The sinus cavities run right above and sometimes lay right on the roots of your upper teeth. So, when you have sinus problems the sinus cavities fill up with fluid and the pressure from the sinus will push against the roots of your upper teeth and cause you to have a toothache. Sometimes, you will just experience severe sensitivity to cold and hot and this annoyance will come and go along with your sinus problems.

If the pain that you are experiencing is a consistant ache and throb that keeps you awake at night, you are probably experiencing an abcessed tooth. The abcessed tooth will  hurt until you go to the dentist and he /she gives you an antibiotic and then either does a root canal or extraction. Either way, if you are in doubt, go see your dentist and he will properly diagnose the problem for you.

When you go to the dentist for the tooth ache, he will take an x-ray of the tooth to see how bad the infection is and to see which tooth it is. He then will send you home with an antibiotic and maybe pain medication. The reason he starts you on an antibiotic first is to try to get rid of most of the infection. If  the dentist tried to do a root canal the day you came in with the tooth ache,  it would cause more pain because it is very hard to get a tooth numb where there is infection. So, the dentist should start you on an antibiotic and wait a few days for it to take effect.

If you do not take a strong enough antibiotic or if you do not let the medication work for a few days, it could hurt when the root canal is done. The cause: there is still a lot of infection and inflammation around the tooth thus making it difficult to get numb. So, don’t be upset if you return in a few days to the dentist office to have the root canal done and he sends you home with a different antibiotic and waits a few more days because you are still in pain—pain is a sign of infection still present. It is so beneficial for you to wait because ultimately you will have a painless root canal by getting rid of the infection.

It is also important not to wait to have the root canal done after the medication is finished because the infection will come right back and the pain will return. So, if you have to have one done in the future— have a painless one!

Silent Nite sl

So we had to discussed the Silent Nite before and how that it was ideal for preventing snoring and also helping in cases of light sleep apnea. After making several for our patients, we have found that the device is successful but it also has several flaws. The Silent Nite is successful in preventing snoring but the plastic brackets on the side tend to snap and will often need to be replaced. The inside of the appliance is soft and it becomes dark and discolored making it look dirty and you can’t use cleaners on it to remove it because it will ruin the lining.

A lab in California has come out with the new version of the Silent Nite which they call the Silent Nite SL (slide link)and they have tried to fix the above mentioned problems. Instead of the plastic brackets on the side, there are flexible bands  that are 300 times stronger than the previous brackets. Another huge plus is that you don’t have to go to the office to replace your bands because the new appliance is very easy to adjust and the dentist will send you home with the replacement  brackets. So, if you have problems with snoring or sleep apnea, now is a great time to get this new appliance!

Composites

Your dentist will roughen the surface of the tooth and then add putty composite to the tooth which matches your existing shade. The composite is then light cured and then contoured to your tooth. The results are immediate and permanent.

Braces

The next option would be to place  braces. This option can take years and also cost a pretty penny( 4,000 to $7,000), not mentioning the hassle of havingto put up with metal all over your teeth.

Crowns

Option number three includes having crowns made to cover your existing teeth. This process has immediate results as well and is permanent. At the first appointment, the dentist will shape your tooth for the crown, take an impression which will be sent to the lab so they can make your crown, and last of all a temporary crown will be made while you wait a few weeks for the permanent crown to be made.  A crown will cost around $900 per tooth.

Snap on Smile

And last but not least is the snap on smile. The snap on smile is a removable appliance that is snapped on over your teeth. It is made to be worn for cosmetic purposes only and is not to be worn overnight. The snap on smile is easy to wear and can be made at your local dentist office in a few weeks. You would need to make an appointment at your dentist office and they will take an impression and send it to a lab to make. The snap on smile will cost around $1500.

Some dentists say never to use toothpaste on your denture because it is abrasive and will remove the shine and smooth feeling of  the denture.Well, then I have talked with patients that say they have used  toothpaste on their dentures for years with no problem and think that the denture cleanser companies just want their money. Well, the truth is, you can use toothpaste on your denture but over time it will remove the shine. Toothpaste cannot replace a denture cleanser because of the fact that toothpaste cannot remove hard plaque that the denture cleanser can with it sitting in the solution over night.

