Have You Had Your Oral Cancer Screening?

Person writing the words "oral cancer".

Nobody likes to find out that they have cancer. However, finding cancer early is the best way to stop it in its tracks. That is why dentists will do an oral cancer screening every time you go in for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. No one should die from oral cancer, when it is preventable and can be stopped when detected! Stop oral cancer in its tracks with an oral cancer screening!

 

What Is Oral Cancer?

Nobody likes to hear the word “cancer”, and yet, it is everywhere and can happen almost in any part of the body. Your mouth is no exception. Out of the 100+ types of cancers out there, oral cancer is one that affects your mouth. Just like other cancers, it can be deadly without proper prevention and treatment in its early stages. At its beginning stages, you won’t notice anything different in your mouth, but a dentist will notice the start of oral cancer.

 

In the later stages, patients report symptoms and signs such as:

  • Bleeding in the mouth, seemingly for no reason.
  • Numbness or loss of feeling in parts of the mouth.
  • Lumps or bumps in the mouth, especially ones that continue to grow. That includes areas of thickening or swollen tissues.
  • Rough spots or crusty areas on the lips, gums and other mouth tissues.
  • Patches in the mouth that are velvety white, red or a speckled combination of the two.
  • Sores on the face, neck or inside the mouth that bleed and don’t heal quickly.
  • Changes in the way your voice sounds as well as chronic soreness of the throat that doesn’t go away.
  • Weight loss that can sometimes be severe.
  • Problems chewing, eating, swallowing, speaking or moving the tongue or jaws.

 

Close-up view of a patient having their mouth looked at by a dentist.

Facts and Figures

Even though oral cancer doesn’t claim as many lives as other types of cancers, it still claims way too many. This type of cancer is luckily one that can be halted, whereas others can’t be. Still, the statistics show that too many lives are claimed each year from oral cancer:

  • Someone dies every hour of every day in the United States from oral cancer.
  • The Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) reported that about 49,750 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2017. The amount that will be diagnosed this year is about the same.
  • About 132 people die every day from oral cancer.
  • The OCF also reported that there is only a 43% survival rate if it’s not found until the later stages.
  • When found early-on, patients have an 80-90% survival rate.
  • Tobacco and alcohol use plays a major role in developing mouth cancer.
  • Patients not vaccinated against the HPV-16 virus (human papilloma virus version 16) are also at risk for developing oral cancer.

 

Can You Combat It?

There are only so many ways you can combat oral cancer. The best way is to get rid of all your risk factors for it. Get vaccinated for the HPV virus after speaking with your doctor. Find out if you have a history for cancer in your family, especially oral cancer. In many cases, your lifestyle is what will determine if you will develop mouth cancer or not. This is especially true if you smoke or use chewing tobacco. Studies show that smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes will raise your risk for oral cancer by 6 times.

 

Don’t think that going “smokeless” will be healthier for you either. Smokeless tobacco products can actually be even worse for you because of the chemicals they contain that are unnatural for the body. This includes dip, snuff and chewing tobacco, which raises your risk for oral cancer 50 times because the tobacco comes in direct contact with your mouth tissues for long periods of time. So yes, you can combat oral cancer with the help of a dentist trying to stop it through excessive dental care. However, the best way to combat it is to stop using any and all tobacco products as well as alcohol. Alcohol won’t be as strong as tobacco is for causing oral cancer, but it will raise your risk for developing it by 6 times.

 

A dentist discussing treatment options with a patient in the office.

Comprehensive Exams

Patients can’t feel oral cancer forming, so it can only be found if it’s detected by a dentist trained to notice the signs and symptoms. This is why the comprehensive exam is so important in dentistry. All patients should visit the dentist at least every 6 months for a comprehensive dental exam. This is where a dentist can examine a patient’s oral cavity to check for abnormalities.

 

When you come in for your exam, an oral cancer screening only takes a few minutes. A dentist will examine your teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue, throat and even outside your mouth around your neck and mouth for lumps. Anything that is abnormal will be noted and if the dentist suspects that it is oral cancer, you will start treatment right away. With the right dental and medical care, a dentist can actually help halt the progression of the cancer when they find it. The best time is right in its earliest stages, when it can be stopped and you can enjoy a normal, long life.

 

Avoiding Other Oral Diseases

Not only is the comprehensive exam great for detecting oral cancer, but it can detect other oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. In their early stages, only a dentist can detect these problems. Coincidentally, it’s also in the early stages that the problems can be fixed or reversed. Bottom line: make sure you are visiting your dentist for your biannual dental exams and cleanings.

 

The American Dental Association recommends that every person (children and infants included) see the dentist every 6 months. Between those visits, make sure you are brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day and flossing daily as well. To schedule your exam and oral cancer screening, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: August 7, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Testing and Tracking Plaque Levels at Home

Beautiful woman that is wearing red lipstick and pointing with both hands towards her mouth.

When you brush and floss, are you sure you’re getting all the plaque that stuck on your teeth? One way to know is to test and track plaque at home. At-home products available to test and track plaque include disclosing tablets, solutions and swabs. These products stain plaque red with a harmless dye so you can track how well you and your child are brushing and flossing. As you might imagine, this is particularly beneficial for kids since it gives them a visual representation of how effective their oral hygiene efforts are.

 

What Is Dental Plaque?

Did you know that there is a silent and clear substance that tries to eat away at your teeth every single day? This substance is called plaque, and it’s the cause of all tooth decay and gum disease problems. It attaches to your tooth surfaces and its acidic content eats away at your hard tooth enamel, making it weaker overtime until it eventually decays. But, how did that plaque get there in the first place?

