Cavity Prevention in Children
A recent publication of Family Circle contained an article with a shocking statistic: The most common chronic disease among children is tooth decay. According to national reports, about half of the children in the United States have a cavity and one in eight adolescents currently have one that is untreated. Here are a few recommendations to reduce the chances of tooth decay:
1. Encourage your children to brush, recruiting help if necessary
Children are notorious for bad brushing habits. You can encourage your child to brush through one of the many popular music techniques circling the web. It may also help your child to use an electronic toothbrush. They work more plaque loose and may help your child brush longer.
2. Sugar sticks around so swish with water
It takes about twenty minutes for your mouth to breakdown and wash away sugar. Having your child drink water after eating something sugary helps with this process, especially if the sugar came from a soda or lollipop that took more than a few minutes to consume.
3. Don't share utensils
Recent studies suggest that some people just have more decay-causing bacteria than others. Sharing utensils, giving your child some food off of your utensil, or sharing water bottles or other drink vessels may help to introduce new bacteria to your child's mouth. Reducing the sharing of utensils could help make sure your child doesn't get as much exposure to decay-causing bacteria.
These techniques are a few easy ways to change habits but may make an enormous difference in cavity prevention.
Source: http://www.familycircle.com/
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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Thursday, November 6, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
News You Can Use
Keeping Little Smiles Sparkling Through Halloween
Halloween, in all of its candy-filled glory, starts the season for holiday celebrations that normally include lots of food. We don't want to discourage anyone from enjoying these occasions and, in fact, have a couple of recommendations to ensure that your little ones teeth are protected through this holiday season.
The two most common childhood dental problems are tooth decay and periodontal disease, both of which are preventable. Regular oral check-ups and cleanings are recommended to ensure the future of your child's healthy smile. Especially around Halloween, it is important to consider the effect of sugary treats on children's teeth. I have blogged before on the best and worst candy for your teeth.
A couple ways to help stave off tooth decay may be to inquire about dental sealants and fluoride at your child's next visit. Dental sealants cover the grooves of your child's molars to protect the hard to reach places and make sure sugars and bacteria cannot get in. Fluoride supplements can fortify tooth enamel and remineralize teeth.
Halloween is a fun time to be a kid. We want all children to enjoy the festivities but we also want to make sure their teeth are protected for Halloweens to come. Regular dental visits, fluoride supplements, and sealants are all great ways to make sure your child's teeth are on the right track!
Source: http://bestdentistnews.com/2014/10/preventive-dentistry/
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
Halloween, in all of its candy-filled glory, starts the season for holiday celebrations that normally include lots of food. We don't want to discourage anyone from enjoying these occasions and, in fact, have a couple of recommendations to ensure that your little ones teeth are protected through this holiday season.
The two most common childhood dental problems are tooth decay and periodontal disease, both of which are preventable. Regular oral check-ups and cleanings are recommended to ensure the future of your child's healthy smile. Especially around Halloween, it is important to consider the effect of sugary treats on children's teeth. I have blogged before on the best and worst candy for your teeth.
A couple ways to help stave off tooth decay may be to inquire about dental sealants and fluoride at your child's next visit. Dental sealants cover the grooves of your child's molars to protect the hard to reach places and make sure sugars and bacteria cannot get in. Fluoride supplements can fortify tooth enamel and remineralize teeth.
Halloween is a fun time to be a kid. We want all children to enjoy the festivities but we also want to make sure their teeth are protected for Halloweens to come. Regular dental visits, fluoride supplements, and sealants are all great ways to make sure your child's teeth are on the right track!
Source: http://bestdentistnews.com/2014/10/preventive-dentistry/
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
Monday, October 13, 2014
News You Can Use
Sleeping with Dentures Increases Pneumonia Risk
A recent study published in the Journal of Dental Research suggests that individuals who sleep with their dentures in their mouth are at a higher risk for pneumonia than those who remove dentures before going to sleep.
Poor oral health is a risk factor for pneumonia in older adults so the authors of this study compared 524 randomly selected seniors and analyzed them in regards to their oral health. Overall, 453 participants wore dentures and 186 wore them at night. The results indicated that those who wore dentures at night were at an increased risk for pneumonia.
The higher risk of pneumonia was related to higher risks of cognitive impairment, respiratory disease, and history of strokes. Those who wore their dentures at night were also more likely to have gum inflammation and denture plaque.
Denture wearers may want to consider removing dentures at night and soaking them in a denture cleaner or other non-abrasive cleaning solution that is safe for dentures.
Source: http://dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/10697-sleeping-with-dentures-increases-pneumonia-risk
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd. Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
A recent study published in the Journal of Dental Research suggests that individuals who sleep with their dentures in their mouth are at a higher risk for pneumonia than those who remove dentures before going to sleep.
Poor oral health is a risk factor for pneumonia in older adults so the authors of this study compared 524 randomly selected seniors and analyzed them in regards to their oral health. Overall, 453 participants wore dentures and 186 wore them at night. The results indicated that those who wore dentures at night were at an increased risk for pneumonia.
