The Blog

ANUG aka “Trench Mouth”

By • March 29, 2011 • Random Facts: tooth, insurance, stories • Leave a comment

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis. ANUG is a condition of the mouth  commonly called “trench mouth”. It is caused by a bacterial infection of the gums; necrotizing periodonatal disease. It is a progressive painful infection with ulcerations, swelling, and sloughing off of dead tissue from the mouth and throat area, due to the spread of infection from the gums.

ANUG, or trench mouth, occurs with higher prevalence in association with other diseases in which the immune system is compromised. Smoking and poor nutrition contribute to this disease as well.

Some sign and symptoms include:

  • Painful, bright red gums that bleed upon gentle munipulation.
  • Halitosis
  • Necrosis and/ or ulceration of the gum around and between teeth.

Treatment includes professional therapy available through our highly trained hygiene department. Our hygienists will irrigate and debride the necrotic areas. (Areas of dead and/ or dying gum tissue.) In many cases a site specific antibiotic, such as Arestin or Atridox, can be placed. Treatment is effective and can be successful if regular maintenance appointments are kept along with excellent home care.

Insurance 101

By • March 3, 2011 • Random Facts: tooth, insurance, stories • Leave a comment

Many people don’t understand how their insurance works or how to get the most of the benefits they’re paying for. Some are mislead by companies, actually not really sure what they are spending their money on. Some pay premiums once a month and only show up for their cleanings, leaving cavities to get worse. You are paying to receive discounts on services that you are not taking advantage of.

If patient”X” pays $39.oo/ month (which is average) for dental coverage, he pays $468.00 per year in dental premiums. If all you come to the dentist for is for 2 cleaning, 2 exams, and one set of bite wing x-rays, you have overspent by more than $150.00 per year.

Your average yearly limit on your insurance is about $1200.00 per year, depending on your policy. A benefit you pay for and don’t use is essentially GIVING money to your insurance company.

Keeping up with your cleaning appointments is great, your cavities will be getting worse and more costly to repair in the end. Don’t wait around for your cavity to turn into an emergency. Use your insurance instead of letting it use you.

Although, here at Asheville Dental Care, we do not work directly with the insurance companies, we will do everything we can to help you maximize your dental insurance coverage.

After 6 Month Smile- Retension

By • March 3, 2011 • 6 Month Smiles • Leave a comment

After Dr. Powell removes your 6 Month Smiles braces you will able to enjoy your new smile! You will also need to keep in mind that your teeth will shift without the use of a retainer. Retainers are given to you once your braces have been removed. Retainers work as a cast to hold your teeth in their new position.

At Asheville Dental Care, we offer our patients options for which type of retainers they would like to use. The first option is actually part of the 6 Month Smile package. We supply our patients clear plastic removable retainers. Dr. Powell also offers  “fixed” retainer. This retainer is not removable and is actually bonded to the inside of the teeth.

6 Month Smile- Adult Cosmetic Braces

By • March 3, 2011 • 6 Month Smiles • Leave a comment

Six Month Smiles utilizes clear braces to gently straighten teeth in an average time of only six months, some less! By focusing on the teeth that show when you smile and not making significant bite changes, Dr. Powell can comfortably straighten your teeth and give you the smile you have always wanted.

The Six Month Smiles adult braces uses the latest technology and techniques in dentistry to move your teeth quickly and safely. The key components of the treatment are the use of nickel titanium wires and a primary focus of moving the teeth that show when you smile. The braces are tooth colored so they are barely visible, nothing like metal braces!

There are no ore risk of tooth root damage or other issues than those associated with traditional orthodontics. Teeth are seldom extracted with Six Month Smiles and the force used to move teeth is lighter. This means there are actually fewer risks involved in this technique.

Six Month Smiles is right for you if you are approximately 15 years old or older with crooked or spaced teeth and you are NOT looking for a major alteration to your bite. Most adults are candidates for Six Moth Smiles.

Six Month Smiles® is a modern twist on tried-and-true orthodontics.  There is little debate within the orthodontic community that braces are the most widely used and most effective method to give patients straight, healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.  Six Month Smiles has taken the best aspects of braces and modified the treatment and the materials to give adults a common-sense, cosmetic solution that fits your lifestyle.  Here is what makes Six Month Smiles so innovative …

  • Average treatment times of only six months
  • Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok™ clear brackets and Chameleon™ tooth-colored wires are barely visible
  • Use of braces has shown to provide the most conservative and predictable final result
  • Six Month Smiles Patient Tray Kits™ ensure that your appointments are fast and comfortable
  • Low forces and short overall treatment times increase comfort, safety, and hygiene
  • Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers

 

Tooth Care for Bulimia

By • March 3, 2011 • Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders • Leave a comment

  1. Regular dental visits with Dr. Powell
  2. Rigorous hygiene and meticulous home care.
  3. In office flouride applications to prevent further erosion and decrease dentin sensitivity.
  4. Daily home application of flouride in custom trays to promote the remineralization of enamel.
  5. Use artificial saliva replacements. There are toothpastes, rinse, and gel.
  6. Rinse mouth immediately with water after vomiting to reduce acidity in the mouth.
  7. Use flouride rinse to neutralize acids and protect and remineralize the tooth surfaces.
  8. Do NOT brush after vomiting, this will lead to excessive enamel erosion.