 

You can blame your food for that. Plaque forms in your mouth when you eat or drink anything that contains sugar or starch (which is most things). Sugar and various mouth bacteria combine together in your mouth, and without you knowing, they create a sticky combination that is detrimental to your teeth and gums.

 

When that sugar and bacteria combines, it attaches to your teeth, especially along your gum line. If you go look in the mirror right now, you might even see some traces of plaque. You can have a very tiny amount of dental plaque or you can have a lot. It’s tricky to see, so it can build up over time without you even knowing. Plaque that sits on the teeth for long amounts of time can actually harden, becoming what we call “tartar”. At that stage, you can’t get it off by yourself.

 

Close-up view of the bottom front teeth that have lots of dental plaque on them, causing gum recession.

Problems that Stem From High Plaque Levels

Why is plaque such a problem in the first place? Many people don’t realize that they have plaque, nor do they realize the problems it can cause in the long run. Half of all American adults (or 64.7 million) have some form of gum disease and around 92% of Americans have had tooth decay before. Both of these problems all stem from the effects of plaque. In fact, they only happen because plaque gets left on the teeth. Because plaque is acidic, it eats away at the minerals on a patient’s teeth, which is called “demineralization”. Over time, the teeth weaken and decay.

 

With the gums, plaque sits along the gumline. The acidity of it makes the gums irritated, and they will start to bleed easier when a person has the first stage of gum disease, which is gingivitis. Over time, the gums become red due to irritation and eventually they start to recede. This recession is the major kicker, as gums can recede so far that your teeth fall out. It’s best to simply get plaque under control and keep up on your plaque levels instead of ever dealing with the harsher side-effects of plaque.

 

How Do You know Your Plaque Levels?

There are products that have been made to help patients know how they are doing with their dental plaque levels. These are dental products that contain various dyes that highlight where dental plaque is. If you think you are brushing and flossing your teeth well, but you are still ending up with tooth decay, bleeding gums, or problems with gingivitis and gum disease, these products can help you know if your teeth are as clean as you think they are. In many cases, patients are missing areas of their teeth during their brushing and flossing—such as right along the gum line.

 

Dental hygienists helping a patient to see the dental things they are explaining to him as he looks in a mirror.

Self Examination

You can check your plaque levels at home without having to enter a dental office. This is ideal for in-between your biannual checkups and exams, especially if you have had problems with tooth decay and gingivitis in the past. At-home products that patients can use include disclosing tablets, swabs and solutions.

 

You can use these steps for doing your own self-examination to check your plaque levels:

  • Brush and floss your teeth, making sure to brush the recommended 2 minutes with a soft-bristled brush.
  • Follow the instructions on your disclosing product. Many people use disclosing tablets. For tablets, chew only one tablet and let it mix with your saliva. You can do this by swishing for up to 30 seconds and then spitting.
  • For a disclosing solution, swich the solution for 30 seconds and then spit it out.
  • Gently rinse your mouth with water after your disclosing test.
  • Plaque that is still on your teeth will be dyed a darker color (usually a red color). Make sure to take note of all the areas (especially on your back molars) that have been dyed.
  • Then, brush and floss your teeth again to see if you’ve removed that plaque.
  • You want to continue to use your disclosing treatment to test your plaque levels each night. Do this until you start to see no remaining traces of plaque. That is when you have learned to brush those areas efficiently.
  • After you’ve mastered cleaning your teeth, test your plaque levels once a month to make sure you are keeping up on your cleaning.

 

In-Office Examination

If you aren’t sure how to work disclosing tablets or solutions, we can help you. Often, we have some samples in-office and we can show you how they work. If you come in for your biannual dental cleanings and exams, we can let you know how your plaque levels are and if you are in the danger zone for gum disease. If you already have gum disease, we have periodontal treatments to help get your mouth healthy once more. To schedule your comprehensive dental exam, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: July 26, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Turn Toothbrushing Into a Game to Help Your Children Brush

Young adult male brushing his teeth alongside a young boy in a bathroom, presumably they are father and son.

Dental health is something you should be thinking about from the moment your infant cuts his first tooth. From baby to toddler to school-age, children need to learn the importance of good oral health. As you have probably learned from being a parent, sitting down and lecturing your child isn’t likely to do much good. A more effective approach is to turn tooth brushing into a game. Here are some ideas to help your child brush their teeth!

 

When Should Children Start Toothbrushing?

It takes children several years (until about age 3) for them to have the right dexterity to be able to brush their own teeth well. That means you’ll have to do their toothbrushing for them. As a parent, you need to start brushing your child’s tooth when the first one comes in. Even if your baby is only 3 or 4 months old, that is when you would start the toothbrushing. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to brush the teeth when there are only a few in the mouth.

 

If your child is an infant still, you can get a small gum brush. This is a rubbery finger brush that slips on the top of one of your fingers. You place the tiniest amount of baby toothpaste (not yours) on the brush and brush that tiny tooth. Aim for twice a day. If that doesn’t work out, at least brush their tiny teeth at night. For a few small teeth, it will only take a few seconds to get them clean.

 

As a child ages and starts to use their hands more, you can try teaching them to brush on their own. When they can hold utensils well and eat alone with them, they are ready to start toothbrushing. Help them hold the brush and learn how much toothpaste to put on the brush. Even if it takes many months, brush with them to teach them the correct technique. You can hold and guide their hand as they brush their teeth until they get the hang of it.

 

Young female child brushing her teeth and smiling.

Toothbrushing the Correct Amount of Time

The American Dental Association recommends that all patients brush their teeth for at least 2 minutes every time they brush. Simply wetting a toothbrush and brushing for a seconds won’t cut it. But, how do you get a child to sit down and brush their teeth for 2 minutes straight?