So in conclusion, using toothpaste every now and then will not ruin the shine on your denture but you will need to use the denture cleanser at least once a month to remove the plaque that builds up on it. Just using your denture brush on your denture every night should suffice in keeping your dentures clean and then you could soak them overnight in water and you could add a little mouth wash to help it feel fresh and clean.

The first step of the whitening is to take impressions of your teeth in order to make you a whitening tray to take home so you can keep up with the whitening once a year.Depending on your diet, the effects of the Zoom whitening should last 2 years. If you are a major coffee or tea drinker or if you smoke or dip, the results may not last 2 years.

The second step requires a mouth prop that you will bite down on that spreads your cheeks out away from your teeth so that they will not touch the whitening gel and allow access for the Zoom light on your teeth. She will then apply a rubber dam on your gums so that they will not be burned by the whitening gel. The rubber dam material is runny when first applied but hardens with the use of a blue light. After that, the assistant will place cotton rolls on the insides of your lips and a mask around the outside of your mouth to prevent the light from burning your skin.

The goggles will then be placed on your eyes and the assistant will place the whitening gel on your teeth and then attach the Zoom light to the mouth prop. The Zoom light will beep after 15 minutes and the assistant will repeat the use of the gel and the light 2 more times. At the end of the 3rd round, the assistant will remove the mouth prop, cotton rolls, and rubber dam and check your final shade. You will be sent home with relief gel just in case your teeth get sensitive after the whitening and they will also give you your whitening trays and extra gel to continue bleaching over the next 2 weeks if you prefer to. The product continues to whiten the teeth over the next 76 hours so you will have even whiter teeth after you leave the office.

Overall, this is a great product and I have seen tremendous results with it. Some people have had a lot of sensitivity afterwards so make sure you use the relief gel and take a couple IBprophen to help with the pain. If you have had tetracycline as a child the stains more than likely will not be removed and the teeth will not get much lighter. Check with your dentist to see if you would be a good candidate for the whitening.

Flossing is great for your teeth!

You may have been struggling with just brushing your teeth twice a day and now your hygienist is fussing with you about the need to floss. If you are like me, I never knew what floss was until I was about 14 years old. I mean, it is such a hassle  just to brush your teeth and flossing takes even more time out of your busy schedule, not to mention if makes your gums bleed and it hurts!

A close friend of mine that is a dentist did a project at an elementary school to show the necessity of flossing. He first put peanut butter all over his hand and then closed his fingers tightly. Afterwards, he went to the sink and scrubbed his hand vigorously. He then opened his fingers which revealed peanut butter still caked in between them. So , no matter how good you brush  or how often you brush, food and bacteria will still remain stuck in between your teeth.

When food and plaque is left between the teeth, it doesn’t take long before the gums become very irritated. The gums will get very puffy at first and will bleed when flossed( healthy gums do not bleed when you floss your teeth because they are more rigid and smooth).  The gums will then start to recede away from your teeth causing bone loss and then ultimately the loss of your tooth. Without the healthy gum tissue, the tooth becomes very vulnarable to tooth decay as well.

So, yes it may be uncomfortable and take more time out of your busy schedule, but it is definitely better for your teeth and for your overall health– floss, floss, and Floss!!

Pain from composite fillings.

There have been many complaints throughout my years as a dental assistant with tooth sensitivity after a composite filling has been placed. Some of these people are not only having sensitivity but horrible pain as well when chewing or drinking hot and cold things. These complaints are very real and 2 out of every 8 patients will have difficulty with the composite fillings placed. Most dentists are boggled by the sensitivity caused by the composite fillings.  If they are unable to get the tooth to calm down with adjusting the bite and placing extra flouride around the tooth, they will have to take the composite filling out and replace it or they will put amalgam in its place to see if this will take care of the sensitivity.

You may have come to the dentist for a cleaning and they told you that there was a small cavity, but the tooth had not bothered you at all. But you decide to listen to your dentist and get the cavity taken care of while it is still small. After the filling has been placed, though, you find that the tooth hurts when you try to use it to chew and it is also very sensitive to hot and cold. Now you are frustrated and mad at the dentist for causing you this unnesisary pain! Why did he have to mess with it in the first place– it wasn’t bothering you before!

