Tetrick Family Dentistry

Diabetics and The Dental Risks They Face

Time and again, dental practitioners see diabetics coming in for consultation and treatment for any of the various issues that concern ordinary, non-diabetic persons. While issues are the same and that may require similar approaches, the medical condition of diabetes mellitus is an added burden that makes treatment much more challenging. Both dentist and patient take more precautions and enter into a higher level of commitment for treatment plan success.

Diabetics are generally poor wound healers. Due to often times uncontrolled blood sugar levels, these patients cannot just have tooth extractions, root canal therapy, implantation, ordinary prophylaxis or any surgery. They need meticulous preparations to ready them for such procedures. For example, diabetics need to normalize their blood sugar first before a dental procedure as the resultant wound tend to heal very slowly. In that time, complications may also arise.

These patients also suffer from dry mouth syndrome. It is an effect of the disease. With no or very little saliva, the diabetic’s teeth are more prone to bacterial attack, starting cavities and tooth decay. Saliva is supposed to help hydrate the mouth, washing away food debris and disabling colonization of bacteria. The patient needs to take fluids or water constantly. Likewise, due to dry mouth, ulcers are common, appearing on gums and soft tissue.

Periodontal disease is more common among diabetics. It is in fact considered a complication of diabetes. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications, from nerve paralysis to blindness, kidney disease, heart attack or stroke. Dentists and doctors agree that control of blood sugar is the best protection against periodontal disease.

If diabetics are compliant with their medications, insulin, exercise, and proper nutrition, they can expect to live normal lives. If they are into foot care, eye examinations, they must also mind their dental health. Regular dental visits are a must, cleanings, and proper oral hygiene at home, to keep their risks at bay.

Caring for the Diabetic Patient in Bellingham

Bellingham dentistry believes that the diabetic patient who takes care of his oral health as well as his other concerns is a happier, healthier patient leading a normal life. For a consultation, give us a call.

Are You an Ideal Candidate for Implants?

Currently, many dentists and patients are embracing dental implants when fixed bridges and removable dentures used to be popular choices for missing teeth. This treatment gives a natural look and feel in the mouth, protects healthy bone and keeps natural teeth in place. With their predictable outcomes, they are built to last a lifetime.

Are you a good candidates for dental implants?

If you have healthy gums, sufficient and good quality bone in your jaw, and a commitment to proper oral hygiene, you can make a fine candidate for implants. Some may not be ideal candidates, but that depends on your dentist’s judgment and the severity of the patient’s condition. Still it is the health of your gums and jaw bone that counts.

Young patients, whose bones are still growing and lacking maturity, are not ideal for implants; nor are heavy smokers, excessive alcohol users, those who’ve had high-dose radiation to the head and neck, and those with severely depressed immune system. With implant surgery, their healing will significantly slow down, possibly contributing to implant failure.

Other patient groups not ideal for dental implants are pregnant women whose consistency of teeth and gums have altered, teeth grinders, chronic or systemic disease sufferers like those with uncontrolled diabetes, connective-tissue disease, and hemophilia. Bleeding gums, brittleness of bone, and frequent infections jeopardize implant treatment success.

Depending on the dentist’s discretion and after proper evaluation, these patients can still be candidates. As long as there is still sufficient quantity and quality of jaw bone, adequately healthy gum tissue to work on, implants can still be an option for your missing teeth.

Implants for Missing Teeth in Bellingham

Are you ready for implants? If you are committed to proper oral hygiene and regular follow-ups, know from your Bellingham dentist if you are a candidate for dental implants.

When is Your Next Dental Appointment?

Something is always keeping you from making it, isn’t it? You think that since you’re into good oral hygiene – best choice toothbrush, paste and floss, proper techniques, faithful regularity – you may not need to see the dentist yet. However, that does not guarantee a caries-free existence.

Though it can significantly reduce your risks for developing tooth decay, you cannot make accurate assessment of each tooth state of health as a professional can. You are likely to miss beginning cavities, misjudge gum swelling, or not know root and jawbone conditions. Regular dental appointments take the guesswork out of oral health maintenance.

The American Dental Association recommends you come for visits every six months. That’s because it’s essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. Consider dental check ups for regular cleaning at least twice a year. It’s a standard hygiene routine so that your dentist gets to see any forming disease state of your oral structures.

