(217) 546-3333Advanced Dental Care of Springfield Blog
Oral Care for Teens: What Parents Need to Know
June 17, 2013
We all have that desire to show off a lovely smile, but what we do not want are stained teeth, bad breath, decaying teeth, tooth loss or gum disease, whether as a teenager or an adult. All of these can be prevented at just about any age through the use of Preventative Dentistry procedures.
However, the teenage years are often the time when teeth are neglected the most. A busy teenager has a social life to enjoy, examinations to take and a future to think about. With little time to free up while experiencing the excitement of growing up, dental visits and serious oral health care sometimes become less of a priority.
Failing to implement good dental care practices while in the teenage years can be very bad for future oral and dental health. In the long run, this could destroy a smile and break the teenager’s long term confidence, especially in social situations.
Points of importance for a teen’s dental care
- We recommend that your teen brushes and flosses his or her teeth at least two times a day. If they want to maintain a better smile, a brush following each meal will add that freshness to the face.
- Teenage diets should be packed with nutrients that will build up and maintain the health of permanent teeth. This means only consuming moderate amounts of starchy or sweet food to avoid the development of any dental cavities and other gum problems.
- Hormonal changes throughout puberty can contribute to the development of minor periodontal disease by increasing the blood flow circulating around the gums. This leads to a rise in sensitivity in the gums which, when irritated by food or liquids, become inflamed, feel painful to touch and sometimes turn a red color.
- Smoking, which is often started in the teen years, causes stained teeth, loss of teeth, gum disease, bad breath and mouth cancer. If smoking and drinking take place together, this can elevate the chance of mouth cancer development.
- The greatest number of dental accidents and the resultant injuries take place between 13 and 17 years age, while playing sports. In some sports such as basketball and baseball a mouth guard should be used to protect the teeth from accidental injury.
- Visiting the dentist should be promoted and monitored by parents, who should also emphasize dental health when bringing up teens by ensuring that dental checkups are regular and their teeth are assessed for periodontal disease.
- There are many ways that your dentist can help your teenage son or daughter to improve their self image by offering teeth shaping cosmetic procedures. Click here for more information on these services.
Personal image and what other people think about us are far more important in teenage years than in any other part of our lives. Different types of cosmetic dentistry options are available for teens who would like to enhance their appearance and personal image and they are not always too complicated or expensive.
If you would like advice on how you could help your teenage child’s oral hygiene, do not hesitate, call Advanced Dental Care at (217) 546-3333 today, to make an appointment. We would love to see you at our office.
Implant Dentistry: Preserving Natural Dentition
June 3, 2013
Preserving natural dentition
Dental implants have become one of the most comfortable and effective means of teeth replacement. The reason for the wide-spread use of dental implants in restorative dentistry is the excellent set of aesthetic and functional properties of dental implants. Among the numerous benefits of dental implants, the most important is the preservation of the natural dentition.
After the loss of a tooth, the surrounding bone undergoes resorption (bone loss) extensively due to lack of support. A dental implant placed in the same socket holds the bone and prevents undue loss.
Loss of a tooth creates an imbalance in the dental occlusion. The tooth present opposite to the missing tooth becomes functionally compromised. There can be a drifting of the rest of the teeth causing gaps between them and the tight contacts open up. Food particles and debris can get trapped in these gaps and become difficult to remove. Eventually, the teeth undergo decay and might even progress to the stage of loss of vitality if treatment is not done in the right time. Proper oral hygiene in such circumstances becomes difficult, thus increasing the chances of periodontal disease. Dental implants can prevent these problems by providing a functional replacement for the missing tooth.
If crowns and bridges are utilized as an option for teeth replacement, the integrity of neighboring teeth can be affected adversely. This is mainly due to the fact that they derive their support from the adjacent teeth. The periodontal ligament and the bone of the adjacent teeth have to bear extra stresses which in due course of time weaken them and, at times, even lead to their loss. Dental implants are inserted directly into the bone so they do not require support from the neighboring teeth. They function independently and naturally similar to every other tooth in the dentition.
Are you interested in learning more about dental implants? Attend one of our monthly No Cost/No Obligation Dental Implant Seminars. For details and dates and to register CLICK HERE or call us at (217) 546-3333
Dr. VanderMolen has the answers you need. Call and make an appointment at Advanced Dental Care today, (217) 546-3333.
