Sports Safety: Avoiding Tooth and Mouth Injuries

A few years ago, a dental newsletter published what seemed like an unusual story. A boy snagged his teeth on a basketball net while doing a slam-dunk.
A freakish accident? Not quite. After the article appeared, nearly 40 dentists wrote in with their own stories. They all told of would-be Michael Jordans who sacrificed their front teeth in pursuit of the perfect dunk.
In older children and adults, sports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.
About 80% of all dental injuries affect at least one of the front teeth. Damage to the tongue or cheek is common, too.
Basic Protection
Even if a tooth has been knocked out, it often can be saved if you get to a dentist quickly enough. Minor chips and cracks can be repaired. Dentists use tooth-colored materials that are nearly as strong as the original tooth. However, even "minor" injuries can cause serious and costly damage. If you enjoy sports or other high-risk activities, protect yourself. The use of mouth guards among football players, for example, is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year.
Depending on the sport, two types of protection are available:

• Helmets- A helmet is a must for activities that involve speed or impact. These include football, hockey, skating and bike riding. The helmet should fit correctly. It should also be appropriate for the sport you are playing. 
• Mouth guards - Wearing a mouth guard is one of the best ways to prevent injury to your teeth, tongue and lips. A custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist is recommended. This type of mouth guard usually fits better than a ready-made one (found in sporting-goods stores). That means it may protect your teeth better.

If a custom-fit mouth guard isn't an option, try a "boil-and-bite" mouth guard. You can buy one in a sporting-goods store. You place the mouth guard in boiling water. Once the plastic is soft (but not too hot), you bite down on the mouth guard and mold the softened plastic around your teeth. If the mouth guard doesn't fit comfortably the first time, you can reheat it and do it again.

©2002-2013 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved.
09/25/2013

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

Tooth Anatomy

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

• Crown- the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.
• Gumline- where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
• Root- the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.
• Enamel- the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body - yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.
• Dentin- the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin ó where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.
• Pulp- the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?
Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

• Incisors- the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.
• Canines- sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.
• Premolars- these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.
• Molars- used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

By Stephanie DeFilippo, DDS

If you are pregnant or have an infant, you may be surprised to discover that their dental future depends on you!  This dental health issue became personal to me when I gave birth, for the first time, in January.  I went from being the dentist to the patient.  I learned how difficult it is to eat properly when subjected to strong pregnancy cravings and when I felt horrible with morning sickness. No matter how I felt, I had to remember that this was an important time to make sure I was making healthy food choices. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Guidelines, a dental cavity is defined as a common chronic infectious transmissible disease.  We usually don't think of a cavity as being a disease, but it is the most common disease in children.  Also, cavities are infectious and transmissible.  This means that the bacteria that cause dental decay can be spread throughout your family just by kissing on the mouth or sharing drinks and utensils.  There are ways of preventing the spread of this disease.  It is not only important to brush and floss your children's teeth, but it is also important for you to have impeccable oral hygiene as well.  This should start while you are still pregnant in order to decrease cavity causing bacteria.

The American Dental Association has proven that there is a link between periodontal disease in pregnant women and preterm deliveries, low birth weight babies, and preeclampsia.  Pregnant women need to see a dentist for regular cleanings every six months in addition to brushing and flossing daily.  Also, many women are affected by nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.  It is recommended that these women rinse with a teaspoon of baking soda diluted in a cup of water and then waiting an hour before brushing.  This helps decrease the likelihood of erosion of the protective tooth enamel.  These women may also tend to stop brushing all together with fear that their gag reflex will trigger vomiting.  This is destructive because brushing is essential for healthy teeth.  If this is happening, it is beneficial to rinse with a fluoride rinse twice a day in addition to brushing and not in place of it.  Fluoride should be included in toothpaste as a cavity fighter.  Also, look for xylitol products, which can be found in certain chewing gums and hard candies.  These xylitol products have been effective to help reduce cavity causing bacteria in pregnant women.  Also, it may be easier to eat many smaller nutritious meals during the day.  Sometimes food cravings cause a pregnant woman to not eat the healthiest foods, but a healthy diet is very important for not only the growth of your child, but also a healthy mouth for mom.

In conclusion, it is important for a mommy to start taking care of her own oral hygiene before baby is born.  Baby will be ready to see the dentist within six months of having their first tooth, or by the age of one to continue their dental health.  Please visit www.aapd.com for more guidelines on dental health for you and your child.

Stephanie DeFilippo, DDS is a pediatric dentist at Drs. Seidel, DeFilippo and Dental Associates

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

Top Dental Symptoms: Bleeding or Sore Gums

Bleeding or sore gums can be a sign of gingivitis, an early and reversible stage of gum disease, or simply the result of brushing too hard or starting a new flossing routine. If your gums bleed regularly, or enough to worry you, make an appointment with your dentist or physician, it could be a sign that something else is wrong.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

Preventing Dental Emergencies By Dr. Eric Seidel

Every day patients are seen for dental emergencies. For a dentist, this is a necessary service and a rewarding experience, to handle someone’s dental emergency and have them leave with a smile and feeling better. Dental emergencies, whenever possible, should be seen the same day to immediately address the problem.

One of a dentist’s primary goals is to help educate patients on the hazards of waiting too long to be seen or ignoring an impending dental problem until extreme pain or severe infection is present. These cases can lead anywhere from tooth loss to hospitalization, and in rare instances, death. In these situations often either root canal therapy or a dental extraction are the only options. What started out as a "twinge" several months ago and could have been restored very simply and affordably with a tooth colored filling or crown now has become a full-blown dental emergency. It is not only more uncomfortable and costly for the patient, but also creates limitations for what we, as dentists, are able to do to restore or save the tooth. In many cases, patients end up in the emergency room due to pain and infection only to be referred to a dentist to have the necessary care they have been avoiding. I often joke with patients (after they are feeling better) that I wish I owned stock in the Orajel company as people resort to these over-the-counter remedies for far too long before seeking professional care.

Avoidance is part of human nature, especially if one has had a previously negative experience. The message I continue to share is that if patients receive preventive care, most emergencies can be avoided all together. In fact, when patients who do not have dental insurance inquire on the best type to purchase, I reiterate my belief that preventive care is the best insurance. In most cases, this allows patients to avoid larger problems all together. This is not only a cost savings for the individual, but can also prevent the type of traumatic situations that lead to more costly elective dental treatment. It’s a vicious cycle, which leads to a poor dental future and the potential for future pain and infection.

If a person is not a regular dental patient but experiences bleeding gums, pain to hot or cold, spontaneous pain, pain on biting, a broken tooth or filling or swelling of the mouth or gums, immediate dental care is needed. Even if the symptoms are managed with over the counter pain medication or are intermittent, these are early warning signs that bigger problems are coming. We, as a team of dental professionals, welcome those who need our services even if they are not regular patients or have never been seen in our office before. We are there to help and do so in a non-judgmental and caring manner. Find a dentist that will try to make every visit as comfortable and pleasant as is possible with the multitude of advancements modern dentistry offers. As dental professionals, we want to make sure your visits are pleasant, comfortable and something that is looked forward to rather than avoided.

Eric Seidel, D.M.D. is a general dentist at Drs. Null, Seidel and Dental Associates and an Invisalign preferred provider.

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates
353 York Street Front
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-8193
Website: seideldental.com/