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Your Child's First Dental Visit

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The Reality of Oral Cancer & Why You Should Consider an Oral Lesion Screening

Information About the Orascoptic DK Oral Lesion Screening Exam

Diabetes

What is Periodontal Disease?

Quarterly Newsletter

|  Fall 2008  |  Winter 2008/2009  |  Spring 2009  |

Your Child's First Dental Visit

The current recommendation for a child’s initial dental visit is after the first tooth appears and before the child’s first birthday. Dental professional associations support this timeline for preventive reasons. Protecting your child’s teeth with early intervention and education will result with the best defense against future problems. This wellness visit should be scheduled in the morning, if possible, when a child is most rested and cooperative. It would include an exam, oral hygiene instruction, dietary, and dental product recommendations. Preventive care is our specialty! We welcome the opportunity to care for your family’s dental needs!

Product Center

MI paste is a recent product development.  Minimal Intervention (MI) dentistry is the modern medical approach to management of decay.  Identifying decay and causes of tooth mineral loss (demineralization) are the first steps in managing the problems.  This product is more effective than fluoride alone.  It is the combination of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride, (MI+) in the ratio that the tooth best accepts, thus strengthening enamel.  This is a water-based, sugar-free topical crème.  Its action forces minerals into enamel and root surfaces.  The patented form of fluoride has 900 ppm (parts per million) and works in conjunction with the minerals.  This formula enhances the natural healing effects of your saliva, while buffering its PH (acidity).  Most commonly, acidity is due to high sugar dietary intake and/or low salivary flow.  Both effect tooth strength and mineral content.

MI paste plus (with fluoride) and MI paste (without fluoride) have a number of benefits and uses:

For high-decay rate patients

Sensitive teeth

During and after orthodontics

After tooth whitening – product can lighten also

Patients with dry mouth/xerostomia

Patients with poor oral hygiene

Medically-compromised patients

Ask about MI paste at your dental visit.  We can customize your treatment to give you a healthy and attractive smile.

The Reality of Oral Cancer & Why You Should Consider an Oral Lesion Screening

What in Cigarette Smoke is Harmful?

Smoke contains tar, which is made up of more than 4,000 chemicals, including over 60 known to cause cancer:

Possible Signs & Symptoms

A sore, irritation, lump, or thick patch in your mouth or on your lip or throat

White or red patch in your mouth

A feeling that something is caught in your throat

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue

Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth

Swelling of your jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly

Pain in one ear without hearing loss

See a dentist or physician if any of these symptoms lasts for more than two weeks.

More Information

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

National Cancer Institute

Quitline:  1-866-632-7848

Wisconsin Dental Association

Diabetes

When you have diabetes, you are at a greater risk, 3 to 4 times more likely, for periodontal disease, (an infection of the gums and tissues supporting the teeth).

Signs of Periodontal Disease

Bad breath

Gums that bleed when teeth are brushed

Red, swollen, and tender gums

Loose or separating teeth

Pus between gum and tooth

Diabetes also can make an individual more susceptible to the following conditions:

Oral infections

Fungal infection (thrush), which can be aggravated by high blood sugar levels or frequent antibiotic use

Poor healing with an increased chance of infection

Dry mouth, as germs and acid are more likely to accumulate due to reduced saliva

Chronic periodontal infections may increase Insulin resistance and poor glycemic control

Diabetics with gum disease are 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than those without gum disease

Poor glycemic control causes increased susceptibility to re-infection and more severe periodontal disease

Prevention

Good oral hygiene

See your dental team regularly

Application of fluoride supplements

Necessary dental treatments

Control your blood sugar

More Information

American Diabetes Association

Ministry Diabetes Services

Wisconsin Dental Association

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal Disease affects the structures in the mouth that support the teeth.  It's sometimes called "gum disease" but it involves bone and other tissue too.  This disease is often chronic (persists over time).  The good news is that treatment can limit damage and help keep your mouth healthier.

Risk Factors

Smoking

Poor oral hygiene (brushing & flossing)

Diabetes

Stress, teeth grinding, or bite problems

Hormone changes

Weakened immune system

Certain medications

Treatment

Debridement (through cleaning, flushing) of teeth and mouth

Scaling and root planing, which removes heavy plaque and tartar off root surfaces; it gets ride of rough spots where germs gather

Antibiotics

Bite correction

Surgery

Prevention:  Periodontal maintenance procedures

Keep brushing and flossing

Regular appointments, (which will be needed more frequently now than in the past)

Stay healthy:  Healthy mouth = healthy body

Several studies link chronic inflammation from Periodontal Disease with the development of cardiovascular problems.  Some evidence suggest oral bacteria may be linked to heart disease, artery blockage, and stroke.  It can also make it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar.