1960s American Dental Association PSA VIDEO

"1960s American Dental Association PSAs"

Caspar Fights the Plaque Demon VIDEO

"Caspar Fights the Plaque Demon" video is geared toward children.

Cracked Tooth and How to Fix It

Cracked Tooth Information

Something that can happen is a cracked tooth. Here are some facts you should know if you ever have this dental problem.

What Causes a Tooth to Crack?

If you have a sharp pain when you bite down on a tooth, you may have a cracked tooth. Certain foods that are denser, like roast beef, may cause pain when biting. Sometimes, the cracked tooth will also be sensitive to temperature changes, especially cold.

Why do some Teeth Crack?

Sometimes when we bite on something hard, a portion of the tooth breaks or a crack develops. I have had this happen to me eating popcorn, nuts, and cherry pie ( there was a pit in the pie filling). I have had patients who have bitten on steel buckshot that was not removed from the duck that was prepared for dinner.

An accident that causes trauma to your mouth can cause a crack and/or fracture. A large filling can precipitate a crack due to stress on the outside walls of the tooth. 

I have seen cracks and fractured teeth happen due to grinding and clenching of teeth. I have even seen a weightlifter break a front tooth from clenching during his lifting. Sometimes, eating ice cream and drinking hot coffee at the same time will induce a fracture due to extreme temperature changes.

How does the Dentist Diagnosis a Cracked Tooth?

In some cases, it is easy for the dentist to see the crack upon examination. 

 Sometimes, it is difficult or impossible to see the crack and an x-ray may not show any evidence. Sometimes a fiber optic light can illuminate the area of the tooth to show the crack.

One of the easiest ways to diagnose which tooth hurts is for the dentist to use a frac-finder device. This is a plastic instrument that is placed over the suspected tooth over each of the cusps (points) of each tooth and having the patient bite down on the frac-finder. 

If the patient feels pain upon biting, it is usually a good indicator that the tooth has a crack. Testing with cold air on several teeth is helpful to diagnose the offending tooth. If the patient cannot identify a specific tooth that hurts, I ask the patient to wait until the symptoms reappear. 

When the patient feels pain upon biting, the patient will place their index finger on the sensitive tooth and go to a mirror to see the problem tooth. Sometimes, biting on a Q-tip swab will elicit the pain to let the patient know of the problem tooth.

What is the Treatment of a Cracked Tooth?

The treatment of the cracked tooth can be as simple as minor bonding with a composite (white) filling to having the tooth removed if the crack is extensive into the roots. 

In many cases treatment will be a full coverage crown. 

Endodontic treatment (root canal therapy) may be required if the pulp is involved..

It is not unusual for teeth to have small cracks and most are asymptomatic (problem free). It is important for the patient to contact his/her dentist if a tooth continues to hurt to bite and have pain.

If YOU have a cracked tooth, or any other dental issue, contact me.

Even if you already have a dentist, I'm available to answer any questions you may have. to help you understand your condition and what to discuss with your dentist.

Top 10 Topics in Dentistry

Dental health is a big issue for all ages.

Your concerns and needs are important to me.

As a dentist, I'm always wanting to know what questions my patients have and what they want to understand better. It helps to keep track of what is trending, and going viral, when it comes to conversations about teeth and gums.

There are many ways I can discover what patients are typically worried about, or fascinated with, and you may find it interesting how I attempt to learn more about patients in general.

The American Dental Association, on their consumer facing website Mouth Healthy, presents this list of the most popular dental issues.

Which ones are you most interested in? Something not on this list? Post a comment and I'll respond to it.

Top 10 Dental Topics (click on topic to read more):

(1) baby teeth

(2) sensitive teeth

(3) dentures

(4) root canal

(5) wisdom teeth

(6) thumb sucking

(7) baby bottle tooth decay

(8) gum disease

(9) dental sealants

(10) antiobiotic prophylaxis or pre-medication

Visit to the Dentist - Carol Burnett Show VIDEO

Even dentists like a bit of humor now and then.

Check out this video about a dentist visit on the Carol Burnett Show. First aired in March 1969.

Teeth Whitening - Some Basic Facts

Making teeth gleam with a bright whiteness is a popular trend, especially in California, where some take it to an extreme. But everyone wants their teeth to look as good as possible.

