Month: November 2016

Orthodontics and oral health

Straight teeth and a beautiful smile are possible thanks to orthodontics. However, patients who wear braces, fixed or removable appliances need to take extra care to prevent cavities and gum disease.

Regular visits to your dentist are important, since orthodontists don’t perform cleanings or dental exams. Plan to see your dentist twice a year or as needed. And brush your teeth at least three times a day (after each meal) for more than two minutes to prevent plaque from building up. Orthodontic appliances can trap pieces of food, so avoid gum and other sticky substances.

Proper teeth cleaning at home should include the following:

  • Dental floss
  • Toothbrush
  • Mouthwash or toothpaste with fluoride (as needed)
  • A new toothbrush every two months
  • Air jet, water jet (Waterpik) and Water Flosser
  • Superfloss
  • Floss threader

Children’s oral health

Our primary teeth are completely formed at birth but they are hidden under the gums. Primary teeth start coming in at around six months, up until about three years of age. It goes without saying that healthy teeth need healthy gums. This is why parents should follow some rules for their kids’ oral hygiene.

0-2 years

From birth to six months, all you need to do is gently rub your baby’s gums with a damp cloth after each feeding. This will remove the sticky film (plaque) that can damage teeth. Once teeth begin to show, clean them using a soft-bristled brush. Only use a pea-size amount of fluoride-free toothpaste, since babies can’t spit out the toothpaste out yet.

Babies enjoy sucking on things – this is how they eat and relax. As your baby gets older, this need should lessen. If this is not the case, we recommend the use of a pacifier, rather than thumb-sucking. And, although it may be difficult to wean a child of this, we recommend you encourage your child to refrain from this habit once he or she reaches three years of age. If your child continues to suck his or her thumb or a pacifier after the permanent teeth have begun developing, this may lead to jaw growth and teeth positioning problems.

2-6 years

Between the ages of two and six, we recommend that you closely monitor your child’s teeth brushing technique. Make sure he or she pays special attention to the teeth located in the rear portion of the dental arch, as these are often neglected. And, make sure he or she uses dental floss three times a week. By the age of six, he or she should be flossing once a day.

Once your child is able to spit, we recommend using fluoride toothpaste. Should there be any dental problems, your dentist will advise you on the different options available, including fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash or gel. Fluoride can benefit oral health in many ways, including cavity prevention.

However, as the saying goes, everything is better in moderation. Indeed, too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis. This condition causes small, whitish stains to appear on permanent teeth. Before changing any of your child’s dental habits, ask a dental professional.

It’s perfectly normal for babies to suck on things. After all, this is how they eat and relax. As your child nears two or three years of age, this need should lessen. If this is not the case, we recommend the use of a pacifier, rather than thumb-sucking.

Why do we recommend this? Because it is easier for YOU to control when and how your child uses a pacifier, rather than his or her thumb. Never put sugar, honey or corn syrup on a pacifier, as this may cause cavities. Ideally, children should stop using a pacifier BEFORE the age of three. When a child continues to suck his or her thumb or a pacifier AFTER the permanent teeth have begun developing, this may lead to jaw growth and teeth positioning problems.

Your child’s first visit to the dentist

Ideally, your child’s first visit to the dentist should be around three years of age. During this first visit, the dentist and hygienist will aim to create a trusting relationship with your child. Then, they will perform a dental exam and cleaning. They will also show you a video that teaches the right brushing techniques and how to use dental floss.

Before the first visit

  • There are many books, like Dora or Caillou, that tell the story of a character’s first visit to the dentist. Pick one and read it to your child a few days before his or her first visit—it will help put him or her at ease.
  • Never tell your child that he or she won’t feel any discomfort or pain during the exam or the cleaning.

During the visit

  • Let our staff explain the steps to your child. It is hard for a child to pay attention to more than one voice at a time. Our staff will ensure that your child understands what is being explained to him or her.
  • Listen carefully to instructions and suggestions about your child’s dental care. Keep a positive attitude during the visit.
  • Make sure you schedule appointments as recommended by the dental professional.

After the visit

  • Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth at least twice a day, or after each meal, and uses dental floss before going to bed.
  • Monitor what your child eats and offer low-acid and sugar-free foods. Avoid sweetened juices before bed.
  • Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth before bed.

