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Posts for: December, 2018

Take Extra Dental Care Precautions While Undergoing Orthodontic Therapy

By Norwich Family Dental Associates
December 30, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral hygiene   orthodontics  
TakeExtraDentalCarePrecautionsWhileUndergoingOrthodonticTherapy

A “perfect storm” of dental disease could be brewing for your teenager undergoing orthodontic treatment. As braces or other appliances complicate hygiene efforts, newly erupted permanent teeth and changing hormone levels could also increase their susceptibility to tooth decay or gum disease.

Here are a few tips for helping your teenager maintain healthy teeth and gums while wearing braces.

Eat a Healthy Diet. Nutrition is a key component in a healthy mouth. Your teenager should eat a diet low in sugar, a key food source for bacteria that cause dental disease, and acidic foods and beverages that cause enamel erosion. Limit between-meal snacks to only a few times a day and drink acidic beverages only at mealtime.

Brush all Tooth and Gum Surfaces. For patients who wear braces, it’s important to thoroughly brush above and below the wire running through the affixed brackets. Holding the brush at a 45-degree angle, brush between the wire and gums all the way around both the upper and lower jaws, then repeat the same technique brushing surfaces below the wire.

Clean Between Teeth. Flossing can be difficult while wearing braces, but plaque removal from between teeth is necessary for healthier teeth and gums. Orthodontic patients can benefit from special flossing tools like floss threaders, small interdental brushes or irrigators that remove plaque with sprayed water under pressure.

Incorporate Fluoride into Your Dental Care. A proven decay-fighter, fluoride strengthens enamel against erosion and infection. In addition to hygiene products and many drinking water systems, we can also supplement fluoride through gels or varnishes applied to the teeth during office visits, as well as prescription toothpastes or rinses with higher levels of fluoride for patients at higher risk of dental disease.

Use an Antibacterial Mouthrinse. Orthodontic patients with gingivitis (gum inflammation) or other bacterial-induced conditions may benefit from over-the-counter or prescribed antibacterial mouthrinses.

Maintaining an orthodontic patient’s teeth and gums can be difficult, but not impossible. A little extra attention — along with regular office cleanings and checkups — will go a long way in preventing dental disease.

If you would like more information on effective oral hygiene while undergoing orthodontic treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Caring for Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment.”


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A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang

By Norwich Family Dental Associates
December 20, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   dental injury  
ADifferentKindofChipShotforProGolferDanielleKang

While the sport of golf may not look too dangerous from the sidelines, players know it can sometimes lead to mishaps. There are accidents involving golf carts and clubs, painful muscle and back injuries, and even the threat of lightning strikes on the greens. Yet it wasn’t any of these things that caused professional golfer Danielle Kang’s broken tooth on the opening day of the LPGA Singapore tournament.

“I was eating and it broke,” explained Kang. “My dentist told me, I've chipped another one before, and he said, you don't break it at that moment. It's been broken and it just chips off.” Fortunately, the winner of the 2017 Women’s PGA championship got immediate dental treatment, and went right back on the course to play a solid round, shooting 68.

Kang’s unlucky “chip shot” is far from a rare occurrence. In fact, chipped, fractured and broken teeth are among the most common dental injuries. The cause can be crunching too hard on a piece of ice or hard candy, a sudden accident or a blow to the face, or a tooth that’s weakened by decay or repetitive stress from a habit like nail biting. Feeling a broken tooth in your mouth can cause surprise and worry—but luckily, dentists have many ways of restoring the tooth’s appearance and function.

Exactly how a broken tooth is treated depends on how much of its structure is missing, and whether the soft tissue deep inside of it has been compromised. When a fracture exposes the tooth’s soft pulp it can easily become infected, which may lead to serious problems. In this situation, a root canal or extraction will likely be needed. This involves carefully removing the infected pulp tissue and disinfecting and sealing the “canals” (hollow spaces inside the tooth) to prevent further infection. The tooth can then be restored, often with a crown (cap) to replace the entire visible part. A timely root canal procedure can often save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted (removed).

For less serious chips, dental veneers may be an option. Made of durable and lifelike porcelain, veneers are translucent shells that go over the front surfaces of teeth. They can cover minor to moderate chips and cracks, and even correct size and spacing irregularities and discoloration. Veneers can be custom-made in a dental laboratory from a model of your teeth, and are cemented to teeth for a long-lasting and natural-looking restoration.

Minor chips can often be remedied via dental bonding. Here, layers of tooth-colored resin are applied to the surfaces being restored. The resin is shaped to fill in the missing structure and hardened by a special light. While not as long-lasting as other restoration methods, bonding is a relatively simple and inexpensive technique that can often be completed in just one office visit.

If you have questions about restoring chipped teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Porcelain Veneers” and “Artistic Repair of Chipped Teeth With Composite Resin.”


