*Schedule an appointment for a time you’re more likely to be relaxed.  For example, first thing in the morning might be better than in the middle of a busy day.

*Eat high protein foods before your appointment to help calm you down (be sure to brush and floss after your meal!)  don’t have caffeine or sugar right before your appointment, as they can increase your heart rate.

*Bring something that will be soothing for you or your child such as an iPod to listen to music or a stuffed animal for a child.

We want to create an atmosphere of trust, so please don’t hesitate to tell us what makes you nervous.  Understanding the source of your anxiety may make it easier to find a solution to help you relax.  Dr. Donnelly also offers sedation dentistry which can help even the most apprehensive patient relax through their appointment with ease. 

Modern dental techniques have come a long way to help ensure you’re comfortable and that procedures are relatively pain-free.

Here are some fun facts to think about while sitting in the dental chair at your next appointment.

*Before dental chairs were invented in the 1700s, patients often had to sit on the floor with their head braced between their dentist’s knees during dental procedures.  Aren’t you glad we no longer do that?!

*During the 1800s, offices didn’t always have electricity, so dental chairs were placed near windows for better lighting (a practice we often continue today, even with electricity).

*Although reclining chairs were first created in the 1830s, by the mid-20th century, they had become increasingly sleek and high-tech.  For example, a jet-set dental chair was placed in a replica of a space ship at the 1962 World’s Fair!  Sometimes these fashionable dental chairs were salmon pink or powder blue, keeping with the styles of the times.

*Today, one of the latest innovations developed in Japan is a dental chair with a built-in CD player-no need for a headset!

In order to protect people from water-borne illnesses, most pools are carefully treated with chlorine, bromide, and other chemicals.  Too much of these chemicals can actually stain your teeth a yellowish-brown color or erode the enamel on your teeth.  People who swim more than six hours a week are particularly vulnerable to the brown-colored tarter that builds up on teeth.  Sometimes referred to as “swimmers’ calculus,” it’s evident in as many as 58% of the children and teenagers who are active participants in swimming programs.

To avoid the effects of too much exposure to chlorine and other chemicals: limit your time in the pool, try to shower and brush after swimming, avoid getting pool water in your mouth, and let us know if you notice any change in the color of your teeth or if they feel rough.

Swimming pools and waterslides are sources of fun and relaxation; unfortunately they’re also sources of injuries.  According to The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2/3 of all waterslide injuries result in chipped or cracked teeth.  Remind your family to walk not run around the pool, and to avoid horseplay or diving into shallow water.  We hope everyone enjoys their summer safely and by following these tips to maintain your beautiful smile.

Invisalign, also known as “invisible braces,” allow you to straighten your teeth using clear trays that are practically unseen by others.  The trays are removable which allow you to eat and drink what you want, and brush and floss to maintain healthy teeth and gums.  There are no wires, metal, or brackets to cause mouth abrasion which makes for pain-free treatment.  Dr. Donnelly offers free consultations for Invisalign, so call today to see what the talk is all about concerning Invisalign.

There are also instant ortho options which refer to aesthetic dental procedures that can improve the health of your teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile.  Veneers are small thin shells of porcelain that are bonded over existing teeth.  Rather than using braces and having to wait month or years to achieve straight teeth, they are placed directly into position for an instant smile makeover with dramatic results.  Crowns are another option that are used often to restore chipped, cracked, or broken teeth.  Using natural-looking porcelain we can create a crown to cover the remaining tooth.  This also helps protect your tooth and seal out bacteria.

According to a recent study by the University of North Carolina, men who have perfectly aligned pearly whites are associated with qualities such as dominance, strength, and social competence.  Not only does it appeal to the opposite sex, but it also helps to heighten your own self confidence.  In business, you appearance often speaks before you do, so a good first impression is important.  A healthy smile may help open the doors to a new partnership, a relationship, or simply a pleasant meeting.  There are so many options available to help boost your oral health and overall appearance.  You may be interested in whitening up your smile, which can be done in just one visit with Zoom bleaching.  It may be a straighter smile that can be attained by using Invisalign or porcelain veneers.  Whatever your goals are for your smile, we hope you will allow us to help you realize them. 

Please visit our website at SanMarcosDental.com or call us directly at (512) 396-5225 to learn more about the options we offer to help create the beautiful smile you deserve!!!

