Periodontal Disease Identification and Treatment

Dr. Beck, Dr. Morrow, and the staff at Mt. Tabor Dental take the dental health of our patients very seriously. One of the most important components of our new patient exams is our thorough evaluation for periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Evaluation Procedures

During the periodontal portion of a comprehensive dental exam, the doctors or hygienists use an instrument called a “periodontal probe” to measure the depth of the gum “pocket” or sulcus circumfrentially around each tooth.  The pocket depth, in addition to other findings, can indicate several dental conditions, most significantly the periodontal status of your teeth.

Periodontal Pocket Depth Indicators

You may wonder what the numbers mean when your practitioner is calling them out to be recorded.  The number is the actual depth of the pocket from where the gums start to where the tooth is connected to the gums and bone within the pocket. In general, pocket depths in the 1-3 mm are considered healthy and normal, but many times there is still evidence of gingivitis with these depths.  Any pockets measuring 4mm in depth or greater can signify the start of the periodontal disease process, meaning the bone holding the tooth in the socket has become inflamed and may start to be resorbed.

Checking Teeth and Gums for Periodontal Disease

In addition to measuring pocket depths, Mt. Tabor Dental staff also record gum recession, which are areas that gum tissues have been lost around certain areas of teeth.  Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gum tissues, can also lead to bleeding in certain areas, so these “bleeding points” are recorded as part of the exam.  All teeth are checked for “mobility,” or movement, to ensure that the tooth roots are firmly anchored to the jawbones.

Finally, the exam includes detection of “furcations,” which is bone loss around the roots of the teeth, usually a sequela of more severe periodontal disease.  Using all of this information, Dr. Beck, Dr. Morrow, and the hygienists at Mt. Tabor Dental take pride in educating patients on their periodontal conditions.

Follow-Up for Periodontal Treatment

For conditions that would best be handled by a specialist, we have a number of trusted periodontist colleagues who take very good care of our patients.  Whether treated by a specialist or by our skilled hygienists in-office, our practice will provide customized periodontal treatment plans that will not only educate you, but help you overcome any problems you may have.  Please contact Mt. Tabor Dental if you have any further questions relating to your dental or periodontal health.

Rubber Dams Protect Patients

Dr. Beck & Dr. Morrow at Mt. Tabor Dental take great pride in providing state-of-the-art dental care to our patients. One of the most important ways we protect our patients and help ensure lasting restorations is the use of the rubber dam.

What is a Dental Rubber Dam?

A rubber dam is a simple piece of equipment in the form of a piece of latex or silicone. This material is then cut to fit around a patient’s teeth in order to provide necessary treatment. Although simple in form and practice, this important piece of rubber has many advantages.

Advantages of Dental Rubber Dams

Used in dentistry for over 150 years, using a dental rubber dam has three main advantages.  First, it helps improve patient safety and reduce dental anxiety by creating a physical separation between the patient and the dental procedure being performed.  Another advantage is that the rubber dam minimizes contamination of the root system by reducing the bacterial load in the operating field during endodontic therapy procedures. Last, dental dams keep the operating field isolated and dry, which is necessary for some dental procedures.  This advantage is especially important when placing composite (tooth-colored) restorations, which are technique sensitive and require a very dry field in order to achieve long term success.

Use of Dental Rubber Dams

Not all dental practices use rubber dams routinely, but Dr. Beck and Dr. Morrow take this extra step in order to protect our patients.  We spend a lot of time and put a lot of work into producing high-quality dentistry, and using  the rubber dam helps our restorations last longer.  Of course, not all situations necessitate the use of the rubber dam, but we always try our best to use them when indicated.  If you have any additional questions or concerns about the use of the rubber dam or about how it benefits our patients, please contact Dr. Beck or Dr. Morrow at South Waterfront Dental.

Silver Versus White Fillings

Dr. Beck often has patients in his restorative dentistry office ask about the difference between white and silver fillings.

What Are Silver Fillings?

Silver fillings are not made of silver, but are called “amalgam,” and are used to fill cavities in teeth to prevent the

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spread of tooth decay. Amalgam used for fillings is a mixture of metal, including alloy composed of copper, tin, silver and mercury. These are known as “silver” fillings because of their appearance after placement.

Silver, or amalgam, fillings usually require the removal of more tooth structure than white fillings and often can cause some staining of the remaining tooth structure over a number of years.  That being said, amalgam fillings can last for decades because of their strength and ability to withstand hard biting forces.

What Are White Fillings?

While amalgam has been used for over 150 years and is still recommended for very large restorations, huge strides in materials science have been made with white, or composite, fillings.  Composite fillings resemble the natural color and texture of your teeth, and are made from composite resins. These fillings insulate teeth from extremes of heat and cold, and require less invasive preparation than amalgam.

Dr. Beck prefers to use white fillings when he can with smaller cavities because of the superior esthetics and the fact that newer composite materials have better longevity and adaptation than ever before.

Which Filling Should I Choose?

Dentists have many years of training in dental school placing both types of restorative materials. The decision to use white or silver fillings is usually made between the dentist and the patient after a discussion of the risks and benefits of each type of filling.

Next time you visit our dentist office, please feel free to ask Dr. Beck if you have any questions about the different materials used to restore your teeth.