Dental Aspects of Bulimia

By • March 3, 2011 • Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders • Leave a comment

Dr. Powell has experience with many bulimia sufferers. Some mild, and some with more extensive issues. Bulimia is a disorder that plagues many people, some are able to hide the problem, some aren’t so fortunate. Beside the obvious physical changes, there are changes that can be detected during your routine dental examination. At Asheville Dental Care we carefully diagnose and treat the after effects of bulimia. Some signs are:

Outer surface erosion . This is the most common effect of vomiting. This usually occurs on the upper, front inside surfaces of the teeth. If the back teeth are affected there is often a loss of the biting surface , which become highly susceptible to decay that can lead to infection of the nerve. These signs usually appear after two years of bulimic habits. The symptoms could progress to the point of causing sensitivity, the margins of fillings on the back teeth may appear higher than the surfaces around the filling, change of bite due to change in tooth structure

Parotid gland swelling. Swelling is common in bulimics. Gland enlargement is related to the duration and severity of vomiting. Dr. Powell or the hygienist will check for this enlargement as part of your dental exam.

Dry mouth. The amount of saliva is effected by the abuse of diuretics, laxatives, and dehydration from fasting and vomiting. We carry a variety of products for you to try.

Gum tissue trauma. This is due to ingesting large amounts of food and forced vomiting. The soft pallet may also be damages by using objects to force vomiting. Dehydration will also effect gum tissue.

All these issues and more can be addressed by Dr. Powell and staff at your first visit. The first visit for someone with an eating disorder can be scary, we do everything possible to help you feel comfortable, safe and understood. There are many ways we can help, give us a call.

How Acid Erosion Effects Your Teeth

By • March 3, 2011 • Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders, Random Facts: tooth, insurance, stories • Leave a comment

Dr. Powell has seen an increase in the effects of acid erosion on our patients teeth. This is due to an increase in the consumption of sodas, energy drinks and coffee products. Acid erosion is a type of tooth wear that occurs when acid softens the surface of the tooth’s enamel. The constant attack from acids in our food, drink and stomach temporarily softens the enamel and it loses some of its mineral content. Even with the natural defense of saliva that slows this process, you are still fighting a loosing battle. If you combine this situation with aggressive brushing the result is significant wear leading to transparency, cracks, change of tooth shape, and thinning of the teeth. We have patients that are dealing with this issue, Dr. Powell can help prevent the progress of this problem.

No soda for the kids? What about juice?

By • February 9, 2011 • Preventative Care • Leave a comment

Many parents think that keeping their children from drinking sodas is a great step toward preventing tooth decay, it is. But, what do you replace their favorite beverage with? Most would substitute with fruit juice. Bad idea. Fruit juices, even “no sugar added” are full of sugar. When giving toddlers a sippy cup at bedtime, sugar coats the teeth overnight and can cause a condition called baby bottle tooth decay or “bottle rot”.  Start children out with good bedtime habits like brushing well and only drinking water after brushing. Setting a routine of good habits early in life will result healthy habits, healthy teeth, and healthy lives!

Periodontal Disease: Is It Contagious?

By • February 9, 2011 • Preventative Care • Leave a comment

Periodontal disease is NOT contagious. It is a multi-faceted disease that effects the life span of your teeth and gums. The initiating factors are primarily oral bacteria, which can spread from person to person. So, in that respect, periodontal disease is technically “infectious” because it takes direct contact (person to person, intimate kissing) or sharing a toothbrush. Being in the same room with someone with periodontal disease is not enough contact to contract the disease.

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)- The Damaging Effects

By • February 4, 2011 • Preventative Care • Leave a comment

We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don’t produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth. Unfortunately, many people with this problem are not fully aware of it until Dr. Powell detects the damage it causes to your teeth.

There are many causes of xerostomia. Some medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect, prescription and non-prescription. Common drugs which can cause dry mouth are to treat depression, pain, allergies, colds, asthma, hypertension and more. Some cancer treatments, smoking, dehydration, and nerve damage can cause xerostomia as well. Dr. Powell or your hygienist will consider your medications at your office visit for this possibility.

Dry mouth is a problem because it increases a person’s risk of gingivitis, tooth decay, and mouth infections. Denture wearers also have problems if battling dry mouth. At Asheville Dental Care we have a variety of different products you can try to see which you like best!

Some ways you can overcome dry mouth is :

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Brush with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Use fluoride rinse
  • Maintain regular visits to you dentist
  • Use over the counter saliva replacements (ex:Biotene products)
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