“I Think I Broke a Tooth”

Hearing those words from a loved one or coming out of your own mouth can be accompanied by a sinking feeling. The thought “What happens now?” typically follows.

Naturally the first course of action should be to call your dentist to describe the situation and then follow the instructions you’re given.

There are several types of tooth fractures. Depending on the type of break, the tooth may be salvageable, but even if the tooth must be extracted, treatment options are available to restore both function and aesthetics.

The type of restoration recommended will depend upon the type of fracture and the location of the tooth in the mouth. Sometimes a piece of the tooth’s chewing surface breaks off. This is called a fractured cusp. In other cases the tooth may crack at the chewing surface. In this case early intervention may save the tooth; however, if the tooth splits, extraction will be necessary. Teeth can also crack from the roots to the chewing surface, allowing for infection to set in. Fortunately, there are several methods available to treat and restore broken teeth. Depending on the type of break, bonding, veneers, or a crown may be recommended. If a tooth can’t be saved, an implant may be a viable option.

Bonding uses a composite material to cover chips or cracks, or to close gaps between teeth. It can also be used to cover a discolored tooth. Bonding can be accomplished in a single visit, and with care the material may last a decade.

Veneers are made of strong, wafer-thin porcelain. They can be bonded to front teeth to camouflage chips for a natural look that may last up to 30 years.

Sometimes a damaged tooth can be protected with a crown. Crowns will provide protection from the pressures of chewing while giving the appearance of natural teeth.

When a tooth can’t be saved, an implant, which looks like a natural tooth, is anchored to the jawbone using titanium screws in a process called osseointegration to replace the lost tooth. Implants require several visits, but they provide the patient with a new tooth that functions and looks like the original.

Thank you for all your referrals. We appreciate them!

…even if the tooth must be extracted, treatment

options are available to restore both

function and aesthetics.

THE DENTIST’S PAGE

Produced for the patients of James E. Ellashek, D.D.S.Melinda A. Ross, D.D.S.

3665 Stutz DriveSuite 2Canfield, OH 44406

Fall 2017

OFFICE STAFF

Office Manager:Loretta Chapman

Dental Assistants:Shannon AliSonja Harrison

Hygienists:Sharon RichKimberly VernonShannon Havice

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Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives.

Brush 2 minutes, 2 times a day.

A Successful Transition from Bottle to Cup

Switching a toddler from nursing or bottle feeding to a cup should be accomplished before the age of 2. While transitioning a child to drinking from a cup can be daunting for parents, there are good reasons to start the process during a child’s second year. Continuing to use a bottle for too long can lead to baby bottle tooth decay because sugars and acids in the liquid remain on the teeth longer when the child drinks from a bottle—particularly when he or she is put down to sleep with a bottle containing milk or juice.

Using a bottle continuously can also lead to misaligned teeth; the sucking motion interferes with the proper development of mouth and facial muscles.

Some parents simply choose a date on which to cease using all baby bottles, while others choose to wean their child gradually. In either case, consistency will be key.

Parents who decide to wean a child should begin by replacing bottles with cups, starting with the lunch bottle and then switching the morning and dinner bottles before finally replacing the bedtime bottle. Parents can make this final step easier by sticking to a bedtime schedule that includes pleasant and relaxing activities, such as a bath and a story. Removing the bottle from the routine may be a struggle at first, but by staying firm, success should not be far off. It’s important for the child to learn to soothe him/herself and to be able to sleep without a bottle.

Each day, inside your mouth, a battle is waged. The bacteria that cause tooth decay will ingest sugars and starches and then produce acids that work to destroy enamel and eventually cause cavities.

The saliva in your mouth contains minerals that work against the bacteria by restoring areas where acid damage has occurred. Minerals found naturally in the mouth—including calcium and phosphate—along with fluoride introduced in toothpaste and fluoridated water, replace minerals eroded by bacteria that cause decay.

One way that you can affect the battle in favor of your teeth is by limiting sugary and starchy foods—especially by eating less often throughout the day. This is because the more often you eat, the more the teeth are bathed in acid, raising the likelihood of cavity development. Keeping sugary and starchy snacks to a minimum and drinking lots of plain water to rinse away food debris can help the minerals in your mouth as they work against the decay process.

The Battle Inside Your Mouth

Tough CasesSome children will cling tightly to their bottles. You may be able to convince such a

child to try a cup by offering a choice of different types of sippy cups, thickening the milk in a regular cup with vanilla yogurt, or simply removing the nipple from a bottle and replacing it with a straw.