The higher risk of pneumonia was related to higher risks of cognitive impairment, respiratory disease, and history of strokes. Those who wore their dentures at night were also more likely to have gum inflammation and denture plaque.
Denture wearers may want to consider removing dentures at night and soaking them in a denture cleaner or other non-abrasive cleaning solution that is safe for dentures.
Source: http://dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/10697-sleeping-with-dentures-increases-pneumonia-risk
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd. Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
News You Can Use
Dental Insurance
So many of our
patients are coming in with questions about the changing dental insurance
environment and voicing their frustrations with their dental insurance. The dental insurance environment has changed
drastically in the past two years.
Hopefully this information will help answer some questions.
Medical
versus Dental Insurance
Medical
insurance is designed to protect you in a worst-case scenario. You pay a monthly premium but tend to be
covered in case something serious comes up, such as an emergency or an
unforeseen surgery. Dental insurance is
significantly different. Instead of
having copays and monthly premiums, many dental insurance plans only cover a
percentage of certain dental procedures on top of the monthly premiums. Most plans (although not all plans are this
way) cover 100% of preventative care, such as cleanings and x-rays, 80% of
basic procedures, such as fillings and root canals, and 50% of major
procedures, such as crowns.
Additionally, dental insurance plans tend to have a yearly maximum around
$1000 - $2000 that requires the patient to pay the whole amount of procedures
done after reaching the yearly maximum.
Most dental
insurance plans cover a percentage of certain dental procedures (that
percentage being anywhere from 10% to 100% depending on the procedure and the
plan). That percentage is only covered
after the plan’s yearly deductible is met (this usually runs about $50-100 but
can be as large as $300-500 for some plans).
Most plans used to cover 100% for preventative treatment; it is now
evident that this is no longer the norm.
We are seeing more plans that have dropped their preventative coverage
to 80% and their basic coverage to 50%.
Best
Case Scenario
During a good
year, you may only need preventative care in the form of cleanings, exams, and
x-rays but you will still lose $200 by having dental insurance. Although these services are typically paid by
insurance plans, you would probably still be losing money overall by having the
insurance. For example, two hygiene
appointments for the year would amount to about $400 if you paid out of pocket
for these services. The insurance
company’s premiums for the year, without needing more than just preventative
services, would amount to about $600 alone.
Worst
Case Scenario
Now, you might
be thinking that insurance may still be worth losing $200 a year if you are covered
on the years when you need more than just a check-up. Unfortunately, that may still be untrue. Let’s consider a patient who needs two
fillings, a root canal, and a crown on top of normal, yearly cleaning
appointments. One would hope that
insurance would cover more of those services since you pay about $600 in
insurance premiums but the plan also has a yearly maximum of $1000. That means
that once you meet the $1000 max, you are stuck paying the rest completely out
of pocket.
Although you
may receive lower negotiated rates for basic and major services due to
insurance, those rates aren’t much lower than the dentist’s normal fee. For
example, if the dentist charges $150 for a filling, your insurance company may
only have negotiated the rate to $100. In this case, your exams, cleanings, x-rays,
and basic work such as the fillings would most likely utilize your insurance
yearly maximum. That leaves you to pay
the $1000-$2000 extra for the crowns and root canals, which is all on top of
the $600 in annual premiums.
Waiting
to Get Insurance or Services
It
may seem like a good idea to wait to get dental insurance until you really need
it but insurance companies have a clause for individuals who do just that. There is what is called a “waiting” or “probationary”
period where they will not cover certain services for the time period after you
get the insurance. Most plans will not
cover crowns or any other major work for at least twelve months after getting
the insurance and for some plans this also includes basic work like fillings or
root canals (which are often needed in emergency situations).
Waiting
to get the services may not be such a good idea either. Many of the situations that require a crown or
other major work are cases in which it is impossible or possibly detrimental to
your overall health to wait. For
example, if a tooth were cracked, crowning it is a way to reduce the pain it is
causing, as well as strengthen the tooth to prevent possible future fracture. If the tooth were to fracture it often times
fractures in such a way that the fracture extends up under the bone level where
it can no longer be reached and fixed, therefore the tooth has to be extracted
and then you are looking at trying to replace that tooth, which could many
anything from removable partial dentures to fixed bridges to implants, none of
which are inexpensive options. Insurance
companies know that certain services are unavoidable, hence the reason they
have the waiting periods to discourage people from getting the insurance only
when they need major work.
Closing
Thoughts
Dental
insurance is continually changing and not necessarily to the benefit of the
patient. Many individuals have begun to
see how having dental insurance may not be beneficial, but instead may cost
more money and cause more headaches.
This post is in no way intended to persuade readers to refrain from
going to the dentist but is instead to discuss the current field of dental
insurance. As always, it is recommended that individuals brush twice a day and
floss once as well as engage in other activities that help keep your oral
health on track so as to not need the more invasive dental procedures.