 

A great way to do this is to involve technology. Even adults find it hard to brush for 2 minutes at a time. Find a song that your children love that is about 2 minutes long. Make sure they brush all over their mouth for the amount of time that the song is playing. If their favorite song is longer or shorter than 2 minutes, simply replay the song or stop it once it hits the 2-minute mark.

 

If music doesn’t really help your child, try a video or educational short clip. Whatever you decide is best for your child, you can always bring a tablet into the bathroom and have them brush while they learn something new from a short video. There are even many videos online such as this one that teach children how to brush their teeth correctly. No matter what you do, keep it interesting and keep them learning!

 

Young father and son brushing their teeth together as they watch in a bathroom mirror.

What If They Don’t Want to Brush?

Many children can get bored with toothbrushing. That’s why you want to turn toothbrushing into a game and learning experience for them. If toothbrushing is incredibly dull, they won’t want to do it. Use these tips to give your child a better experience and to make it more fun for them:

  • Get bright, colorful toothbrushes with their favorite characters. If your child loves Disney princesses, get a princess brush for them.
  • Get toothpastes that are fun and colorful. Children’s toothpastes can be full of fluoride and other great minerals for their teeth, but they also come in bright colors with sparkles, edible confetti bits and more. If your child hates the taste of toothpaste, get child toothpaste that has a taste they like. Don’t simply use your own toothpaste, as it may contain ingredients that aren’t as gentle on the baby teeth.
  • Sing a song to them while they brush. You can even include a little dance if it gets them to brush their teeth better.
  • Brush your teeth with them! The best way to learn is by example. If you’re not brushing your teeth, why would they? You can even make it a game to see who can brush their teeth the best, who can do the best circular motions, who can smile the biggest as they brush, etc.
  • Read a short story to them as they brush. Make up the story or read it from their collection, but make it so you only read if they are brushing.
  • Keep a toothbrushing chart to reward them each day or each time they brush their teeth well. Give them stickers on a chart or have a reward for them at the end of the week, month, etc. You can even do this reward system every night. For example, if they brush well, they get a story before bed.
  • Let them practice on you. If they need to try it on you and see the difference between dirty teeth and clean teeth, let them.

 

Keep At It

Even if your child doesn’t want to brush, don’t give up on this habit! Children that make brushing their a habit while they are young, tend to keep that habit as they grow older. They also reduce their risk for tooth decay, gum disease and many oral health problems that require more extensive dental work. If you child won’t brush, discuss it with them and see what the problem is. If they simply don’t like their toothbrush or toothpaste, take them to the store and let them choose their own. If you keep struggling, you can always call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: July 19, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Are Dental Implants Safe For Kids?

Dental model that shows what dental implants look like.

You’re at your teenage daughter’s basketball game. She has scored a few baskets and her team is winning. Then the game takes a turn for the worse when your daughter is elbowed in the jaw. She’s on the ground in pain, and when you finally get a close look at her mouth, you see a tooth is missing. What’s the best way to repair the damage? A new tooth? Are dental implants safe for children to get? Find out how your child can restore their smile!

Dental Emergencies

A knocked-out tooth is considered a dental emergency. These emergencies can be devastating to a person’s smile if they don’t get dental help immediately. Dental emergencies include: toothaches (especially if there is swelling), cracked tooth, broken tooth, knocked-out tooth, broken braces bracket or wires, or severe cuts to the tongue, lips or cheek. If a parent and/or patient doesn’t seek dental help immediately, they risk an oral infection or losing their tooth permanently.

 

The ideal way to handle a knocked-out tooth is to preserve the tooth in saline solution compatible with the human body. Get to Dr. Ania’s office as fast as possible to increase the chances of a successful re-implantation. If your child plays sports, keep a “Save-a-Tooth” kit on hand for such emergencies. This can help treat the affected tooth until you can get dental assistance. If the tooth can’t be re-implanted, your next thought might be a dental implant. Is this option safe for your child? And if not, what alternatives do you have?

 

Close-up view of a boy with a missing front tooth

What’s Are Dental Implants?

In centuries past, once a tooth was lost, it was lost for good. However, in today’s time, that’s not the case. Dental implants are a restorative dentistry option that allows patients to replace missing teeth with ones that look, feel and perform like natural teeth. They are the most effective, predictable, and longest-lasting option to replace one or multiple missing teeth. If one tooth is lost, patients should consider dental implants instead of a dental bridge. A dental bridge can replace several teeth missing in a row, but dental implants replace a tooth here and there.

 

You don’t want to have dental implants just for the fun of it, as it is a process to get them. When a tooth has been knocked out and can’t be fixed, dental implants may be necessary to restore a person’s smile. First, any remaining tooth particles are removed from the tooth socket. The area is cleaned and prepped to receive a screw. This screw will be placed in a person’s jawbone, where it will heal in place. At a separate appointment, a patient will have a custom-made tooth placed on top of the screw and it will remain there for 10-20 years. The new tooth is the dental implant.

 

Are Dental Implants Safe for Kids?

While dental implants are the best way to restore an adult’s smile, they are not the go-to option for children. This is because a patient will only want to have a dental implant if their jaws have completely stopped growing. Children and teens still have mouths that are changing and jaws that have not hardened completely. This happens when patients are in their older teen years and into their twenties.

 

Dental implants are not the best choice for children as they can shift out of place as a child’s jaw grows. It can cause crookedness to happen with the permanent teeth, pain and more. However, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that implants are an option for adolescents once they have passed through puberty. Their standard guidelines are to wait until girls are at least 16 and boys are at least 18.

