Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often than ever before.  Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day.  Grazing habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value, and frequently sipping on sugary drinks (such as, pop, energy drinks, and  juice) all have a tendency to contribute towards tooth decay.

Sugar on teeth supplies food for bacteria, which produces acid.  The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth. Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets.  Many of them contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating.  But there is extra risk for tooth decay if your diet is high in sugars and starches.  Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet.

Reduce Your Risk of Tooth Decay

• If you choose to consume sugary foods and drinks, do so with meals.
• Limit between-meal snacks.
• Drink more water.
• Brush your teeth twice daily and floss daily.
• See your dentist regularly.

You can contact us anytime through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection.  In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.

Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy are:

• An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.
• Severe toothache pain.
• Sometimes no symptoms are present.
• Swelling and/or tenderness.

A Root Canal is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. After the root canal is completed it usually needs a dental crown to return the tooth to its original shape.

More information on Root Canal Therapy

We recommend discussing with your dentist what might be the best option for restoring your teeth. You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

Is your New Years Resolution to improve your Health this year?

What a good resolution.  Don’t forget to include your dental health. If you don’t floss, start there.  Flossing is a great habit to begin!  Add brushing after lunch, this is a time that most people forget.  If we can help you with any supplies please let us know.  We’d love to assist you and help you to achieve your dental health goals.

Make 2012 A Great Year!

There are two types of filling materials to choose from when needing to have a tooth repaired.

The traditional silver (amalgam) filling or a tooth colored (composite resin) filling.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both materials.

A composite (tooth colored)  filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, and also for cosmetic reasons.

An amalgam (silver) filling is the traditional filling used for years.  Some people do not like them due to the silver content, mercury content and the silver color.  These fillings have been used for years and the American Dental Association finds them safe and considers them a good procedure.  In general they are less expensive and last longer than tooth colored fillings.

Read more on the different types of tooth fillings.

We recommend discussing with your dentist what might be the best option for restoring your teeth. You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

When is a tooth extraction needed?

Generally, we recommend treatments that will save teeth, but when a tooth is so damaged that it cannot be saved, a dental extraction is the best choice. Dental extraction might be best for:

• Teeth that are fractured below the gum line.
• Severe tooth decay.
• Advanced periodontal disease.
• Primary teeth that are too crowded or not falling out properly.
• An impacted wisdom tooth.

Teeth may need a simple or surgical extraction.  A simple extraction is when a tooth can be pulled out with out relieving any tissue.  A surgical or impacted tooth may involve relieving tissue prior to the removal.

The Procedure

Before starting the procedure, we may offer nitrous oxide to relax you and we will numb the area with anesthetic to keep you comfortable.

During the procedure, you will feel pressure when the tooth is removed, but you shouldn’t feel pain.  If you do we will stop and give you more anesthetic.

After Surgery

Most people feel fine and are back to normal routine the next day.

To learn more about tooth extraction. Please visit these pages:

• Simple Tooth Extraction (Removal)
• Surgical Tooth Extraction (Removal)
• Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Removal)

You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

It only takes twenty four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into calculus (tartar).  Daily home cleaning helps control plaque and tartar formation, but those hard to reach areas will always need special attention.

Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend that you have regular periodontal maintenance or cleanings, usually four times a year. At these cleaning appointments, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy.  Plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed from above and below the gum line.

Good oral hygiene practices and periodontal cleanings are essential in maintaining dental health and keeping periodontal disease under control!

If you have any questions you can use our Ask the Dentist form. You can also contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

Your dental hygienist will check for periodontal or gum disease at your regular dental cleaning appointment.

How does the dentist or hygienist check for periodontal disease?

A small dental instrument is gently used to measure the sulcus(pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums.  Three millimeters or less is the depth of healthy sulcus.  Your hygienist will use pocket depths, amount of bleeding, inflammation, tooth mobility to make a diagnosis that will fall into a category below:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Plague and its toxin by products irritate the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.

Periodontitis

Plaque hardens into calculus.  As calculus and plaque continue to build up, the gums begin to recede from the teeth. Deeper pockets form between the gums and teeth and become filled with bacteria and pus.  The gums become very irritated, inflamed, and bleed easily. Slight to moderate bone loss may be present.

Advanced Periodontitis

The teeth lose more support as the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament continue to be destroyed.  Unless treated, the affected teeth will become very loose and may be lost.  Generalized moderate to severe bone loss may be present.

Learn more about periodontal disease. You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

Veneers are very thin shells of durable tooth shaped porcelain that are custom made for shape and color by a professional dental laboratory.   They are bonded onto the front of the teeth to create a beautiful and attractive smile.   They can be a great choice for improving teeth that are stained, crooked, worn, or have gaps

Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile.  They can often be alternatives to crowns.

For more information please visit our Porcelain Veneers page.

Contact our office to see if you are a candidate for veneers. You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.

Traditional Porcelain Tooth Bridges are fixed (non-removable) appliances and are an excellent way to replace missing teeth.

There are several types of bridges. The “traditional bridge” is the most popular type and is usually made of porcelain fused to metal.  Porcelain fixed bridges are most popular because they resemble your natural teeth.  This type of bridge consists of two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth (abutment teeth) and are attached to pontics (artificial teeth), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth.

When you need to replace a missing tooth, a bridge can be a functional, good-looking solution.

To learn more about dental tooth bridges please visit our Dental Porcelain Fixed Bridge page. Call today and schedule an appointment at Dr Wildern’s office, and we will get you on your way to smiling again! We will discuss with you all of the available options and answer any questions you may have. You can contact us through our online form or call us at (616) 364-8716.