In most cases, whiter teeth can be achieved without looking unnatural and without harming the enamel.

There are many different kinds of tooth whitening treatments available, including some do-it-yourself kits. You should know some basic information about whitening products before rushing into a specific approach.

Teeth Whitening Facts:

• Whitening can give you a more happy and healthy appearance.
• American Dental Association recommends consulting your dentist before starting any teeth whitening method, at home or in the dentist office.
• Technically, "whitening" means restoring teeth to their original color, while "bleaching" refers to whitening teeth beyond their natural color
• Our teeth tend to get yellow, darker, and stained as we grow older, so whiter teeth can make us look younger.
• Tooth decay and gum problems must be solved before any whitening treatment can begin.
• Dentist applied teeth whitening treatment can be safer and more effective than home treatment kits. Your dentist should use a comfortably fitting mouth tray and a professional whitening gel that contains a special buffer to protect tooth enamel.
• Your teeth can increase in whiteness by 10 shades in just one treatment.
• A whitening program can include home treatments to maintain the purest and brightest white possible and prolong the effectiveness of the whitening.
• How long a whitening treatment lasts depends upon factors like personal dental hygiene, avoidance of staining beverages and foods, avoidance of smoking, and age of patient.

READ MORE

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/whitening

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/teeth-whitening

http://www.aacd.com/whitening

Why I Became A Dentist

How does a person become a dentist?

There are several factors that led me to my desire to be a dentist. And how I ended up in Peoria, IL, but let's start with what led me to practice dentisty. It's a patient-centric tale.

First, as a young boy, I watched my dentist, Dr Robert McParland, as he did dental treatment in my mouth. Dr McParland first practiced on Pulaski Rd, in Chicago, on the second floor above a delicatessen. 

He was gentle and soothing in his methods. Patient comfort and understanding was always uppermost in his mind. He explained what he was doing and why. It made a huge impression on my young mind. I was witnessing genuine professionalism, mixed with human caring.

I would walk to his office. If you were a good patient, he would write a prescription and you would take the prescription to the deli downstairs for a free chocolate covered ice cream bar. 

Talk about a practice builder! 

He later moved his office to Montrose Ave. I would take two buses to see him at his office. It seemed as if I always had several cavities and a good check-up would only need one or two cavities filled. He was a nice man and could make small talk to me easily. He also seemed to enjoy his occupation. 

In eighth grade, I had to write down what my future occupation was going to be for the F. W. Reilly School paper. I thought being a dentist sounded good and I was the only one of eighty five eight graders to have it published in the paper.

As a young boy, I would buy model kits for airplanes, cars, and ships. I enjoyed following the instructions and assembling the parts to make the project. I never considered myself to be artistic, but I had a sense of what “looks right”. I was one of three boys from my grade school selected to go to Lane Technical High School, a magnet school on Addison St. 

It was a big deal to be selected to go to Lane Tech. Our school had over 5,000 boys and all had at least two years above average reading and math skills. Almost all of the boys were planning on becoming to be an engineer or a scientist. I had to pay attention in class and I enjoyed the challenging environment. 

I enjoyed science, but I couldn’t see myself in a laboratory all day. I wanted to have contact with people.

After high school, I attended Bradley University as a biology major. 

I briefly thought about being a physician, but I thought a dentist would have more autonomy in practice. I had good grades at Bradley and was accepted into the four dental schools that I applied, all in Illinois. I had to study more at Bradley and even more in dental school. 

After dental school, I was accepted into a dental residency program at John Cochran V.A. Hospital in St. Louis. I saw patients in the hospital that needed dental treatment. 

Every day was different. In some cases, I had to consult the patient’s physician regarding dental treatment. I attended rotations in the hospital, including anesthesiology. 

At one time, I thought about being an oral surgeon, but I thought being a general dentist would be more interesting. I get to see patients and improve their oral health and see their improved smile. 

It's a big deal to me to know I'm helping, in my small way, to enhance the lives of other people. 

A new smile can mean a whole new life of better chewing, improved digestion, an increase in social interactions, and a boost to self-confidence.

I hope you feel like you know me a little better now. 

I'd love to hear your story of how you got into whatever field you chose or business you have enjoyed.

LATER……How I came to Peoria.