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David J. Campbell DDS
White Lake, MI 48383
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My Blog
Posts for: September, 2014
Now that celebrities can communicate directly with their fans through social media, we’ve started to see dispatches from some surprising locations — the dental chair, for example! Take singer Kelly Clarkson, who was the first winner of American Idol, and perhaps one of the first to seek moral support via social media before having an emergency root canal procedure.
“Emergency root canal — I’ve had better days,” Kelly posted on her Facebook page, along with a photo of herself looking… well, pretty nervous. But is a root canal procedure really something to be scared about? It’s time to clear up some misconceptions about this very common dental procedure.
First of all, root canal treatment is done to save a tooth that might otherwise be lost to an infection deep inside it. So while it’s often looked upon with apprehension, it’s a very positive step to take if you want to keep your teeth as long as possible. Secondly, tooth infections can be painful — but it’s the root canal procedure that stops the pain. What, actually, is done during this tooth-saving treatment?
First, a local anesthetic is administered to keep you from feeling any pain. Then, a small opening is made through the chewing surface of the infected tooth, giving access to the central space inside, which is called the “pulp chamber.” A set of tiny instruments is used to remove the diseased pulp (nerve) tissue in the chamber, and to clean out the root canals: branching tunnel-like spaces that run from the pulp chamber through the root (or roots) of the tooth. The cleared canals are then filled and sealed.
At a later appointment, we will give you a more permanent filling or, more likely, a crown, to restore your tooth’s full function and protect it from further injury. A tooth that has had a root canal followed by a proper restoration can last as long as any other natural tooth — a very long time indeed.
If you have any questions about root canal treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “A Step by Step Guide to Root Canal Treatment.”
Good Candidates
- Gaps between teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- An uneven smile line
Who is Not a Candidate?
- Severe misalignment – while veneers are used for misaligned teeth, they are not a good choice for severely misaligned teeth. If your teeth are severely misaligned, you may need orthodontic treatment first.
- Bruxism – if you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep, this can damage not only your natural teeth, but veneers, as well. It is also important to seek treatment for bruxism before it worsens.
- Lack of tooth enamel – it is important to have adequate tooth enamel because veneers are bonded to your enamel. If you do not have an appropriate amount of enamel, there may be an alternative treatment available.
Call David J. Campbell, DDS Today!
Secret to Lasting Veneers: Proper Oral Health Maintenance
You finally have that perfect smile you have always desired by the simple procedure of veneers. Dr. David Campbell in White Lake has many tips
for keeping your smile the way it is now. Caring for your veneers at home is not much different than natural teeth. At dental visits, the hygienist may use a different polishing paste that is special for veneers. There are other important techniques to follow that we will discuss here.
Steps to Take to Ensure Proper Care for Veneers
Keeping up with oral health at home is very important for not just veneers but for your regular teeth, as well. Tobacco, wine, soda, and other unhealthy food/drink choices can stain your veneers over time. Brushing should be done at least twice a day, and flossing at least once a day. This will help remove plaque from your teeth and veneers. If plaque is not removed, tooth decay may occur. Limiting between-meal snacks that are sugary can be extra fuel for a tooth to decay. Quitting snacks and tobacco, is not only good for teeth, but for total body health.
Regular visits to your dentist are an essential part of keeping your veneers cared for, but is also important for your oral health. You should visit the dentist twice a year for cleanings and check-ups. You’ll be less prone to cavities and gum inflammation, and it will also give the dentist an opportunity to keep up on the care and maintenance of your porcelain veneers. Any potential problems can be dealt with before they damage the dental veneers in any way.
Something to Ponder: Sonic Toothbrush
Vibrating sonic toothbrushes are excellent in caring for porcelain veneers. Some people get puzzled because many dentists warn against the use of ultrasonic scalers, and they think that warning applies to sonic toothbrushes. But ultrasonic scalers have metal tips that vibrate at ultrasonic speeds. Their problem is that they can nick the margins of porcelain veneers and dental bonding. Sonic toothbrushes, on the other hand, have soft bristles that vibrate, and their effect is to clean and polish the veneers or bonding. Consider a vibrating sonic toothbrush for ultimate care for your veneers.
Maintaining the strength and beauty of your new dental veneers is very simple. Just be sure to stick with an excellent oral hygiene routine, and don’t forget to see our dentist for regular checkups. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about veneers/veneer maintenance.
Treating periodontal (gum) disease is rather straightforward: remove the bacterial plaque that causes the disease. The techniques to accomplish this are varied, depending on how far the disease has advanced with an individual patient.
Plaque is a thin film of bacteria and food particles that build up on tooth surfaces due to inadequate oral hygiene. The bacteria that grow there can cause an infection that inflames and damages the gum and supporting bone tissues to the point they begin to lose their attachment to the teeth and form spaces known as periodontal pockets. In time, plaque becomes calcified due to the minerals in saliva, forming calculus or tartar. As the disease advances, it can ultimately cause tooth loss.
The most common technique for interrupting this progression of disease is known as scaling. Using hand instruments and/or an ultrasonic device, we remove as much plaque and calculus as we can detect on the outer surfaces of the teeth and gum tissues. Scaling, however, won’t address the plaque and calculus that has accumulated at the tooth root level, especially where pocket formation has taken place. This is where root planing may be necessary.
As the name implies, we use this procedure to literally “plane” plaque and calculus from the roots, a similar concept to removing thin layers of wood from a board. If necessary, we will first numb the affected area so that we can perform the procedure in a meticulous manner without causing discomfort. It’s essential we remove every bit of plaque and calculus that we can, especially where it has become lodged deep at the base of the pockets.
It’s common to start with ultrasonic therapy, using vibration to loosen the plaque while flushing the pockets with water. We then switch to delicate hand instruments known as curettes to physically remove any remaining plaque and calculus. An experienced touch helps us determine when the root surfaces have been properly cleaned; we can also “read the gum tissues,” as they will slightly change color as the offending plaque and calculus deposits are removed. As the gum tissues heal and become less inflamed, they return to a healthy pink color and the pocket depths generally become smaller as the inflammation leaves the area.
While a good portion of the treatment requires our professional skills, equipment and expertise, the bedrock for renewed periodontal health is effective daily oral hygiene on your part. Working together we can preserve the progress already made, while continuing to progress in restoring your oral health.
If you would like more information on root planing and other periodontal disease treatments, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Planing.”
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