 

To fix your child’s smile, they can get a dental bridge. This is when a custom-made tooth is bonded to a natural tooth. The tooth will fill the tooth gap, but will not be implanted in the jawbone. Removable partial dentures are also an option, which is a dental device that has a custom-made tooth attached to it. If your child is fine with a gap in their smile for a time, they can get a space maintainer. This is great for young children, as it can keep a space open for a permanent tooth to grow in correctly.

 

Young boy laughing with his hand on his face.

Strong Smiles for Life

Your child can take amazing care of their teeth, but still have dental emergencies that happen in the blink of an eye. A dental emergency such as a broken, cracked, chipped or knocked-out tooth can happen much easier if oral hygiene habits aren’t happening enough. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are all habits that can help your child to have strong teeth.

 

The American Dental Association recommends that every patient (even toddlers) should see the dentist at least twice a year. There, they can get dental sealants and fluoride treatments to strengthen the teeth and protect them more than doing nothing. If a child brushes for 2 minutes at least twice a day (if not more), they can keep their teeth strong and avoid decay. Flossing the teeth cleans about 40% of the tooth surface, so it’s also something that should be done 1-2 times a day. Also reduce your child’s sugar intake—if possible—as sugar is the food that plaque needs to weaken teeth and cause decay.

 

Even though these habits may not protect them against a knocked-out tooth, it can reduce the chance of it and other dental emergencies because the teeth are stronger. Patients that practice good oral hygiene can also keep their teeth all throughout life, avoiding tooth loss. If you would like to know more about oral hygiene or our dental implants, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: July 11, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Five Advantages of Regular Tooth-Cleaning Visits

Woman in a dental chair about to have a dental cleaning

According to the American Dental Association, you should have your teeth cleaned at least twice per year. Some people need checkups more often than this. Despite this recommendation, the ADA reports that almost 1/3 of Americans fail to visit the dentist even once a year. If this is you, learn a little more about the importance of professional tooth cleaning visits.

 

Brushing Your Teeth

When is the last time you brushed your teeth? Today? Yesterday? Several days ago? If you are like many Americans, you may not be brushing your teeth enough. There have been countless studies done on how often you should brush your teeth and how often people actually do brush their teeth. In many third-world countries, people don’t have the means or the knowledge that they need to brush their teeth. However, most Americans know that brushing your teeth is important somehow.

 

As mentioned, the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Notice how we said, “at least”. This is a baseline recommendation, as you can brush your teeth more than this, such as after every meal or treat you have. However, you don’t ever want to dip below that twice-a-day guideline. Despite that recommendation, studies show that where young adults (also known as “millennials”) are concerned, at least 3 in 10 only brush their teeth once a day.

 

The average young adult has gone at least 2 days without brushing their teeth as well. Many don’t visit the dentist due to dental phobias or a distaste to dental products/flavors (about 6 in 10 people). However, visiting the dentist for a tooth cleaning and brushing your teeth on your own are some of the most important habits a person can have if they want a healthy mouth.

 

Close-up view of a patient having their teeth polished at a dental visit

Give Yourself a Good Tooth Cleaning

Did you know that there are specific ways you should be brushing your teeth? You don’t simply wet a toothbrush and brush around in your mouth. Use these recommendations when you give yourself a tooth cleaning:

  • Toothbrushes will come with bristles with various levels of hardness, so you want to look at the packaging for the word “soft”. Soft-bristled brushes will provide a good tooth cleaning without being too harsh on your tooth enamel.
  • Use good toothpaste. A tooth cleaning isn’t complete without toothpaste. Look for ADA-approved toothpaste that is proven to help fight tooth decay. Also use toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Adults should use about a centimeter’s worth of toothpaste on their toothbrush.
  • Wet your toothbrush either before or after you add toothpaste to the brush so it can suds up and clean your teeth better.
  • As recommended by the ADA, brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes. That’s 1 minute for your bottom teeth and 1 minute for the top teeth. Brush every tooth surface in circular motions as well as side-to-side, making sure to get the top, back and front of every tooth.
  • Give yourself a good tooth cleaning at least twice a day, if not more. This is especially important before you go to bed so bacteria doesn’t have all day to decay your teeth.

 

How a Dentist’s Tooth Cleaning Is Different

When you go to the dentist, your tooth cleaning will be different than what you get at home, which is a great thing. Your dentist and dental hygienist will both do a thorough examination of all your teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth. They will check for signs of oral cancer and gum disease, and will see if you have tooth decay by taking dental x-rays. Using probing tools on each tooth can also detect areas of decay that are sensitive.

 

A dental hygienist will perform your tooth cleaning and will use a metal tool to scrape particles off your teeth, especially your back molars. They can see things that you can’t and can clean each individual tooth immaculately. A hygienist will remove tartar and plaque from each tooth. Using a slow-speed dental brush, they will brush all your tooth surfaces with professional-grade toothpaste and will polish your teeth afterwards. You will also have every single tooth flossed several times to remove particles, and to find areas of gum disease. After 30-40 minutes of a thorough tooth cleaning, you will receive a fluoride treatment, which will strengthen your teeth against tooth decay.

