My Blog
Archive:
- 2017
- May (5)
- Protect Your Child's Long-Term Dental Health with Regular Office Visits
- Could Dentures Be Right for Me?
- Get a Dental Exam as Soon as Possible if you Suspect Gum Disease
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- Artificial Sweeteners are By and Large a Safe Alternative to Sugar
- March (6)
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Your Case of Gingivitis Could Develop into Something More Harmful
- Why Are Porcelain Veneers Effective?
- Be Sure to have These 3 Essentials Covered Beforehand for Veneer Success
- Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
- All Gum Disease Treatments Have the Same Goal - Removing Bacterial Plaque
- 2016
- November (6)
- Start Early with Your Baby's Dental Care
- Ensure the Best Outcome with the Right Care for a Teen's Missing Tooth
- Dental Implants can Replace Your Whole Tooth, Not Just What You See
- Reduce Your Oral Cancer Risk with Better Diet and Lifestyle Choices
- Teaching Your Child Good Oral Hygiene Habits
- Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
- July (5)
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- 4 Reasons Saving Your Child's Decayed Baby Tooth is a Good Idea
- Antibiotic Resistance Requires Action - and a Change of Attitude
- Thumb Sucking And Your Child's Developing Smile
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- March (6)
- 4 Advantages to Using Composite Resins for Restoring Teeth
- Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
- Watch for these 4 Signs of Gum Disease
- Support Your Child's Teeth Development with Proper Hygiene and Dental Care
- 3 Ways Your Dental Hygienist Improves Your Oral Health
- The Benefits of Dental Implants
- 2015
- December (5)
- Sleep Apnea and Behavioral Problems in Children: How Your Dentist Can Help
- Did You Know? February Is National Children's Dental Health Month!
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- Is Dental Treatment Safe During Pregnancy?
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- 2014
- September (6)
- New Partial Dentures More Comfortable and Durable Than Older Models
- New Guidelines Issued for Administering Antibiotics Before a Dental Procedure
- Bone Grafting can put Implants Back on Your Options List
- 5 Oral Health Care Tips To Remember This Summer
- Removing Bacterial Plaque is Critical to Halting Advancing Gum Disease
- Early Detection is Critical to Surviving Oral Cancer
- August (5)
- Our Arsenal of Weapons in the War Against Gum Disease
- Overcome Oral Cancer With Screenings and Lifestyle Changes
- Taking Precautions Before, During and After Implants Will Help Ensure Success
- Home vs. Professional Teeth Whitening - Weighing Your Options
- Preserving or Restoring Teeth - Both Paths Lead to Better Oral Health
- 2013
- October (6)
- Health Risks of Oral Piercings
- Cancer Treatment and Oral Health: What You Should Know
- Treating Thumb Sucking Now Could Reduce Orthodontic Treatment Later
- Patients in Syracuse Seek Veneers to Mask Dental Blemishes
- Loose Teeth - A Sign of Trouble That Requires Quick Action
- Implant Overdentures: a Marriage of Options for Lower Jaw Tooth Replacement
- 2012
- August (7)
- Can Thumb Sucking Harm Your Child's Teeth?
- Testing Your Knowledge: Do Your Children Have Good Oral Health?
- Enhance Your Smile Through Teeth Whitening
- How Do Dental Implants Help Preserve Your Youthful Appearance?
- Are Dental Implants Okay For Teenagers?
- Questions You Should Ask Before Getting Porcelain Veneers
- Your Dentist May Be Able To Help You Stop Snoring
Tags
- celebrity smiles (2)
- oral hygiene (32)
- oral health (68)
- dentures (12)
- common symptoms (9)
- dental hygiene (2)
- tooth decay (14)
- root canal (3)
- smile makeover (6)
- veneers (9)
- cosmetic dentistry (18)
- teeth grinding (2)
- night guards (1)
- floss (1)
- snoring (3)
- sleep apnea (3)
- tooth wear (1)
- pediatric dentistry (28)
- fluoride (3)
- prepless veneers (2)
- sensitive teeth (5)
- bleeding gums (2)
- periodontal disease (13)
- gum disease (27)
- sinus pain (1)
- baby teeth (2)
- medication (2)
- aspirin (1)
- thumb sucking (7)
- dry mouth (3)
- tongue scraper (1)
- bad breath (3)
- snoring and sleep apnea (4)
- dental implants (28)
- power bleaching (1)
- teeth whitening (10)
- fun dental facts (1)
- nutrition (8)
- local anesthesia (2)
- age one dental visit (2)
- first dental appointment (1)
- x-rays (2)
- periodontal (gum) disease (3)
- diabetes (4)
- gingivitis (1)
- inflammation (1)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- oral sedation (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- sinus surgery (1)
- oral cancer (8)
- sealants (1)
- tooth colored fillings (2)
- fillings (3)
- dental health tips (1)
- dental emergencies (1)
- dental injury (8)
- dental emergency (7)
- mouthguard (4)
- mouthguards (4)
- chipped tooth (2)
- bonding (1)
- tooth bleaching (1)
- tmj (2)
- tmd (2)
- dental fillings (1)
- braces (1)
- orthodontics (2)
- bridgework (2)
- toothache (3)
- overdentures (1)
- loose teeth (4)
- Syracuse (2)
- Dental Veneers (1)
- crown (2)
- blood pressure medication (1)
- cracked mouth (1)
- bleaching (1)
- discolored teeth (1)
- stained teeth (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- gum recession (2)
- tooth sensitivity (1)
- plastic surgery (1)
- brushing teeth (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- smoking (1)
- partial denture (4)
- tmj disorders (2)
- mouthrinse (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- air abrasion (1)
- Child Health Care (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- pregnancy (3)
- teething (1)
- blood thinners (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- wisdom teeth (1)
- crowns (4)
- gluten (1)
- tooth erosion (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- infection control (1)
- bridge (1)
- cold sore (2)
- root planing (1)
- medications (1)
- restorative dentistry (2)
- jaw pain (3)
- composite resins (1)
- dental care (1)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- dentistry (1)
- mouth sores (1)
- antibiotics (2)
- tooth replacement (2)
- missing teeth (1)
- facial pain (2)
- artificial sweeteners (2)
- oral appliance (2)
- night guard (1)
- Oral Hygiene Routine (1)
- Brushing (1)
- Flossing (1)
- missing tooth (1)
- x-ray (1)
- toothpaste (1)
- pain management (1)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- Dental Procedures (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
- dental exam (1)
- canker sore (1)
Categories:
 |
  |
Dentist Blog
A child's formative years have an immense impact on their physical, mental and emotional well-being. As a parent you want them to have every advantage possible.
That should include a healthy mouth — actions you take now could determine the long-term soundness of their teeth and gums. Here are 5 things you can do to ensure your child's present and future oral health.
Begin oral hygiene habits early. By early, we mean even before their first teeth appear. Wipe their gums after every feeding with a water-soaked cloth or gauze pad; when teeth appear switch to brushing with just a smear of toothpaste on the end of the brush.
Start dental visits around their first birthday. Early dental visits increase the chances of detecting and treating developing problems before they become worse. And starting may also help your child become comfortable with visiting the dentist — waiting until later increases the chances of anxiety and an aversion to dental visits that might carry over into adulthood.
Adopt dental-friendly home and lifestyle habits. Don't allow your child to sleep with a pacifier or bottle filled with sugary fluids, including breast milk or formula: fill them with water instead. Limit their sugar consumption to small amounts and only at meal times. And be sure to “childproof” your home against hazards, especially sharp-edged furniture that could damage teeth if they make hard contact with it.
Teach them to care for their own teeth. Although you'll need to brush their teeth for them in the beginning, be sure you eventually teach them to perform this vital habit for themselves. To ease the transition try modeling the behavior or make it into an activity you can do together.
Partner with your family dentist. Your dental office can do more than prevent or treat dental disease — they're an important resource in helping you manage your child's dental needs at home. They can coach you on brushing and flossing techniques, and provide information to set your mind at ease about concerns like teething or thumb sucking.
If you would like more information on complete oral care for your child, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Dentistry & Oral Health for Children” and “Top 10 Oral Health Tips for Children.”
During your lifetime you’ll eat thousands of meals — and generate a lot of force from chewing over the years. But thanks to a support system of gum tissues and bone, your teeth can normally handle it.
What your teeth can’t handle, though, are higher than normal chewing forces on a continual basis. This can happen if you grind your teeth, which can produce 20-30 times the normal force. The habit often arises in adults because of high stress and often occurs during sleep.
These abnormal forces can stretch the periodontal ligaments that hold teeth in place, cause the teeth to become loose and at increased risk for loss. The best treatment strategy is to reduce clenching with, for example, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs or lower the effects with a mouth guard that won’t allow the teeth to make solid contact during clenching.
Your teeth can also become loose even with normal chewing forces if you have advanced periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease arises from dental plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles left on teeth due to poor oral hygiene. As it builds up, it causes inflammation of the gum tissues resulting in bone loss and causing the gums to detach from the teeth, increasing pocket depth.
Our first step in this case is to treat the gum disease by removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from all tooth and gum surfaces. This includes infected areas below the gum line and around the roots, a circumstance that could require surgical access.
As treatment progresses in either of these scenarios the gum tissues heal and often regain their attachment to the teeth. But that can take time, so we may need to stabilize any loose teeth in the short term. The most common way is to splint them to other secure teeth. This is done by using a clear acrylic bonding material to join the loose teeth together with a strip of metal or other rigid material (like joining pickets in a fence).
When symptoms arise, quick action is the key to preventing lost teeth. If you notice swollen, painful or bleeding gums or especially loose teeth, don’t delay — contact us so we can begin treatment as soon as possible.
If you would like more information on the causes and treatments for loose teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Loose Teeth.”