As part of a thorough dental examination, each tooth will be examined for tooth decay, cracks, misalignment, or discoloration He will pay special attention to plaque and tartar because they can build up in a very short time especially if oral hygiene is poor. The health of your gums will be evaluated, he’ll perform a head and neck examination, a face examination, and look into the mouth for any indications of diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or oral cancer. He will also include examination of your saliva, bite, and jaw movement.

Aside from health and cosmetic reasons, regular appointments are small dental lessons to keep in mind. You will learn about the pros and cons of certain habits you may have acquired that will impact dental health, and will be trained to look at signs and symptoms of potential hazards.

Keeping Dental Appointments in Bellingham

Over at Dr. Tetrick, we help you remember your appointments with our regular and friendly follow-ups. Visits to us can turn into a healthy habit, being your health partners every step of the way.

Mind What You Eat and Drink

Some food and drinks leave stains behind – on your tongue, including your teeth. Your dentist can very well tell your eating habits and food preferences by simple oral examination. If your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be, you might want to take a closer look at what you put inside your mouth.

As one ages, the outer enamel of teeth develop very fine lines across the surfaces, very much like lines on maturing facial skin. Stains tend to burrow into these depressions and over time, simple brushing just won’t do. A yellowish tinge to your teeth can be blamed on acidic foods, like citrus foods and tomatoes. They can erode the enamel and expose the yellow dentin inside.

Coffee contains tannin which is acidic as well. Sugars in treats like cookies and hard candy, even snack foods like chips, latch onto your and become the main meal for bacteria. Sodas are especially dangerous, they are carbonated hence, also acidic and will create holes in the teeth. Low quality green tea stains teeth gray and black tea stains them yellow.

Certain foods like berries (blueberries and blackberries) contain pigments that stay behind. Red wine can also cause discoloration; the same with tomato sauce, beets, curry, as well as soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. They also have acids that bathe teeth and cause the enamel to soften and become brittle, and hence, attract more pigments to stick to them.

Is there some way to both enjoy your favorites and at the same time protect your pearly whites?

Don’t leave remnants behind. Brush with toothpaste right away. If that is not possible, drink lots of water to keep the mouth hydrated. Rinse or use a gargle, just don’t let the smell or taste linger in the mouth. All these are proactive tips to keep your whites stay white. Also, stay faithful to your dental appointments to maintain that bright healthy smile all year round.

Smart Eating and Dental Appointments

Know more from your Bellingham dentist, Dr. Tetrick, about teeth staining by certain foods and drinks. You will not have to sacrifice your favorite eats by not enjoying them. All you have to know is the smarter way to do it and what to do after to still keep that confident smile.

Different Considerations for Mouthwashes

Mouthwashes can either be for cosmetic or for therapeutic purposes; it depends on the composition of the product. Apparently, there are many benefits of therapeutic mouthwashes.

Cosmetic mouthwashes can temporarily mask bad breath and provide a pleasing flavor, but are ineffective against bacteria and sulfur compounds, which are responsible for halitosis (bad breath). For control of bad breath, your mouthwashes should have antimicrobials and for that they are therapeutic.

Look at the label and find antimicrobials in mouthwash that include chlorhexidine, chlorine dioxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and essential oils (eucalyptol, menthol, thymol and methyl salicylate). Other agents are zinc salts, ketone, terpene, and ionone. Just watch out for certain compounds that may lead to tooth staining, like the combination chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride plus zinc lactate.

Therapeutic rinses can also reduce plaque and gingivitis when combined with daily brushing and flossing. Certain mouthwashes can also fight tooth decay because they have added fluoride ions in their composition. Some can whiten teeth, used daily, because of their 1.5 to 2 percent hydrogen peroxide content. Anesthetics such as lidocaine, benzocaine, butamin, tetracaine hydrochloride, dyclonine hydrochloride, or phenol are found in rinses and these can provide a certain degree of topical pain relief, such as in the presence of oral lesions or ulcers.

Note that these considerations are understood more by your dentist. The dentist can prescribe certain mouthwashes with specific instructions as to the dose, frequency and time in the mouth for certain oral conditions. Patient compliance is important for achieving the therapeutic purpose. Mouth- washes may offer additional benefits but they cannot take the place of proper brushing and flossing.

Prescription for Mouthwashes from Bellingham Dentists

Know more about the benefits of certain mouthwashes from your Bellingham dentists. Don’t use just any or buy over the counter without proper consultation. For therapeutic purposes, your dentist knows best.

