Cavities
In science classes, you've learned to be very careful with acid.
Did you know that you can have acid in your mouth, and that this acid
can cause a hole to develop in your tooth? Read on to find out more!
Our enemy in the fight against cavities is plaque. Plaque is a
sticky film of food and bacteria (Sugar Bugs) that forms constantly on
your teeth. The bacteria in plaque thrive on the sugar in the food, and
produce acid as a byproduct when they break down the sugar. Like all
acids, the acid produced by the bacteria is corrosive, which means that
it dissolves other materials. Your teeth are the victims of this
corrosive action; the acid wears away at them, eventually creating holes
in the outer layer of your teeth, called cavities.
The hard outer layer of your teeth is called the enamel. Cavities
first form in the enamel layer of your teeth. Beneath the enamel is a
softer layer called the dentin. If a cavity dissolves through the enamel
and reaches the dentin, it can grow much more quickly. That's why
regular checkups and cleanings are so important; if we find a cavity, we
can restore your tooth while the cavity is still small and isolated in
the outer enamel layer.
To repair a tooth with a cavity, we usually remove the decayed
portion of the tooth and replace it with a filling, provided the damage
is not extensive and there is still plenty of healthy tooth structure
remaining. However, preventing decay is the preferred solution! We'll be
happy to work with you so you'll learn to keep your teeth free of plaque
and decay.
Fillings
We want the entire procedure to be comfortable for you, so the
first thing we do is make sure your mouth is thoroughly numb. Depending
on the size of the filling and which tooth we're working on, we may use
a rubber dam or other means to isolate your tooth from saliva.
Then we remove the decay and shape the tooth with the handpiece
(Mr. Whistle and Mr. Bumpy). To mold the filling to the shape of the
tooth, we first surround it with a thin, flexible band. A small wooden
wedge between the teeth holds it snugly in place. We press the filling
material into the tooth. White fillings harden when they are exposed to
a bright light, while silver filllings harden on their own. Then we
check the bite with a colored tape that shows us where your teeth are
touching, and we make sure floss still works. And that's all there is to
it!
Mouthguards
You probably know that mouthguards are mandatory for high-contact
sports like football and hockey. What you may not know is that the
majority of mouth injuries occur in children between the ages of seven
and fourteen, while they are engaged in casual sports and other common
activities like skateboarding or riding a bike.
Any activity that could result in a fall or a blow to the head puts
your child at risk for mouth injuries. Lost or broken teeth are the most
common kind of mouth injury, but accidents may also cause concussions,
jaw bone fractures and dislocations, as well as damage to orthodontic
appliances and the jaw joint. Fortunately, mouthguards can help protect
your children from these expensive and painful injuries.
Stock mouthguards are used off the shelf with no modifications and
offer little or no protection. Boil-and-bite mouthguards fit somewhat
better because they are molded to the child's teeth, but they are not
thick enough to provide the necessary support for the teeth and jaw.
To fabricate a custom-made mouthguard, we take impressions of the
mouth during the first appointment. We use the impressions to make
models, and a dental laboratory uses the models to create the mouthguard.
During the second appointment, we make slight adjustments to the
mouthguard to ensure that it's comfortable. They allow breathing or
speaking with minimal interference.
Each year, millions of children's teeth are knocked out as a result
of accidents during everyday activities like skateboarding and biking. A
custom-made mouthguard is a great way to prevent injury and protect your
child's smile!
Pulpotomy
A pulpotomy is the surgical removal of irritated, inflamed nerve
tissue (also called pulp) from within the crown portion of a primary
(baby) tooth. The healthy root canals are left intact.
When decay in your child's tooth penetrates the enamel, and then
the next layer - the dentin - it quickly approaches the innermost part
of the tooth, the pulp. At this point, when the decay is close to or has
barely penetrated the pulp, the nerve is still alive, but it is
compromised. If left untreated, the decay will penetrate and spread
throughout the nerve tissue in the pulp, which will lead to discomfort.
First, we thoroughly numb the affected area. We must keep your
mouth dry. A rubber dam or cotton rolls can protect like a safety net,
preventing debris from falling to the back of your child's throat.
the tooth down into the pulp chamber, and thoroughly clean out the
nerve tissue.
Discomfort after the procedure is unlikely. However, if your child
does experience some pain, a children's pain reliever should be given,
following label directions.
A pulpotomy is a relatively quick and painless procedure that's
extremely effective in eliminating infection in the nerve and saving
your child's tooth.
Small cavities in primary teeth can be repaired with fillings,
because after we remove the decayed part of the tooth, there's still
plenty of remaining natural tooth structure. However, when a primary
tooth has a large cavity, there may not be enough tooth structure left
to place a filling. For this reason, we use crowns to repair large
cavities in primary teeth. A crown covers a damaged tooth to strengthen
and protect it.
Crowns for adult teeth are fabricated in a dental lab and are made
of porcelain, metal and porcelain, or gold. Crowns for children's
primary teeth are most often pre-made of stainless steel, and can be
adapted to your child's tooth and cemented in place in only one
appointment. They are relatively easy for children to take care of, and
are much less expensive than adult crowns.
We want the entire procedure to be comfortable for your child, so
the first thing we do is thoroughly numb the tooth and surrounding area.
Then we use the handpiece to remove any decay and shape the tooth. We
select a crown, shape it, and adjust it until it fits the tooth
precisely. We then cement the crown in place. To complete the procedure,
we double check both your child's bite and the fit of the new stainless
steel crown.
Normally, as a permanent tooth comes in under a baby tooth, the
roots of the baby tooth dissolve away and the permanent tooth replaces
the baby tooth. In addition to being important for chewing, the baby
tooth holds the adjacent teeth in place. When a baby tooth is lost
early, due to decay or injury, the adjacent teeth may drift together
causing loss of space in the dental arch.
When a baby tooth is lost early, this shifting and loss of arch
space can be prevented by placing a space maintainer. It generally takes
two appointments to complete a space maintainer. During the first
appointment, an orthodontic band is carefully placed and an impression
is taken. A model of the child's mouth is made from this impression so
that the dental laboratory can form the space maintainer to the exact
contours of the mouth. During the next appointment, the space maintainer
is tried in, adjusted if necessary, and then cemented in place.
Space maintainers are used until the permanent teeth begin to break
through the gums. While wearing a space maintainer, it is important to
avoid chewing gum, sticky candies, and hard foods like Cornnuts or ice.
Following up with periodic checks of the space maintainer here in our
office will make sure it's still functioning properly and keeping all
the teeth in their proper position.
123 Albany Ave. SE
Orange City, IA 51041
dental@joinerdentistry.com
(712) 737-3521 | (712) 737-4891 fax
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RESTORATIONS
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CHILDRENS
DENTISTRY
Preventative
Restorative
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CLEANINGS & PREVENTION
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PERIODONTAL DISEASE
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COSMETIC DENTISTRY
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SEDATION & SURGERY
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