 

Young woman receiving a dental cleaning from a dental hygienist and dentist

5 Advantages of Regular Tooth Cleaning Visits

You can never go wrong taking care of your oral health or overall health. Patients only benefit if they take care of themselves. When it comes to tooth cleaning visits, you benefit through:

  • A dental professional examining every individual tooth, making sure decay isn’t present.
  • A thorough tooth cleaning, where plaque and hard, stuck-on tartar are removed that you can’t get off your teeth at home.
  • Proper instructions of how you can give yourself a better tooth cleaning at home. Dentists and hygienists always go over your tooth health and tips for cleaning your teeth better to keep them healthy.
  • Avoiding chronic oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer, that can damage your overall health as well.
  • Saving money. If you brush and floss at home as you should and visit the dentist twice a year, you actually save a ton of money in the long run. How? You will likely avoid all major oral health problems that can only be fixed with expensive, lengthy procedures.

 

Your Tooth Cleaning

Whether you’re 8 or 80 years old, dental health is important for everyone. Brushing and flossing every day certainly tops the list of ways you can take care of your teeth, but regular cleanings at our office are also vital for good oral health. If you haven’t had your tooth cleaning in some time, make sure to call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 to schedule your appointment!

 

Posted: July 5, 2018 By: Comment: 0

What’s the Difference Between Dental Crowns and Bridges?

Dental Crowns and Bridges

What do you know about dental crowns and bridges? These restorative devices can save your smile, and your health.  In many countries, once a tooth has decay or infection, it is simply pulled and that hole in your smile is there for life. However, in the United States, there are many options available to help treat a patient’s tooth decay or infection. We can treat decay and provide patients with options such as dental crowns and dental bridges to restore areas of the mouth with missing teeth. Let us show you what each of these dental options are and when we would use each to restore a patient’s smile!

 

Restorative Dentistry: Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetics in restorative dentistry treatment. They work to not only improve the aesthetics of your smile, but also the function of your smile. Missing teeth can cause many unforeseen problems that crowns and bridges solve.

 

When is a Dental Bridge Recommended?

If you’re missing one or more teeth Dr. Ania may suggest you have a dental bridge to “bridge” the gap. Leaving gaps in your smile allow teeth to shift and move in ways that can affect your overall bite. An imbalanced bite can lead to problems like gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems and pain.

Bridges take the place of one or more missing teeth. They close the gap where teeth are absent. They are installed with cement and affixed to natural or implanted teeth that serve as the “abutments” or bridge anchors. Porcelain or ceramic bridges are fabricated to match the color of your natural teeth.

 

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns cover the structure of a damaged or weakened tooth or to cover a dental implant post. Dental crowns offer a cosmetic solution that functions like a normal tooth. Ceramic crowns are prescribed when a tooth has been fractured, cracked, sustained a large cavity, or to replace outdated fillings. Our dental crowns are handcrafted in our lab with safe, metal-free ceramic materials. The ceramic material is strong enough to support full biting force just as if it was your natural tooth.

 

Same-Day Crowns

Technology has allowed us tools to produce for our patients same-day crowns. How? Digital scanners and in-office milling machines that work together to create a crown during your time in-office. First, we scan your teeth to create an exact impression of your existing bite. (This digital scanner replaces the old impression molds that we used to create in a first appointment.) Then, the digital images sends information to the milling machine that makes a crown. This crown then goes into an oven to crystallize and set as you wait. Instead of taking days or weeks, the entire process from seeing your tooth to receiving your crown takes about 2 hours.

 

The Importance of Oral Hygiene for Long-Lasting Dental Crowns and Bridges

While oth crowns and bridges are built for longevity, they will, eventually, need to be replaced. To prevent these fixed prosthetics from failing prematurely, pay specific attention to your dental hygiene habits. Brush your teeth thoroughly to prevent tooth decay–it weakens bridges and crowns connected to your teeth. Tooth decay also weakens the gum tissues that are helping keep your crowns and bridges in place. Rinse the gum lines of your teeth and tenderly treat inflamed gums. Any redness of your gums can put your dental work at risk. Promptly call Dr. Ania for a consultation if you notice these signs of gum disease.

 

Call for a Dental Crowns or Bridges Consultation

Dental crowns and bridges offer you an effective, natural-looking way to correct aesthetic and functional problems with your smile. Learn how you could benefit today by calling Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 for your comprehensive examination and consultation!

Posted: June 30, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Interesting Facts About Your Oral Health

Woman holding up a sign with a smile on it over her own mouth

Although everyone has a mouth (and we hope teeth), no two people are alike. Oral health will differ from person to person, and especially between different cultures and countries. Americans have recommendations for keeping a healthy mouth that other countries don’t have. There are also many studies that show interesting facts about how well (and how bad) Americans take care of their teeth and mouth. Find out facts about American’s teeth, how often they clean them, how they get damaged and more!

 

What Is Your Oral Health?

From the term “oral health”, you can see that this term means the health of your oral cavity. Your “oral” health is going to involve every part of your mouth: your tongue, teeth, gums, cheeks, hard palate, soft palate, uvula and everything in-between. You can also include your throat and neck as well, because these areas are checked during an oral cancer screening. Often, oral health is also called “oral hygiene”, and this term in used in regard to what you do to keep your mouth healthy.

 

Hygiene consists of the practices used to keep something clean. When it comes to your mouth, it includes brushing and flossing your teeth often, cleaning your tongue, using mouthwash, and utilizing other habits that kill germs and freshen breath. The cleaner you keep your mouth, the more you reduce your risk for chronic oral health problems and disease. Some of the most chronic diseases (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) include tooth decay and gum disease. These are diseases that stem directly from patients not keeping their mouths clean, which causes decay, erosion and areas of infected tissues.

 

Close-up view of a woman brushing her teeth

How Well Are Americans Doing?

