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We often get asked if there is anything else that can be done to prevent cavities. Chewing gum that has Xylitol as a sweetener can really help!  Xylitol is a sugar that is commonly found in birch tree sap and is naturally occurring in some fruits and vegetables.  Xylitol works to prevent cavities in a number of ways:

Here’s why xylitol prevents cavities.

• Bacteria cannot break down xylitol into acid as they do from all other fermentable sugars (i.e. sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, etc.).
• When bacteria intake xylitol, they don’t intake as much other fermentable sugars, reducing acid production.
• Xylitol helps prevent the bacteria from adhering to the enamel, which prevents them from reproducing.
• Xylitol, used in conjunction with fluoride, can be more effective at repairing and remineralizing teeth than fluoride alone.

Xylitol actually works to control the number of acid-producing bacteria in the mouth, which can in turn prevent cavities, and is available in many forms, from gums and mints to toothpastes and mouth rinses.

Cedar Creek Dental Advice:

• Xylitol is usually measured in grams, and studies show the recommended therapeutic dose is 6-11 grams per day.
• Alkaline dental products that combine xylitol and fluoride may be more effective.
• If you ingest more than 25-30 grams in one day, you may have an upset stomach and/or diarrhea.
•  can be very harmful, even potentially fatal, to dogs, as they Xylitolcannot metabolize it like people can.

Does Trident gum have enough Xylitol to help prevent cavities?

• Based on our most recent tests, Trident® gum has 0.17 grams of xylitol in each piece*. That means you would need to chew more than 35 pieces of Trident each day to reduce decay causing bacteria. Trident relies on sorbitol for the bulk of its sweetener.
• Epic gum contains 1.06 grams of xylitol per 1.5 gram serving, more xylitol grams/serving than any other gum available in the US.

We often get asked why it is necessary to put a crown on a tooth after a root canal. In most cases, a tooth that needs a root canal has lost a significant amount of tooth structure from decay or a fracture. During the root canal procedure, some additional tooth is removed to gain access to the canals. The mouth is a hazardous place.  Teeth are under tremendous stresses.  Biting forces of up the 900 lbs per square inch have been measured! After the root canal the tooth becomes brittle. This combination leaves the tooth in jeopardy of fracturing if we don’t give it some help.

One of the most disappointing things we have to tell someone is that their tooth cannot be restored because it is irreparably fractured. All that time and expense having the root canal was lost because a crown wasn’t placed. However, if the tooth is cover up with a crown normal esthetics and function can be restored.

We found a link to a great web site for video on implant topics. Implants have been around for decades, but the concept is still new to many. Here’s the  link:

http://products.pbhs.com/human_touch/dental_implants/index.html

Click on the link and look for the tab that says “Main Menu”.  Find a topic of interest from the drop down menu and click on it.

Cosmetic Dentistry… Whitening for brighter smiles

Nothing makes an impression quite like a bright white smile. But as we age, teeth often become dulled or stained. Causes vary but can include coffee, tea, red wine, food acids, cigarettes, soda, medications, illness, and even genetics.

Some people just have brighter enamel naturally, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to deal with a dull smile. Teeth whitening can be used to correct discoloration of the teeth by removing most staining.

At Cedar Creek Dental, we use a chemical process to lighten and brighten the color of the patient’s teeth.

In the first step of this process, we make a mold of your teeth. From that mold, we create a custom mouth tray for you. This custom tray is a critical part of the treatment. It is thinner and more comfortable than the generic, ready-made trays. Custom trays also provide a better fit than over-the-counter one-size-fits-all mouth tray, increasing safety because they reduce the chance of whitening solution irritating the gums. They also ensure that the correct amount of whitening solution is used and that your teeth are properly exposed to the whitening solution.

Once the custom mouth tray is ready, you can take it home – along with instructions from your dentist – and get started. Because the trays need to be worn over a period of a few hours at a time, most people opt to wear them while they sleep. You will normally see results in one to three weeks, depending on the original level of discoloration and the desired degree of whiteness. Your Cedar Creek Dental dentist will set a follow up appointment with you to gauge your progress and address any questions or concerns, but the bulk of the process is done in your home – at your convenience. You can follow this link to watch a short video which will tell you a little more about the process and show you the trays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYuBdppgoU4&feature=related

Teeth whitening is not a permanent procedure. Results can last for a year or more, depending on your personal habits. Your custom trays can be reused for touch up whitening as long as you haven’t undergone any major dental work. In most cases, whitening procedures are very effective and our patients are pleased with the results. Contact our office for more information, or to set up an appointment. You don’t have to wait for a whiter, brighter smile.

 A missing tooth can affect your smile – literally and figuratively. But you don’t have to live with the loss. If you lose a tooth, an implant could be the answer.

A dental implant replaces the missing tooth root without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth the way a bridge can. With a bridge, the teeth on either side of the vacant spot are ground down to support the bridge which covers the gap. With an implant, the replacement tooth is anchored directly to the bone, leaving the neighboring teeth fully intact.

An implant will also better preserve the bone over time. When a tooth becomes dislodged, the bone that had surrounded it often deteriorates, or resorbs. Dental implants replace the tooth root and integrate with the jawbone which helps keep the bone healthy and strong.

For more information about implant dentistry, or any other dental questions, feel free to call our office.