Do You Need A Dental Device?

There is so much information on the Internet it can be difficult to see what is truth. You may have heard about a dental device that can improve your sleeping and decrease the negative impact sleep apnea is having on your life, but you may not have believed it was not something you were a candidate for.

Dr. Anna Lee and her team can help decrease the negative impact of sleep apnea on your life without having a loud c-pap machine to keep you up at night. A dental device by Dr. Lee and her team fits comfortably in your mouth to open up your jaw so that your throat does not close.

The dental device is custom made to fit in your mouth and improve your life. Sleep apnea can rob you from opportunities that come your way because you are tired, unfocused, and/or struggling to get to work on time. Dental devices are comfortable, fit perfectly in your mouth, do not make noise and do not require energy.

You have nothing to lose by contacting Dr. Anna Lee and her team for a consultation.

For more information on Oral Appliance Therapy and a dental device, contact Dr. Lee and her team today.

Healthy Eating for Older Children

The food that an older child consumes is critical, not only in developing life long habits, but also for the overall health of their teeth. Providing healthy snacks for your child can ensure they get the nutrients they need without the junk they don’t. Here are five tips from Dr. Anna Lee on how you can help.

·      Recent research shows that cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for children’s teeth.  Cheddar, Swiss and mozzarella cheeses stimulate the salivary gland to produce saliva and lessens the effects of acids attacking the teeth and causing tooth decay.

·      Avoid frequent snacking on sweets and sweet beverages between meals.

·      Serve snacks and meals that satisfy a child’s need for different types of foods-crunchy, soft, chewy, smooth, sweet, sour, bland and others

·      Offer snacks at regular times, such as mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Don’t let children snack throughout the day.

·      When shopping, allow the children help pick out fruits, vegetables and cheeses.  They will be more interested in eating them.

For more information on which foods are great for your child’s teeth contact Dr. Lee and her team today.

Step by Step to show proper flossing techniques:

·      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 other hand. 

·      Hold the floss tightly between your two hands, with about an inch of floss between them.  Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion.

·      When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth.  Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.

·      Hold the floss against the tooth.  Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.

Repeat this technique on all of your teeth, including the teeth in back.

Cosmetic Dentistry & Your Smile!

Porcelain-Fused-to Metal (PFM) Crowns are fabricated from both metal and porcelain. Porcelain is fused to an underlying metal substructure to form the overall shape of the crown.

The advantages of PFM Crowns are esthetics, strength and durability. The principal uses are crowns and fixed bridges. Different shades of porcelain can mimic natural tooth appearance.

The disadvantages of PFM Crowns are that they may wear opposing teeth, porcelain on the crown may fracture, dark lines along the crown margin and lifeless appearance.  Dental studies have shown that the porcelain of PFM Crowns can rapidly wear opposing teeth when the porcelain becomes rough; the porcelain surface should be re-glazed or polished adequately after occlusal adjustment. Another disadvantage is that the porcelain portion of PFM Crowns may fracture or separate from its underlying metal substructure. Sometimes, replacement of a new crown may be needed.  One of the esthetic complaints from patients is the dark line at the gingival margin of the crown. This usually occurs when the gum tissues recede and the metal margin of the crown shows. The porcelain that is used to mask the metal substructure gives a lifeless or dull appearance of the crown. This would be an important concern for front teeth crown restorations.

"Porcelain-Fused-to Metal Crowns are good choices for crowns and fixed bridges in the posterior area (molars)," Dr. Anna Lee.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease (gingivitis and peridodontitis) are infections of the gum and bone that hold teeth in place.

Gingivitis: this is the first stage of gum disease. Your gums may feel tender and you may see some bleeding when you brush or floss. The American Academy of Periodontology considers gingivitis the mildest form of periodontal disease that can be reversed by having a dentist or hygienist clean your teeth in addition to proper brushing and flossing at home.

Periodontitis: At this stage, bacteria in plaque spreads and grows below the gum line and causes infection, which can damage the bone and fibers that hold the teeth in place.

Warning signs of periodontal disease are:

-Bleeding gums
-Swollen or tender gums
-Receding gums (teeth that look larger than before)
-Persistent bad breath
-Loose or separating teeth

Proper dental and home care may help to stop further damage! 

For more information on periodontal disease: perio.org

What's the Connection?

Anna Lee, DDS

Need a refreshing drink:

Try Anna Lee, D.D.S’s perfect fruit punch

Make your family and friend’s taste buds come alive with the Perfect Fruit Punch.

Ingredients:

2 cups cranberry Juice

1-cup pineapple juice

1 cup orange juice

¼ cup grenadine syrup

¼ cup limejuice

1 lemon, cut into slices

1 lime, cut into slices

3-½ cups club soda chilled

Mix the juices and syrup in a large pitcher. Chill for at least an hour to allow the flavor to blend. Right before serving; add the lemon and lime slices and the club soda then pour over ice. Makes 8 cups.

