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Tag: general dentist reno
Reno Dentists Discuss Two Types of Dental Cleanings
Reno Dentists: Do You Have Gum Disease?
Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?
How to Chew Gum and Improve Your Oral Health
The first caveat for chewing gum responsibly is that it must be sugarless. Chewing gum with sugar is actually, one of the worst things you can do for your teeth since it constantly reintroduces acid and sugar into your mouth, eroding tooth enamel. Sugar-free gum, however, may have the opposite effect. Sugarless gum can help remove trapped food particles in between teeth and encourage saliva production. Your saliva washes away harmful bacteria and neutralizes acids. Therefore, increased saliva translates to a less acidic and less hostile environment for your tooth enamel.
Sugar Alternatives that Fight Cavities
Some sugar-free gum manufacturers have taken smile protection a step further by using sugar alternatives like xylitol. This natural sweetener actually attracts and traps harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay and starve them. You can read the nutrition facts on the back of your gum to make sure xylitol is an active ingredient.
Avoid Contributing to TMJ Disorder
The second requirement for healthy gum chewing is to spit it out. Once you pop a piece of gum in your mouth, pay attention to the time. Make sure that you do not chew gum for more than 15 minutes at a time. Chewing gum for any longer can actually put stress on your jaw muscles. Excessive jaw muscle tension leads to dental health conditions such as TMJ disorder and teeth grinding. Continue reading “Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?”
Helping Patients Feel at Ease with Comfortable Dentistry in Reno
Comfortable Dental Services in Reno
Whether you have an appointment with our Reno dental office for a routine dental checkup or dental implant placement, you can expect our dental team to take extra steps to help you feel relaxed. Just let us know what we can do to make your appointment more pleasant.
Sedation Dentistry in Reno
If you hesitate to address a dental issue because of fear or embarrassment, Drs. Wager and Evans can help you reclaim your oral health and calm your nerves. For patients with dental anxieties, we offer sedation dentistry. Nitrous oxide is an example of mild sedation dentistry that can allow you to get the dental treatment you need.
How Nitrous Oxide Helps Patients with Dental Fears
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is a gas you breathe through a mask over your mouth and nose. The mild sedative allows you to stay fully conscious while feeling completely relaxed. Many patients describe this experience to feel like the moments before sleep. Nitrous oxide is beneficial because the effects wear off quickly after the gas is no longer administered, meaning patients can safely operate on their own after their procedure. Continue reading “Helping Patients Feel at Ease with Comfortable Dentistry in Reno”
Amalgam vs Composite Resin Fillings
Fillings are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay.
In the past, fillings were made primarily out of amalgam. This alloy, contains mercury, silver, tin, copper, and traces of other metals. Amalgam fillings have been used for 150 years. However, disadvantages of amalgam have prompted the use of composite resin, a tooth-colored, plastic alternative.
Disadvantages to Amalgam Fillings
- They don’t blend with your surrounding teeth because they are dark metallic
- They can corrode and leak over time
- They expand and contract due to variations in temperature, and this causes potential fracturing of your tooth
- They expose your body to the heavy metal mercury, which can lead to health issues depending on the amount of exposure and your level of sensitivity
Appreciating the disadvantages to metal fillings, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans prefer using the metal-free alternative, composite resin fillings.
Composite resin fillings are made from glass or quartz filler that is added to a resin medium, making the end product natural-looking. A composite resin filling is custom tinted to match the color of the tooth in which it will reside, and it’s permanently bonded in place.
Advantages to Composite Resin Fillings
- They look completely natural
- They are metal-free and mercury-free
- They are durable and can last for years
If you are interested in learning more about composite resin or amalgam fillings, or you want to schedule your dental appointment, call Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans in Reno, Nevada today by calling 775-829-7700, or visit our website at www.wagerevans.com.
Your Teeth Are Not Tools
What you may not know, however, is that how you use your teeth greatly impacts the health and appearance of your smile.
Do you crunch on ice? Cool it!
Anytime you crunch on a hard, solid object (whether it is food or something else), you run the risk of cracking, chipping, or otherwise damaging a tooth or several teeth, your tooth enamel, or existing dental work. Ice cubes, due partially to their cold temperature, increase this risk.
Also, because of its temperature, ice can potentially shock a nerve in your tooth, causing the need for root canal therapy.
Your Teeth Are Not Tools
Do you use your teeth to rip tags off of clothing, open wrappers, open bottles, and hold things when your hands are full? If so, you’re putting yourself at risk for severe dental damage and infection. Our teeth are meant to bite, chew, help us speak properly, and help us smile- that’s it. They’re not pliers, scissors, or spare hands.
They’re also not nail clippers. Biting your nails is one on the worst things you can do for your teeth. The pressure from pulling your fingers away from your teeth can cause misalignment, cracking, chipping, and damage to existing dental work. Also, your sharp nails (which are covered in bacteria, by the way) can scratch and cut your gums, causing an open sore in your mouth for bacteria to infect. Continue reading “Your Teeth Are Not Tools”
What’s in Dental Plaque?
In every milligram of dental plaque, there are about ten billion bacteria of approximately 400 types. The matrix of plaque is made from saliva and bacteria, and it includes proteins, lipids (fats), polysaccharides (sugars, calcium, and phosphorus).
Plaque is the yellowish buildup that makes your teeth feel fuzzy or rough. It naturally accumulates on our teeth every day. Many people don’t know that and plaque plays a role in building up our immune system. Teeth don’t shed an outer layer like skin does, so we have to purposefully remove dental plaque to ensure bacteria do not get out of control. Continue reading “What’s in Dental Plaque?”
Do You Know the Signs of Oral Cancer?
- Oral cancer claims more than 8,000 Americans, that’s one person every hour of every day, each year.
- This year, approximately 37,000 Americans will receive a diagnosis of oral or pharyngeal cancer. Half will live more than 5 years.
- Risk factors include smoking and drinking alcohol, but anyone can develop the condition.
- The dentist screens for oral cancer at checkups and could be your first line of defense against oral cancer.
The best defense against oral cancer is early detection and treatment. Continue reading “Do You Know the Signs of Oral Cancer?”
Athletic Mouthguards
I am a proponent of the athletic mouthguard. Athletes should wear mouthguards because collisions are unavoidable in some sports, and accidents happen in all sports. There are several types of athletic mouthguards and with that, different degrees of protection.
The stock mouthguard: These can be purchased at sporting goods stores, are limited in size, and are the least protective. They stay in place by the athlete biting down on it. They are bulky, uncomfortable, interfere with speech and breathing, but offer some protection.
Boil-and-bite mouthguard: This is one of the most common mouthguards on the market. They, too, are limited in size and may not cover the back teeth. This mouthguard is softened in hot water, placed between the teeth, and molded to fit your bite when pressure is applied. While some people like boil-and-bite mouthguards, others find them ill-fitting and bulky. Athletes often bite through this mouthguard during the forming and fitting, thus increasing their chance of injury.
Custom-made mouthguard: This is the best choice of mouthguard, because it is specially made for the athlete’s mouth. When creating a custom mouthguard, I take an impression first, then fabricated the appliance to fit the athlete’s bite and mouth shape. The thickness is uniform, which increases comfort and protection. Custom-made mouthguards also offer more protection against concussions, jaw fractures, and neck injuries.
I’m Dr. Brian Evans of Wager Evans Dental. If you are interested in a custom fitted mouthguard, please contact my Reno office at (775)829-7700. These necessary parts of your athletic equipment are reasonably priced and should be worn for all sports. Bottom line is, with a comfortable mouthguard, you’ll be better protected and more likely to wear the appliance.
