Missing teeth?

Missing teeth?
By Eric Seidel, DMD

One of the nicest changes in dentistry is that people are keeping more of their natural teeth for a lifetime.  As recently as 1960, studies showed that a majority of seniors were missing a vast majority of their teeth.  It is suggested that by 2020 this same age group will now have the majority of their own natural teeth.  This does not suggest, however, that people are still not losing teeth at too high a rate and that tooth replacement options are not as important today as ever.  It does signal a paradigm shift that once suggested that at some point in a person's life they would almost assuredly be wearing full dentures. 

Full dentures still offer people the opportunity to function reasonably well and have an attractive smile.  It is often one of the only options we have when someone is missing all of their teeth or have teeth that are no longer savable due to extensive periodontal disease or rampant tooth decay.  However, the primary downside of a full denture is the discomfort that they can cause (as they sit directly on gum tissue) and general retention.  Eating an apple or chewing a piece of steak is not the experience is once was.  They can be aided with the use of dental implants to get a superior fit.  In some cases implants can be used to entirely replace the need for a traditional denture.  Although this is a wonderful option we now have, cost tends to be the biggest barrier to the greater utilization of dental implants.

When a person is not missing all of their teeth, we then have more options at our disposal.  Implants, fixed bridges or partial dentures are all acceptable means of replacing select missing teeth.  I have them listed in the order that I present them.  Implants are still the nicest option we have to help restore a mouth to its original condition.  A workup must be completed as not everyone is a candidate for implants.  Fixed bridges work very nicely but require healthy teeth on either side to support them and are a little more difficult to maintain.  As with dental implants, fixed bridges allow us to achieve esthetics as nice as or nicer than the original teeth.  Partial dentures are the most economical way to replace multiple missing teeth, particularly on both sides of the mouth.  The challenge with partial dentures is maintaining good long-term retention and keep the supporting teeth healthy.  Although the esthetics are good, they are not at the level of implants or bridges. 

It is our goal today to maintain teeth for a lifetime.  Although great options exist today for tooth replacement, nothing is a nice as having our own natural teeth.  When this isn't possible we review the different replacement options available and find what will best meet the needs of the individual based on expectations, function and cost.  The only detrimental option is doing nothing.  Bite collapse, periodontal issues, TMJ issues, recession and excessive wear and fracturing and loss of other teeth can all result from lack of a complete dentition.  It is my belief that with good listening and comprehensive planning that we can find a solution that will work for anyone and allow them to have a full set of teeth and a healthy and beautiful smile for a lifetime. 

 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

Toothbrushing 101 - By Dr. Eric Seidel

Toothbrushing 101
By Dr. Eric Seidel

 
Going to the store to buy a toothbrush can be a daunting experience.   With so many choices and so much advertising trying to influence your decision, some may find themselves wishing for the days when your only real choice was what size and color to pick.  We also now have the choice of electric toothbrushes that adds to the overwhelm.   I will attempt to simplify this subject and give you the same advice I give my own patients. 

Toothbrush selection has three main components, size, bristle type and manual versus electric.   My suggestion on size is don't go too large. Some of the hard to reach places such as the outside of the upper second molars are nearly impossible if the toothbrush head is too large.  It was thought for years that firmer bristles were required to effectively remove plaque.   However, we now know gentle but thorough brushing with a soft bristled brush is the best choice.   This not only cleans the teeth and gums but also doesn't harm these oral structures as some of the firmer bristle types can.  The debate over manual versus electric goes on, but research suggests that the benefits of a quality electric brush far outweigh its manual predecessor.   I personally use a rechargeable Sonicare brush by Philips but brands like Oral-B and Crest also have good alternatives.   I like the rechargeable variety with soft bristles but these can get pricey.   Getting one with changeable batteries will reduce the cost and still do a fine job.  The primary component that makes an electric brush more effective is choosing one with sonic technology which helps disrupt and remove the biofilm(a thin sticky layer of plaque and bacteria that forms after eating) that can lead to gingivitis and more aggressive forms of gum disease if not routinely removed. 

It is recommended that toothbrushes are changed every three months as the bristles wear out and become less effective.   If you have your teeth cleaned every six months make sure to not rely solely on your dentist for brushes as you are doing yourself and your teeth and gums a disservice for the last 3 months.   It is also important to rinse the brush and let the bristles air dry as brushes can harbor bacteria.  For this reason, sharing brushes is also not recommended and should be changed after you get over an illness.  

The most important element of brushing is the user.  It is suggested that thorough brushing for two minutes twice a day is essential.   My advice is to brush after every main meal or at least 3 times per day.  The two minutes is essential and don't forget to angle the brush so you clean the teeth and gums. 

To summarize, good technique and proper brushing time are the most important elements of brushing.   Use a small or medium brush with soft bristles only and if you are able treat yourself to an electric brush....you won't go back!  Happy brushing.

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

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth: Opening Stuff With Your Teeth

Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but this is one habit that makes dentists cringe. Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

Habits that Wreck Your Teeth: Cough Drops

Just because cough drops are sold in the medicine aisle doesn't mean they’re healthy. Most are loaded with sugar. So after soothing your throat with a lozenge, be sure to brush well. Whether the sugar comes from a cough drop or a hard candy, it reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth. Then bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hello, cavities.
 
Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates 

353 York Street Front

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 334-8193

Why Toothpaste Makes Everything Else Taste Bad (and How to Fix It)

Ever brush your teeth, then take a swig of orange juice only to curse yourself for drinking such a vile combination? Magazine and weblog Mental_Floss explains why this happens, and how to avoid it. The strong minty flavor is probably part of the problem, as you’d expect, but   Mental_Floss notes that it goes deeper than that. Most toothpastes contain sodium laureth sulfate (and its counterparts, sodium lauryl ether sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate), which is responsible for making the  toothpaste foam up in your mouth. Its also responsible for everything tasting bad afterward:

While surfactants make brushing our teeth a lot easier, they do more than make foam. Both SLES and SLS mess with our taste buds in two ways. One, they suppress the receptors on our taste buds that perceive sweetness, inhibiting our ability to pick up the sweet notes of food and drink. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they break up the phospholipids on our tongue. These fatty molecules inhibit our receptors for bitterness and keep bitter tastes from overwhelming us, but when they’re broken down by the surfactants in toothpaste, bitter tastes get enhanced.

Basically, they enhance bitter tastes and inhibit sweet ones, making everything taste bad. There are lots of theories out there, but this is currently the most widely accepted one.

The solution? You could brush your teeth after breakfast, but many dental professionals say it’s better to brush beforehand. So, the better option is to search for an SLS-free toothpaste the next time you’re shopping. Speaking from experience, an SLS-free toothpaste changes everything—I used one for a little while and never had the “disgusting orange juice” debacle in the morning. Generally it doesn’t matter what kind of toothpaste you buy, but if you must brush your teeth before breakfast, buying one without SLS is a good idea. Of course, you could always brush your teeth in the shower, too.

By Whitson Gordon
Article appeared on www.Floss.com

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