The importance of scaling

As you know, brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is the best way to get rid of plaque. If plaque is not completely removed, it hardens and becomes tartar. When this occurs, only a dental professional can remove it.

The role of dental hygienists is to provide therapeutic and preventive care aimed at ensuring optimal oral health. This includes detection, assessment, planning and prevention to ensure good oral health habits.

Scaling is performed using a small metal curette. Once tartar has been removed, the hygienist usually polishes the teeth to remove any visible stains from their surface and leave them smooth and shiny. To do so, a gritty paste is applied to a rotating electric brush or an air polisher. Then, to ensure that all areas between the teeth are clean, the hygienist uses dental floss. The dentist will then perform a complete dental check-up.

When regular cleanings are not performed, gums become at risk for serious problems. Periodontal diseases and untreated gingivitis are the leading cause of tooth loss in patients over 35 years of age.

Did you know?

When a patient suffers from advanced gum disease, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body. Studies have shown that a link exists between periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and other serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, complications from diabetes and premature births.

Smoking can also affect the gums.

Smoking can:

  • Reduce blood flow to gums, which can lead to gum disease
  • Cause cancer
  • Lower the success rate of periodontal treatments and prevent proper healing post-surgery
  • Stain teeth and cause bad breath
  • Change your sense of taste

CAUTION !

Tobacco’s dangers to your dental and general health aren’t only limited to cigarettes. Chewing tobacco, chichas, pipes, cigars, as well as other drugs can be harmful in many ways as well.

Are X-rays necessary to keep my teeth healthy?

Absolutely. X-rays are very important, as they help detect:

  • Cavities between teeth and around old fillings
  • Progression of bone loss caused by gum disea
  • Infections or bone anomalies
  • Teeth that are stuck or impacted under the gum, like wisdom teeth/li>
  • Long or curved roots that require special attention, like a root canal or an extraction
  • Temporomandibular joint problems

When using our high-tech, digital X-ray equipment, we reduce your exposure to radiation through the use of a lead apron and collar. Our 3D, panoramic, cephalometric, interproximal, and periapical equipment are specially designed for specific and detailed X-rays.

We usually recommend X-rays be taken every two to five years, depending on your needs. They enable the detection of the aforementioned issues and help ensure optimal oral health. Without X-rays, some dental problems may not be detected in time. Please let us know if you are pregnant, so that we can decide what is best for you and your baby.

Advice for healthy gums

As kids, we’re all taught to brush our teeth regularly to keep them healthy. But what about our gums?

Tips for keeping your gums healthy:

  • Using a soft-bristled brush, gently brush your gums each time you brush your teeth (with a vertical motion from the gum to the tooth).
  • Carefully clean molars and pre-molars (because these teeth are located in the rear portion of the dental arch, they are often neglected, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup).
  • Use dental floss every day to get rid of plaque between your teeth. Make sure the floss reaches just beneath the gumline (be gentle to avoid cutting the gum tissue).

Many patients stop using dental floss because of bleeding or pain. However, this is not the solution, as the situation may worsen rather than improve. Bleeding is caused by bacteria found in plaque, causing swelling and bone loss. This is why regular flossing is so important. If pain or bleeding persist after a month, you should go see a dental professional.

In fact, oral health treatments (teeth cleaning) and regular exams are really important to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy. When left untreated, gum disease can affect the bone that keeps your teeth in place. To avoid complications and, ultimately, the extraction of a tooth, it is best to adopt a preventive approach and seek treatment before problems become worse.

Insurance

We can send in your insurance claims electronically. And, if accepted by your insurance company, the deductible and the non-covered fee portion can be paid at the end of your visit.

If this option is not offered by your insurance company, we will fill out your insurance form and mail it for you.

Insurance coverage varies, depending on the agreement signed between the insurance company and your employer. It is illegal to overbill your insurer or to forgo paying the difference. This is why it is important for you to know what is covered by your insurance and the maximum annual amounts you are entitled to.

Some insurance companies base their coverage on previous years’ prices, rather than on current prices. If this is the case with your insurance, you will need to pay the difference.

Sterilization

At Centre Dentaire des Îles, we use the very latest STATIM and Autoclave sterilization equipment; both are well-known for their efficiency and reliability. Each instrument package has a chemical indicator that assures us that our instruments have been sterilized. The effectiveness of our sterilizers is checked monthly, through biological tests carried out in an independent laboratory, and on a weekly basis in our clinic.