There are many people that are dealing with Gastroesophageal reflux disease which is relatively a common condition.  Acid Reflux is when the stomach acid are refluxed up, which may cause problems to your esophagus as well as your oral health and teeth if left untreated.   With regards to the one oral health care acid reflux can cause enamel erosion. Which can lead to tooth decay and other dental issues.  Acid reflux can also cause bad breath issues.  So it is not only important to speak to a doctor when dealing with acid reflux but also talk to your dentist.   

Let your dentist know that you are dealing with acid reflux. That way they will know to check more carefully for signs of tooth enamel erosion as well as wear on fillings. You may want to see a dentist more the just twice a year if you have constant acid reflux issues. Stomach acid will quickly damage teeth if you do not stay on top of your oral health care. So see a doctor for help in controlling your acid reflux and see a dentist regular to maintain syour teeth health. Also here is a good tip that may help you when you do get acid reflux and it comes up in your mouth. Immediately after do not brush but rinse with baking soda.  Baking soda will help neutralize the effects of the stomach acid that comes up into your mouth. Keep a record of food that make you more sensitive to getting acid reflux and try to limit yourself on those foods.

Although fillings can last many years they may not always last forever. Without knowing you can wear down a filling by constant pressure from chewing when eating. Other people also may grind or clench their teeth knowingly or not which will also cause wear on a fillings. People that grind their teeth when they sleep should wear a night guard in order to protect their teeth. You may not be able to see the wearing down on your fillings but a dentist can.

Normally a dentist will be able to spot weaknesses in fillings during your regular check ups. Without regular check ups filling wear will go unnoticed. If the seal between the tooth and the filling breaks down then you are leaving your tooth open to new decay, which can get under your filling. If left untreated the decay can progress to  the dental pulp and may cause infection and or abscessed. In which case can lead to larger dental services such as a root canal.

You can see the importance of regular dental visits. Many times people do not know any of this is going on until they start to have tooth pain. Preventive dental care not only saves you from unwanted dental pain, but in the long run will save you from having higher cost dental services. Keep in mind that there are many low cost dental insurance plans such as HMO dental insurance plans that offer free office visits, check ups, X-rays and cleanings. By buying and using dental insurance you can save money and help keep a beautiful smile.

Amalgam fillings are the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use today. Amalgam fillings are durable, highly resistant to wear and they are the lower cost filling option. Amalgam filling are made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements.

Although amalgam filling are still considered to be safe the concerns that was  raised were about the mercury content in amalgams. However the mercury when combined with the other metals is renders stable and safe for use in fillings. Since amalgam filling are able to withstand high pressure they become useful for filling in molars where chewing load is higher. Amalgam filling are well tolerated by most people with only rare occurrences of allergic response. 

Some people may have short term sensitivity to hot and cold after an amalgam filling as been done.  Course amalgam filling are silver in color which may be okay for back teeth not easily seen but might not be want you would want to have towards the front of your mouth. Amalgam fillings are useful in baby teeth.  If a child still has baby teeth but needs a filling you may not want to spend the cost for white color fillings, on teeth that will soon come out when your child start to get their adult teeth in.    

In the end amalgam filling still have their place and it should be something to consider when having filling done. Talk to your dentist and find out all your filling options then decide what you may feel is best for you and your family  And remember all dental services are less expensive when you have a dental insurance or dental discount plan in place.  So keep us in mind for your dental plans needs.

Often time oral thrush goes away on its own generally within a few days. Your provider may prescribe anti fungal medicine to treat thrush. You paint this medicine on your baby’s mouth and tongue. Also if you have a yeast infection on your nipples, your provider may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription anti-fungal cream

Question: My son just turn four month old and I think he is already teething. This is our first child, so we are not sure when a baby will normally start teething. Can they teeth at four month? Should I take him to see a dentist or a doctor?

Answer: There are babies that do start to teeth as soon as three months so do not be too worried if your baby it teething a four months. Some of the signs of teething would be: Drooling, Sucking on their hands and fists, fuss more, sleep less and all kinds of good stuff like that. There are teething products you can get at most stores, or if you have it Baby R Us that is a good place to go too. If you are worried about the teething process you can either go to your babies doctor or pediatric dentist either one should be able to help you. Go to the one you feel best about.

Americans Going to Mexico for Discount Dental Care. 

For many Americans going to Mexico for dental care is an excellent way to receive affordable dental care. Although there are many good dentists in Mexico, there are things you should know before crossing the border for dental care. If you have any problems with the dental care you receive in Mexico, there is little to no recourse. Most US dental insurance plans will not cover dental care out of the US. Find a dental office that provides patient reviews. Do some research into having dental work done in another country, such as Mexico. Review the pros and cons before making the decision. Make sure that the dental office you are going you are also able to communicate your dental needs fully.

Under most dental insurance plans preventive dental services such as general or basic cleanings are covered at no cost to you. The common dental term used for this type of cleaning is dental prophylaxis, which is a scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus, and stains.

Question: I went to the dentist the other day and I had no cavities which I though was good since I have not seen a dentist in many years prior to this point. I was told by the dentist that I do have gum disease and that I need to see a Periodontist. Why would I need to see a Periodontist? I am not too sure what that is but I am guessing it has to do with my gums. Why can not the dentist just do a deep cleaning that I thought you would get when people have gum issues. I do not have dental insurance and I know if I go to one of those Periodontist people it will cost me way more then I can afford. Is it really all that important that I go? After all my teeth are just fine and my gums do not hurt me.

