Body modification including tattooing and piercing have been performed by various cultures for centuries. Today, oral piercing is becoming more popular, across both social classes and age groups. The tongue and lips are the most common sites for oral piercings. Immediate complications might include swelling, pain, speech difficulties, chewing and swallowing problems, upper airway obstruction, problems with blood vessels or nerve innervations and infection. Dental problems linked to oral piercing include tooth wear, fracture, and recession.
Researchers at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil evaluated a group of 60 individuals with tongue piercings and a control group of 120 individuals with no tongue piercings. Subjects ranged in age from 13 to 28 years and all came from a low socioeconomic area in Brazil. They were all examined clinically and completed written questionnaires.
The piercings were predominantly metal with 13 percent being metal and silicone and 15 percent being metal and plastic. Forty-three percent of subjects with piercings had them for two years or less, 43 percent had them for two to four years and eight percent had them for more than four years. Half the group reported a habit of biting the piercing and 75 percent reported a habit of rattling the piercing. Immediate complications upon insertion of the piercing were reported by 37 percent, with tooth fractures occurring in 20 percent of cases. Greater mandibular lingual recession was found in those with tongue piercings. Those with a tongue piercing were 18 times more likely to have gingival recession.
If you or someone you love are experiencing symptoms mentioned above and have an oral piercing, call your nearest Mortenson Family Dentist immediately to schedule a consultation at 502-244-9595 or visit our website at www.mortensonfamilydental.com to find a location near you.
Pires, I., Cota, L., Oliveira, A., Costa, J., Costa, F.: Association Between Periodontal Condition and Use of Tongue Piercing: A Case-Control Study. J Clin Perio 37: 712-718, 2010.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Cavities STINK!
Having a cavity stinks. As a dentist I would rather prevent cavities than try to fix them, especially on kids. Using fluoride, along with proper brushing and flossing, is the best way to prevent cavities. I like to encourage my patients to invest in fluoride treatments as a way to prevent future problems. Here in Louisville we have fluoridated tap water, so strengthening our teeth can be as easy as just drinking water. After having a dental cleaning a topical fluoride varnish can easily be applied to the teeth to give even better cavity protection.
• Fluoride can strengthen teeth both from the outside and from the inside of the tooth. When absorbed from fluoridated tap water the fluoride strengthens the inside of the tooth. When fluoride varnish is applied to the surface of the tooth it strengthens the outer tooth surface and makes in more cavity resistant.
• Fluoride varnish also has the additional benefit of decreasing tooth sensitivity along the gums.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared public water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
• For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.
• One of the most widely respected sources of information regarding fluoridation and fluorides is the American Dental Association (ADA.) The ADA maintains Fluoride and Fluoridation web pages at http://www.ada.org/gotofluoride.
If you have tooth pain, give us a call at 502-244-9595 to schedule an appointment today. You can also visit our website at www.mortensonfamilydental.com or find us on Facebook!
By Dr. Matt Mortenson
Mortenson Family Dental Dixie Highway
5222 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40216
502-449-7995
www.mortensonfamilydental.com
• Fluoride can strengthen teeth both from the outside and from the inside of the tooth. When absorbed from fluoridated tap water the fluoride strengthens the inside of the tooth. When fluoride varnish is applied to the surface of the tooth it strengthens the outer tooth surface and makes in more cavity resistant.
• Fluoride varnish also has the additional benefit of decreasing tooth sensitivity along the gums.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared public water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
• For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.
• One of the most widely respected sources of information regarding fluoridation and fluorides is the American Dental Association (ADA.) The ADA maintains Fluoride and Fluoridation web pages at http://www.ada.org/gotofluoride.
If you have tooth pain, give us a call at 502-244-9595 to schedule an appointment today. You can also visit our website at www.mortensonfamilydental.com or find us on Facebook!
By Dr. Matt Mortenson
Mortenson Family Dental Dixie Highway
5222 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40216
502-449-7995
www.mortensonfamilydental.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Pregnant? Taking Care Of Your Teeth Can Keep Your Baby Healthy!
