Latex Allergies
March 7, 2012 | 
Author Natural rubber latex is found in many common dental supplies used in a dental appointment.
Everyday in the world of dentistry and during every dental procedure, latex gloves are the most common thing used. Some people can develop latex allergies due to the repeated use of latex gloves in and around their mouths. Latex allergies are caused by repeated exposure to something that has latex in it. In the case of dentistry, the mucous membranes that come in contact with latex absorb the proteins, where antibodies react with them, causing an inflammation and sometimes severe anaphylaxis, which results in a drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and swelling. There is no real way to prevent an allergy from occurring if you work in an environment that uses latex daily, but if you do have a known latex allergy let your dentist know so that they can take the necessary precautions to prevent triggering your latex allergy.
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Whitening your Teeth
Teeth whitening is a great tool to enhance your pearly white smile.
Teeth whitening can be a great way to have a brilliant, bright white smile. There are many tools that can be used to brighten your pearly whites, such as in office treatments, at home treatments, and whitening toothpastes. In office bleaching is where the teeth are whitened using a high powered UV light. This procedure can take up to 2 hours, but it is the most effective and least time consuming way to bleach. At home bleaching consists of bleaching trays, where bleach is put into a tray that has been molded to fit your teeth. Depending on the strength of bleach your dentist recommends, it is a daily treatment that takes 15 minutes to overnight. This treatment can take about 2 weeks to see visible results. Whitening toothpastes help to remove surface stain. These do not contain bleaches, and will not change the coloring of your teeth. There are some common side effects to bleaching your teeth like teeth sensitivity to cold and gum sensitivity as well. Bleaching will not change the color of crowns or veneers, only your natural teeth. Even then, not all teeth take the same to bleaching, so results will vary depending on your individual mouth.
Perceptions Based on Your Smile
Recent studies have found that a person’s perception of your smile is important.
Occlusion, or how your teeth fit together, can affect more than just how you bite. In an article in from the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in November, researchers conducted a survey of people that were asked to look at 6 different pictures of people with different bites. From these bites, the people were asked to rate how intelligent, agreeable, and attractive each person was. The people who were voted most intelligent were those with a normal bite, where as those with an underbite were rated least attractive and intelligent. The study suggests that those with a malocclusion could be at a social disadvantage both in their private and professional lives. To learn more, please visit the American Journal of Orthodontics.
Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth
Grinding and clenching your teeth can lead to serious jaw and teeth problems.
If you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw or headache after sleeping or after being stressed, you may be suffering from grinding or clenching your teeth. This may occur because of stress, sleep disorders, or an abnormal bite from crooked or missing teeth. By grinding or clenching your teeth, you can end up with fractured, painful, or even loose teeth. If the grinding or clenching occurs due to stress, protect your teeth from damage by relaxing in your own way and also by doing physical therapy exercises to release tension in your jaw muscles. Another way to protect your teeth is by having a bite guard made especially for you by your dentist to wear at night to help relieve some of the tension by placing your mouth in a better, more comfortable position.
Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies happen each day, and precautions can be taken against them, but sometimes they cannot be avoided.
Dental emergencies occur every day, but there are some precautions you can take to prevent a dental emergency. These precautions include wearing a mouth guard when playing sports, cutting tape with scissors instead of using your teeth, and avoiding chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy. If an accident does occur, simple steps can be taken to prevent the loss of the tooth.
If an object gets caught between teeth, try to remove the object with dental floss. If you cannot get the object out, call your dentist.
If you crack a tooth, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the crack occurred and contact your dentist to schedule an appointment to fix the crack.
If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water and use cold compresses to keep the swelling down. In this case, you should see your dentist immediately as well.
If your tooth is knocked out, hold the tooth by the crown. DO NOT rinse or remove tissue. If you can reinsert the tooth, do so and hold in place. If not, place the tooth in a cup of milk. In any case go to the dentist immediately with your tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are a way to replace missing teeth with a natural feel.
If you are missing teeth and want a smile that looks and feels real, dental implants may be the option for you. A dental implant is a surgically placed post that fuses with the jaw bone. This fusion creates more stability for the crown, bridge, or denture being placed on the implant. During the surgery of the implant, the dentist will place anchor and post. Next, the tissue around the implant is allowed to heal for many weeks. After the tissue is healed, the crown or denture is fitted to the post of the implant and then placed there. Implanted crowns and dentures can be matched to the color of your original smile to create a natural feeling in your smile.
Sedation and Anesthetics
Sedation and anesthetics can help many people with anxiety.
Many people have anxiety about seeing the dentist even for regular cleanings, but there are ways that can improve your visit, such as sedation or anesthetics. Anesthetics can be either topical or injectable. Topical anesthetics are applied with a cotton swab to help prevent pain on the surface level. These types of anesthetics are used for bad gag reflexes to help relax the muscles, for use before an injection, and for mouth sores. Injectable anesthetics are used to help prevent pain in a specific area during a treatment. This type of anesthetic can cause temporary numbness because it blocks the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. These are normally used in simple procedures such as cavity fillings and crowns. Sedation is another technique used to help reduce anxiety about dental work. Sedation can come in two forms, nitrous oxide and sedative pills. These can help relax you so that you do not feel pain or feel anxiety. If you feel anxious about
visiting your dentist, then you should let them know so they can choose the best way to make you comfortable and relaxed when visiting the office.
Fluoride and Fluoridation
Fluoride and fluoridation can help reduce tooth decay.
For the past 65 years, the publicly funded program that fluoridates water has helped many millions of Americans prevent and reduce tooth decay by 20-40%. Fluoridation is one of the most effective ways to prevent dental decay. In fact, a study showed that for every dollar spent in fluoridation, $38 dollars were saved in dental costs. Fluoride is not only found in water, but also in toothpastes and certain mouthwashes. Fluoride acts on the teeth by making them stronger so they can be more resistant to acid attacks. Fluoride also repairs and remineralizes places of acid attacks. This can help to reverse early cavities and prevent new ones from occurring. For more information on Fluoride, please visit the American Dental Association.
Diabetes and Dental Care
Diabetes and dental care may be related.
A recent article in the January 2012 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) showed a study that people with Type II Diabetes who received at least two dental cleanings per year used less diabetes-specific medical care and fewer hospital visits/admissions than those who did not have regular dental cleanings. The study suggests that receiving dental care reduces the likelihood of going to the hospital with Diabetic complications. This study was done over the course of 3 years. For more information on ways to help reduce your risk, please visit the ADA.
Pregnancy and Periodontal Disease
Early birth and periodontal disease have been found to not correlate with each other.
In 2006, an article was published, reporting that women with gingivitis and periodontal disease can lead to preterm birth and low birth weights. Many people argue about treating pregnant women for periodontal disease, but a recent study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that the correlation between treated and untreated periodontal disease and preterm birth and low birth weights does not change. It should be noted, however, that periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue, and any infection can lead to serious complications with pregnancy and should be treated accordingly. Pregnancy can also cause a rise in gingivitis due to the hormones released, making the dentist ask for more frequent cleanings. Please visit the American Dental Association for more information on these topics