Dr. Sarah Po - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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Are there different types of mouth protectors?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Earlier this week I discussed the advantages of using a mouthguard during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw.

There are three types of mouth protectors:

  1. Stock
    Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
  2. Boil and bite
    Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector.
  3. Custom-fitted
    Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized they can offer a better fit than anything you can buy off the shelf.

Talk to your dentist about the different options and see what works best for you.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 5, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2970.aspx?currentTab=1#top

Categories : Healthy Teeth
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Do You Need a Mouth Protector?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (1)
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. This includes a wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball.

What are the advantages of using a mouth protector?
Accidents can happen during any physical activity. A mouth protector can help cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result in an injury to the mouth. A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss. A mouth protector can limit the risk of such injuries as well as protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.

A properly fitted mouth protector will stay in place while you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.

Ask your dentist about having a custom mouthguard made specifically for you. This will fit well and offer the best protection for your smile.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 3, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2970.aspx?currentTab=1#protector

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (1)

Should You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. When the jaw isn’t large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted (unable to come in or misaligned). Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way from the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone.

Extraction of wisdom teeth is generally recommended when:

  • Wisdom teeth only partially erupt. This leaves an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection. Pain, swelling, jaw stiffness and general illness can result.
  • There is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth.
  • They are so far back in the mouth that they are difficult to keep clean, resulting in recurring cavities.
  • A cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone or tooth roots.

If you have wisdom teeth, ask your dentist about their health and positioning .  Your dentist may make a recommendation for removal or send you to an oral surgeon for further evaluation.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
May 6, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2988.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Dentistry
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Are Dental X-rays Harmful?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Once in a while, I get a patient who refuses routine x-rays for fear of too much radiation exposure.  But how harmful are dental x-rays, really?  And do we really need them?

A typical dental x-ray exposes you to about 2-3 mrem (millirem).  To put it in context, the NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protections) says the average American receives about 360 mrem per year from background sources.  This includes radiation from the atmosphere and in some of the foods we eat.  Examples of other sources of radiation include cooking with natural gas (approx 10 mrem per year from radon in natural gas) and smoke detectors (approx 1 mrem per year).

On the other hand, dental x-rays benefit you by allowing your dentist to see and evaluate the supporting bones in your jaw, as well as between your teeth where any of the following may be present and undetectable by visual exam alone

  • decay
  • cysts
  • cancer
  • dissolving root and bone disease

Without x-rays, the ability to stop disease while it is small and inexpensive to repair may be lost.  This could potentially result in expensive, painful dental disease conditions, unnecessary loss of teeth, and possibly some medical complications as well.

The bottom line?  Properly taken dental x-rays are a necessary part of your dental examinations and will not expose you unnecessarily to harmful radiation.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Mar. 23, 2010

Categories : Dentistry
Comments (0)

What Can You Do About TMJ Problems?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Patients with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems can experience severe pain or discomfort that can last for many years.

Some symptoms of TMJ problems include

  • pain or tenderness in the jaw joint area or around the ear when chewing, speaking, or opening the mouth
  • earaches and headaches
  • a limited ability to open the mouth wide
  • clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth
  • difficulty chewing or biting

If you suffer from TMJ pain, here are some simple therapies you can try:

  • eat soft foods and avoid hard and crunchy foods.  Also avoid chewing gum because the repetitive motions will further aggravate the jaw joint.
  • Use heat or cold packs:  For chronic pain, use heat packs because this will expand the blood vessels and allow the body’s immune system and nutrients to come into the area and relieve pain.  With an acute injury eg. from trauma, apply cold packs because this will constrict the blood vessels and reduce swelling.
  • Use anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil or Motrin
  • Wear a night guard:  this should be made by your dentist and custom fitted to your teeth.  A properly made nightguard will position your teeth such that the jaw muscles cannot contract or clench, thereby relieving the stress on the jaw joint.  This is especially important if your TMJ pain is due to nighttime grinding or clenching.
  • Learn relaxation techniques to help control muscle tension in the jaw.

It is important to see your dentist for a complete evaluation and to determine whether other corrective dental treatments are needed.  For instance, you may be experiencing TMJ pain because of missing teeth or an uneven bite.  Your dentist can also rule out other causes of your jaw pain that could come from a tooth infection, gum infection, jaw bone fractures or dislocations, or other nerve-related problems.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Mar. 9, 2010

Categories : TMJ
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