The High Costs of Neglecting Your Teeth
May 27, 2013
It’s true; many Americans are neglecting their teeth. With limited dental coverage provided by insurance companies, many visit the dentist only when a serious problem arises. However, skipping your regularly scheduled dental check-ups can result in long-term costs to your health and your bank account. Preventative Dentistry is essential to a healthy mouth and body.
If you are waiting until you are in pain to visit the dentist, you are waiting too long. A small cavity may not cause pain until it has reached the root of the tooth. A relatively cheap and quick procedure to fill a cavity can prevent the need for a root canal, removal or implant which can cost thousands of dollars per tooth. During your regular dental visits, you will also be screened for signs of oral cancer. A recent study found that oral cancer is now the most expensive type of cancer to treat, with the average annual costs at almost $80,000 per year. The problem with most oral cancers is that they are uncovered so late in the disease that treatment is extremely difficult; early detection is the key to combating the treatment costs.
It is a fact that good oral hygiene is essential to overall health. Poor dental care can lead to all sorts of other health issues, including the number one killer in America: Cardiovascular disease. Oral bacteria build up when teeth are neglected and have been linked to clogged arteries and stroke. Another type of heart disease, endocarditis, has also been linked to bad dental hygiene. Heart disease alone costs over 300 billion dollars in health costs each year in the U.S.
In addition to visiting Dr. VanderMolen regularly for cleaning and check-ups, there are steps you can take on a daily basis to increase your oral health; regular brushing and flossing, a healthy diet low in sugar and avoidance of tobacco products.
It’s never too late to take control of your oral care. Contact Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today at (217) 546 – 3333, and set up an appointment. Dr. VanderMolen can provide you with a custom assessment analyze your risk factors and get you back on track to better health.
Dentistry From the Heart 2013
May 21, 2013
Dentistry From The Heart is a worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to those in need and each year, Advanced Dental Care of Springfield is proud to participate.
On June 7th from 7:30 am until 4pm, Dr VanderMolen and the entire team will offer free dental care (a standard cleaning, single filling or single tooth extraction – no cosmetic services provided) to those people in the Springfield IL area in need of care.
There will be no charge for the services provided and all care is offered on a first come, first served basis. No appointments will be taken this day.
We sincerely hope to make a difference in the lives of those who come for help during our 2013 Dentistry From the Heart event on June 7th and we’ll do everything we can to relieve pain and fix dental problems.
Patients who need ongoing care or have problems that cannot be corrected in one day will be referred to area community clinics, where they can receive ongoing treatment at a low or no cost.
Learn more from Dr. VanderMolen on Ask the Expert: 2013 Dentistry From the Heart
Missing Teeth, Missing Nutrition
May 14, 2013
A normal, healthy adult mouth has a complete set of 32 teeth. Each type of tooth has its own great role to play in the health and nutrition of an individual. If teeth are missing congenitally or due to any other reason like dental decay or trauma, the overall health can be influenced detrimentally without the proper preventative care.
Good Nutrition & Good Dental Health go Hand-in-Hand
Our teeth break down the food that we eat into smaller pieces that are easy to digest. If we have missing teeth, our food may not be chewed adequately which can lead to digestion issues. The nutrients within the food cannot be extracted completely if it undergoes incomplete or improper digestion. Besides, undigested foods form an excellent source of nutrition for bacteria inhabiting colon causing problems. All these symptoms can, in turn, take their toll on the overall health of a person.
There can be a profound psychological impact of missing teeth on an individual. One may have to avoid foods that used to be his/her favorites. This leads to depression and frustration and the person starts experiencing a reduced quality of life. Harder-to-eat foods like nuts, some type of meats and tough fruits are the ones that are mostly avoided. When one avoids such healthy foods, nutrition can be adversely affected.
Missing teeth should never be dealt with lightly. Dental implants are one of the best solutions for teeth replacement. They look and function like natural teeth. An important fact about dental implants is that they act as an independent unit. They do not derive support from neighboring natural teeth. You can chew almost anything and relish all your favorites without hesitation. They are the type of tooth replacements with highest chewing efficiency especially compared to removable dentures. Dental implants will help you eat healthy and stay healthy!
Why should you suffer due to missing teeth? Just call Advanced Dental Care at (217) 546-3333 for an appointment with Dr. VanderMolen and get your missing teeth replaced with dental implants! For more information, consider attending one of our Free Dental Implant Seminars!