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Children Oral Health | When and How to Teach Them?

March 7, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. ,

Children Oral Health

Maintaining our children oral health and teaching our kids how to maintain their oral hygiene is one of the most important things a parent can teach his/her children. A proper oral care remains with the child for the rest of his/her life. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is to make the process fun for the child. A good example is to brush with your children and show her/him how brushing(Read More about Brushing Tips) is something that has to be done everyday and is part of everyday life. Skipping brushing shows the child that it is not as important. Regular brushing sends a message that your children oral health care if valuable. Today there are many fun tooth brushes with cartoon characters that the child enjoys holding in his/her hand. There are many tooth pastes with different taste since not all kids like the same taste in their mouth. It is important to make sure only a small amount of paste is placed on the brush since the younger children have a tendency to swallow the paste. As they get older, you can teach them not to swallow and perhaps place as much a pea size paste on the brush.

In the first few years of life flossing perhaps would not be as necessary as later in life but by starting early we can teach the child how it is part of the everyday oral care.

Steps to Maintain Your Children Oral Health:

  • bl-dental-careBrush twice a day for two minutes. Electric tooth brushes are easier for a child to hold on to and does a better job cleaning. A tooth paste with fluoride is strongly suggested to help reduce production of cavities.
  • If your child eats a lot of sweets, make sure he/she brushes right after and that includes juices and sodas. Carbonated sodas even those without sugar can dissolve the enamel and cause cavity in the long term.
  • Use tap water if possible. LADWP places fluoride in the drinking water which helps reduce cavity. Using filter on the tap water does not remove the fluoride but if you are using bottle water, you may need to consult your dentist or pediatrician for supplemental fluoride.
  • Have your child see a dentist at least twice a year. If you see dark spots or holes on the teeth make sure you see your dentist ASAP.
  • It is good to see the dentist in the younger age perhaps as early as age 2. Although your child may not allow any treatment, but just seeing that going to the dentist can be fun and routine can help him/her to relax at the time so when it is time to have a cleaning or x-rays done, he/she is not scared. It is always helpful if the parents also have a dentist appointment at the same time so the child can watch the parents and learn on how to behave.

Healthy Gums | Healthy Teeth | A Lifetime Commitment

February 28, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

 

In order to have healthy gums and teeth, it requires a lifetime commitment. This article can help you avoid infection of the gum which is known as periodontal disease.

As everyone knows you need to brush your teeth everyday. The brushing should be done twice a day within the first  hour of having food or sweet acidic drinks. Flushing the food debris around the teeth by swishing a mouthful of mouthwash or water would help when it is added to regular brushing and flossing. It is also recommended to floss your teeth once a day between all the teeth not forgetting the back of last molars.

 

Importance of Frequent Check Ups

Always make sure you maintain your regular dental check up at least every 6 months. Some may require more cleaning up to 3-4 times a year. Ask your dentist and he/she will let you know what frequency works best for you. If there is a diagnosis of gum disease, it is easier to treat the disease in early stages. Make sure your dentist fixes all the broken teeth and fills all the cavities. Small cavities are much easier and cheaper to fix. When you don’t fix a small cavity, it tends to become larger in size over time making it more difficult and expensive to fix. Cavities do not go away on their own. They have to be removed by your dentist and be filled with a filling material such as composite which is tooth color and can not be seen by most people.

bl-dental-careSmokers! Be Aware!

People who smoke or use smokeless tobacco have much greater chance of getting oral cancer. Stopping tobacco use would help in reducing bad breath as well as keeping teeth stain free. But most importantly it could save your life. Your dentist will evaluate for oral cancer screaming every time you go for check up.

Signs of Dental Problems:

There are few signs that warn us about dental problems. For example, if after brushing you still have bad breath it could be a sign of periodontal disease or presence of cavity. If your gums are puffy or bleed on their own, or at the time of brushing, it is an indication of gum disease.  If the teeth are getting longer, it is a sign of bone loss. If these signs are ignored, teeth may get loose, and eventually teeth loss may result.  Many of these problems can be minimized if proper dental treatment and oral hygiene can be maintained.

 

Healthy gums and teeth are essential for happy healthy life. Teeth and gums do not take care of themselves; it takes a team work between you and your dentist to maintain proper health.


Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do

February 21, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

 

 

Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do

Basic dental care means brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular bases, going to your dentist regularly twice a year for check up, cleaning and x-rays as necessary and having a health diet.

Basic Dental Care Points

Here are some basic points to perform your dental care at home:

Brushing:

Dental Care, Fluoride ImageBrush your teeth twice a day for two minutes.  Electrical tooth brushes do better job in removing plaque than manual brushes. Use brushes that are soft and stay away from medium and hard tooth brushes. They will remove the enamel portion of your teeth which is the hard structure causing sensitivity and gum recession. Also do not press hard when brushing. The advantages of electric tooth brushes are that it would brush on its own and you do not need to place pressure on your tooth brush causing further damage on your teeth.

Fluoride Supplements:

Always use fluoride tooth paste. Even for adults, fluoride reduces the chance of cavity. Tab water in most big cities contains fluoride. If you like to filter your tab water, the fluoride is not being removed. If you drink bottle water consider asking your doctor or dentist for supplemental fluoride.

Flossing:

Dental Flossing ImageNo one likes to do it but we all have to do it. You need to floss all your teeth, everyday. Wax flosses are easier on the gums and reduces the chance of cutting the gums. Make sure you go behind the last molars when flossing. If you having a hard time flossing behind your wisdom teeth, ask your dentist if it is to your benefit to remove them.

