Dr. Sarah Po - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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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)

Tooth Eruption Charts

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Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

For all you moms out there who wonder when your children’s teeth will come in…

Teeth vary in size, shape and their location in the jaws. These differences enable teeth to work together to help you chew, speak and smile. They also help give your face its shape and form.

At birth people usually have 20 primary (baby) teeth, which often erupt about six months of age. They are then shed at various times throughout childhood. By age 21, all 32 of the permanent teeth have usually erupted.
Eruption Charts
Primary (Baby) Teeth Eruption Chart

Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart

So there you have it!  Hope this was helpful.

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

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
July 20, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2930.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Dentistry
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How to Floss Your Teeth

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

I often get asked questions such as “do I really need to floss”, “how often should I floss”, and “what teeth should I floss?”  My response is “You should only floss the teeth you want to keep!”

Next to brushing, flossing is the most important thing that you can do to ensure healthy teeth and gums.  It is important to floss at least once a day.  Follow these tips for proper flossing technique:

  • Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
  • Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
  • When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
  • Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
  • Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
  • Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.

People who have difficulty handling dental floss may prefer to use another kind of interdental cleaner.  There are many types of flossers available on the market that come with handles to make flossing easier.  These are especially helpful for people with arthritis or other health conditions that affect their dexterity.

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

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

Source:  http://www.ada.org/3072.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
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Tips for Dealing with Dental Emergencies

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call your dentist immediately.

Jaw-Possibly Broken
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

Objects Caught Between Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist.

Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

Most dentists reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients. Call your dentist and provide as much detail as possible about your condition.

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 20, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/3098.aspx?currentTab=1#top

Categories : Healthy Teeth
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Silver vs Tooth-Colored Fillings

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Which should you choose?  Most people would say hands-down the tooth-colored fillings.  After all, they look better and contain no mercury.  Let’s look more closely at both options:

Silver (amalgam) fillings have been used by dentists for over a century.  They are made from a combination of mercury, silver, tin, copper and other metallic elements.  While questions have been raised about their safety due to their mercury content, major international scientific groups including the FDA and the NIH state that they are safe, reliable, and effective restorative materials.

Composite fillings, also called “tooth-colored”, “white”, or “resin” fillings, contain a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium.  They provide good durability and resistance to fracture.  They allow for smaller and more conservative fillings than amalgam because less tooth structure needs to be removed when the dentist prepares the tooth.  They are also bonded with adhesive to the tooth structure, allowing for a better seal.  This is why I use composite fillings exclusively in my practice.  And it is an added bonus that they look better.

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

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
April 8, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fillings.asp

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

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
Comments (0)
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