Hey, everyone! I'm Dr. Nick Tanner and I practice at Mortenson Family Dental in Corydon, Indiana.
Just a quick word to all those blossoming pregnant ladies out there! Keeping your teeth clean during pregnancy may seem unrelated to your baby but your mouth is the doorway to all kinds of things that can enter your bloodstream and affect your tender little one. Many women would sacrifice their own body for the health of their fetus, but in this case, taking care of yourself IS caring for the health of your fetus. Get a letter from your OB authorizing dental work and any specifications he or she desires and we'll take care of the rest!
"Ok, Dr. Tanner. I understand that cleanings are necessary and safe, but what if I just have bad luck and a tooth that I've been worried about starts really hurting while I'm pregnant?" Rest assured that the medications that we use have never been shown to be harmful to a fetus. In fact, by alleviating your pain, this decreases your stress and helps maintain an ideal environment for the growth of your baby. Even the digital x-rays we use have extremely low radiation levels that, with our protective aprons, no threat to your baby. Good luck with your pregnancy, and remember you only have to brush the teeth you want to keep!
Dr. Nick Tanner
Mortenson Family Dental Corydon
2086 Old Hwy 135 NW Ste 2
Corydon, IN 47112
Phone: (812) 734-1300
Fax: (812) 225-5126
Just a quick word to all those blossoming pregnant ladies out there! Keeping your teeth clean during pregnancy may seem unrelated to your baby but your mouth is the doorway to all kinds of things that can enter your bloodstream and affect your tender little one. Many women would sacrifice their own body for the health of their fetus, but in this case, taking care of yourself IS caring for the health of your fetus. Get a letter from your OB authorizing dental work and any specifications he or she desires and we'll take care of the rest!
"Ok, Dr. Tanner. I understand that cleanings are necessary and safe, but what if I just have bad luck and a tooth that I've been worried about starts really hurting while I'm pregnant?" Rest assured that the medications that we use have never been shown to be harmful to a fetus. In fact, by alleviating your pain, this decreases your stress and helps maintain an ideal environment for the growth of your baby. Even the digital x-rays we use have extremely low radiation levels that, with our protective aprons, no threat to your baby. Good luck with your pregnancy, and remember you only have to brush the teeth you want to keep!
Dr. Nick Tanner
Mortenson Family Dental Corydon
2086 Old Hwy 135 NW Ste 2
Corydon, IN 47112
Phone: (812) 734-1300
Fax: (812) 225-5126
Friday, December 3, 2010
Bad Breath Myths
There are lots of myths about taking care of bad breath. Here are three things you may have heard about bad breath that are not true:
Myth #1: Mouthwash will make bad breath go away.
Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for an antiseptic (kills the germs that cause bad breath) and plaque-reducing one with a seal from the American Dental Association (ADA). When you're deciding which dental products to toss into your shopping cart, it's always a good idea to look for those that are accepted by the ADA. Also, ask your dentist for recommendations.
Myth #2: As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath.
The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too — bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
Myth #3: If you breathe into your hand, you'll know when you have bad breath.
Wrong! When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), which simply breathing doesn't do. Also, because we tend to get used to our own smells, it's hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.
If you're concerned about bad breath, make sure you're taking care of your teeth and mouth properly. Some sugar-free gums and mints can temporarily mask odors, too.
If you brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or gum disease. Call your doctor or dentist if you suspect a problem. They can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.
Myth #1: Mouthwash will make bad breath go away.
Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for an antiseptic (kills the germs that cause bad breath) and plaque-reducing one with a seal from the American Dental Association (ADA). When you're deciding which dental products to toss into your shopping cart, it's always a good idea to look for those that are accepted by the ADA. Also, ask your dentist for recommendations.
Myth #2: As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath.
The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too — bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
Myth #3: If you breathe into your hand, you'll know when you have bad breath.
Wrong! When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), which simply breathing doesn't do. Also, because we tend to get used to our own smells, it's hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.
If you're concerned about bad breath, make sure you're taking care of your teeth and mouth properly. Some sugar-free gums and mints can temporarily mask odors, too.
If you brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or gum disease. Call your doctor or dentist if you suspect a problem. They can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.
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