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Why Have a Dental Implant?

Dental implants replace an entire tooth, including the root, with a permanent replacement. Family Dental Health can tell you it is the #1 most popular tooth replacement method in all of dentistry, but there are many reasons dental implant surgery may be recommended.

Dental implants may work for you if you have one or more teeth missing, your jawbone has reached full adult growth, and you’re willing to commit several months to the implant process. Other times when dental implants might be a good dental solution include:

• When gum tissue is healthy
• When bone density is adequate to support an implant
• When a patient wants to speak more clearly 
• When a patient wants to eat and chew easily
• When a patient does not want to wear dentures
• When the patient does not use tobacco

Family Dental Health wants you to have a full, functional smile that you are proud to show. Though implants are more of a marathon than a sprint, they provide a permanent, beautiful solution for missing teeth. If you have questions or concerns about dental implants, get in touch with your Portland dentist at Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

What You Need to Know About Pregnancy and the Dentist

Expecting a child is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for parents, especially first-time parents. The list of foods to avoid, medications to stop, and vitamins to start can feel overwhelming. Every parent wants a healthy, happy pregnancy and baby. However, with the overwhelming amount of information and daily physical changes, moms and dads sometimes forget about maintaining good oral health. Family Dental Health has some answers to questions expecting parents might have about oral health while pregnant. 

Question: If I have ‘soft teeth’ or get cavities easily, will my child too?

Answer: While ‘soft teeth’ is not a medical term, there is a genetic component to cavities. Researchers are still learning, but one of the greatest risk factors for children getting tooth decay is if their parents have cavities. If you suffer from tooth decay, be sure your child has their first dental appointment 6 weeks after their first tooth erupts. 

Question: Can I have dental work done while pregnant?

Answer: If it is a dental emergency and you have an infection, get the dental work done immediately. Most other dental procedures are safe during pregnancy. However, the Family Dental Health recommends that elective procedures be done during your second trimester (weeks 14-20), as there are fewer risks of side effects. No matter what, contact your prenatal care provider to discuss any treatment you are considering. 

Question: Are pacifiers, thumb-sucking, or bottle nipples bad for my baby’s growing mouth?

Answer: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that most children stop using pacifiers, bottles, or sucking their thumb on their own. However, if the behavior continues past the age of three, your dentist might suggest intervention.   

Question: Can I skip my dental appointments during my pregnancy?

Answer: You should not skip your dental appointments. Seeing the dentist during pregnancy is very important. Because of the change in hormones, you are at higher risk for periodontal disease. Make sure you alert your dentist to any medication changes or dietary changes during your pregnancy. 

Question: Does what I eat during pregnancy affect my baby’s teeth?

Answer: Yes! Your baby’s teeth develop around the 3rd month of pregnancy. Eat a healthy diet with enough calcium and other nutrients to ensure teeth develop well. 

Question: Is there anything I can do to make sure my mouth and my baby’s mouth is healthy during pregnancy?

Answer: There are several things you can do to stay healthy during pregnancy. 

1. See your dentist regularly
2. Eat a well-balanced diet 
3. Avoid sugary snacks
4. Maintain a good oral hygiene routine
5. Add Xylitol gum or lozenges into your daily routine

Pregnancy is an exciting time. It is also a great time to think about taking great care of yourself. Don’t forget to keep your mouth and gums healthy while pregnant. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, schedule an appointment at Family Dental Health. We would love to see you and make sure you feel good about your oral health while pregnant.

“The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.”

What Can Your Teeth Tell Scientists?

There are a lot of things teeth can tell you about yourself, even more that dentists can determine during examinations, and even more that scientists can discover. For example, you can often feel when you have something stuck between your teeth, or when plaque is starting to build up, and you could use some quality time with your toothbrush. Dr. David Case can examine this, too, and with the assistance of our technology, we can also see cavities forming, enamel wear, the density of your jawbone, and more! 

These details are key when it comes to helping you maintain a healthy smile for life, but if we wanted to compare the difference in size between your jaw and the jaws of our ancestors from 4 million years ago, we’d need to consult scientists. 

Why would we be interested in obtaining this information? Partially because we find it fascinating, but also because it explains things like why our third molars (wisdom teeth) frequently cause issues when erupting or attempting to erupt.

The Jawbone’s Connected to the…

Did you sing “Dem Bones” or “The Skeleton Dance” in elementary school? If so, you might remember that your jawbone is connected to your skull. Fossilized skulls and teeth can tell us things like what kind of food our ancestors ate through what some scientists call a “foodprint”. Scientists can even use teeth to determine if someone moved to and from places with dramatically different foods or soils.

