of every tooth. It's very important to make a "C" shape round the tooth and use a gentle vertical stroke.  Keep in mind the goal of flossing is to gently cleanse the area and not to harm or injure the gum tissue.  Some bleeding may occur if you are just beginning to floss. Please don't be discouraged because this is only temporary and should stop after a few weeks of regular flossing.
If you have further questions about how to floss or what types of floss would be best for your mouth please ask us.  You may also submit a question or comment.
Thanks,
Laura Melton, RDH, BS

Dry Mouth

Most people have dry mouth every once in a while, but if you have it most or all of the time it can lead to dental and general health problems.  Dry mouth is also known as Xerostomia.  Dry mouth is caused by not having enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.  Did you know that saliva is important because it: helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth, and it makes it possible for you to chew and swallow your food.
Dry mouth can be caused by nerve damage to the head and neck, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, some diseases (AIDS/HIV, diabetes, & Parkinson's to name a few), and side effects of medications like blood pressure and anti-depressants.  There are more than 400 medications that can cause dry mouth.
If you have dry mouth you can do some of the following:
-Sip water often
-Avoid drinks with caffeine in them
-Chew sugarless gums or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow
-Do not use tobacco or alcohol (they tend to dry the mouth out)
-Be aware of spicy or salty foods because they can cause pain
-Make sure you brush 2 times a day
-Floss every day
-Use toothpaste with fluoride in it
-Visit your dentist for a checkup at least twice a year
-Use Biotene products (great for aiding in dry mouth) found at your local pharmacy
Thanks,
Jessica Still