Source

Teeth as Strong as a Mouse’s

The tradition of the “Tooth Fairy” has come to us as a fascinating and absorbing little myth whose origins are not so well documented, unlike that of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. But it has enchanted America’s little tykes since long ago and many kids today still expect their little gift from the Tooth Fairy in exchange for a lost tooth.

What was that all about? In the 1970s, some radio DJ spoke about the Tooth Fairy, in perhaps a beguiling manner, that the American Dental Association was inundated with calls from the public, wanting to know more about the Tooth Fairy. It was quite logical, at the time, that anything dental-related the association has answers to. Apparently, the ADA was clueless.

The ritual of children placing their shed baby teeth under their pillows, in the hopes of finding them replaced with cash or a gift in the morning, was already being practiced. Kids left notes for the tooth fairy and believed they shared personal relationships with her for years. There are many variations of the ritual but the most popular is offering the lost tooth as a sacrifice to a mouse or rat, in the hopes that the child’s adult teeth will grow in as strong and sturdy as the rodent’s. Fascinating. The mouse remains the predominant animal-dental mascot to this day.

How does this impact dental practice?
The trusting nature of childhood enables parents to promote the myth with positive outcomes, even though later kids will find out the truth, they still like it. The belief provides comfort for children in their loss, even if accompanied with fear or pain. The idea that a gift-bearing imaginary figure consoles them and renders them somewhat unafraid to face the dentist.

Imaginative parents tell the kids early on that the tooth fairy pays a whole lot more for a perfect baby tooth than for a decayed one, encouraging proper oral hygiene. A little note comes along with the gift or money praising the kids’ good dental habits. If a sympathetic dentist plays along, he might find a more cooperative and less stressful patient in his chair. Surrendering a cleaned up baby tooth to the youngster, he reminds about putting it under the pillow for good measure.

Bellingham Dentist: A Tooth Fairy’s Friend

Find a compassionate family dentist in Bellingham who knows all about the Tooth Fairy. Be assured your child will have a positive and less stressful experience every time you bring him/her to Dr. Tetrick Bellingham Dentistry.

Source

Genetic Defects in Enamel: Link to Cavities

Ever wondered how come some people, who are so proper and careful in brushing and flossing their teeth, still develop cavities? They go for regular dental visits, yet their dentist still find beginnings of tooth decay. It might be frustrating but there’s a little science behind that.

New research showed (from mice experiments, though) that there exist a gene complex responsible in enamel formation. If protein mutations are present in the gene, there can be enamel defects that can be passed on to offsprings. In the experiment, all mice with mutations in genetic proteins exhibit teeth with enamel defects. The study demonstrated that there is a direct link between mutations in the genetic blueprints for these proteins and the development of tooth enamel defects. This discovery will lead to improving our understanding of the production of tooth enamel.

The team of researchers was the first in the world to use modern genetic, molecular and biochemical methods to study tooth enamel defects in detail. They have discovered particular proteins involved in a signaling pathway aren’t just involved in the development of severe illnesses, but also in the qualitative refinement of highly developed tissue, such as the enamel. If the signal transmission isn’t working properly, the structure of the tooth enamel can change.

All things considered, the formation and progress of tooth cavities depend on the composition and hardness of the enamel. How much can teeth resist caries? Bacteria and their toxic products can easily penetrate enamel with a less stable structure, which leads to caries, even if oral hygiene is maintained.

Hopefully, this development will open up new possibilities for the prevention of cavities. New products that check the progress of tooth cavities in case the enamel is defective will enable the dental community to improve the oral health of patients considerably.

Good Oral Hygiene: Gold standard in Bellingham

Still and all, while we marvel at the advances in dental medicine, in particular the battle against caries, we still adhere to proper brushing and flossing as the gold standard in good oral hygiene for the prevention and control of tooth decay.

Source

The Bad and Good Foods for Teeth

What’s your comfort food? Everyone has. But if you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay. Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay, including sports and energy drinks. Common sources of sugar in the diet include soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries. Citric fruits and juices are also sweet and acidic, and as we know, acid can weaken enamel.

Caffeinated coffee and tea can also dry out the mouth. Frequent drinks of coffee and tea may also stain teeth. And who doesn’t like starchy foods, like potato chips that tend to stick to tooth surfaces?