Avoid Smoking!

Avoid smoking and smokeless tobaccos. Besides the obvious staining the teeth, it causes bad breath, gum disease and various oral cancer. It is never too late to stop smoking.

Say No To Sugary Drinks!

Stay away from sugary drinks and carbonated ones. If you have to have one, brush right after.

Don’t Forget Your Tongue!

When brushing your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue from back to front.

Regular Check Ups

See your dentist on regular bases at least twice a year. If there are minor issues or cavities, it is much easier to fix them when they are smaller. Waiting just makes things more difficult and costly.


Dental Crown, When and How?

February 13, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

Dental Crown (Cap)

When your dentist decides to use a full coverage type of restoration called a dental crown, the reason for making this suggestion will vary from case to case. A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Dental crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth.

When do You Need Dental Crowns?

  • A previously filled tooth has more filling than tooth. When a filling occupies more than say 50% of a tooth the existing tooth structure becomes weakened and may no longer support the filling.
  • Your tooth has become discolored resulting in unwanted esthetics.
  • Teeth are fractured. Sometimes these fractures are visible, other times they may only be diagnosed when there are complaints of pain during chewing.
  • After your tooth has had Endodontic therapy (root canal)– Teeth tend to become brittle after root canal and may be more apt to fracture. By placing a crown we tend to protect your tooth from fracture.
  • Replacement of missing teeth requires crowning adjacent teeth in order to support the missing teeth.
  • Replacement of existing dental crowns or bridges.

 

The First Step in Making Your New Dental Crown

Dental Crown Photo

Dental Crown Preparation

We want to assure you that your dental visit will be totally comfortable. We begin by giving you a local anesthetic. Depending upon the type of local anesthetic we use, you can expect to be numb for one to four hours. If your anesthesia should last longer, do not be concerned. Not everyone reacts to medication in the same manner. One word of caution: While you are numb, please be careful not to bite your lip or tongue. A soft diet or no meal at all while you are numb is probably a good idea. If your child has been the patient, please watch them carefully to be sure they do not play with their tongue or lip while it is numb.

Once your teeth are totally numb, we will prepare your tooth in a very specific way. After your tooth is fully prepared, we proceeded with the impression stage. We used a thin of specially fabricated cord which we will place around your tooth in order to get the impression material under the gum where the crown ends. Please rest assured that this small piece of cord will be removed prior to the end of today’s visit.

Once the impression stage was completed, we will place a temporary (transitional) crown on your tooth. These plastic (acrylic) restorations are placed on teeth to protect them and the gum tissues between dental visits. The temporary cementing medium used is designed to allow me, to easily remove them at your next scheduled visit.

Root Canal Treatment Image

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment

Should you experience any discomfort you can take a mild analgesic (Tylenol, Advil, Anacin, ect) as long as there is no medical contraindication based upon your medical history. Typically, you can take anything you would normally take for a headache. If the discomfort persist, please call your dentist office.


Root Canal Treatment | Endodontics Therapy

February 12, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

Root Canal Treatment | Endodontics Therapy

Today we may have suggested to you that Root Canal Treatment (otherwise known as Endodontics Therapy) was needed for a particular tooth. We may have briefly discussed some of the facts concerning the procedures involved in root canal treatment but perhaps you would like some more information.

Extraction is truly our last resort!

Root Canal Treatment Process:

  • Root canal treatment starts with the removal of the infected or irritated nerve tissue that lies within the root of the tooth. It is this infected pulp tissue that causes an eventual abscess.
  • The first step in a root canal is to obtain access to the nerve. This is accomplished by establishing a small access opening in the top of the tooth. It will be done under a local anesthetic.
  • Healed infection.
  • At the same visit, the canal where the nerve is located will be reshaped and prepared to accept a special root canal filling material. This filling procedure will probably not occur until your next visit for the root canal treatment. The number of visits necessary to complete your root canal will depend upon several factors including the number of nerves in the tooth, the infected state of the nerve and the complexity of the procedure.
  • The final step in your root canal treatment will be the sealing of the root canal with a sterile, plastic material, called gutta percha. This is done in order to prevent possible future infection.
  • The tooth will then possibly need a post and core and a crown in order to re-establish normal form and function.
  • This decision will be based upon several additional factors.

Root Canal Treatment Image 2
Root Canal Treatments Truths and Myths

Truth:

If treated early, root canal treatment need not to be uncomfortable. With the use of local anesthetics, the entire procedure can be totally painless.

Myth:

By removing the nerve in root canal treatment the tooth becomes “dead”. This is not true. The truth is very much alive and functioning because it receives a source of blood supply and nerve supply from the surrounding tissues that hold it in place in your jaw bone. The tooth will have no sense of feeling to hot, cold or sweets but will be responsive to biting pressures, etc. With the proper restoration the tooth should last as long as your other teeth and can even be used as an anchor tooth for a partial denture or cemented bridge. The success rates for root canal therapy have been reported to be as high as 95%.

Truth:

Sometimes when there has been log standing infection or abscess, there may be some soreness associated with the first or second root canal visit. If this should turn out to be true you will be given specific instructions to follow to minimize the discomfort. When an infection is present, it may be necessary to take an antibiotic. If pain should be present, analgesics may need to be prescribed. In either case, be sure to all the office if either of these problems should arise.


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