Gingivitis: This is the earliest form of the disease-with red and puffy gums, but no bone loss (pocketing greater than 3 millimeters).  If treated at this stage the gums may revert back to health.

Early Periodontal Disease: Displayed by gingivitis plus a loss of bone.  When treated at this stage, you may maintain a healthy mouth, but bone lost will never be regained.

Moderate Periodontal Disease: All of the above, plus a deepening of pockets.  At this stage, 20-50% of bone is lost and loosening of teeth (mobility) is noted.

Advanced Periodontal Disease: The most severe form.  One or more teeth may be at risk for loss.  More mobility is noted and a greater than 50% loss of bone.

Children of all ages tend to suffer from some degree of gingivitis during their childhood.  For otherwise healthy children, they typically don’t have the more damaging bacteria, P. gingivalis and T. denticola.  One survey found 3.6% of young adults (age 18-34) had periodontal disease.  Another study found 86% of people over 70 had at least moderate periodontal disease.  Another interesting fact is periodontal disease tends to spread through families.  While it’s not know whether this is due to genetics, intimacy, hygeine habits, or a combination of factors, studies have found children of parents with periodontal disease are 12 times mroe likely to suffer from it as some point.

Symptoms of Gum Disease Include:

*Bleeding and/or receding gums

*Puffy, red, and tender gums

*Bad breath that won’t go away

*Visible space between your teeth and gums

*Loosening (mobility) of teeth

*Changes in your bite

Implants are anchored permanently in your jawbone just like the biological roots of your teeth, so you can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or an entire jaw.  They can also secure overdentures or a crown or bridge restoration.  You can once again enjoy a normal diet and speak clearly.  It prevents shifting teeth, bone recession, and an aged sunken appearance.  They’re very long lasting and a patient’s age is not an issue.  They require only normal home care, look good, and feel good allowing you truly exceptional benefits.

As with many cancers the main thing to remember about oral cancer is that it can be cured if caught early and treated.  As a matter of fact, oral cancer has one of the highest cure rates of cancers!  This is why we perform an oral cancer screening at every dental hygiene (cleaning) appointment.

Dr. Donnelly is a member of the Board of Directors for the Jack T. Clark Foundation.  Their mission is to improve the public’s oral health by promoting early detection and prevention of oral cancer in conjunction with the education of patients and healthcare providers.  Oral cancer strikes an estimated 35,000 people annually in the United States.  A person dies from oral cancer in the U.S. once every hour of every day.  When detected early, the survival rate of oral cancer is 80-90%.  Unfortunately, the majority of cases are detected as late stage cancer, and the survival rate is currently only 45%.

While everyone should be concerned, smokers and heavy drinkers have the highest incidence of oral cancer.  Smokeless tobacco users also have a significantly higher risk.  The best way to reduce your risk is to stop these harmful habits.

Everyone is different, but there are some common warning signs and symptoms of oral cancer.  If you notice any of the following please contact your dentist for a screening immediately:

* A sore on your gums, lips, tongue or inside your cheek that doesn’t heal within two to three weeks.

* White, scaly patches inside your mouth or on your lips.  The patch may have a “leathery” appearance.

* Any unusual swelling or lump in your mouth, neck, tongue or lips.

* An unexplained numbness or pain in your mouth or throat.

* Repeated oral bleeding with no apparent cause.

Here are some ways we use lasers in the office to help our patients:

Hard Tissue (tooth) Laser Dentistry:

*There is a low intensity dental laser than can detect cavities even earlier.

*Hard tissue dental lasers may eliminate the need for a local anesthetic injection and the traditional turbine dental drill for some fillings and tooth preparation.

*Dental lasers may be used to seal tubules responsible for hot and cold tooth sensitivity.

Soft Tissue (gum) Laser Dentistry:

*Lasers may be used when crown lengthening is needed.  This is when gum tissue needs to be reshaped to expose healthier tooth structure.

*They can also be used to reshape gum tissue to expose healthy tooth structure and improve the appearance of gummy smile.

*A laser frenectomy helps children who are tongue tied and babies unable to breast feed adequately due to limited tongue movement.

*Denture wearers can benefit from dental lasers when they are used to painlessly remove soft tissue folds caused by ill-fitting dentures.

