After anesthetic is given and the tooth is numb a small opening is made in the top of the tooth exposing the pulp chamber.

Using a small instrument (smaller in diameter then a mechanical pencil lead)
The vital tissue is removed from the area of the tooth that runs down the tooth’s root called the canal. Then the canals are cleaned and a filling is placed in the canals. The goal is to seal the end of the root where the nerves and blood supply enter the tooth.

Since the tooth is now dead it usually requires a procedure called a Build Up and a Crown to keep it from breaking.

Another cause is trauma to the tooth. This can be caused by the tooth being hit or bumped hard and in some cases by doing a filling. The closer the filling is to the pulp chamber, the higher the chance of the tooth needing a Root Canal.

And sometimes the tooth starts hurting and an abscess is present for no apparent reason.

Next time we’ll discuss how a Root Canal is done.

This is a common place to get decay and by sealing these areas off the risk of decay is decreased.

For many years I didn’t like placing a sealant on a tooth because I had seen some Doctors place a sealant over decay not knowing that the decay existed.

I now use an air abrasion system to clear the surface of the tooth before placing a sealant. And if there is any decay present I remove the decay at that time.

So now I am a big fan of Sealants, and especially on patients with deep grooves.

The hardest part for the patient is holding still so we can keep the surface of the tooth dry. The neat part is that no drilling or anesthetic is necessary

Most of the cases I have done have been with Invisalign. However now there are at least two more companies that are now competing with Invisalign. So I have now become certified with Clear Correct also.

Clear Correct is very similar to Invisalign and is trying hard to develop their business as the new kid on block.

Technically both companies are very similar, but Clear Correct has some advantages for the consumer, it’s less expensive.

So if you’ve been thinking about straightening your teeth, now may be the time for you to do it.

Now that Invisalign has some competition they are coming out with some improvements also.

While a lot of orthodontic treatment can be done without braces using clear trays, they haven’t replaced wires and brackets in some cases.

So if you’ve thought about straightening your teeth give us a call for a free consultation.

Recently a friend of mine who is an inconsistent patient of mine retired. While his wife comes in regularly, he hadn’t been in for several years when he retired last year.

Two months later he broke a tooth and came into see me. Because of extensive decay in the tooth, (that was also part of a Bridge), we had to make a new Bridge, replacing three teeth.

Now if my friend had come in before he retired and lost his insurance he would have saved $2000.00

So when you approach retirement, I recommend two to three years in advance, come in and visit me and let’s make sure we look at getting your teeth in the best shape possible in preparation for your retirement.

Now lets talk about how it relates to your mouth. We should actually call it a bone disease instead of a disease of the gums. This is because of the long-term results Periodontal Disease has.

It is the loss of the bone that holds the teeth in place. In fact this is the number one cause of tooth lose in adults. The bone resorbs away leaving your teeth loose just like baby or primary teeth.

In general the cause of the disease is from poor oral hygiene habits. So brush and floss everyday and see your dentist regularly. And guess what? As a side effect you’ll have more pleasant breath.

In my last blog on February 17, 2010, I printed an article showing the relationship between a mother’s periodontal disease and her stillborn child.
But it is also known that pregnant mothers with periodontal disease are more likely to have underweight babies and premature births.

Also studies have shown a relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes.

If that isn’t bad enough, anyone with periodontal disease is two to three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

So as you can see there are many reasons for taking care of your mouth besides saving teeth.

Pregnant woman’s gingivitis caused baby to be stillborn, scientists say

By Linda Carroll

Pregnant women with untreated gum disease may have more at stake than just their teeth. They may also be risking the lives of their babies, a new study shows.

Expectant mothers have long been warned that gum disease can cause a baby to born prematurely or to small. But for the first time scientists have linked bacteria from a mother’s gums to an infection in a baby that was full-term but stillborn, according to the study which was published Thursday in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Scientists from Case Western University made the discovery after a 35-year-old California woman contacted them to help investigate the death of her baby. Earlier studies by the same researchers showed that an oral bacteria called Fusobacterium Nucleatum could spread from the bloodstream to the placenta in mice. The women wanted to know if it was possible in humans.

Bacteria from the mouth can easily get into the bloodstream once a woman’s gums are bleeding, explains the study’s lead author Yiping Han, an associate professor of periodontics and pathology at Case Western University. Generally, this type of bacteria can be easily combated by the immune system of the mom-to-be, whether mouse or human. But because of special conditions that exist in the womb, the fetus can be more susceptible, Han suspects.

“Once the bacteria are in the blood, they can go almost anywhere,” Han says. “The placenta is an immuno-suppressed organ, compared to other organs like the liver and the spleen. And that makes it easy for the bacteria to colonize the placenta.”

The California woman told researchers that she had experienced heavy bleeding from her gums-a sign of gum disease-during her pregnancy. Bleeding gums aren’t unusual in pregnant women, with about 75 percent developing the condition due to normal hormonal changes. Mild gum disease can be treated simply by brushing and flossing more often. Pregnant women with more serious cases may need dental surgery.

Still, Beigi says, it should serve as a reminder that pregnant women with bleeding gums should see a dentist to treat their gingivitis. Gingivitis can increase the risk of preterm birth anywhere from twice to seven times, studies indicate.

The new study underscores the importance of oral hygiene not only for pregnant women, but also for those contemplating pregnancy, says Dr. Michael Lu, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and public health at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.

“We know that gingivitis doesn’t happen overnight and that it’s important for women to enter pregnancy in good health,” Lu says. ” I would love to see every woman who is contemplating pregnancy get pre-conception care that includes an oral-health check-up.”

Linda Carroll is a health and science writer living in New Jersey. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, Health magazine and SmartMoney.

 Even as an adult you are not too old.  I have been treating patients for several years now, some in their teens and others in their 60’s with Invisilign. Treatment consists of wearing a series of thin, clear plastic trays that are not visible while in your mouth.  Every two weeks you insert a new set of trays which are designed to exact specifications just for you. Each tray will shift your teeth slowly into place. The trays are worn continuously except when eating.

Besides  making  you look better, straightening   your teeth may also help you keep your teeth longer.  The number one cause of tooth loss in adults is Periodontal Disease.  When your teeth are crooked and crowded it is harder for you to keep them clean.  If you are not keeping them clean periodontal disease is the usual result, causing you to lose the bone support around the roots of your teeth. This then leads to the  loss of teeth because they become infected and have to be extracted.  In a future article on Periodontal Disease I will be talking about how it affects our overall health.