People in the United States are not brushing, flossing or seeing the dentist enough. Some people don’t do these habits at all. This can seriously affect a person’s overall health, as the mouth is the window to the rest of the body. Consider the facts:

  • The CDC reports that tooth decay (a.k.a. cavities) is the most chronic, prevalent disease among U.S. children and adults.
  • 92% of adults between 20 and 64 have had cavities in their teeth, of which about 26% are not treated.
  • Adults in that age range have on average 3-4 decayed or lost teeth because of cavities.
  • More than 36 million Americans are missing all of their teeth, which is known as “toothlessness” or “edentulism”.
  • An estimated 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth due to tooth decay, gum disease or an oral health problem.
  • Over 64.7 million American adults (which is 47.2%) have gum disease, which happens when a person doesn’t brush or floss, or do these oral health habits enough.
  • 30% have moderate gum disease (getting close to tooth loss), 8.7% have mild (which can be reversed) and 8.5% have severe gum disease (when teeth start falling out).
  • The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day. From polls, about 44% of men and 37% of women brush twice a day. Around 49% of men and 57% of women only brush once a day. The rest don’t remember the last time they brushed their teeth.
  • Flossing is not something you want to skip, as the areas you floss make up about 40% of your tooth surfaces.

 

Close up of a dental mirror reflecting a woman's teeth

Why Are Problems So Common?

Tooth decay and other oral health problems run rampant simply because not enough people are taking the best care of their teeth and mouth. Many people don’t realize that they should brush for about 2 minutes, several times a day. A large amount of people also skip out on flossing their teeth or they do it incorrectly. You should brush your teeth for 2 minutes, covering all the tooth surfaces, moving the toothbrush back and forth, and in circular motions. You should floss daily, and should visit the dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. When flossing, you should scrape your tooth surface and make sure all food and plaque particles are removed.

 

When choosing toothpastes and dental products, choose ones that have fluoride in them to strengthen your teeth. Another major cause of dental decay is sugar intake. The majority of people are exceeding their daily recommended sugar intake by several times. The more sugar you ingest, the more plaque you make and the more your teeth can decay. If people cut back on the desserts, snacks and sugary drinks, the tooth decay problem would shrink.

 

Life changes may also cause changes to a person’s oral health. For example, pregnancy hormones and an increase of blood in a woman’s system can increase the likelihood of pregnancy gingivitis. This can turn into gum disease quickly if a person doesn’t have good oral health habits. Getting braces is another factor that can make the teeth much harder to clean, which raises the chances of tooth decay, erosion, and gum disease. Life changes that affect a person’s oral health only happen here and there, so the main factor is how often a person is practicing good oral hygiene habits.

 

Taking Care of Your Oral Health

Even though oral health problems run rampant in the U.S. population, it is actually very easy to take care of your oral health! Brush, floss, see the dentist, and switch out sugary foods and drinks for healthier options. That’s all you have to do. However, technique is important with your oral hygiene. Call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 to schedule your comprehensive exam and to learn proper oral hygiene techniques!

Posted: June 21, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Your Mouth and Teeth Anatomy

Woman smiling with her mouth open and pointing to her mouth

Your mouth has many parts that are all important for staying healthy. You want strong teeth to help you chew and eat, and you need healthy tissue to keep the teeth in place. Certain good and bad oral health habits can lead to your teeth and mouth anatomy changing over time. Find out the different parts of your mouth and teeth anatomy!

 

Your Mouth Anatomy

Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. Consider how much you use your mouth every day. Every particle of food you eat, everything you drink, and the words you say all come from your mouth. Besides your nose, this is also a passageway for oxygen to get into your body to nourish the tissues that need it.

 

Your oral cavity is more than just your cheeks, gums, tongue and teeth. There are many parts that make up the mouth and every part has a function and purpose. Your mouth has 2 main regions known as the “vestibule” and the “oral cavity proper”. Defined, the vestibule is everything inside the mouth that is between the teeth, cheeks and lips. The rest of your mouth tissues are part of the oral cavity proper.

 

Close-up image of a person sticking their tongue out

Various Tissues and Their Purpose

You have many parts of your mouth that all have a location and purpose:

  • Teeth: These provide structure to the face and mouth, and they help the digestion process by crushing up the food you eat. Having teeth makes a big difference in speech development.
  • Tongue: Aids in the digestion process, as various cells in the tongue secrete saliva, which breaks down your food. Tastebuds allow you to understand how food feels and the flavor it has. It’s essential for swallowing food and for speaking. Half of your tongue muscles are anchored to bone. That bone keeps the tongue in place.
  • Gums: These are soft tissues that hold the teeth firmly in your jaws. Gums around the teeth are stuck firmly to the teeth and jaw surfaces, sealing out food, preventing tooth loss and helping with friction caused by eating. These soft tissues also protect the bones and delicate nerves in the mouth from exposure.
  • Uvula: This is the tissue that hangs down in the back of your throat. Glands in the uvula produce a lot of saliva. The uvula muscle itself helps close off the nasal cavity when eating and drinking, as it can move like any other muscle.
  • Hard palate: This is the roof of your mouth that is hard and contains bone. That bone separates your mouth cavity from your nasal cavity.
  • Soft palate: Your soft palate is the part of your mouth where the hard palate ends and the roof of your mouth becomes soft. It does not contain bone. However, it is a muscle that helps with swallowing and breathing. The soft palate is what makes some mucus come into your mouth when you sneeze so that your nasal passage doesn’t take the entire force of your sneeze.
  • Jawbone: This is the strongest bone in the face. It structures your mouth and head and holds all the teeth and mouth tissues in place. Without a working jaw, your entire mouth would suffer major health problems.