Other Dental Laser Uses:

*Lasers are being used to speed up certain whitening procedures.

*Dental lasers may be used to painlessly remove benign oral tumors.

*Low intensity dental lasers can be used to treat cold sores, reducing pain and shortening the heal time.

How Does This Happen?

When you consume carbonated beverages, fruit juice, or highly acidic foods, the acids attack tooth enamel.  The calcium in your saliva would normally help remineralize your teeth, but if you consume too much acid, it can’t keep up.  Acid attacks can come from a variety of sources:

*Carbonated beverages, even diet versions, contain a lot of acid and can quickly do serious damage.  It is worse when you drink large amounts or continuously throughout the day.

*Pure fruit juice has similar effects on your teeth because it also contains a lot of acid.

*Besides acids you ingest, there are also acid attacks from bulimia and acid reflux.  In both of these, the damage comes from stomach acids.

How do I Know if I’m Suffering from Tooth Erosion?

There are a wide range of signs and symptoms-from its early stages (sensitivity, discoloration, rounded teeth) to the later, more severe stages (cracks, severe sensitivity, cupping). 

Here is how they break down:

*Sensitivity-with the protection from enamel wearing away, you may feel pain when you consume hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks.

*Discoloration-teeth can take on a yellow cast as the dentin layer of the teeth is exposed.

*Rounded teeth-you may notice your teeth have a rounded or “sand blasted” look.

*Transparency-your front teeth may become translucent near the biting edges.

*Advanced discoloration-as more of the enamel wears away, more of the dentin is exposed.

*Cracks-small cracks and roughness may appear at the edges of teeth.

*Severe sensitivity-sensitivity increases as more enamel is worn away.

*Cupping-small dents may appear on the chewing surface of the teeth; you may also notice fillings appearing to rise up out of the tooth.

When Can I Do?

You don’t have to accept tooth erosion as a fact of life.  There are lots of things you can do to avoid the damage altogether, or at least, to mitigate against it.  For instance, if you swear off carbonated beverages, you are avoiding that source of acid outright.  Short of that, you can reduce the damage from these tasty treats by doing things like:

*Drinking through a straw.  This helps limit contact between the acids and your teeth.  And don’t swish carbonated beverages around or hold them in your mouth for long periods.

*If you consume acidic food or drinks, rinse with water to neutralize the acids.  You should also wait an hour before brushing your teeth.

*Increase saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum.  This helps your teeth to remineralize.

*If you suffer from bulimia or acid reflux, see your doctor for help.

You go inside, open the fridge, and prepare your cold treat.  But as soon as it hits your mouth….ouch!  Uh-oh, your teeth are temperature sensitive.

According to research, one of the causes of this frustrating problem can be found in the dentin tubules (tiny tube-like passageways) of the teeth.  The tubules in those with temperature sensitive teeth are larger than in those without a problem.  There is also a highly significant increase in the number of surface tubules in sensitive teeth compared with non-sensitive teeth.

There are other possible causes of tooth sensitivity as well.  You may be brushing too hard and damaging the enamel coating protecting your teeth.  If your gums are receding, exposing more of the tooth than normal, this too can lead to sensitive teeth.  If a single tooth is affected, come in immediately-that tooth may have a cavity, crack, or an old filling may be loose. 

You don’t have to suffer from this problem though.  If your teeth are overly sensitive, come in to the office right away.  We will perform a thorough examination to determine what is causing it and provide you with options to handle your sensitive smile.

The tools we use are designed specifically for removing the hardened tartar.  Hygienists are trained to perform this type of removal without harming your gums.  This is very important!  The soft tissue of the gums can be easily damaged if you poke them or brush too vigorously.  This can expose the delicate roots of your teeth to more attack from plaque-causing bacteria.

How often you should come in for a professional dental cleaning depends on the health of your gums.  Some patients only need to be seen twice a year, but others need more frequent cleanings.

At your hygiene appointment, we check your gums for early signs of periodontal disease.  If caught early, the damage can be halted and treated before it leads to tooth loss and other serious health conditions.  For instance, studies are finding connections between periodontal disease and things like heart disease and stroke.  So don’t put off that professional teeth cleaning-for the health of your teeth, gums, and body.