Don’t worry about a calcium deficiency if your child refuses to drink from a cup. You can substitute yogurts and cheeses to meet nutritional requirements.

The tongue is in use during most of our waking hours. Its movement within the mouth aids in speaking, tasting, and swallowing food. When the tongue is healthy, it can do all those things with ease. But when the tongue is affected by trauma or an infection, those basic functions can be painfully difficult to complete.

When the tongue is accidentally bitten, an ulcer may result. Burning the tongue on hot liquids or food may cause discomfort that can last for a week or more. While painful, these issues usually resolve themselves within a short time.

A more uncomfortable problem that can be difficult to treat is oral thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth that causes white discoloration of the tongue’s surface. Oral thrush is more likely to occur in diabetics, infants, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Medications are often necessary to relieve the discomfort associated with this condition.

Excessive smoking can result in a sore tongue, as can inflamed taste buds and medical conditions such as anemia.

Women who are postmenopausal may develop burning tongue syndrome, which mimics the feeling of a burned tongue. This cluster of symptoms generally requires testing to rule out other causes of the discomfort, such as a vitamin deficiency. Pain relievers are frequently prescribed if no underlying cause is found.

Becoming senior citizens can mean the opportunity to take advantage of certain discounts, but it can also lead to amplified dental issues. Maintaining good dental health during aging can mean enjoying a better overall quality of life.

For instance, more than 20 percent of older adults experience some form of gum disease, but regular professional care coupled with good home care, especially daily flossing, can prevent periodontal issues.

Dry mouth, which is associated with certain medications, can increase the risk of tooth decay; however, steps can be taken to keep the mouth hydrated and ward off the development of cavities.

Because compromised dental health has been associated with heart disease and diabetes, working to maintain dental health into the golden years can mean better overall health as well.

A cavity is a bacterial infection, but unlike other bacterial infections that result in symptoms such as fever and a feeling of malaise, a cavity may not cause any discomfort until the decay is advanced.

In its earliest stages, a cavity will generally not cause discomfort. However, as the cavity grows larger, sensitivity to hot and/or cold or very sweet foods may be felt.

Regular dental checkups can often detect decay before it has reached the point where symptoms appear. A dentist can use X-rays and other techniques to discover cavities, enabling conservative treatment options to be effective.

Dental Issues of Aging

Sore Tongue?Oral Cancer Symptoms

Oral cancer can manifest itself in a number of ways. It does not normally cause soreness of the tongue, but that does not mean that tongue symptoms should be ignored. Any lump, red or white patch, or spot or lesion on the tongue that lasts over a week should be reported to a dentist. Regular examinations for oral cancer are important to catch problems early, when the disease is more likely to be cured.

Cavities Hurt, Right?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your trust and confidence in permitting me to take care of your dental needs through the years. It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement from dentistry effective January 1, 2018.

Because I want to be certain that my patients continue to receive the best possible care, I have carefully selected Dr. Melinda Ross, whom I believe possesses very high qualifications and is extremely well skilled in all phases of dentistry, to continue my practice. After working with Dr. Ross the past two years, I am confident that she will provide you and your family with the best dental care possible. Thank you again for your loyalty and confidence.

Keep smiling,Dr. Jim

© Copyright 2017. Newsletters Ink Corp. Printed in the U.S.A. www.NewslettersInk.com The information included in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for dental advice. For your specific situation, please consult our office.

Dear Patients,

New Approach to RestorationWhen a tooth is affected by decay, it is necessary to remove the decayed area and

replace it with a composite or amalgam material in order to restore the tooth to its normal function. Restorations often work well for years, but they may eventually require replacements.

A team of researchers in London have taken a different approach to the problem of decay. They believe that a medication used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s may be able to stimulate mineral regrowth in a decayed tooth to

create a natural restoration.The scientists applied a small amount of the drug, known as Tideglusib,

to the tooth using a collagen sponge to transfer it to the stem cells found in the pulp of the tooth. As the sponge disintegrated, the team found that

new dentin had grown in place of the sponge.Although research is still in its early stages, prior testing of the drug

for other uses may help scientists fast-track their research with the hope of developing a natural way to restore decayed teeth.

Ellashek Dental3665 Stutz Drive, Suite 2Canfield, OH 44406

Office HoursMonday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.Wednesday 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.Thursday 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.*Friday 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.**Doctors are in either Thursday or Friday of each week.Alternating Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-Noon

Appointment and Emergency Phone: (330) 702-8500Fax: (330) 702-8249

Website: www.canfielddentist.com

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