We, as
providers, often receive complaints about a patient’s dental insurance and the
coverage they receive for the dental treatment they need. While we will try to answer the questions to
the best of our ability, sometimes your insurance carrier is the best place to
go for an answer. If you are not happy
with the answer you receive from carrier, you should take your questions and
concerns to the Human Resources Department of your employer. Dental insurance plans and their benefits are
chosen by the employer. If the employer
does not know of coverage issues, they will not be able to select a plan that
better covers the needs of their employees,
Source:
Fontinelle, A. (2014). Should you
bite on dental insurance. In Investopedia .
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
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Monday, September 8, 2014
Dental Did You Know
Sugar Consumption
Americans consume more than the recommended sugar intake on a daily basis. How much more we consume, on average, is not a well-known statistic. The infographic below outlines the sugar content of popular foods as well as the recommended average sugar intake for men, women, and children.
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
Like us on Facebook!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
News You Can Use
Picking the Right Head for Your Power Toothbrush
A new study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene suggests that the kind of head you put on your power toothbrush may influence the amount of bacteria on the brush. The results indicated that the hollow head attachment retains up to 3,000 times more bacteria on it than the solid head attachment.
Most toothbrushes retain some amount of bacteria, which is normal and has not been associated with the transmission of any systemic issues but the hollow head design for the power toothbrush is retaining significantly more bacteria. A power toothbrush can be better than a manual toothbrush but picking the right head is essential. Hollow head versus solid head is not normally labeled on the packaging but you should look for a design where the head attachment (the part that goes into the base) that is mostly solid from where it attaches to where the bristles are located.
To further reduce the amount of bacteria on your toothbrush, it is generally recommended to allow your toothbrush to dry in between uses. The common practice of putting a cap on your toothbrush does not allow for the toothbrush to dry and actually creates a good environment for bacterial growth. You can also try soaking the toothbrush in mouthwash for 20 minutes after use to help disinfect it.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140828115226.htm
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
A new study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene suggests that the kind of head you put on your power toothbrush may influence the amount of bacteria on the brush. The results indicated that the hollow head attachment retains up to 3,000 times more bacteria on it than the solid head attachment.
Most toothbrushes retain some amount of bacteria, which is normal and has not been associated with the transmission of any systemic issues but the hollow head design for the power toothbrush is retaining significantly more bacteria. A power toothbrush can be better than a manual toothbrush but picking the right head is essential. Hollow head versus solid head is not normally labeled on the packaging but you should look for a design where the head attachment (the part that goes into the base) that is mostly solid from where it attaches to where the bristles are located.
To further reduce the amount of bacteria on your toothbrush, it is generally recommended to allow your toothbrush to dry in between uses. The common practice of putting a cap on your toothbrush does not allow for the toothbrush to dry and actually creates a good environment for bacterial growth. You can also try soaking the toothbrush in mouthwash for 20 minutes after use to help disinfect it.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140828115226.htm
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
Monday, August 25, 2014
News You Can Use
Surviving with Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth occur when the outer layer of the teeth (called enamel) is worn down and the middle layer (called dentin) is exposed. The dentin is a porous layer that, when exposed, leaves the nerve endings inside the tooth open to cold, hot, touch, and air sensations. Sensitive teeth may occur due to normal aging, injury, or grinding (also called bruxing). Improper brushing can also expose the dentin and create sensitive teeth.
After dentin is exposed, there isn't really a way to reverse the effects but there are some techniques to reduce the pain associated with sensitive teeth. A soft-bristled toothbrush and brushing more gently will help keep gums from receding further. Using toothpaste that is specially formulated for sensitive teeth may also help as it will block the nerve endings from exposure. It may take several weeks for the sensitive toothpaste to take effect. During that time, try to avoid extreme temperatures for food (extremely hot or extremely cold foods). If you have ongoing problems with teeth sensitivity, be sure to talk to you dentist about other options.
Source: http://smilestationdental.mydentalvisit.com/newsletterReader?aid=359553
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
Sensitive teeth occur when the outer layer of the teeth (called enamel) is worn down and the middle layer (called dentin) is exposed. The dentin is a porous layer that, when exposed, leaves the nerve endings inside the tooth open to cold, hot, touch, and air sensations. Sensitive teeth may occur due to normal aging, injury, or grinding (also called bruxing). Improper brushing can also expose the dentin and create sensitive teeth.
After dentin is exposed, there isn't really a way to reverse the effects but there are some techniques to reduce the pain associated with sensitive teeth. A soft-bristled toothbrush and brushing more gently will help keep gums from receding further. Using toothpaste that is specially formulated for sensitive teeth may also help as it will block the nerve endings from exposure. It may take several weeks for the sensitive toothpaste to take effect. During that time, try to avoid extreme temperatures for food (extremely hot or extremely cold foods). If you have ongoing problems with teeth sensitivity, be sure to talk to you dentist about other options.
Source: http://smilestationdental.mydentalvisit.com/newsletterReader?aid=359553
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!
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