- “A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 42 percent of kids aged 6 to 19 had had a cavity or filling in their permanent teeth when examined between 1999 and 2002…”Medline Plus -August 25, 2005
- “Although dental caries (tooth decay) is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years - 5 times more common than asthma (59% versus 11%).” CDC – 2005
- “Poor children have nearly 12 times more restricted-activity days because of dental-related illness than children from higher-income families. Pain and suffering due to untreated tooth decay can lead to problems in eating, speaking, and attending to learning. CDC – 2005
- “An estimated 75% of Americans reportedly have some form of periodontal disease.”The American Dental Hygienists’ Association - 4/2002
- “Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most chronic childhood disease - 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.” Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General - 4/2002
- “Over 108 million children and adults lack dental insurance, which is over 2.5 times the number who lack medical insurance.”Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General - 5/2001
Tooth sensitivity generally means that you have twinges of pain in your teeth when brushing, biting down, consuming hot or cold liquids or sweets. Sensitivity can be quite painful when left untreated. It has several potential causes:
- Poor oral hygiene allowing tartar to build up at the gum line and cause infection
- Long term tooth wear
- Clenching and grinding
- Receding gums
- Untreated caries
- Cracked teeth
- Cracked fillings
- Tooth whitening
- Infection
- Excessive pressure
The treatment for sensitivity requires an examination to determine the cause. Some of the treatments may include:
- Regular fluoride treatments
- night guard or splint to be worn during the day or at night
- New fillings or an adjustment of existing fillings
- Crowns
- Gum grafting
- More regular dental visits
- Desensitizing toothpaste
- Avoiding acidic foods
See your dentist for an exact diagnosis and treatment. Tooth sensitivity is not only annoying and troublesome, but also an indicator of an underlying condition. If your teeth are sensitive and it hurts to have them cleaned, request an anesthetic or nitrous oxide to make your dental hygiene visits more comfortable.
Many patients put off necessary dental care because they are unsure how they will be able to afford what they need in this struggling economy. Rather than staying on top of regular dental visits and maintaining their health, the fear of finding an unexpected problem keeps them away. Putting off dental care can cause an emergency situation, more expensive care down the road or even tooth loss. Here are some things to consider when planning your dental care:
- Does your dentist offer interest free financing? This can be a useful way to break down payments over time at no cost to you.
- Do you have a Health Care Savings Account? The tax benefits from such an account can provide significant savings.
- If you have a large treatment plan, will your dentist help you decide what is your most pressing dental needs? Treating the worst first allows you choose how much you can spend per month or year and still continue to receive treatment.
- Do you have a plan for covering the portion of your treatment not covered by your insurance? Dental insurance has not changed much since the 1960s and most patients now incur and out of pocket expense. Be prepared.
- And ideally, you can plan ahead and be preventative instead of seeing your dentist on an emergency basis. Keep up with regular visits and follow your dentist's recommendations. This will save you a lot of money in the long run.
We love the men, too, but when it comes to dentistry, women have every right to consider themselves our special guests.
As women begin to have hormonal changes during peri-menopause and menopause, they can begin to see changes in their dental health such as decreased saliva, increased caries (decay), taste alterations, gum disease and bone loss.
Because of these changes, it may become necessary for women to make more regular visits to the dental hygienist in order to keep on top of the changing biology. Instead of the old "every six months," which is a treatment plan recommendation for children and people with very little dentistry, menopausal women may find it beneficial to avoid future problems by having visits three to four times a year. Crisis prevention is still much less expensive than crisis management. Avoid pain and emergencies by planning ahead, taking excellent care of your mouth and by treating yourself as a priority during these coming changes.
Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D can help prevent bone loss. In addition, we offer a wide variety of products in our office to assist in maintaining optimal wellness. We offer prescription strength fluoride toothpaste to prevent caries and sensitivity, mouth rinses to aid in the healing of gum disease, which not only causes bad breath, but also causes many other systematic complications and also the latest in toothbrush technology.
We know your smile is so important to you and we are here to answer questions, address your concerns and to provide you with the five star treatment you deserve.
Patrick Swayze was a long time smoker and still had not kicked the habit in January 2009, just nine months before his death. Many people know and understand that smoking increases the risk of gum disease, but what most people do not know is that gum disease increases the risk for pancreatic cancer, as well.
Pancreatic cancer is slightly more common in men than in women. The risk increases with age, obesity and smoking.
Pancreatic cancer is among the most deadly cancers. In more than 80% of patients, at the time of diagnosis, the tumor has already spread and cannot be completely removed
Chemotherapy and radiation are often given
after surgery to increase the cure rate. For pancreatic cancer that
cannot be removed completely with surgery, or cancer that has spread
beyond the pancreas, a cure is not possible and the average survival is
usually less than 1 year.
This cancer has a 5-year survival rate of less than
5%, meaning 95% of the people diagnosed with it will not be alive 5
years later.