Numbering Your Teeth

Every single tissue and part of your mouth is important, even if it’s a tiny tissue. If you didn’t have one of these main areas, your eating, digestion and speech would be significantly hindered. One of the most important parts of your mouth that you should care for is your teeth. This part of your mouth is different from the rest because the teeth are not living tissue. Almost everywhere in your body you have living tissue—even your bones! The bones are actually fairly hollow and sponge-like, full of cartilage, nerves, blood vessels and more.

 

However, the teeth are 96% mineral and are the hardest substances in your body. You have layers of solid tooth enamel that allows you to bite down with hundreds of pounds of pressure. That’s how you can eat very hard nuts or other pieces of food without breaking your teeth. Your teeth are composed of a thick, outer mineral enamel, with a softer layer inside called the dentin. At the very center is a soft tissue pulp where blood vessels and nerves nourish the tooth.

 

A healthy adult mouth has 28 teeth, or 32 if the wisdom teeth have not been removed. You should have 14 teeth on top and 14 on bottom total. If you look at your teeth, you will notice that there are different shapes to the teeth. Those different shapes help you bite, chew, rip and eat your food.

 

Close-up image of a person opening their mouth

Notice and Prevent Problems

No matter how hard your teeth are, they can decay quite rapidly if you don’t take care of them. When you eat, you have residue that is left behind with digestion. That residue is plaque, and it is a mixture of sugars in the food you eat combined with mouth bacteria. That residue sticks to your teeth, decaying the hard, mineral enamel and it makes your gums recede. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth every day, several times a day, you will notice color changes and decay in your teeth. Your gums will begin to pull away from the teeth, and you may actually experience tooth loss as well as severe gum problems.

 

Notice when these things happen and see a dentist often to spot signs of decay or disease early on. Your mouth functions really well if you keep your tissues and teeth clean so they can do what they were designed for. If you want to learn more about your mouth or want to see if your mouth is healthy, call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 for your comprehensive examination and cleaning!

 

Posted: June 15, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Healthy Teeth During Vacation

Woman smiling at the camera at the side of a pool

Summertime and vacations can be much-needed sources of stress relief. However, many people’s oral health takes a plunge during these times. People eat foods on-the-go that can hurt the teeth and they couple that with poor oral hygiene habits. Keeping a healthy mouth while you are away from home takes planning and only a tiny bit of effort. We can help you with tips to have healthy teeth no matter if you are home or traveling!

 

Normal Hygiene Routine

Not enough people brush and floss their teeth, nor do they do it on vacation. Normally, we recommend that every patient brush their teeth at least twice a day to keep their mouth healthy. Brushing is vital for having healthy teeth, because the bristles mixed with decay-fighting toothpaste helps remove acidic plaque and debris from your teeth. Every patient should be brushing their teeth after breakfast each morning and before they go to sleep.

 

Brushing your teeth at night is extremely important because plaque and debris has built up over the day. If you skip brushing, all the gunk will sit on your teeth, eroding your tooth enamel, causing decay. A normal oral hygiene routine consists of brushing your teeth for 2 minutes, followed by thoroughly flossing the teeth. Some patients will floss between every tooth before brushing, and follow brushing with flossing again. After that, using mouthwash is a great way to kill off extra bacteria that is still in your mouth. If you use a fluoride treatment, make sure you leave it on your teeth and don’t eat or drink for 30 minutes. This routine can be done at home, at work and even on vacation.

 

Two toothbrushes in a hotel bathroom glass cup by the sink

Healthy Teeth During Vacation

Even if you’ve been planning for months, you still might forget something you need and remember it when it’s too late to go back home. One thing that people forget is their oral hygiene routine. Because of the location of travel or not having all of your things with you, it might be difficult to have healthy teeth during vacation. You might not have a sink on-hand or products you need to clean your teeth.

 

Plan ahead for your vacations by bringing an oral hygiene travel kit for those days you are on vacation. A travel pack is perfect for days spent away from home and comes in handy for making sure you have healthy teeth at work. Check your local grocery store for a hygiene kit for traveling. These kits generally have everything you need, not just for oral hygiene. If you want to make a very small kit of your own, include:

  • A small container (a soap holder can do) to fit a mini toothbrush in. Travel toothbrushes are shorter than most phones.
  • Mini container of toothpaste—find ones that contain fluoride, if you can.
  • Small container of floss, or floss strips that you have previously cut and rolled up.
  • A mini mouthwash container
  • Small hand-held mirror to see your teeth.
  • Any appliances needed if you wear braces or have a retainer
  • A slip of paper with your dentist’s contact information on it in case of emergencies.

Your travel kit will depend on what oral hygiene products you use on a daily basis. You will have to add in extra products if you have braces or an oral health condition.

 

Your Checklist

Having healthy teeth on vacation or at work takes minimal planning. Use these tips for healthy teeth when traveling:

  • Make a checklist of what you need so you don’t forget anything.
  • Schedule a dental check-up before a long vacation (especially out-of-country or an extended vacation). If dental problems are present, get them fixed asap.
  • Contact a U.S. embassy if you have a dental emergency and are out of the country. They can refer you to a dentist.
  • Take bottled water with you. It will keep you hydrated, and you can brush with the water if you are in a place where public water is questionable.
  • If you lose things easily, keep a travel oral hygiene kit in your suitcase and always have it stay there.

 

If you don’t have a toothbrush while traveling, don’t just skip brushing! Borrow toothpaste from a relative and brush your teeth with a wet washcloth. If you don’t have toothpaste either, still brush with the wet washcloth. Anything is better than nothing! If you have forgotten a toothbrush, try to limit the acid and sugary foods and drinks you eat. Eating healthy can help you have healthy teeth even if you don’t have a good way to brush and floss.