Reply: One thing you may want to keep in mind is that when you go to a dentist the dentist is not thinking about whether or not you can afford to do what they suggest to you. The dentist is telling you only what he/she feel is the best thing for your oral health care. One would not refer you to a specialist if they did not believe that would be the best thing for you. At some point you need to tell the dentist that you can not afford to go to a specialist right now so you need to do the next best thing. The dentist may tell you how important it is to see a specialist, however if comes down to it they know it would be better for them to do what you can afford to have done then for you to do nothing at all. Dentist are not mind readers if you do not explain to them what you can and can not afford to do then do not get upset because they are telling you something that is costly and you can not afford it.

The Washington State Dental Association and Washington State Dental Laboratory Association worked together to lead a successful legislative effort to implement ADA policy on dental laboratory Registration.Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed the dental laboratory registration and disclosure bill into law April 19, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Commencing on New Year’s Day, all dental labs serving dentists in Washington state will be required to:
• Register with the state department of health.
• Disclose in writing to the dentist what materials are in each device or prosthetic.
• Disclose in writing to the dentist the city, state and country where each device or prosthetic was made.
• Have at least one lab technician annually complete 12 hours of continuing education or who is a certified dental technician.
Source: ADA

A Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation will typically includes evaluation of periodontal conditions, probing and charting, evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history and general health assessment. It may also include the evaluation and recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships and oral cancer screening.

Higher risk people may want to consider having an specialized cancer screenings done by their dentist. If you have any of the following factors that may put you at an increased risk for oral cancer, such as tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, cigars and dip. As well as alcohol use, or a previous history of oral cancer. Then ask your dentist if they think you are a candidate for special oral cancer screenings.

Generally dentists will conduct an oral cancer screening exam. An oral cancer screening exam may include a simple visual exam of the soft tissue to check for any apparent lesions, lumps, discolorations or other areas of concern.

It is important to know that an oral exam alone cannot conclude whether any area is cancerous or not. However, if your dentist does finds an unusual spot that they wishes to investigate further, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon or advise you to visit your health care provider (doctor) for additional evaluation

With a comprehensive oral evaluation your dentist will be looking for any changes since your last comprehensive exam inorder to catch any early signs of serious illness that may be otherwise undetected. Some illnesses which may be detected during a dental comprehensive oral evaluation:

Diabetes
Leukemia
Cardiovascular problems
Oral cancer
Immune abnormalities
Sinus problems

Typically during a dental examination, your dentist will perform a visual examination, and possibly bite wing or 360° panoramic X-rays which will help in detecting any new cavities. The Dentist will look for any weaknesses in already installed crowns, fillings and bridgework as well as gum or bone recession, teeth deterioration due to abnormal bite, bruxism or TMJ

Regardless of how vigilant your oral care regime is, the enduring development of plaque, and the porous nature of teeth makes teeth prone to tooth decay. To forestall the excessive development of plaque that can result in gum and tooth loss, oral evaluation and routine prophylaxis (basic clean) recommended for all individuals at least twice a year. The oral evaluation is performed each time you visit your dentist to serve as a benchmark of your overall health

Detailed And Extensive Oral Evaluation Problem FocusedA detailed and extensive problem-focused evaluation entails extensive diagnostic and cognitive modalities based on the findings of a comprehensive oral evaluation. Integration of more extensive diagnostic modalities to develop a treatment plan for a specific problem is required. The condition requiring this type of evaluation should be described and documented. Examples of conditions requiring this type of evaluation may include dentofacial anomalies, complicated perio-prosthetic conditions, complex temporomandibular dysfunction, facial pain of unknown origin, severe systemic diseases requiring multi-disciplinary consultation, etc.

Our insurance plans make having dental care more affordable. Our lower cost HMO plans have no waiting periods or Maximums annual limitations. We also however do provide PPO and Indemnity plans that will let you stay with your choose your own dentist. we also have a PPO plan without waiting periods depending on the state you are in. Check our our dental insurance option on line today. Just enter your Zip code in the quote box provided to review all our available dental insurance plan options. Have Questions? Call our customer service line at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am – 4pm as we are always happy to assist you with finding the right plan for your dental care needs.

The unexpected findings could pave the way for the development of preventative measures in tackling gum, by manipulating the normal bacteria in the same way that probiotic yogurt works to protect the intestine. Researchers at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute, including Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellow Mark Payne, worked with scientists in the US; they published their findings in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

Dental Health, Why you should see a dentist for regular dental check ups. Dental check ups consist of more then just X-rays and cleanings. The dentist is looking at more then whether or not you have any cavities or if you been flossing good enough. Dental check ups also include oral cancer screenings. By going to the dentist for your regular check ups, the dentist or hygienist is also checking for any signs of oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a serious dental disease in which claims lives on a daily bases. However it is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages. Many people do not have regular dental check ups due to lack of having dental benefits though their jobs and or due to cost of dental services and feeling they can not afford to go to the dentist. In some cases you can not afford not to go to the dentist.On this website and in every state we offer a low cost dental plans option or options, either by offering a low cost dental insurance plans or dental discount plans. Both will make having dental care more affordable.

If you have Gum Disease an no dental insurance currently, you may want to look into buying a dental HMO insurance plan. Dental HMO’s are typically a the lower cost insurance plan option, more importantly however, is that they generally do not have waiting periods. This is important when it comes to gum disease as you will want to treat it as soon as possible before it turns into an even larger dental care issue.