How can good dental hygiene impact your risk for pancreatic cancer? By treating the mouth, you are taking positive steps toward preventing systemic diseases. Though pancreatic cancer does not exclusively affect smokers, smoking increases the risks of other diseases as well. Regular hygiene appointments, like those we recommend at Johnson Dental, will help prevent the infections that smokers are more susceptible to. In addition, your hygienist should be performing regular oral cancer screenings. If you are not getting screened for oral cancer at each dental visit, request a screening. Visual inspection is still the most efficient and cost effective detection method for oral cancer. Early detection increases survival rates and decreases the invasiveness of treatment necessary.
Did you know that maintaining healthy gums boosts your immune system by removing the biofilm that forms in the mouth? Biofilm is made up of micro organisms that sticks to a surface or to each other. In the mouth, this biofilm causes gum disease which is recognized by the presence of blood or pus. Untreated gum disease wears down the immune system by creating systemic and ongoing infections in the mouth.
Recognizing and treating gum disease through regular dental hygiene visits and check ups can not only minimize or even eliminate infections, but also boost your immune system by removing harmful bacteria.
Dentistry has an important obligation that has received more
and more media coverage over the last five years. Did you know that more than 80% of adults
suffer from some form of gum disease? Eighty percent is an overwhelming
number. Did you know that gum disease
has now been linked to dozens of diseases and conditions including: low birth weight babies, heart
disease, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, even wrinkly skin
and erectile dysfunction? It seems more
and more systemic illnesses are being connected to gum disease.
Does your dentist take your measurements? Not your body measurements, but the depth of the pocketing in your gums? If you hear numbers at the dentist like "Two, two, one, two, three" then your dentist is measuring the health of your gums. If you have bleeding points or if you hear any numbers greater than three, you should have more frequent cleanings and check ups because that means an active infection exists in your mouth.
Are you thinking, "What does that have to do with my heart?"
A large portion of the population still believes that it is normal for gums to bleed. It is not. Gum disease spreads via the blood stream or inhalation into the lungs and spreads throughout the body causing the systemic diseases, or at the very least, aggravating existing ones.
The fact is, gum disease causes a shorter life expectancy. If your dentist or hygienist is not measuring your gum health, then request that it be done. If they don't do it, find a new dentist. If you have an active infection with measurements over three or bleeding, you should be at the dentist more frequently. Your life depends on it.
Many people experience complications with their dentures due to chemotherapy and radiation. Below are some tips we hope you find useful.
- Your dentures may fit differently or they may not fit at all because the tissues in your mouth will change during radiation therapy. If you need new dentures, they should not be made until well after the completion of your radiation therapy.
- You should keep your dentures very clean. Brush them daily with a mild cleanser and denture brush. Rinse your dentures well and store them in clean water when not in your mouth.
- Clean your tongue and the inside of your mouth with moist gauze.
- Rinse your mouth frequently with water.
- Do not use denture adhesives.
- Never wear your dentures when sleeping. Store them in clean water after you have thoroughly brushed them.
- If you develop denture sores, remove your dentures and contact your dentist immediately. Mouth sores can quickly become infected.
For more information on dental care during cancer treatment, and a free guide
click here.
As the Denver Race for the Cure approaches, now is an important time to discuss the care of your mouth if you are receiving treatment for cancer. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can cause painful mouth sores or a very dry mouth. Though your medical team strives to give you the best care possible, your dental care can seem secondary. It is important to keep your regular dental visits so that your dentist can discuss with you any conditions or changes found in your mouth. Your dentist will also be able to provide suggestions and products to maintain optimal health during cancer treatment and beyond. A healthy mouth will help your immune system functioning more efficiently, as well.
Oral Tips and Facts for Chemotherapy Treatment
- You may develop a sore mouth. These sores, if not treated by your dentist, can spread infection through your body.
- Tell your dentist immediately if you develop a toothache. Infection can develop quickly below the gum line resulting in abcess and possible tooth loss.
- Some drugs will cause dry mouth. In order to maintain the health of your gums, it is necessary to keep a moist mouth. Over the counter rinses, such as Biotene, can help.
- You may notice blood or pus in areas of your gums. You should see your dentist or hygienist to get it under control as soon as possible.
- Do not use mouth wash that contains alcohol. It can be irritating.
Oral Tips and Facts for Radiation Treatment
- You may experience a change in taste or you may lose your taste completely. This is a temporary side effect.
- You may have a painful mouth. If your mouth hurts, see your dentist immediately.
- Dry mouth may occur during radiation. Sometimes this is permanent. Your dentist can help you determine what products may help alleviate your dry mouth symptoms.
- After completing radiation therapy, your teeth may break down rapidly due to decay. Your dentist and hygienist can help you prevent tooth decay.
- If the muscles of your mouth are included in radiation therapy, you may experience jaw tightness. Exercises or splint therapy can alleviate this pain.
- You may experience bone healing problems. If you need to have an extraction, complications may occur. Be sure to tell your dentist or oral surgeon your medical history so they can help you.
Dr. Ted Johnson has been honored the second year in a row for being one of the Denver Magazine, 5280, TOP DENTISTS.
Top Dentists are nominated by other dentists in the area for this honor. We are grateful for their confidence in us and hope to provide you with excellent service and care for many years to come.
For more information on Top Dentists, pick up the June issue of Denver’s 5280 magazine.
Thanks Again!