With current technology, it may take four to six months before the bone surrounding the implant screw has healed and is strong enough so the patient can begin to benefit from surgery. Now, for the first time, a drug coating that has been tested on humans allows titanium screws to adhere to the bone better and faster. The Linköping researchers behind the method report that the results are good.

The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is never been more truer in regards to dentistry. Preventative dentistry is relatively easy, quick, and inexpensive. Preventive dental care first starts from home with brushing, flossing and eating a well. By taking care of your dental health and having good dental habits you will be able to avoid larger dental issues. However preventive dental care does not stop there. Seeing a dentist for your twice a year check ups is also an important part of your dental care health. Only a dentist can catch small issues and correct them before larger dental care is needed.   

When you combine having good oral health care habits with dental insurance, preventive dental care cost is more affordable. Many dental insurance plans want their insured’s to have preventive care services. Therefore preventive care is normally free to very low in cost to their members.

I am trying my best to find some type of dental insurance plan that is affordable for me for my three year old son. We live in Texas and I do not get offer any dental benefits though work. The dental plans I seen so far are too costly with long term waiting periods. I can afford to wait but I do not want my son having to put of dental care if it is needed.  Please offer some help.

Reply: On this website I suggest reviewing our HMO insurance plans or our Dental discount plan as both are a low cost dental insurance/plan that can help you save money on your child dental care needs.

Did you know that as a senior you need to see the dentist some times more then just twice a year for your oral health check ups? 

Cavities can be more frequent in seniors for many reason. Although fluoride is in community water supplies today that was not always the case for some of the older seniors. Adults are also more likely to have tooth decay around older fillings if not regularly checked by a dentist. Cavities in the tooth root are more common in seniors due to receding gums lines. Receding gums exposes more of the tooth root surface to decay. 

Seniors also can have dry mouth due to either age or different medications they may have to take.  Dry mouth can lead to a higher risk of tooth decay because without an adequate amount of saliva the acids produced by plaque can not be neutralized. Seniors often put off their dental care needs due to many factors. 

Such as not having transportation, No dental insurance, other health issues that keeps them from seeing a dentist and cost for dental services. However these issues can be address.  There may be some ride care services available for seniors. By buying dental insurance you can control your cost for dental services to be render.  If there are other health issues keeping you way from a dentist that can be difficult to address.  But many time it is these same health issues that make it even more important to see a dentist regularly.

One should keep in mind that dentures are fragile and they should be handle carefully to avoid braking them. Dentures do not like to be droop and there is a high chance that they will brake when you do. So be careful when cleaning them. A good idea is when cleaning your dentures stand on a soft towel or rug so if you do accidentally drop them the chances are lower that they will brake. You want to make sure the sink is full of water when cleaning so that if you do drop them they are safe You can wrap your dentures in a hand towel or keep them in their hard cover case when you are moving around your house with your dentures.  As soon as you are finish cleaning your dentures and you want to put them aside make sure you keep them soaked in warm or cold water or in your denture solution. .

Having Proper Denture Care is Important.

Dentures even when covered by dental insurance can still be costly so making sure to take proper care of your dentures will help them last longer and safe you money in having to have them replaces sooner then necessary.

You will want to use a soft bristle toothbrush in order to avoid damaging your dentures. You still need to brush your dentures carefully.  Make sure you are careful not to damage the surface of your dentures or bend the attachments. You can clean your dentures is by using over the counter denture cleansers available in most food stores. 

Although you can use regular toothpaste I suggest avoiding them since dentures are sensitive and you can easy damage their surface, with abrasive toothpaste.   Another cleaning option for dentures is by using an ultrasonic denture cleanser. However I suggest making sure you buy one that has been proven safe.  

DONT.  Do not use bleach when cleaning your dentures.  Also do not use vinegar as it can cause your dentures to dry out. Do not use house hold cleaners. Though there are some people that will use mild hand soup or dish soup I would not suggest doing so. If you do make sure you rinse them thoroughly  in under the faucet with warm to cool water.

