The Importance of Sealants

Sealants are plastic coatings used to shield and protect the grooved surface of the teeth. Sealants are normally placed on the back teeth, because of the difficulty children face in thoroughly cleaning the area. Sealants can last anywhere between five to ten years if cared for correctly, and should be checked at every six month check up visit, but the doctor or hygienist. Sealants should be placed early on because there are the most cavity prone years. They are a very affordable and pain free procedure that requires no drilling and is done in one visit. It requires a paint like application, and a brief light is shined on the area to harden. Your child might notice a different feeling at first but he/she will get used to it with time.

Canker sores and cold sores are very painful sores found inside or around the mouth. There are many misconceptions about what exactly these things are and where they come from. While canker sores have no exact cause cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Canker sores are not contagious, but cold sores are highly, and are the same virus that causes genital herpes. Canker sores are believed to be caused by bacteria which get into an open wound, cut, friction or burn in or around the mouth, as well as a vitamin deficiency in B12, folic acid, and iron, as well as hormonal changes associated with menopause and pregnancy, and could even be symptoms of numerous immune deficiency diseases. There is no treatment for canker sores, while cold sores sometimes require ointments and sometimes prescription medications. Cold Sores and Canker sores can go away between two days and two weeks on their own. While these legions do go away without you seeing your doctor or dentist, you should see them if it does not go away in two weeks, begins to get larger, begins to look infected, or interferes with your eating or drinking you should seek medical attention.

Many women are concerned about the effect that a dental cleaning has on the child during pregnancy, but it is very important that you do not skip your six month check up. There are many problems that pregnant women face, but due to an increase in progesterone and estrogen levels, which increases blood flow to your gums, and studies have shown that a pregnant women’s bodies react to dental plaque differently, making you more susceptible to oral sores, similar to cold sores and pregnancy gingivitis, both make eating very painful and can be very dangerous to yourself and your child. As with any infection it can lead to pregnancy complications and even in severe cases miscarriage.

 

Recently a few of the staff members of Kamy Dental Of Bayville and Manahawkin just got back from Richardson, Texas to advance us further into the 21^st century, and learn about where the future of dentistry is going.  Kamy Dental is now the proud owners of the only E4D crown milling machine in Central/South New Jersey.

            What is exactly is the E4D machine and how does it change your dental experience?  This machine enables us to eliminate impressions, leaving you without that unpleasant experience.   An even larger plus is the elimination of the temporary crown, and the return visit for the permanent.  You will now be able to get your crown in an hour, instead of us relying on a lab for your crown, and there is no more middle man, your crown involves two people, your dentist and most importantly…YOU!

 How does this work?  Our first step after your tooth is prepared is to scan the tooth with a 3D laser called a IntraOral Digitizer, which is “as safe as the check out counter at the grocery store”, this sends your tooth specifics to a computer, where the assistant or doctor creates your crown so that it fits perfectly, then it is milled while you wait.  The last step is to try it in, glaze the tooth and you are done, ready to go in one day.

 Will my insurance cover this?  Why not!? It is the same crown you would get if you had to wait two to four weeks; we just are doing it in front of you, and in one day.

What is oral cancer? How do you prevent it? What causes it, and are you at risk? According to the American Cancer Society it affects over 35,000 men and women. Oral cancer has many warning signs, but the most common symptoms are : a growth or sore that does not go away, and includes the lips, tongue and cheeks, unexplained swelling, bleeding, eroding tissue, red or white patches appearing, a chronic sore throat and weight loss, but many times at the early stages, there are no signs or symptoms at all . There are lots of risk factors on contracting this disease, but remember a quarter of all cases do not fall into any of these categories. A major factor is smokers and excessive drinkers, snd they are six times as likely to get this type of cancer, and smokeless tobacco users are fifty times as likely. If caught in the early stages there is a significantly higher chance that you can make a full recovery, but sometimes there Here at Kamy Dental we have been working to change those unnoticed early stages with a new tool known as Velscope, which is a light that detects oral tissue abnormalities and is done at every cleaning and exam appointment. This procedure is non invasive and the latest at oral cancer prevention and diagnosis.

Dry mouth is a very common, and simple issue to cure. Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia is a condition when a person’s salvary glands do not function properly, resulting in an inadequate secreation of saliva, resulting in A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth ,Frequent thirst ,Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips ,A dry feeling in the throat ,A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and especially on the tongue ,A dry, red, raw tongue ,Problems speaking or difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing ,Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat and most people’s concern ,Bad breath. Eighty percent of the top ten drugs cause dry mouth, and those are; hydrocodone, liniopril, simvastatin, levothyoxine, amoxicillin, azithromycin, azithromycin, lipitor, hydrochloctiazide, alprozolan, atenolol. Some things can be done to help dry mouth, switching to an alternate medication, avoiding caffeinated drinks and tobacco products , stimulating salivary flow with products such as certain sugar-free hard candies or sugar-free gum and/or using over-the-counter moisturizing products which work as artificial saliva, or some mouth rinses, which we carry in our office. It is very important that you tell your dental professional what medications you are on, prescription or not, so they can give you the best advice on how to treat this condition.

For the last two weeks our offices have participated in our second annual “Give Kids A Smile Day”.  All of our office participants were volunteers, and enjoyed watching most of these children getting their first look at oral hygiene, a lesson that will in no doubt, last a lifetime.  Our Bayville office had the up and coming star, Stephanie Marie Hanvey, the singer of, “I’m That Girl”  perform in our waiting room!  There was a fantastic turnout, and we are glad to have helped our communities stay happy and stay healthy.

Electric toothbrushes have come a long way since their initial appearance in the market, they are not just a gadget anymore. Using an electric toothbrush with the proper size of brush head will result in a more thorough brushing and better plaque removal compared to a manual toothbrush. You have a variety of options to choose from; oscillating brushes, sonic brushes, rechargeable or battery powered, timers, sanitizers, full brush head or compact, timers, sanitizers, the list goes on….. With so many choices how do you know which one is best for you? Which toothbrush you choose depends on your individual needs. Remember that the most important part of good oral health happens at home. What you do every day has a greater impact on your overall oral health than what we can do for you. It is essential to brush and floss properly every day. I can also tell you that all of us at the studio, as well as our family members, use powered toothbrushes. At your next hygiene visit we will be glad to discuss what type of powered toothbrush may work best for you.

We all need to take care of our mouth, most especially our teeth. It is one essential part in boosting our self esteem and our well being.  Dental Plaque needs to be treated. Plaque is the film of bacteria that sticks to the teeth and spaces in between and in your gums. A hardened plaque becomes tartar. Plaque is full of germs. These germs eat what is left inside the mouth. And they leave off acids and other substances that causes more problems to the mouth like bad breath. Acids on the other hand eats away, slowly the tooth enamel and sooner or later, your teeth will fall off. Acids also remove important minerals from the tooth enamel, this is what you call demineralization.

In this economy there are about 9 million children without dental insurance so it is no wonder why tooth decay is the most common childhood disease.  At Kamy Dental our community’s health is very important to us.  Everyone here is very excited for our 2nd annual “Give Kids A Smile Day.”  “Give Kids A Smile Day” is a community event we began last year that gives free dental exams, cleanings, and flouride treatment for every uninsured child under 12.  We are trying to do our part in the best way we know how.  Last year we had an amazing turn out and we are hoping for an even better one this year.  Just like everything else we do here at Kamy Dental, no matter the circumstance, we want everyone to stay happy and healthy.