 Anna Lee, D.D.S. Glendora Dentist

Over-The-Counter Tooth Whitening Products

Some Over-The-Counter whitening products, whitening strips and toothpastes contain polishing or chemical agents to improve tooth appearance by removing surface stains.

The American Dental Association cautions patients to use accepted whitening products under professional supervision for safety and better results.


Anna Lee, DDS 

In-Office whitening

There are many toothwhitening products available to dentists. These products contain hydrogen peroxide in concentrations ranging from 15 percent to 40 percent. They are sometimes used with a light, which is supposed to accelerate the whitening process. The whitening procedure is usually completed in 60 minutes. 

To help protect the mouth, a dental dam or protective gel is used to protect the teeth, gum tissues, tongue and lips. Safety glasses are used to shield the eyes from the light.

Most patients are happy and satisfied with the result. Their teeth are whiter and they smile with greater self-confidence. To maintain the white smile, the teeth may require periodic touch ups. The dentist will recommend a home maintenance kit.

Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity to cold food and beverages for a day or two following the procedure. Other report occasional irritation of oral tissues, but these symptoms usually dissipates after the procedure is completed. 

Anna Lee, D.D.S.

Do Children Grind Their Teeth?

About 15-33% of children grind their teeth during sleep between the ages of three and ten, but most of them stop grinding their teeth by age thirteen. Studies show that children who grind their teeth tend to do so at two peak times; when their baby teeth emerge and when permanent teeth come in according to Anna Lee, D.D.S at Glendora Dentistry. 

No one knows the exact cause of why children grind their teeth. A possible cause is the irregular contacts between upper and lower teeth when children have mixed dentition (baby teeth and permanent teeth). Another cause may be stress and anxiety.

Complications of Bruxism

In most cases, bruxism does not cause serious complications. But severe bruxism may lead to these possible problems.

- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Problems

- Damage to the teeth or jaw

-Facial Pain

-Tension-type headaches

Prevention of bruxism: 

-Avoid eating hard foods like nuts and chips

-Avoid chewing gum, makes you more likely to grind your teeth

-Avoid alcohol, intensifies grinding after alcohol consumption

-Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine; increases grinding during sleep

Anna Lee, D.D.S.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition that people clench their teeth during the day time or grind their teeth at night. 

Clenching occurs when the upper and lower teeth are held tightly together. Grinding occurs when upper and lower teeth slide back and forth over each other. 

Many people clench and grind their teeth from time to time and do not have any problems. 

Occasionally bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) does not usually cause harm, but when the condition occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth

Some of the causes of sensitive teeth are:

- Gum Recession-gum tissue that surrounds the tooth wears away or pulls back and exposes the root of the tooth. Tooth sensitivity is usually the first sign of gum recession. You may also notice a tooth with a receding gum line looks longer than normal.

- Gum disease-bacterial inflammation of the gingival tissues the gum line may cause gum recession. The exposed root surface of the tooth is susceptible to tooth sensitivity triggered by hot or cold food and drinks. 

-Tooth Decay-deep cavity of the tooth exposes the nerves in the center of the tooth (dental pulp) and can contribute to sensitivity. 

- Cracked/Chipped Teeth- Dentinal tubles (dentin) can become exposed due to tooth damage from a chip or a crack of the tooth.

-Brushing too hard- this is common cause of sensitive teeth. Brushing too hard may cause enamel loss and exposes the dentinal tubles (dentin) to outside stimuli and triggers sensitivity.

-Teeth grinding or teeth clenching-enamel loss or worn down enamel is commonly caused by teeth grinding or clenching. The loss of enamel exposes the dentinal tubles to outside stimuli and triggers teeth sensitivity. 

-Acidic Food-regular consumption of foods with a high acidic content such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee, tea, and sports & energy drinks can cause enamel loss and trigger teeth sensitivity.

-Teeth whitening products-A small percentage of people who use the whitening products for teeth bleaching experience temporary teeth sensitivity due to irritation from the chemical in the whitening products.

-Recent dental procedures-teeth sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, tooth restorations (fillings), crown preparation and cementation. The sensitivity is temporary and should subside in a few days or weeks. 

Common Dental Questions

Asked by Parents

Parents have questions about their child's dental care. Now you can get some of the most commonly asked questions answered by Anna Lee, DDS.

1. Why restore/spend money to fix the baby teeth with cavities when the permanent teeth are coming in soon?

Answer: Baby tooth decay will affect the health of the permanent tooth. Bacteria of untreated teeth may cause a higher risk of permanent teeth to develop cavities. 

2. What happens when the baby tooth is lost too early?

Answer: Baby teeth are like a space retainer for permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other permanent teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded.

Parents play a critical role in the dental success for their children. Early detection of decay can help solve problems in your child's mouth before they become worse. 

Remember early diagnosis and regular dental check-ups will prevent oral health complications. Don't wait, call Anna Lee DDS, office today for a dental check-up.

Anna Lee, D.D.S