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Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children

By Norwich Family Dental Associates
December 10, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: x-rays   pediatric dentistry  
AdvancedEquipmentandSafePracticesEnsureX-RaySafetyforChildren

When it comes to our children’s safety, there isn’t much nowadays that isn’t under scrutiny. Whether food, clothing, toys and more, we ask the same question: can it be harmful to children?

That also includes tried and true healthcare practices. One in particular, the routine x-ray, has been an integral part of dental care for nearly a century. As a means for detecting tooth decay much earlier than by sight, it has without a doubt helped save billions of teeth.

But is it safe for children? The reason to ask is because x-rays are an invisible form of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate human tissue. As with other forms of radiation, elevated or frequent exposure to x-rays could damage tissue and increase the future risk of cancer.

But while there is potential for harm, dentists take great care to never expose patients, especially children, to that level or frequency of radiation. They incorporate a number of safeguards based on a principle followed by all healthcare professionals in regard to x-rays called ALARA, an acronym for “as low as reasonably achievable.” This means dentists and physicians use as low an exposure of x-ray energy as is needed to achieve a reasonable beneficial outcome. In dentistry, that’s identifying and treating tooth decay.

X-ray equipment advances are a good example of ALARA in action. Digital imaging, which has largely replaced film, requires less x-ray radiation for the same results than its older counterpart. Camera equipment has also become more efficient, with modern units containing lower settings for children to ensure the proper amount of exposure.

Dentists are also careful how often they take x-ray images with their patients, only doing so when absolutely necessary. As a result, dental patients by and large experience lower dosages of x-ray radiation in a year than they receive from natural radiation background sources found every day in the environment.

Dentists are committed to using x-ray technology in as safe and beneficial a way as possible. Still, if you have concerns please feel free to discuss it further with your dental provider. Both of you have the same goal—that your children have both healthy mouths and healthy bodies for the rest of their lives.

If you would like more information on x-ray safety for children, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “X-Ray Safety for Children.”