X-Rays at Mt. Tabor Dental, Part II

Click here for Part I of X-Rays at Mt. Tabor Dental!

The technology behind dental x-rays has improved dramatically in the over 100 years since x-radiation was discovered.

While dental x-rays emit only very small doses of radiation, dentists work hard to keep patients safe from the harmful effects of radiation.  This is done primarily by reducing the dose using specially-calibrated machinery, regularly checked for safety and accuracy every two years as mandated by federal law.  The machine manipulates and eventually emits the x-rays through a very small opening at the end of the tube.  Film holders have been modified and lead shields are routinely placed over patients to help prevent scatter radiation, which is virtually absent in modern machines.

One of the most significant breakthroughs in contemporary dental radiography is the use of Digital X-Rays. Specifically, Dr. Beck uses electronic sensors, which allow the radiographic image to appear on a computer screen in seconds. This results in a faster diagnosis and appointment, and you can see the results right in front of you.  The most important safety benefit is a greatly reduced radiation exposure for our patients. Digital x-ray technology also benefits the environment, since the digital sensor requires less than half of the energy needed for a paper film. In addition, no developing chemicals are required for developing purposes that later need to be disposed.

Dr. Beck will make recommendations on how often you need dental x-rays. This depends on a number of factors, including your risk of getting cavities, your diet, medications you may be taking, and whether or not you have gum disease.

Mt Tabor Dental uses only the latest and most reliable technologies available to diagnose and treat any dental problems you may have.  Please ask Dr. Beck or one of the friendly staff at Mt. Tabor Dental if you have any questions about dental X-rays.

X-Rays at Mt. Tabor Dental, Part I

X-rays, or radiographs, were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist. He came upon the use of x-rays by accident as he was experimenting with vacuum tubes. The first x-ray taken by Röntgen was of his wife’s hand. This discovery eventually led to the use of x-rays to diagnose dental disease.

Photo by SoulSoap

X-ray waves make very small wavelengths, which means they are higher in energy than ultraviolet waves. Like other forms of energy, x-rays travel in waves and can either be absorbed by or pass through solid objects, depending on density. Bones and teeth are very dense, while soft tissues like the gums, tongue, and cheeks are less dense. This makes the conditions of teeth and jaw bone easy to see and monitor.

X-rays have made it convenient and crucial in the detection of dental caries, or cavities. As a cavity forms in a tooth, the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth lose mineral content, allowing more x-rays to pass through.  This becomes apparent on an x-ray as a dark spot, or “radiolucency.”

Dental x-rays can help dentists diagnose other tooth and jaw problems, such as cracks, gum disease, infections, root canal and nerve problems, and cysts.  X-rays can also be used to plan various dental procedures, such as implant placement, denture fabrication, wisdom teeth extraction and orthodontic treatment.

Traditionally, x-rays have been taken using x-ray sensitive film on one side of the area to be captured by the x-rays passing through your body. Technology, however, has improved many ways in which x-rays are taken and used for your dental health.

Dr. Beck at Mt. Tabor Dental uses an all-digital dental x-ray system.  The benefits of digital x-rays include significantly less radiation exposure and much faster processing times.  Check out our next blog to find out why digital x-rays are better and why Dr. Beck uses them for his patients!

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

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If there’s a teenager or young adult in your house, it’s probably time to consider having wisdom teeth extracted.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth, so called because they appear much later in life than other teeth when a person would presumably be wiser, are the farthest back of the molars to develop.

Wisdom teeth are situated at the very of your jaw and generally begin to come in between 17 and 21 years of age. Dentists call these teeth “third molars.” Some patients have third molars that erupt and don’t cause any problems.  They are able to eat and chew normally, unaware of their wisdom teeth.

For most of us, however, these teeth can cause problems.

Why Remove Wisdom Teeth?

There are many reasons that Dr. Beck and other dentists may recommend wisdom teeth extraction.  Sometimes the jaw is not large enough to accommodate all three molars.  Due to their location, third molars are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss, often leading to cavities and infection.

If there’s not enough room in your mouth for these teeth, they may become impacted. Symptoms that indicate impacted wisdom teeth include:

• difficulty opening your jaw
• swelling the gums at the back of your mouth
• pain when chewing, biting or opening your mouth
• bad breath

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see Dr. Beck immediately for treatment and possible wisdom teeth extraction. In some instances, a third molar will only partially erupt, leaving a pocket of gum tissue called an operculum that can lead to an infection.  In rare cases, impacted wisdom teeth that remain embedded in the bone can develop cysts and tumors that can affect other teeth.

Dealing With Wisdom Teeth

Dr. Beck at Mt. Tabor Dental recommends a comprehensive dental exam to help you determine the condition and health of your third molars. Regular dental visits with Dr. Beck will help ensure just the right time for wisdom teeth extraction. Oral exams and x-rays help Dr. Beck follow the progress of your development, pinpointing any potential problems before they start.

Even if your wisdom teeth currently pose no problems, it’s a good idea to get them taken out during young adulthood. The roots of these third molars are not fully developed, and the bone surrounding the teeth are less dense, resulting in less pain and faster healing. Getting rid of wisdom teeth before they become a problem is a definite indication of true wisdom!