 

Various travel items for brushing and flossing

Healthy Teeth Year-Round

Having healthy teeth isn’t hard. In fact, it only takes a few minutes every day to keep your smile bright and beautiful. What do you need for having healthy teeth and a mouth free of disease?

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day, every single day. Brush after every meal to reduce your risk for tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and more.
  • Brush for 2 minutes every time, making sure to brush every tooth, front and back, top to bottom, and in circling motions.
  • Use ADA-approved toothpastes, toothbrushes and oral health products that are tested for their efficiency in preventing oral health problems.
  • Floss 1-2 times every day. Use about 18 inches of floss each time, making sure every few teeth get a fresh area of floss. This prevents spreading around bacteria. Scrape floss along the teeth to remove stuck-on plaque.
  • Visit your dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings, as recommended by the American Dental Association.

These habits only take a few minutes of your day. You have 1440 minutes every single day to work with. If you want healthy teeth now and on vacation, make sure you are using a few of those minutes for oral hygiene habits. For tips on taking care of you or your child’s teeth, contact Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

Posted: June 6, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Better Oral Health Can Boost Your Immune System

Smiling young woman looking at a smiling young man

Did you know that how well you take care of your oral health can be an indication of how healthy you are? People that have poor oral hygiene habits often have oral health diseases or problems that can affect their immune system. There are also many autoimmune diseases  that can affect your oral health. Your immune system is connected to every part of your body. If you’re not taking care of one part (such as your teeth and gums), you can experience problems from bacteria, infections, decay and more. Find out how how oral health is connected to the immune system!

 

Your Immune System

The immune system iis your body’s built-in defense system to help protect you against foreign infectious organisms, germs, allergens and more. Many people think there is a certain area where the immune system lies, but it is actually a system comprised of many cells, organs, proteins and tissues that goes all throughout your body. This is how your body can fight off infections whenever you get cuts or open wounds on different areas of your body.

 

Your mouth is one main area that plays a major role in your immune system and overall health. If you think about everything that passes through your body, it generally comes through the mouth first. The food you eat, the liquids you drink, medicines, allergens and more come through your mouth. It’s not surprising that your oral health is strongly connected to your immune system function. If you have better oral health, you can expect to have better overall health and fewer illnesses.

 

Puzzle board with the words "oral health" and a stethoscope

Autoimmune Diseases and Oral health

Many illnesses are passed through liquids such as your saliva if you share foods or drinks. Even though your immune system helps you fight off bacteria, viruses and more, that doesn’t mean you won’t get sick. In fact, you generally do get sick once, and your body builds up a resistance to that illness so you become immune. However, there are autoimmune diseases that your body struggles to fight off, and they can mess with your oral health and cause oral problems. Some autoimmune diseases (out of about 80) that affect your oral health include:

  • Sjogren’s Syndrome: Sjogren’s affects the function of the glands, which can lead to dry mouth. Less saliva production and dry mouth can lead to chronic bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. You need ample saliva in the mouth to restore minerals to the teeth and to wash away plaque and food so they don’t cause decay and gum problems.
  • Crohn’s Disease: This can cause gum swelling, ulcers in the mouth and lip swelling. Patients can also experience problems with eating and swallowing if they don’t monitor this disease.
  • Scleroderma and More: This immune system disease and others such as Hasimoto’s disease, can cause swelling and difficulty swallowing.

 

The Connection With Diabetes

Diabetes is one chronic disease that dentists can be especially helpful with. Patients who have diabetes often have problems with gum disease and tooth decay. This is because diabetes affects your body’s ability to control blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone responsible for converting sugar into energy. However, there isn’t enough insulin to control the blood sugar like it should. This leads to inflammation in the body, which damages tissues, organs and cells and makes infections much more likely.

 

Your mouth doesn’t escape the problems that diabetes can cause. A patient can have inflammation in their gums because of the effects of diabetes. This can lead to swollen gums and gum disease. However, the opposite can also happen. People who don’t brush and floss their teeth enough will begin to have problems with tooth decay and gum disease. That gum disease will cause inflammation, which can cause gum infections that affect your entire body. Diabetes can and generally does affect your oral health and your oral health habits directly affect whether you have more complications with diabetes. If you are a patient with this disease, be very vigilant in oral health practices so that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy.

 

Close-up of a beautiful mouth being examined by a dentist

Better Oral Health, Better Immune System

Do you want to have better oral health and a better immune system? Start by taking better care of your mouth! Taking better care of your mouth involves several parts. First, you must eat better to stay healthier overall. A proper diet full of all the essential nutrients will help you avoid chronic conditions and diseases. If your diet is a healthy one that is low in sugar, your mouth will make less decay-causing plaque. Plaque is a byproduct of bacteria in your mouth and sugars in your foods and drinks. It’s also what leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

 

If you are already susceptible to gum disease or you currently have it, you can reduce many of your health symptoms by brushing and flossing more. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at least 2 times a day and flossing 1-2 times. If you have an autoimmune disease or diabetes, you should brush more often than this. You should also be seeing your dentist at least 2 times a year, if not every 3-4 months. A dentist can keep your oral health in check and in a range that reduces your immune system problems. Better oral health can significantly lead to a better immune system.

 

Help For Chronic Problems

Some people see significant improvement with their oral health problems if they implement a better oral hygiene routine. However, autoimmune diseases and chronic conditions like diabetes will affect a person’s mouth even if they practice proper oral hygiene. This is why you should see your dentist often and work closely with them to have better oral health continually and fewer oral problems. If you have a chronic health condition or you have noticed changes in your oral health, call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: May 23, 2018 By: Comment: 0

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