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  • 2021
      • March (1)
        • Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale Crushes on Smiles
      • February (2)
        • It's Time to Show Your Gums Some Love
        • Don't Avoid Dental Care While You're Pregnant
      • January (4)
        • This Laser Procedure Promises Big Benefits for Gum Disease Treatment
        • Too Old to Straighten Your Smile? Not If You're Like These A-List Celebrities
        • Topical Fluoride Could Boost Your Child's Avoidance of Tooth Decay
        • Smoking Could Increase the Risk of an Implant Failure
  • 2020
      • December (2)
        • How to Ensure Your Child's Teeth and Gums Stay Healthy Now and Later
        • Listen to Ellen DeGeneres: Don't Think You Can Get Away Without Flossing!
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        • Age Doesn't Have to Stop You From Straightening Your Smile
        • The Kind of Tooth Pain You Have May Identify the True Problem
        • Here's Why Smoking Can Be Hazardous to Your Dental Health
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        • Dakota Johnson and Her Missing Tooth Gap Sparks Online Debate
        • Transform 'Smile Zone' Teeth With Composite Resins
        • 4 Ways Saliva Protects Your Mouth Against Disease
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        • Wisdom Teeth Bear Close Monitoring for Future Dental Health
        • Why Kathy Bates Chose This Alternative to Braces and so Might You
        • Direct Veneers Offer a Quick and Affordable Alternative to Traditional Veneers
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        • Your 'Toothache' Might Signal a Problem Other Than in Your Mouth
        • 2 Kinds of Orthodontic Retainers That Can Protect Your New Smile
        • NHL Iron Man Keith Yandle Suffers Dental Trauma on Ice
        • Practice Daily Hygiene to Avoid Gum Swelling While Wearing Braces
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        • Replace Your Teeth in Stages With the Help of Dental Implants
        • This Oral Appliance Could Help Solve Your Sleep Apnea Problem
        • Pop Star Demi Lovato Pops Out Jay Glazer's Tooth
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        • What Really Happens During a Root Canal Treatment
        • Here's the Scoop on Your Upcoming Root Canal
        • Sedation Can Help a Child Receive Needed Dental Care Now and in the Future
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        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
        • 3 Things You Should Do to Protect Your Teeth Later in Life
        • Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Smile and Your Life!
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        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
        • Facial Nerve Pain Can be Controlled
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        • Stay Ahead of Gum Disease Re-Infection with Periodontal Maintenance
        • Answers to Common Questions About Root Canal Treatments
        • What You Can Do About Bad Breath (Unless You're a Famous Actress Pranking Your Co-Star)
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        • The Case for Moving Just a Few Teeth Orthodontically
        • 4 Supposed Health Dangers in Dental Care That Aren't Dangerous
        • Removing One or More Teeth Could Improve Orthodontic Outcomes
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        • NBA Player's Injury Points Out Need for Mouthguards
        • No Matter When the New Decade Begins, Be Sure You're Partnered With Us for Your Dental Care
        • You May Need Something Other Than Ointment to Clear up This Facial Rash
  • 2019
      • December (3)
        • You can Get Relief from Facial Pain
        • Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
        • New "Behind the Teeth" Braces Could Give You the Advantage of "Invisibility"
      • November (3)
        • More Than Indigestion: How Acid Reflux Could Harm Your Teeth
        • Chronic Mouth Breathing Could Create Conditions for a Poor Bite
        • Bruins' Zdeno Chara Breaks His Jaw During 2019 Stanley Cup
      • October (3)
        • Your Quest for a Dental Implant Might Be Interrupted by Bone Loss
        • Celebrate World Smile Day With More Attractive Teeth
        • That Scalded Feeling Isn't in Your Head - It Could Be Burning Mouth Syndrome
      • September (3)
        • Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
        • New Minimally Invasive Techniques are Improving Tooth Decay Treatment
        • The Before, During and After of Root Canal Treatments
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        • You Need a Dentist to Remove Tartar From Your Teeth
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • If Appropriate, Antibiotics before Implant Surgery Could Reduce Infection Risk
      • July (3)
        • Even All-Natural Fruit Juice Could Increase the Risk of Tooth Decay
        • Tooth Type and Condition can Affect Root Canal Therapy Effectiveness
        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
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        • Jaw Joint Disorders may be Connected to Other Health Problems
        • Getting a New 'Tooth in a Day' Will Depend on Your Bone Health
        • 3 Tips for Successful, Safe Home Teeth Whitening
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        • How Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus Got Their Stellar Smiles
        • Keep an Eye on Your Family's Fluoride Intake
        • Your Teenager not Ready for an Implant? Here's What We Can Do Instead
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        • Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
        • If a Root Canal Can't be Done, this Procedure Might Save Your Tooth
      • March (3)
        • Good Reasons for Choosing Clear Aligners for Orthodontic Treatment
        • Think You're Too Old for Orthodontics? Read This
        • Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
      • February (3)
        • Understanding the Aging Process Leads to More Effective Orthodontics
        • You May Need Your Dentist's Help Easing the Pain of Severe Canker Sores
        • Not Jazzed About Wearing Braces? Consider Clear Aligners Instead
      • January (3)
        • Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
        • Lingual Braces Offer a Less Visible Alternative to Traditional Braces
        • Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Take Extra Dental Care Precautions While Undergoing Orthodontic Therapy
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
        • Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children
      • November (3)
        • Diabetes Doesn't Have to Stop You From Acquiring Dental Implants
        • Avoid Implant Failure by Watching Out for These Mouth Problems
        • Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
      • October (4)
        • 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
        • Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
        • No Need to Fret Over Implant Surgery
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
      • September (3)
        • What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
        • 3 Ways to Take the Jitters Out of Dental Visits
        • A Bonded Retainer Might Work for You after Orthodontic Treatment
      • August (3)
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • How to Treat the Problem of Teeth that Never Developed
        • Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
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        • What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Be on the Alert for Gum Disease While Wearing Braces
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        • 3 Areas to Watch to Avoid Excessive Tooth Wear
        • Caps, Gowns and Smiles for High School Graduation
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
      • May (3)
        • Sealants Could Protect Your Child's Teeth From Future Problems
        • Not a Fan of Using CPAP for Your Sleep Apnea? Consider an Oral Appliance
        • Root Canal Awareness Week: A Time to Learn How Teeth Are Saved
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        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
        • Bone Loss: the Hidden Consequence of Your Missing Teeth
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        • Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child as Early as Possible
        • 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
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        • How Tara Lipinski Protects Her Teeth from the Daily Grind
        • 3 Things You May Not Know About Orthodontics
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        • You may Need Orthodontic Work Before Getting a Dental Implant
        • 3 Reasons Why Smoking Doesn't Mix with Dental Implants
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Stop White Spots Before They Appear While Wearing Braces
        • Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
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        • 4 Tips for Avoiding Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
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        • Tackling Dental Plaque
        • Why Dental Care is Even More Important When You're Pregnant
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        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • An Orthodontic Retainer: Insurance Well Spent for Keeping Your New Smile
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        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • The 3 Top Causes for Tooth Sensitivity
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        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Your Dentist may have the Solution for Your Sleep Apnea
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
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        • Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
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        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
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        • Pediatric Dentists Specialize in Dental Care for Children and Teens
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
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        • Even if a Root Canal Won't Work, This Procedure Could Save your Tooth
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
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        • Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
      • January (3)
        • Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
        • Chronic Jaw Pain Could be Related to Other Inflammatory Conditions
  • 2016
      • December (1)
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
      • November (2)
        • Correct a Cross-Bite by Widening the Upper Jaw with an Expander
        • A Royal Fix
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        • Reduce Sugar Consumption - for a Healthier Mouth and Body
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
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        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • 4 Things to Give Your Child a Head Start on Good Oral Health
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        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
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        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
        • Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
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        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
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        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Replacing a Missing Tooth isn't Just About Improving Your Smile
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        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
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        • 4 Things you Should do if Your Child Complains of a Toothache
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
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        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
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        • Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
        • Lamar Odom Rebounds From Dental Anxiety
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        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
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        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
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