Why You Should See Your Dentist

Your dental exam can detect early signs of diseases.  Gum disease may be associated with other health problems like diabetes and heart disease. 

Oral health check-ups can detect tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer early.  Have dental exams at every stage of your life, you could have gum disease and not know it.  Also patients who wear dentures should have regular dental check-ups.

Five great reasons to get you your teeth cleaned:

1)  to learn about the best way to keep your teeth clean every day

2)  to keep your mouth healthy, which will help keep your whole body healthy

3)  to help prevent gum disease, which chould cause tooth loss

4)  to remove tartar (a hard build-up that makes it tough to clean your teeth)

5)  to get rid of stains on teeth that cannot be removed just by brushing and flossing

At every exam Dr. Steppler does, we check your mouth and neck for signs of disease.  Dr. Steppler will evaluate your general health when developing a plan for your oral treatment, and refer you to a physician if needed.

Your oral health is an important part of your overall health, so be sure you and your family come in for regular visits.

Bruxism...Are you grinding your teeth?

 

Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of the teeth that often occurs while a person is sleeping.  There are many causes of bruxism.  Whatever the cause, it is important to treat bruxism early to prevent damage and restore harmony to your mouth.

The symptoms of bruxism include a sore tired jaw, difficulty in opening and closing your mouth, sensitive teeth, headaches or earaches, pain in your jaw joints.  It is also possible that you clench and grind your teeth, and yet notice no symptoms at all.

When you clench and grind the force on your teeth is many times greater than during normal chewing.  These forces can cause:  flattened or worn-down teeth, loss of tooth enamel near the gum line, fractured or loose teeth, damage to the jawbone or jaw joints.

Sometimes, missing teeth worn teeth, spaces between teeth, or teeth that are out of alignment may cause grinding and clenching also.  In this case, bridges, crowns, equilibration, orthodontic, or other dental treatments can often restore your bite and eliminate grinding and clenching.

A common and effective treatment for stopping the damage caused by bruxism is the use of of a nightguard.  This is a plastic device that fits over your top or bottom teeth and protects your teeth by absorbing the forces caused by grinding.  A custom nightguard, made from models of your teeth, usually offers the most effective and comfortable protection.

Preventing Gum Disease

The problem begins with bacteria.  Our mouths are packed with these tiny microbes.  They combine with mucus and particles to form a sticky, colorless film - called plaque - on our teeth.  Brushing and flossing can get rid of some plaque.  But many that remains can harden and form tartar, a yellowish deposit that can become rock-hard. 

Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to gum disease - technically known as periodontal disease.  The most common and mild type of gum disease is called gingivitis.  The gums become red and swollen, and they can bleed easily.  Daily brushing and flossing and regular cleanings by dental professionals can usually clear up gingivitis.

If gingivitis is not treated, it can become a more severe type of gum disease called periodontitis. Symptoms of periodontitus include bad breath that won't go away; gums that are red, swollen, tender or bleeding; painful chewing; and loose or sensitive teeth.  In periodontitus, the gums pull away from the teeth and form "pockets" that become infected.  If you have periodontitis, your dentist may recommend a deep-cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing.  In more severe cases, you may need surgery.

In recent years, gum disease has been linked to a number of health problems.  Researchers are studying possible connections between gum disease and:  Heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature births.  These alone are excellent reasons to good home care of your teeth and gums every day, along with regular professional cleanings and dental visits.



Why missing teeth need to be replaced?

Teeth need each other for support.  When you lose a tooth, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing the teeth to shift.  In addition the opposing teeth no longer have anything to chew against, so they begin to drift out of their sockets.  These changes create places around the teeth that make it difficult to keep clean, causing plaque and bacteria to build-up.  This build-up can cause tooth decay and gum disease. 

When teeth are missing, a fixed bridge is a good choice for replacing the missing teeth.  A dental bridge is a great way to maintain a stable bite and restore your beautiful smile.  It can also prevent a chain reaction of problems including:

• Shifting teeth.
• difficulty keeping teeth free of plaque and bacteria.
• loss of bone in the jaw.
• difficulty chewing.
• grinding and clenching.
• pain in the jaw and joint, the TMJ.