Kids teeth

What are the odds of keeping your kids cavity free forever? Pretty darn good if you follow a few basic procedures.

Let’s start with diet. Of course sugar plays a role in the formation of cavities, so it makes sense to limit the sugar intake of your children. Watch for hidden sugars, like in fruit juices and snacks.

Then there is basic dental hygiene. Brushing at least twice daily and flossing daily is the bare minimum. If you wish, you can add more frequent brushing, fluoride mouth rinses, and the newest thing is xylitol gum for 10 minutes per day.

The last thing we can do as parents to prevent cavities in our kids is take them to the dentist for regular cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants to the grooves of the back teeth. All of these things are painless.

But what if your child develops cavities? Sometimes it just seems that no matter what we do, our child develops problems. Well now we have pediatric sedation dentistry and laser technology to fix those problems.

For those kids that have a real hard time in the doctors office and need a little help to relax, pediatric oral conscious sedation is the way to go. They just sip a little medicine and their troubles fade away. This is a completely safe and monitored procedure.

For those kids that are good in the chair but don’t want a shot, we have our Waterlase. The cavity is cleaned out with laser energized water droplets and then filled. The procedure is generally painless and quick.

Bonding vs. Veneers

If that chipped or cracked tooth has you thinking about getting a smile makeover, consider dental bonding. Depending on the extent and degree of damage, there are a number of alternatives for repairing your teeth: crowns, veneers…and bonding.

Dental bonding can also improve the appearance of discolored teeth, close spaces between teeth and change the shape of teeth. It is a great financial alternative to those fancy porcelain veneers you may have heard about.

White vs. Silver fillings

When I went to the Greater NY Dental Meeting in the fall, I attended a lecture by one of the most prominent dentists in the world. He was discussing fillings for back teeth and I was astounded to find out that about 2/3 of fillings in the USA are now the white kind. I can tell you that in the Buffalo area that percentage is more like 1/3.

Many people want the white fillings for fear of the mercury in the silver fillings. But the insurance reimbursement in the Buffalo area is not that great for white fillings and many people will get the amalgam fillings to save some money. So are white fillings worth the extra money?

It is a fact that white fillings when they are a small to medium size will last just as long as the silver kind. It is when they get big that we see a decline in their longevity as compared to the silver. So that means more frequent replacement is needed or a more expensive option such as a porcelain onlay/crown may be necessary. If you are willing to pay the extra expense, they are a beautiful restoration and will last a long time. Remember, the only advantage is looks, not strength. The mercury controversy continues, but the ADA still does allow silver fillings for the back teeth.

Snap On Smile

Got an event coming up and need that perfect smile but no time or budget to fix your smile? Now there is Snap On Smile, a dental prosthesis that you can wear and eat with, and it doesn’t cost a ton of money. Now while this isn’t a permanent fix, it is great for that need- it- quick situation. Say you have a wedding, reunion, or job interview coming up and you are embarrassed by your smile. After a set of dental impressions, you can have your new smile inserted at the next visit!

Implants

Lose a tooth and want it replaced without resorting to grinding your good teeth? Need a molar and have no anchor teeth? Then implants are the way to go. I’m doing more and more of these as time goes on. They are no more painful than having a tooth removed in the first place. Never get a cavity on it! They are not indicated for all cases but boy, can they restore a lost smile.

Grinding of teeth

As the years go by, there is nothing more destructive to your teeth than grinding and clenching (which most often occurs during sleep). I can’t tell you how many people snap off teeth because of that. One of the best investments you can make in the health of your mouth is a nighttime appliance to prevent grinding.

Sedation dentistry

There is no reason to dread the dental office with conscious sedation dentistry. With a few pills and some laughing gas, you can have all your work done without a care in the world. Affordable and safe. If I was going to have any major work done, I would use it.