Dr. Sarah Po - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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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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New Law Mandates Tooth Brushing at Day Care

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, February 25th, 2010

If your child goes to daycare in Massachusetts, you may need to start pack something extra in their backpack…

A new law will make it mandatory for your daycare provider to help children brush their teeth after a meal.  For children who are in daycare for at least 4 hours a day, tooth brushing will become part of their daily routine.

The driving force behind the new regulations from the Department of Early Education and Care is improving oral hygiene.  Dentists are embracing these new regulations, as 1 out of 4 children have tooth decay, and up to 50% do not get treated.

Some parents are concerned about the spread of germs.  To address this concern, only the teacher/provider is allowed to hand out a toothbrush and dispense toothpaste to each child, and each toothbrush is stored in a separate holder and case.

If you decide this is not what you want, your child may be excused as long as you provide a note.

Talk to your daycare provider and found out whether they are using fluoridated or non-fluoridated toothpaste.  If using a fluoridated toothpaste, they must use only a pea sized amount for children who are able to spit it out.  If your child is too young to spit out properly, talk to your provider about providing a non-fluoridated toothpaste.

I am greatly in favor of this new law, and am hoping that other states will follow suit.

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
Feb. 25, 2010

Source:  http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/22266008/detail.html

Categories : Latest News
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Should Your Child Get Dental Sealants?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, February 18th, 2010

In keeping with our theme for National Children’s Dental Health month, let’s discuss another popular topic: dental sealants.  What are sealants and what can they do for your child?

Sealants are plastic coatings that can either be clear or white.  A very thin layer of sealant material is applied to the biting surfaces of teeth, filling in all the grooves and pits which is where cavities often start.  There is no anesthetic or drilling required.  Once placed, the sealants provide a smooth glassy surface.  In my office we tell the children that we are going to “paint” their teeth to make them like “skating rinks”.

Permanent molars, which start to come into the mouth at around 6 years of age, benefit the most from sealants.  That’s because molars often have deep grooves on the biting surfaces which can retain bacteria and food particles.

Sealants can last many years; however, it is important to have them checked during regular dental checkups to make sure they are still intact.  Otherwise they may need to be redone.

Remember that sealants are only one aspect of a child’s preventive care.  Proper brushing and flossing, wise food choices, and regular dental visits are essential to maintaining the overall oral health of your child.

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

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 18, 2010

Categories : Cosmetic Dentistry, Healthy Teeth
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Dental Implants VS. Other Options For Replacing A Missing Tooth

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

When you are looking to replace a missing tooth, you have several options:  a bridge, a removable partial denture or flipper, or an implant.  Let’s talk about each one…

The quickest and least expensive option is a removable partial denture or flipper.  A flipper is like an orthodontic retainer with one or two teeth and some wire clasps that hook on to your other teeth.  Many people have difficulty chewing with a flipper in place, and even when properly fitted there is some loss of taste and texture due to having a bulky appliance in the mouth.

A bridge is advantageous over a flipper because it is a non-removable restoration.  Bridges are long lasting and will look and feel similar to the original tooth.  Essentially it would look like 3 or more crowns connected together, depending on the number of teeth to be replaced.  A major disadvantage is that if anything happens to one of the supporting teeth, the entire bridge may be lost.

Unlike a bridge, an implant is independent of the adjacent teeth and does not require the reduction of adjacent tooth structure.  The implant portion actually replaces the missing root and is placed surgically, usually by a periodontist or oral surgeon.  After the implant is successfully accepted and integrated with the patient’s bone, a crown is fabricated and secured onto the implant by your general dentist.  The entire process takes about 6 to 9 months.

Anyone of reasonable medical health with adequate bone should be a candidate for implants.  The benefit of an implant is that it is very secure, so you can chew without worrying about the stability of the replacement tooth or the strength of the adjacent teeth.  Having an implant is the closest thing to having your lost tooth back.

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

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 16, 2010

Categories : Dental Implants
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Early Detection of Oral Cancer

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, February 4th, 2010

When was the last time you had an oral cancer screening?  If you visit your dentist regularly, chances are you’ve had a screening recently.  This means your dentist or hygienist checked all of these soft tissue areas:  inside of your cheek and lips, all surfaces of your tongue, floor of your mouth, palate, lips, and throat.  Basically any red or white spots, bumps and lumps that are out of the ordinary would be noted.  Some offices use additional tools like the Vizilite Plus or the Velscope whenever they detect a suspicious lesion.

In one of my earlier blogs I mentioned that smoking is the number one risk factor for oral cancer.  But that does not mean the rest of us non-smokers are in the clear.  The American Cancer Society estimates that 25% of oral cancers occur in people who don’t smoke and have no other lifestyle factors.  That means virtually everyone is at risk, including you.

In addition, human papilloma virus (HPV), the sexually transmitted infection commonly associated with most cervical cancer cases, has been linked to oral cancer.

The good news:  Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it is caught early, and your dentist could save your life through early detection of oral cancer.  When premalignant or early stage oral cancer is found, the treatment is simpler, less invasive, and more likely to be successful.

So, I urge you to protect yourself:  If you are not visiting your dentist regularly, then no one is checking the inside of your mouth.  Have your dentist do a complete oral cancer screening during your dental checkups.  Whether or not you consider your teeth and gums a priority, I’m sure you consider a healthier life to be a priority.

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

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 4, 2010

Sources:
ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2006
Herrero, R et al. for the IARC Multicenter Oral Cancer Study Group.  Human papillomavirus and oral cancer:  the Internationl Agency for Research on Cancer multicenter study.
www.vizilite.com

Categories : Healthy Teeth
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Choosing a Toothbrush: Why Extra Soft is Best

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The goal of brushing is to remove plaque.  Plaque is a soft yellow or white deposit that contains bacteria and builds up everyday on teeth.  It is found mostly around the gumline and between teeth.  Bacteria in the plaque will feed on the foods you eat and break them down into acid.  This acid attacks teeth and gums, causing decay and gum disease

Plaque buildup that does not get removed within 24 to 48 hours will mineralize and turn into tartar.  Tartar is the yellowish-white or yellowish-brown hard deposit that cannot be removed with brushing.  The only way to remove tartar is with sharp dental scalers that your dentist or hygienist uses when you go in for your dental cleaning.

Since the main purpose of brushing is to remove the soft plaque deposits, a soft toothbrush is all you need.  A medium or hard bristle toothbrush will NOT be more effective at removing plaque.  In fact, scrubbing away with a hard or medium bristle will only strip away enamel, root surface, and gum tissue, causing toothbrush abrasion and sensitivity, and gum recession.  In contrast, an extra soft toothbrush will be gentle on the teeth and gums and remove plaque effectively with the proper brushing technique.

The next time you visit your dentist, ask for a demonstration of proper brushing technique.  I always recommend angling the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gumline, and using short strokes back and forth.  The best extra-soft toothbrush that I have found on the market is from Nimbus dental, and no, they did not pay me to say that.  You can order directly from the company at www.nimbusdental.com.  However, many other companies make very good extra-soft toothbrushes as well.

It is important to note that no matter how well you brush, there will be certain areas that no toothbrush can reach, and that is why it is important to floss.  And that is a topic that requires a separate discussion of its own, so look out for that blog in the near future…

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
www.elitesacramentodentist.com
January 26, 2010

Categories : Latest News
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