As your Portland dental team, we’re dedicated to learning all we can about teeth, past and present, so we can keep yours healthy and beautiful for a lifetime. To talk teeth and science with us, or just schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, contact Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Suffering from a Sore Throat & Bad Breath? You Might Have Tonsil Stones

You’ve heard of kidney and gallbladder stones, but have you heard of tonsil stones or experienced their formation yourself? The symptoms of tonsil stones may include:

• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain

None of these are pleasant, so your dental team at Family Dental Health is here to tell you ways you may be able to treat them at home, as well as offer advice on how you can prevent them from returning. 

Leave the Stones to Sisyphus

Tonsil stones are the result of bacteria and debris accumulation in what is called the crypts of your tonsils, so your best defense is a diligent oral hygiene routine! 

Your tonsils are an important part of a strong immune system; in fact, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat doctors) refers to them as your “body’s first line of defense.” That’s just one example of how your oral health is linked to your overall wellness, which is something we work hard to convey to our dental family because we want you to feel as fantastic as possible!

So, what should you do if you suspect you have tonsil stones? You may be able to see them if you open your mouth widely and stick out your tongue (like doctors ask you to when they use tongue depressors); they may be white, yellow, or gray nodes on your tonsils, or they might be burrowed within your tonsil and thus out of sight. 

Whether or not you see any, you may be able to dislodge them by gargling salt water or using a water flosser to flush the debris from your tonsils. Or, better yet, why not contact your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case of Family Dental Health, today to schedule a visit? We can perform a thorough and gentle examination and get you back on the road to optimal oral health!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

The Discovery of X-Rays

Family Dental Health can diagnose and screen for a host of maladies thanks to sophisticated imaging technology. X-rays are now so frequently used and so effective that most of us take their capabilities for granted, but it was not so long ago that a tumor or damaged bone couldn’t be found without the patient being cut open!

The discovery of X-rays was a happy accident. A physics professor named Wilhelm Roentgen was testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass and observed a mysterious light that would pass through human tissue and reveal details of the bones and tissue underneath. Because Roentgen didn’t know what the rays were, he called them “x”, meaning “unknown”.

The medical community and the public alike were very excited about X-rays, and as their use became commonplace, the potential side effects of radiation exposure were ignored at first. Scientists like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla sounded the alarm about the dangers of radiation, but X-rays were still used for entertainment purposes (such as carnivals) during the 1930s and 1940s.

Over the years, scientists have developed a better understanding of risks tied to X-ray radiation and developed procedures and protocols to minimize unnecessary exposure. The discovery and development of X-rays over time enabled advancements such as 3D imaging, cone beam imaging, and other imaging modalities essential to world-class dentistry today.

If you have questions or concerns about dental technology or just want to come take a look at all our cool machines, get in touch with Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

What Does Your Dentist Have Up Their Sleeve? Tools of the Dental Trade

Unless you’re frequently using your teeth as scissors or a nail file (we hope you aren’t!), the most common things placed in your mouth are food, beverages, eating utensils, and your oral hygiene BFFs: floss and toothbrushes. However, when you visit your Portland dentist, this script gets flipped.

At Family Dental Health, we utilize a few different types of gadgetry to evaluate your state of oral health and determine if anything is necessary to improve it, from our traditional and hand-held mirrors to our sickle probes (not as scary as it sounds), up to the digital x-rays and intraoral camera images we’ll take to create the most accurate record of your oral health.

All Bark & No Bite

You’ve heard this phrase when it comes to dogs with a ferocious bark that ends up turning into cuddle puddles when you pet them, but you’d probably never think to apply it to dental visits and tools, right? Well, Dr. David Case cares about your comfort, so you can count on their touch to be gentle and to consistently check in with you on how you’re feeling while we use the tools of our trade.

One of the things we love about dentistry is its evolution, which is evident when we see how tools have been upgraded over the decades to maximize your comfort and convenience, like the dental drill being swapped for air abrasion whenever possible.

Do you have questions about the tools we’ve mentioned in this blog or any other dental-related topic? Contact Family Dental Health today to schedule a visit and have them answer! We love talking about all things dentistry and sharing smiles with our Portland friends and neighbors. 

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Does Your Child Have Painful Sores in Their Mouth? This Virus Could be the Cause

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Open mouth, insert foot,” to describe a moment in which someone’s said something they wish they hadn’t, but have you heard of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? 

Despite it being a relatively common virus, it makes a lot of parents furrow their brows in confusion. Maybe the awareness won’t come in handy (no pun intended), but we think knowledge is power and want you to be informed. So, ready to dive in?

