Bad Breath?
Bad Breath
October 1, 2007 by ·
Question: I have bad breath and my wife lets me know about it. Please let me know what can I do about it and where it comes from?
Answer: More than 90 million people suffer from chronic halitosis or bad breath. In most cases it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused by bacteria from the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth, and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulfur compound that causes the unpleasant odor.  Bad breath is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene, but also can be caused by retained food particles or gum disease. Proper brushing including brushing the tongue, cheeks, and the roof of the mouth will remove bacteria and food particles. Flossing removes accumulated bacteria, plaque and food that may be trapped between teeth. Mouth rinses are effective in temporary relief of bad breath. Consult your dentist and/or physician if the condition persists.
It also may occur in people who have a medical infection, gum disease, diabetes, kidney failure, or a liver malfunction. Xerostomia (dry mouth) and tobacco also contribute to this problem. Cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy may experience dry mouth. Even stress, dieting, snoring, age and hormonal changes can have an effect on your breath. An odor that comes from the back of your tongue may indicate post-nasal drip. This is where the mucus secretion, which comes from the nose and moves down your throat, gets stuck on the tongue and causes an odor. Bad breath originating in the stomach, however, is considered to be extremely rare.
Saliva is the key ingredient in your mouth that helps keep the odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. When you sleep, however, salivary glands slow down the production of saliva allowing the bacteria to grow inside the mouth. To alleviate “morning mouth,” brush your teeth and eat a morning meal. Morning mouth also is associated with hunger or fasting. Those who skip breakfast, beware because the odor may reappear even if you’ve brushed your teeth.
Very spicy foods, such as onions and garlic, and coffee may be detected on a person’s breath for up to 72 hours after digestion. Onions, for example, are absorbed by the stomach and the odor is then excreted through the lungs. Studies even have shown that garlic rubbed on the soles of the feet can show up on the breath.
It is important to practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. To alleviate the odor, clean your tongue with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper, a plastic tool that scrapes away bacteria that builds on the tongue. Chewing sugar-free gum also may help control the odor. If you have dentures or a removable appliance, such as a retainer or mouthguard, clean the appliance thoroughly before placing it back in your mouth. Before you use mouth rinses, deodorizing sprays or tablets, talk with your dentist because these products only mask the odor temporarily, and some products work better than others.
Visit your dentist regularly because checkups will help detect any physical problems. Checkups also help get rid of the plaque and bacteria that build up on your teeth. Your dentist can check you out and make a determination where the source of the odor is originating. If it seems to be from a systemic problem you may be referred to your physician for further tests and evaluation.
Sedation Dentistry
October 1, 2007 by ·
Sedation Dentistry
 Question: I have gone to your web site and noted that you perform sedation dentistry. What is this exactly? How does this vary from IV Sedation and will it work on me? I have such a high fear of the dentist and don’t know if this program will sedate me enough to take care of my anxiety. Could you please answer me? Thank You, Sharon P.                                         Â
Answer: Sedation Dentistry is referred to as or “Dream Dentistry†at our Shelby Township dental office because it makes treatment just that, a dream. Sedation dentistry is safe and painless. Anxiety is controlled using what is called oral conscious sedation or a simple, safe sleeping pill before and during your treatment. During dental sedation you will become drowsy to the point of falling asleep. During your treatment and have virtually no memory of the visit. For that reason, it is sometimes also referred to as “sleep dentistry.†Can you imagine yourself sleeping through your dental visit? Sedation dentistry is ideal for patients who are fearful of going to the dentist, would like to get extensive treatment done in one long visit rather than making several trips to the dentist, and for those with a strong gag reflex. A sedation dentist can make getting dental treatment under these conditions much more pleasant.
           Intravenous sedation usually involves a deeper level of sedation. Because a sleeping pill is used for the oral sedation it is a safer technique if used with a proper protocol. Both techniques monitor the blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood to make certain the utmost safety is accomplished.Â
           We are able to treat 95% of patients with this technique. We have only had a few patients who are minimally responsive to the medication. These patients usually need to be sedated using the IV approach.
Â
Discounted Dental Plans-An Insider’s View
October 1, 2007 by ·
Discounted Dental Plans – An Insider’s View
Â
Recently, discount dental plans have been introduced into our area. On the surface, the prices look quite attractive and appear to be a good deal for the patient. Here is an insider’s view of these discount dental plans and factors to evaluate if you are considering buying into one.
Discount dental programs are often introduced by out-of-state companies. They hope to capitalize on the downturn in our local economy with the promise of new patients at dental offices that need more business. The dental plan company collects the upfront fee and then gets the dentists to agree to accept reduced fees directly from the patients with no participation in the dental plan fees. The company provides no additional services other than to negotiate reduced fees. While it appears to be a good deal for the patient. It may or may not be.Â
The dental offices must agree to reduce their accepted fees by 30%-50%, returning the dental fee structure to the 1970s level. However, the cost of providing dental services (materials, payroll, overhead) has increased 5-7% annually during the past 30years. What does the dentist do to make ends meet?Â
          Â
Dentists who choose to participate in the plans have several options to try to earn a living at reduced fees over the long run. They can just choose to earn less, push through more patients or cut costs. Following are the options the dentist might pursue and impacts those decisions may have on your dental care:
1.  Reduce the time spent with each patient – As a result, the type of service that you have been used to could be diminished.
2. Lower the quality of the dental work - Since the dental office would have to get more dental work done to earn the same income, they may feel pushed to perhaps not put the care and attention into the details that they might like to.
3. Use lower cost materials – Less expensive materials may be used to cut costs in order to stay profitable.
4. Schedule reduced fee patients at low demand times – You may be scheduled at times that are inconvenient for you. Reduced rate patients are often seen at slow times during the middle of the day rather than times such as Saturdays, evenings or early mornings that are in high demand.
5. Laboratory work may be outsourced overseas – The organizers of the reduced fee program offer a referred lab that will do the crowns at 50% of their regular fee. The only catch is that the specialized lab work is outsourced to either China or Mexico.
Â
When the economy is slow and income is impacted as it is for many in our area, we often have to make difficult decisions about what to save on and those things not worth scrimping on. Dentistry is not a commodity. Care you receive can vary greatly from dentist to dentist. You usually get what you pay for. Consider whether your health is something you want to scrimp on or take a chance on.
Â
If you decide to participate in a severely discounted dental plan, following are some questions you may want to ask yourself or the dentist:
1. Is the dentist giving full attention to my dental needs during my appointment?
2. Is the quality of the care consistent with the fees paid to the dentist? Is the value appropriate?
3. What are the materials being used in my dental care? I am comfortable with the quality?
4. Is scheduling during high demand times important to me? If so, will the office make those times available?
5. Is the lab work being done in the U.S.? If not, what quality controls are in place to ensure the work is done well?
Â
There may be situations where a highly discounted plan may make sense. However, buyer beware. You usually do get what you pay for