If you've been told you need a dental crown, one of the first questions you might have is "Why?" It's understandable; most dental patients
wonder why they need certain procedures and restorations. Your dentists in Syracuse, New York, Dr. Nancy Yeates and Dr. Karen Lawitts, want their patients to feel comfortable and confident about their experiences, so they've outlined some of the benefits associated with dental crowns.
Protecting a Tooth
Minor decay can usually be repaired with a simple cavity filling. However, when decay is large or invasive, a filling may not be enough. In these cases, the tooth is prepared to remove the decay and accommodate a crown, which is a hollow tooth-shaped restoration made of metal or porcelain. When attached with a special bonding cement, crowns are an excellent replacement for natural teeth.
Root rescue
Extraction, or pulling, was once the preferred method of dealing with advanced tooth decay. However, research has proven that retaining your natural teeth is the best way to maintain good dental health. Crowns repair problems with the part of the tooth above the gums, allowing the roots of the teeth to stay firmly in place. Crowns also provide support for the surrounding natural teeth, which might otherwise shift out of place if a tooth was missing.
Cosmetic contribution
No one wants to have a missing tooth, especially one that's visible while smiling or talking. Crowns from your Syracuse dentist not only restore the function of a natural tooth; they're also carefully designed to look realistic. Dr. Lawaitts and Dr. Yeates use color charts to make sure your crown will match with your natural teeth, giving you a beautiful and complete smile.
Our ultimate goal is to provide you with the necessary treatments to keep your smile healthy and attractive for a lifetime. Contact the dental office of Dr. Karen Lawitts and Dr. Nancy Yeates in Syracuse, New York today to schedule an appointment!
We've all had them — tiny sores that pop up seemingly out of nowhere under the tongue or the inside of the cheek. They're named aphthous ulcers, but are more commonly known as canker sores. For some people, they can be a recurring irritation.
Round with a yellow-gray center surrounded by reddened skin, aphthous ulcers seem to coincide with periods of anxiety or stress, or as a result of some minor trauma. Many people will feel a tingling or painful sensation a few hours or days before the ulcers appear. Once they appear they usually persist for a week to ten days before finally drying and healing. In the meantime they can be painful, especially while eating or drinking.
One form known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) affects about a quarter of the population with outbreaks of multiple ulcers that occur regularly. RAS ulcers are usually one centimeter or more in size — the larger the sore the more painful they tend to be.
There are ways to ease the discomfort of an ulcer outbreak and help hasten their healing. A number of over-the-counter products can be used in minor cases to numb the area temporarily and cover it to facilitate healing. We can also apply steroids or inject other medications for more severe cases. You may also find curbing your eating of certain foods like tomato sauce, citrus or spicy dishes can help.
For the most part aphthous ulcers aren't dangerous. In some situations, though, you should seek dental or medical evaluation: a sore that doesn't heal within two weeks; increases in severity, frequency or duration of ulcers; or when you don't seem to ever be without an ulcer in your mouth. We may need to perform tests, including tissue biopsy, to make sure there aren't any underlying systemic conditions causing the ulcers.
More than likely, though, you'll only need relief from the aggravation caused by aphthous ulcers. Among the many remedies, there's one right for you.
If you would like more information on aphthous ulcers or other mouth sores, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Mouth Sores.”
Primary (baby) teeth might not last long, but their impact can last a lifetime. Their first set of teeth not only allows young children to eat solid foods, but also guide permanent teeth to form and erupt in the proper position.
Unfortunately, primary teeth aren't immune to tooth decay. If the decay is extensive, the tooth may not last as long as it should. Its absence will increase the chances the permanent teeth won't come in correctly, which could create a poor bite (malocclusion) that's costly to correct.
If a primary tooth is already missing, we can try to prevent a malocclusion by installing a “space appliance.” This keeps nearby teeth from drifting into the empty space intended for the permanent tooth. The best approach, though, is to try to save a primary tooth from premature loss.
We can often do this in much the same way as we would with a permanent tooth — by removing decayed material and filling the prepared space. We can also perform preventive applications like topical fluoride or sealants that strengthen or protect the tooth.
It becomes more complicated, though, if the pulp, the interior of the tooth, becomes decayed. The preferred treatment for this in a permanent adult tooth is a root canal treatment. But with a primary tooth we must also consider the permanent tooth forming below it in the jaw and its proximity to the primary tooth. We need to adapt our treatment for the least likely damage to the permanent tooth.
For example, it may be best to remove as much decayed structure as possible without entering the pulp and then apply an antibacterial agent to the area, a procedure known as an indirect pulp treatment. We might also remove only parts of the pulp, if we determine the rest of the pulp tissue appears healthy. We would then dress the wound and seal the tooth from further infection.
Whatever procedure we use will depend on the extent of decay. As we said before, our number one concern is the permanent tooth beneath the primary. By focusing on the health of both we can help make sure the permanent one comes in the right way.
If you would like more information on caring for children's primary teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Canal Treatment for Children's Teeth.”
This website includes materials that are protected by copyright, or other proprietary rights. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use, as defined in the copyright laws, requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