First, Let’s Wash Our Hands

Much like the importance of a solid oral hygiene routine for the prevention of gum disease and tooth decay, the importance of handwashing can’t be overstated, especially because there is no vaccination for HFMD. 

Hand, foot, and mouth disease can present with a fever, low appetite, a rash with blisters primarily on the hands and feet, and small sores in and around your child’s mouth. The virus that causes HFMD is called the Coxsackie virus, which spreads through microbes that can live on the body and frequently touch surfaces for several days. 

If you have an infant or toddler, you know many objects end up in their mouths, including unwashed hands, which then go on to touch other objects and could infect you, too. To protect them and yourself, wash often and well! 

Because HFMD is a virus, it has to run its course and can’t be treated with an antibiotic. There are ways to treat the symptoms that can provide relief, though, so don’t hesitate to contact Family Dental Health today if your child has been diagnosed with HFMD and you need recommendations. Your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case of Family Dental Health, wishes your little one speedy healing and hopes to see you both soon!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Benzocaine is Not Safe for Teething!

Benzocaine has been an over-the-counter local dental anesthetic for people of all ages for many years. It is available in most drugstores, often under product names such as Anbesol®, Orajel™, Hurricaine®, and Baby Orajel™. 

Recently, the use of benzocaine has been linked to a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder that reduces the amount of oxygen being transported through the bloodstream to such low levels that it may even prove fatal. As a result of these findings, the U.S.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that benzocaine products not be used to treat children under the age of 2 without close supervision by a medical professional like Family Dental Health. 

Methemoglobinemia symptoms may present from minutes to hours following ingestion, including:

• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, and nail beds
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Rapid heart rate
  

If you think your child is suffering from methemoglobinemia, take them to the emergency room immediately.

If your child is experiencing discomfort while teething, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you try soothing their mouth with a chilled teething ring or massaging the gums with your fingers. Chamomile drops have also been used by some parents as a natural remedy.

If you want to know more about benzocaine, the FDA provides consumer updates from time to time, and you can always ask us if there has been any new information as well. If you have any other questions or need to schedule a visit for your tiny tot, get in touch with Family Dental Health today!

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. Individual results may vary.

Does Your Child or Teen Experience Chronic Headaches? Chewing Gum Might be to Blame

Do you remember your first time chewing gum? If you’re like some of us at Family Dental Health, you might even recall hearing that swallowing gum would result in it staying in your stomach for up to seven years! 

There are a lot of myths that still float around these days, so if you hear that chewing gum may be the cause of headaches, you might be inclined to declare that false, too. However, doctors have found a link between the two, and we think it’s an important one to examine because of how many children and teens love to chew gum.

Chompers Need Rest

Before we discuss why chewing gum can cause headaches, we do want to state that plenty of Portland folks benefit from the way it can increase saliva production, which in turn helps fight enamel erosion. But if your child or teen chews gum frequently, their jaw might want a break, specifically their temporomandibular joint, or TMJ.

The constant pressure of chewing can stress the TMJ, and if your child happens to be a nail-biter or nighttime teeth grinder, even more trouble can ensue. To help their teeth and jaw relax, suggest they limit their gum chewing to one piece a day, perhaps after lunch, to help them reduce acidity in their mouth!

One more thing to note: some doctors believe artificial sweeteners like aspartame may be the cause of headaches. For this reason and because of its enamel-strengthening benefits, we recommend Xylitol-gums!

If you have any questions about gum chewing or other habits you’re unsure of when it comes to your child’s dental health, Dr. David Case would love to answer them for you. Contact Family Dental Health today to schedule a visit!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Lidocaine is Not for Kids

Oral viscous lidocaine is used to relieve pain from mouth irritation in adults as a result of chemotherapy and other medical procedures. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to caregivers that this type of lidocaine should not be used to treat teething pain in infants and young kids, warning that the drug could cause serious harm or even prove to be fatal.

The FDA feels, and Family Dental Health agrees that topical pain relievers applied to children’s gums are not useful because they wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes, and some, such as benzocaine, are harmful or even fatal to young children. Oral viscous lidocaine falls into the same category as benzocaine; if too much is ingested by a young child, the results can range from seizures and brain injury to death.

By the time children turn 3, most of them have had 20 baby teeth pushed through their gums, so they will have had sore or tender gums. Rather than use a topical pain reliever, try gently rubbing their gums with a cool spoon, a moist gauze pad, a clean finger, or a chilled teething ring. 

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule a dental visit. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a child’s first dental visit take place within 6 months after the first tooth appears, but no later than the first birthday.

Getting children started with regular preventive care and oral hygiene at Family Dental Health helps them develop healthy habits at a young age. Get in touch with Family Dental Health today to make an appointment for your child!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.