When your child needs urgent dental treatment, contact our office as soon as possible. If it is a permanent tooth try to find the tooth and/or missing pieces of that tooth to bring to our office. Rinse it gently in cool water if there is debris on it. DO NOT SCRUB IT OR CLEAN IT WITH ANY TYPE OF SOAP! If your child allows you to do so please try to replace the tooth in their socket and hold it there. You can use a clean gauze or a wash cloth for them to bite on if necessary. 

If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Space maintainers are appliances made of metal or plastic that are custom fit to your child’s mouth. They are small and unobtrusive in appearance. Most children easily adjust to them after the first few days. Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. It’s more affordable — and easier on your child — to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.

Eat healthy foods Fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese and milk are foods for strong, healthy teeth. Foods with a lot of sugar are can be bad for teeth. Sugars in food stick to the teeth and bacteria (germs) gather in the sugar and cause plaque. Plaque can melt the surface of teeth and cause decay. Brushing and flossing teeth keeps them clean and healthy. Brushing and flossing removes bits of food and plaque. Plaque is germs which can make teeth rot or decay. After each meal is a good time to brush or floss teeth but they should be brushed at least twice each day. Water Drink plenty of water during the day to help wash your teeth.

First there is a big difference between fresh cows milk and formula milk. (Also soy milk is not safe for teeth). Anyone who has prepared formula milk knows how sticky it can be on your fingers. The different sugars in formula milk will not be safe for a child’s teeth during a nap or before bed time. Cow’s milk is completely different. Cow’s milk is actually protective of teeth and can be classified as safe. Research shows that if you consume cow’s milk in combination with products that would otherwise damage teeth (cookies perhaps ) the milk will be protective.

Heavy smoking can reduce milk supply.

A study done on breastfeeding and smoking states that cigarette smoking significantly reduces breast milk production. On rare occasions cigarette smoke has caused symptoms in the breastfeeding baby such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Smoking can stop or inhibit the milk let-down reflex. Smoking has been linked to early weaning. Smoking can cause fussiness and colic. Nicotine levels in the breastfeeding mother’s blood and milk first increase and then decrease over time.

It takes is 95 minutes for half of the nicotine to be eliminated from the body, otherwise known as half-life. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid smoking just before nursing and should never smoke while feeding her baby.

It is important to start flossing your child teeth as soon as they start to touch each other. Around two to two and half years old. Flossing makes a big difference in the prevention of cavities. Normally by the time your child start kinder garden he or she should be able to start flossing their own teeth. Though they may not have the skills yet to do a good job, you should supervise and give tips and pointers now and then to encourage good oral health care. Just like adults a child should floss their teeth every day. A good time is right before they go to bed but as long as they are flossing each day that is what is important.

For Teething You can give your baby a cold teething ring or frozen washcloth. You can also rub your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean finger. You may want to use Baby Orajel to help numb baby’s gums. And you can also ask you doctor for some baby Tylenol.

However what you never want to do is give your baby any aspirin. Since aspirin may cause Reye’s syndrome which is a serious illness. While the cause of Reye’s syndrome still remains unknown, there as been some research done that has established a link between Reye’s Syndrome and the use of aspirin.

It has been advise by the U.S. Surgeon General, and the American Academy of Pediatrics that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children under 19.

You will want to start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as the first tooth appears. Until your child is older around one you can use a soft wet cloth to clean your baby teeth and gums. Once your child is around a year you can then use a baby toothbrush.

Make sure you use non fluoride toothpaste and you only still need to use just a dab. I would not use any toothpaste with fluoride until your child can spit and knows not to eat or swallows the toothpaste. It is suggested that you take your child to see the dentist at  or around their first birthday

Tooth severe and continuous toothache, Fever, Sensitivity to hot or cold, Having a bad taste in your mouth or having bad breath and redness or swelling of your gums. Theses are just a few symptoms to having a tooth abscess. Note you do not need to have all of the symptoms to have a tooth abscess. I would advise seeing a dentist to confirm if it is an abscessed tooth or your wisdom tooth coming in. Either way a dentist will need to address the issues with you.