Truthfully, the dentist did not mean to cause you pain. Sometimes a tooth will flare up any time work is done to it. The filling was necessary after removing the decay, but if the sensitivity is unbearable you may have to go back to either have it replaced or at least adjusted. WE have found that using sensadyne toothpaste really helps with the sensitivity. Just rub the toothpaste on and around the tooth and let it stay on there for a few minutes without rinsing. If the pain and sensitivity continues to get worse, you may need to have the root of the tooth examined to see if it has abcessed. Abcesses after fillings usually only occur if the filling was really deep.

The differences in amalgams versus composite fillings should be explained to you by the dentist before the procedure is completed so you know the risks of sensitivity with the composite fillings. Your dentist can help you with the pros and cons of each type of filling so you can make  the best decision for your teeth.

A broken acryic denture

Sometimes a denture can develop a crack in it and over time if the crack is not taken care of, the denture will break completely in half. Let’s go over the steps of taking care of the problem early first.

Cracked Denture

You may not have dropped your denture for a crack to develop, sometimes cracks just happen because of the pressure put on them by the opposing teeth. You should be able to spot it early as it develops. The first step you should take it so call your dentist and explain what has happened. They will set up a time that is convenient for you to leave your denture with them, so that they can send it to the lab for repair. The lab will only need it for a few hours so that they can add more acrylic to the area that has cracked. The Best solution is to have a wire mesh placed inside the denture and then have it enforced with the acrylic. You should have your denture returned to you by that evening if you dropped it off by 9am.

Broken Denture

If you accidently dropped your denture or if it has broken in half on it’s own the process is a little more involved in fixing it. You will need to call your dentist and they will set up a time for you to come in. If there are no pieces missing from the denture, they can take a quick impression of your gums and send it with the broken denture to the lab. The repair time should not take longer than a day and it will be returned to you. Do not try to repair your denture with super glue because this will mess up the acrylic and it will be harder to put the denture back together correctly. I there are pieces missing from the denture the denture may have to be remade but your dentist may try to take an impression and then send it to the lab to see if they can fix it first.

Broken Denture Teeth

If the teeth have broken on the denture it is really quite easy to fix. Again, you will need to call your dentist and they will send it off to the lab where it can be repaired within an hour or two. It is always best to have your denture repaired at a lab because there materials are much better and will last the longest. Your denture will also be covered for a short time under warranty by the lab that fixed it, so if it breaks again in the same spot within the first year, they should repair it at no cost. 

Denture adhesive for loose fitting dentures

There are a few reasons why a denture can become ill fitting and loose. We will go over the reasons why a denture can get loose and then discuss the solutions to fix it.

• Healing
  

After your teeth have been removed, it takes 6 months to a year for the gums to smooth out entirely. So, since your dentures are either made right away or six weeks later you will definitely have some shrinkage in the gum tissue which will cause your dentures to feel loose where as before they may have fit snugly.

• Bone Loss

Over the years, after your teeth have been removed, the bone underneath the gums will start to receed and become smaller. When this happens, the dentures will begin to feel too big and also very loose. There is no way to stop this from happening as this is a result of aging.

• Weight Loss

If you have recently lost a lot of weight this will affect your mouth and the fit of your dentures as well.

• Solutions

One of the most common ways to fix a denture that is loose is to have a reline done. You will have to make an appointment at your dentist office where they will take a quick impression and send your denture to the lab  so that they can add material where needed to make it fit tighter. This process is usually completed in one day so it is best if you go in the morning so that the lab can have it done by that afternoon. If the doctor so chooses and has the right equipment, he can add a soft reline to your denture there at his office. I recommend the reline at the lab because it is more permanent.

The other option is to have implants placed in the bone of your jaw so that your denture can be snapped into place. Implants can only be placed if you have enough bone to support them, so if your bone has receeded a lot you may not qualify to have the  implants placed. If you think that this is an option that you would like to pursue, than you should contact your dentist for a consult so that he can evaluate you.

Dentures can be a pain and I hope this helps you find a solution to better fitting dentures!