Since we are officially in February, it is time to reevaluate our New Year resolution(s) on cutting down on our vices. The two topics I am going to address today are the effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption on your teeth.
Alcohol and Your Dental Health
The biggest, and first myth, is that alcohol disinfects your mouth.
The fact is, drinking alcohol dries your mouth and is harmful. If you add lemon or lime to your drink, the beverage becomes more acidic and makes your teeth more prone to cavities. In addition to this, if you have a tendency to mix alcohol […]
What is a Socket Preservation?
When a tooth is extracted, there is a hole left in the bone where the roots of the tooth were present. If nothing is done it takes approximately 6 to 12 months for bone to fill-in to the empty socket. Sometimes food gets caught in the socket and may cause infection. In some instances the gum grows into the bone preventing a solid bone fill.
To avoid this, extraction sockets can be preserved by placing a donor graft material. A membrane is then placed over the bone graft and is held in place with an absorbable […]
What are dental infections?
Any pain or swelling in your mouth due to a tooth problem is considered a dental infection.
What are different dental infections?
The origin of dental infections can be categorized broadly as:
Dental origin
Periodontal origin
Majority of time the infections of dental origin are those that cause pain and swelling due to cavities that have extended to pulp. These infected teeth may have pus that has spread to the underlying bone cause extreme pain and discomfort.
The infections of periodontal origin are those where the teeth may be cavity free but the extensive loss of bone has caused infection.
What causes dental […]
Dental extraction means removal of a tooth. The tooth is loosened using instruments and elevated out of the socket. There are two common types of extractions: Simple Extraction and Surgical Extraction. Simple extractions are performed on teeth that are easily accessible and can be performed using local anesthesia. Surgical extractions are performed when the tooth to be extracted is not easily accessible and may require a small amount of bone removal.
Who needs a dental extraction?
If the tooth is broken down due to cavity and it cannot be restored to its former function and a pain free state, you may need […]
Face Your Fear!
Fear is a huge motivator of the good and the bad. The fear of losing a game will push an athlete to give their best. Fear of failing a test will make a student study hard. Fear of losing a comrade will push a soldier to lay their life on the line and fight for the cause.
Fear can also initiate anger, frustration and a sense of helplessness. A little science lesson from me, fear makes pituitary gland release Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), this nudges adrenal gland to release adrenaline and noradrenaline to create a fight or flight response in
you. […]
Pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of a disease. People on our planet are suffering from COVID-19. This post is a prayer to every one of us dealing with physical, emotional, financial and spiritual repercussions of this disease.
We are all in a war. We are in a war against a disease that is killing our family. The people who are losing their lives may or may not be related to each of you by blood, but we are connected by humanity. That’s the reason we cried when all those people died in Wuhan, it is the same reason we cry […]
Dental emergency is a very broad term. It could be a toothache, an abscess with swelling, or a broken tooth.
Accidents happen. For example, maybe your child fell and hit the curb and now has a cut lip and a broken tooth, maybe someone got hit in the mouth while rough housing with their sibling and a tooth was knocked out. You may have lost a filling and now have the nerves exposed causing intense pain. You may have lost a lost crown or a veneer in the front before a wedding or any other major event. A lost crown […]
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder where a person stops breathing repeatedly while sleeping, often multiple times in an hour. Also, if you have health issues like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and you are doing everything your doctor has recommended but are unable to get them under control, you might have OSA.
Signs and Symptoms
Loud snoring and stopping of breathing at night are both considered major signs of sleep apnea.
Being tired during the day even though you get the recommended 8 hours of sleep.
Falling asleep during the day while watching TV or while riding in a […]
Ozone is O3 (three atoms of oxygen instead of two) and is considered a “super oxygen”. Ozone is a very effective, naturally occurring disinfectant that kills bacteria, fungus, viruses, and parasites. Ozone has extensive applications in modern dentistry.
At Carrollton Smiles, we utilize ozone to disinfect the tooth surface before receiving a filling or a crown. Dental Ozone is also used to hasten healing after deep cleaning. Ozone is used to disinfect the canals during root canal treatment.
Ozone has tremendous benefits while treating lichen planus of the mouth. It can also be used to desensitize teeth and increase the […]
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep-related disorders in the world affecting millions of people. It can be caused by being overweight, obese or by smoking or having a jaw deformity. Obstructive sleep apnea simply refers to the soft tissues at the back of the mouth and throat blocking the airway. This causes the patient to wake up frequently during the night because of short cessations in their breathing.
What is Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea?
Mild or moderate sleep apnea refers to the condition during its early stages or when it isn’t as bad as someone who has severe sleep […]
