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Tag Archives: cavities

What Happens During a Dental Checkup?

Posted on by Posted in Dental Procedures

At a dental exam, the dentist is doing more than looking for cavities. There are good reasons why it’s recommended that we have a dental exam twice a year. Regular exams still are critical for making sure your smile remains beautiful and for maintaining the health of your gums and teeth, but, in addition to that, dental exams are also to check for problems that might not be restricted to your gums and teeth.

These routine dental checkups are in order to diagnose problems like cavities, periodontal disease, as well as many other health ailments. This is particularly useful as treatment for health problems is usually most successful with early detection. If not caught early on, some otherwise preventable diseases can cause major problems. However, it’s not just mouth-related problems, as some signs and symptoms observed in a dental checkup can be used to diagnose diseases elsewhere in your body.

Regular visits with your dentist can cut down on the risk of various diseases. Not having cleaning sessions will cause the bacteria in your mouth to stick to your teeth, coating the teeth’s surface with a biofilm. This bacteria can make their way into your tissues and blood vessels, causing inflammation or illness in other parts of the body.

A dentist might also help save you from heart disease. Those who don’t get their regular exams and cleanings are at a 13% greater chance of a stroke and a 24% greater risk of having a heart attack than people who have dental exams routinely, according to the American Heart Association. A dentist can also refer patients to a doctor should they notice high blood pressure.

Your dentist may discover symptoms such as gums that are bleeding or swollen, or tooth enamel erosion which may indicate diseases including acid reflux, eating disorders, or osteoporosis. Periodontal disease may be an indication of diabetes. A condition called oral candidiasis could be an indicator of a critical health issue like HIV, whereas Crohn’s disease may be indicated by mouth ulcers.

Moreover, exams with a dentist screen for risk factors for diseases such as oral cancer.

This is why your regular dentist appointments are vital to your overall health.

Have you booked your next appointment with Dr. Clauson? Why not schedule today?

Sealants: Another Way to Fight Cavities

Posted on by Posted in Oral Health & Prevention
Sealants: Another way to fight cavities

The most effective method of fighting cavities is to floss and brush at least twice a day, but occasionally it can be hard to reach the entire surface of your teeth. This is especially true in the case of our molars, which reside in the deep depths of our mouths and act as a shelter for leftover food and bacteria. The good news is, dentists like Dr. Clauson offer sealants, which are thin, plastic coatings that are attached to your teeth where they hinder cavities and stop early stages of decay.

When the bacteria in your mouth meets leftover food, acids are produced. These acids can create eat into the enamel of your teeth, creating cavities. Sealants work by stopping food from getting wedged in those hard-to-reach spots while simultaneously keeping acid and bacteria off the surface of your teeth.

Considering that most of us get our first molars at six years old, the earlier sealants are administered, the better. By sealing our molars at an early age, they could remain cavity-free right from the beginning. And though you might consider them an expense, sealants are more like an investment. After all, having no cavities in your teeth means less money spent in the long-term.

Sealants aren’t just for children, however, and even adults can benefit from them. For adults who have already suffered from a minimal amount of tooth decay (which can be removed without anesthetic), a minor restoration using a preventative resin can offer similar protection.

The application process for sealants is quite simple. First, the dentist will clean the teeth the sealant will be placed on. Then she will administer an acidic gel, which forms a durable and strong bond between the sealant and the tooth to which it is being applied. After a quick rinse-and-dry, the dentist will apply the sealant and harden it with a special blue light.

After sealants are applied, they can last for several years before a dentist will need to replace them.

It’s important to remember that sealants are not an alternative to brushing your teeth. They only prevent cavities. To keep a healthy smile, you will still have to brush and floss regularly. However, if you discover that flossing and brushing are not enough to keep your teeth cavity-free, be sure to ask Dr. Clauson about sealants during your next visit.