These foods and drinks are mostly unhealthy and their frequent consumption are contributory to tooth decay, the single most common chronic childhood disease. As this goes on unabated into adulthood, gum disease can manifest. The severe form, called periodontitis, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Experts believe that the disease progresses faster and is potentially more severe in people with poor nutrition.

Making wise choices and committing to change can reverse the process. With healthy living, healthy teeth and gums can be realized. Apart from drinking plenty of water, the elixir of life for a good many reasons, a balanced diet from each of the five major food groups is essential. These are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish; dry beans, peas and other legumes, and low-fat and fat-free dairy foods.

Limit the snacks, moderate alcohol consumption, and again, lots of water to wash down all sweet and acidic taste. Routine oral hygiene, which cannot be stressed enough, as well as regular dental visits are part of the goal to achieve optimal oral health.

Good Eating Habits Start Here in Bellingham

Know more about food and drinks that can positively affect your teeth and gums from your Bellingham dentists. There’s an adage that says, you are what you eat, so only eat right. We are here to help and keep you on track.

The Problem with Drug Use

A recently published review from a scientific journal revealed that tooth decay and periodontal disease are highly common in people who abuse substance, more so than the general population. On top of this, these people are the most less likely to consult and receive care from the dental practitioner. With increasing drug use in the US, to the tune of 3 million new users a year, this problem is not showing any sign of abating.

How does drug use affect the teeth and mouth? The effects are direct and easily noted, and perhaps the reason why drug users refuse dental attention – to avoid criticism or judgment. Drug use presents with dry mouth; there is less salivation with inhalation of fumes or powder forms. Meth Mouth is a term used to describe the discoloration, rotting and broken teeth in the mouth of a person who has an addiction to methamphetamine.

Users tend to snack more and prefer high sugar diets, like those who are addicted to heroin or other opiates, leading to increasing plaque formation, at the same time suffering from malnutrition. Stimulants like ecstasy, amphetamines and cocaine are known to cause individuals to clench and grind their teeth when under the influence. There is also chemical erosion from applying cocaine to teeth and gums.

Those into substance abuse tend to have poor oral hygiene and lack regular dental care. On top of these, they poorly respond to painkillers and anesthetics, as well. Chronic tooth decay, cracked teeth, gingivitis or other forms of gum disease and other complications are often ignored by those who have an addiction.

Dentists should screen their patients for substance use, notice any advanced dental or periodontal disease and consider referral to medical doctors for management. In patients with suspected substance use disorders, dentists should be aware of issues concerning treatment and consent.

Dental Health for All in Bellingham

Your Bellingham dentists are truly your family dentists. If you have a love one or member who has dental issues due to drug use, try bringing the patient to us for attention and care. We don’t judge while accomplish our community mission. Simply dental health for all.

Source

Who Benefits Most from Antibiotics?

Antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry is a very common and important preventive procedure in the dental office. Especially prior to extensive or complex procedures, many dentists recommend that you are protected by antibiotics in case bacteremia happens.

Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, potentially dangerous in a weakened immune system or for a body tissue or organ that is already compromised. Working inside the mouth, one of the dirtiest places in the body, your dentist can unwittingly initiate the spread of infection via a dental treatment, as simple as cleaning, extraction, root canal or implantation, to the rest of the body. For a majority of people, this doesn’t seem problematic.

Healthy immune systems can fight off the spread easily, leaving the patient looking no less for wear.

But a special group of patients need extra consideration. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended by the American Heart Association for people who have specific heart conditions. They should take antibiotics prior to dental treatment. These people are those who have artificial heart valves or who have had a heart transplant in which a problem develops with one of the valves.

Antibiotics are also a must in those who have a history of infection of the lining of the heart or heart valves known as infective endocarditis, an uncommon but life-threatening infection. Also, there are heart conditions present from birth that will need protection during dental care, like unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, first 6 months repaired heart defects using prosthetic material, or those with residual defects at the site or near the site of repair that used a prosthetic material.

So, for patients with these underlying cardiac conditions, prophylaxis is recommended for all dental procedures especially those that involve manipulation of gingival tissue or the root region of teeth or perforation of the oral mucosa. This is so because of the richness of blood supply at these areas.

Protection for Special Groups at Bellingham

We at Dr. Tetrick’s, your family dentists in Bellingham, take into consideration the needs of special groups of patients where antibiotic cover is concerned. Talk to us about your dental issues and tell us, too, if you have existing heart conditions. Have a positive experience at Dr. Tetrick’s; we use antibiotic prophylaxis where and when needed.