Home Care for Better Health Care

Facts:

50% of people consider the smile the first thing they notice.

80% of people are not happy with their smile

A 2008 British Study showed that 14% of the population do not brush at all.

Various studies show that only between 2 and 12% of people floss regularly and effectively.

They say go to the dentist twice a year to check on and maintain your dental health. If you do that and nothing else you could have dentures at a young age.

While going to the dentist is extremely important, even more important is what people do at home. The very minimum for home care is brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. There are also a whole other variety of things at our disposal that help make this even easier.

With all of the things at our disposal there is no reason we should not be able to reduce the number of teeth people use. More and more things are introduced all of the time to help the average person accomplish keeping their teeth for as long as they want. Below are a list of things the average person can do to help keep their teeth a lifetime.

Make sure you give your dentist all of the information they need. In today's world many people are on numerous medications. Many medications have numerous side effects that affect your teeth. These include dry mouth and swelling of your gums. Make sure you tell your dentist everything so they can give you all of the tools necessary to help you lessen the oral effects of your medications:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Each of these times should take at least two minutes. Use short gentle strokes, make sure you hit the hard to reach spots in the back, make sure you get your gumline and make sure you brush your tongue
• Floss at least once a day. My dad used to have a sign in the office that said "Only floss the teeth you want to keep". This is very true. It is also not easy to floss. Make sure you are using a long enough piece of floss (at least 18 inches), make sure you hit all surfaces when going between the teeth, do not saw as you can irritate your gums.
• Listen to your dental care professional

There are numerous other things your dental care professional can suggest that will help you on your home hygiene quest. These include but are not limited to water irrigation systems, Soft-Picks, numerous rinses and dry mouth products.

Listen to what your dental professional suggests and you are headed in the right direction.

Yours in Better Dental Health

Paul

Planning Ahead

We all know things are tight, financially for most of us. Dental care is unfortunately one of those investments that tend to not make our top-ten priority list. As dental professionals, we know and stress the importance of preventive care. By keeping a close eye on things, we are able to keep fillings smaller, catch potential problems before they become more costly, and save us time and you money. Planning ahead not only helps to save time and money, but more importantly, saves on your budget. By knowing what sort of dental work you might need in the future, you can keep a more watchful eye on your budget. You can get a printout of what sort of treatment you need for your next appointment at each visit so you are more informed when you come next time. You should know what sort of treatment you need and where it is in your mouth. You can also figure out how much your insurance may pay and how much may need to come out of your pocket.

Trusting your dental professionals with your oral health is a great honor and privilege. The entire team at Levine Dental, are firm believers in educating our patients. Knowing what treatment you need and what treatment you have done, makes you a wise dental consumer.

Some dental treatment courses are extensive. They can cover a time span of weeks or months, even years. Planning steps in advance helps things to proceed smoothly and more quickly. Any costs involved along the way can be budgeted for. By planning ahead, you the patient can even make financial arrangements along the way. Optimal dental health is an investment for much of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and even America. Knowing what you need, what you’re making appointments for, and how much you may be financially responsible for are smart steps to take. They assist in avoiding scheduling conflicts, financial discrepancies, and any other miscommunications. These steps also pave the way toward more successful and longer-lasting treatment.

Technology in Dentistry

We’ve all seen technology grow in our lives over the last few years. I’d like to introduce you to just a few of the advances in technology in dentistry over the last few years that have improved diagnosis, treatment, and most importantly, patient comfort and in general overall dental health.

With the integration of the computer into the treatment room, digital imaging has become popular and convenient. X-rays all used to be on a cardboard applicator with the film attached and in your mouth. Now with digital radiography, we can take an image of your teeth and have it on screen within seconds. The imaging software here allows us to zoom, adjust contrast, and even measure parts of a tooth, all with the click of a mouse or touch on the touch-screen. Not only is this more convenient for the patient, but the exposure time to radiation is about 1/10 of what it used to be (about 12.5 hundredths of a second). We now have an x-ray unit that can take an image of the entire face all at once, digitally of course. Any of these digital pictures can be shown to the patient using the monitor right over the patient’s head.

Cavities and gum surgery used to be something that every one dreads. Now with the advent of fiber-optics and erbium chromium lasers, most of these procedures can be done in ½ the time with little to no discomfort at all. The laser Dr. Levine has here is an erbium chromium laser. That means this laser focuses on obliterating water and those tissues with a higher concentration of water. Gum contouring procedures can be done with little to no bleeding at all. In many instances local anesthetic isn’t even necessary as you can’t even feel the laser as it is re-contouring!

Lasers are also used to help the dentist and hygienist detect cavities when they are small. We have a tool called a diagnodent. This is a class 2 (less powerful) laser that reads the density of a tooth. Once calibrated, we are able to tell if the darker grooves or discolorations on your teeth are from stain or if they’re actually decalcified areas meaning a small cavity forming. The laser makes a beeping sound and the higher the sound, the less dense that part of the tooth. If you haven’t had it done, ask at your next appointment to have a demonstration.

We also have other things to make your visit more comfortable such as the abilities to play movies, podcasts or music through the overhead monitor to headphones that you are able to wear. This allows many people who don’t like dental noises to have a more relaxing visit.

These are some of the most recent and convenient innovations to dentistry. There is much, much more on the horizon. Just like other industries, technology is pushed by those at the forefront of the industry. The entire team here at Levine Dental is committed to providing the best care to our patients with the latest technology available. For more information or to ask questions about the technology available log on to the website at LevineDental.com

Soda Consumption in America

Pop, soda, cola, no matter what you call it, it is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. More than 15 billion gallons were sold in 2000. That averages to one 12 ounce can per man, women and child every day.

Soft drinks have emerged as one the most significant dietary sources of tooth decay today. The acids and acid sugar byproducts in soft drinks soften tooth enamel and contribute to the formation of cavities. The erosive potential of colas is 10 times that of fruit juices in just the first 3 minutes of drinking. Drinking any type of soft drink hurts teeth due to the citric and phosphoric acids found in them. Phosphoric acid keeps the fizz, (which is also harmful to your bones) but also dissolves the calcium out of the tooth’s enamel, leaving the tooth surface soft and unprotected.

Sugar-free drinks account for 14 percent of the soft drink consumption and are less harmful, but they are still acidic and cause some of the problems.

Children and adolescents aren’t the only ones at risk. Long term consumption of these drinks has a cumulative effect on the tooth enamel. As we live longer we are more likely to experience problems.

When it comes to your teeth the worst thing you can do is to sip a soda throughout the day. If you find it hard to give up it up try to change your habits, Drink more water, brush regularly, rinse with mouthwash, or have the drink with a meal and then swish with water after. It is better to drink the soft drink at one sitting verses sipping it and changing your oral ph with each sip. Changing or keeping the ph in your mouth high is what helps contribute to the oral problems we see as dental professionals.

It is important to inform your dental care team if you or your child is consuming a lot of soft drinks and work with them to help change these habits so that you and your family can obtain and maintain your dental health.