An abscessed is a painful infection at the root of the tooth or sometimes it is in between the gum and the tooth. You can get an abscessed tooth due to untreated tooth decay. However you can also get an abscessed if you have trauma to your tooth, such as braking or chipping your tooth, or if you have gum disease or gingivitis. If you think you have a abscessed tooth it is very important that you see your dentist right away. The abscessed or an infection may spread from the tooth root to the bone causing a much large oral health issue.

When thinking about using a waterpik instead of flossing here are some good pros and cons to consider.

Pros: Waterpiks are effective,  They can be faster to use the flossing,  Waterpik normally come with multiple wands and different color so different family member can have their own just like a tooth brush. Great for braces, Flossing with braces can be difficult waterpiks are offer suggested by Orthodontic dentist. Adjustable water pressure, You can get cordless waterpiks. Waterpik are good for people who may not floss well and are having gum issues.  Anything that will make you take care of your teeth and gums better is helpful. 

Cons:  Cost can be a factor since they can run as high as $50 – $60 dollars. They do brake down some not even lasting a year depending on how well you take care of it. Hard to always see what you are doing which can cause you to make a mess.  Looking in the mirror can also be difficult as the spray tends to go where you are looking.  They can be too noisy. Waterpik take up to much counter space which is bad if you have a small bathroom.  If you are not careful the time you save in flossing is taken up by have to clean sink and counter tops from water mess. If you are not careful they may over time loosen bridge and crown work. Over use like anything can cause more harm then good so make sure you use as directed. 

If you are not sure what is best for your oral health care talk to your dentist see what they suggest. Having good advise from your own personal dentist is worth taking in and thinking about as a deciding factor

Tooth decay is the destruction of the outer surface of a tooth from acid forming bacteria that is produced by food containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches). 

Tooth Decay Prevention: Brush your teeth twice a day with a tooth paste that contains fluoride. Preferably, brush after each meal and before bedtime to help reduce the bacteria from staying on your teeth for a certain length of time. 

You may wish to consider these helpful tips as well:   Floss your teeth daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Check with your dentist regarding the use of a supplemental fluoride which strengthens your teeth and helps prevents tooth decay. Consider dental sealants which is a plastic like substance placed on the top of molars to protect the teeth from decay.
Use mouth wash with fluoride. Many of them kill 50% or more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Chewing gum with the ingredient Xylitol © may also kill some of the bacteria which causes tooth decay.

Your dental health care is very important and there are many ways to make sure you are doing all you can for your oral health care.  Simple things such as daily care like brushing your teeth at least twice a day making sure you flossing daily, using tarter control and gum care mouthwash. Your basic dental care you do for yourself is low cost and take very little time to do each day.

The next step is buy seeing a dentist at least twice a year for your check up and cleanings. Now cost can be a factor but it does not have to be. One way to control your dental cost is by getting a low cost dental insurance plan. Many dental insurance plan offer free to very low cost preventive dental care. The money you spend on dental insurance is well worth it. And by seeing your dentist regularly you will hopefully avoid any major dental issues.

However if you did need larger dental services having dental insurance in place will also help control your dental cost. Be thoughtful about your oral health and think ahead. Good dental care now make for good dental care in the future.

First here are some signs that your baby is teething. Drooling, wakefulness, being cranky more then normal, crying, biting and chewing. As well as having tender gums. Your baby may also be fussy when feeding. Over drooling my cause skin irritation around their mouth. Teething gums may look swollen and red, you may see little white dots or small opining where the tooth is cutting though. Although your baby may get loose stools while teething, look out for diarrhea and fever. Fever and diarrhea is not really a symptoms of teething, therefore should take you baby to the doctor for a check up since it is probably is not related to your baby teething.