February is National Dental Health Month! So What?

Every month recognizes some organization, cause, person, event or thing.  Why should you care about Dental Health Month?  One reason is that each day more and more evidence is being produced that shows how your oral health is a barometer of your overall health.  Because of this evidence, we should all be doing everything we can to maintain the health of our mouths.  If you haven’t had a dental check up lately, make it a point to call this month and schedule an appointment.

If you have had regular dental check-ups, you should be proud of yourself.  But how about your family?  Kids, parents, grandparents, siblings or other relatives?  How about your friends, neighbors, co-workers?  Everyone deserves a healthy mouth.   Why not share the message of good oral healthcare?  We’ll make it easy for you!   In honor of National Dental Health Month, we are introducing our new referral program:  Smile Out Loud!  

We invite you to Smile Out Loud by inviting everyone you know to experience optimum health through the great dental care they will receive at our office.  You have experienced the great family atmosphere and our extraordinary team giving you that great service.  Why not share that great experience with your family, friends and co-workers?  Tell them about our office and when they call, have them mention your name.  When they complete an initial appointment with us, they will receive a $50 Visa gift card just for knowing you.  We will also send you a note to let you know that you made a difference in someone’s health and in their smile.

Our goal is healthy bodies through healthy mouths.  Not just for our patients, but for everyone.  We developed this program to make it easier for you to help us spread the word.  We even have referal cards available for you to hand out to everyone.  Stop by the office and pick a few up, and then Smile Out Loud and everyone you know will receive great dental care and a gift card as well.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Bruce

Humpty Dumpty had a Great Fall!

That was the line written by one of my “friends” on a chat line after I fell and broke my leg.  At first I was offended, but then I just laughed and though, “That pretty much describes it!”

On November 20th I took advantage of a nice day and decided to remove a few tree stands from the property I hunt on.  I had hunted many days with my bow with no luck.  I had just spent a week hunting up north near Manistee with my father and a few other guys.  I was able to shoot a doe during that trip, and figured if I did hunt any more, I would use the shacks we have for colder weather.  While taking down the third and final stand, I had my accident.  The stand started to fall over after I had it unhooked from the tree.  I couldn’t climb down fast enough and decided to jump at the last minute rather that fall over with the stand.  I landed on my feet, but with way too much force.  I dislocated my ankle and shattered my fibula which is the smaller, lower leg bone.

Luckily I had my cell phone and had not dropped or broken it during my fall.  I knew I needed help, so I called my wife, my daughter and 911.  I sent my daughter to guide the ambulance to my spot in the woods and then I just lay there waiting for help.  Once they got there, I was given great care by the ambulance crew.  Rather then put me in the back of an SUV, the Hopkins fire department was called and their brand new off-road rescue unit was dispatched.

After being strapped to a back board, lifted into the rescue unit and driven half a mile out to the road, I was whisked by ambulance to the hospital where I under went surgery.  A plate and seven screws were placed to reconstruct my broken bone.  I was told I would not be able to put any weight on my right leg for 4-6 weeks.

The good news is I’m back to work and functioning quite well.  I have a walker to get up and down stairs.  I have a knee scooter to get around everywhere else.  I have to sit down to shower, I can’t drive, and I can’t do extractions, but everything else I’m doing just fine.  I return to the Dr. on Jan 4th and hope to begin putting weight on my right leg and to begin therapy to start walking on my own again.

All in all I was very lucky.  So many things could have been worse.  I’ve learned not to put up or take down tree stands by myself.  I’ve also come to appreciate things like never before.  I can’t wait to drive myself somewhere or go down my basement steps.  I also realize I am surrounded by a great team who have been wonderful through my whole ordeal.  I also have a great family of patients who have been understanding about changing appointments and have been concerned and caring since my accident.  And most of all I have learned what a great wife I have who has waited on me hand and foot.  I don’t know what I would do without her, and hopefully never have to find out.

Thanks for reading and caring,

Dr Bruce

Tooth Wear: Genetics, Stress, or Sleep Apnea?

Last month’s blog dealt with things I learned while at a dental convention in Las Vegas.  Half of the seminars I took overlapped considerably.  In essence they all dealt with bite, grinding and jaw joint positioning. While this topic is vast and complicated, there are some simple concepts that we count on to guide us in treating our patients.

During our exams we will palpate your jaw joint and have you open and close.  We feel for deviation in movement. We also listen and feel for grinding or popping.  Any of these indicate a dysfunction in the joint that may need to be addressed.  Next we look at the teeth and look for wear.   Wear on the back teeth can mean different things than wear on the front teeth.  We also look for gum recession and loss of tooth structure (grooving) along the gum line.  This is called abfracture and can be an indication of several problems.  Tooth mobility can also be due to bite or grinding problems.  Finally, we look for extra bone growth in the jaw or roof of your mouth.  These growths, called tori, can be an indication of poor jaw positioning or inadequate breathing airways.

The majority of issues that we encounter are bite problems.  The upper jaw and the lower jaw come from different genetic areas and each one can come from a different parent.  When the jaw sizes don’t correspond the bite doesn’t line up like it should.  When the bite doesn’t line up something must give.  You may end up with crooked teeth.  Commonly the lower jaw is pushed back so the teeth can fit together better.  This causes pressure on the jaw joint and we get deviations, clicking or popping.  Often you just grind away on the teeth until they fit together better.

Luckily the majority of these genetic issues are now correctable through early orthodontic treatment (retainers and braces).  However, not everyone had the benefit of that early type of treatment.  In fact, before the 1980’s, it was not routinely available.  Some adults can still get benefits from orthodontics, but others may need night guards, bite splints, occlusal (bite) adjustments or multiple crowns to restore worn teeth or defective bites.

There are other reasons besides genetic issues that may cause you to grind your teeth.  Stress is a big contributor to grinding.  While we can’t control your stress levels for you, we can help you protect your teeth and jaw joint during your periods of high stress.
Another issue that causes people to grind is a poor airway.  There is a high correlation between people who snore and people who grind.  If your airway is small, the tissues in your throat can collapse while you sleep causing air to be forced through and the resulting vibration of tissue is what causes snoring.  Studies have shown that people will grind their lower jaw forward trying to make a bigger airway.  This is why we see wear on the teeth of people who snore.  Some people can actually get bone growths in their jaws (called tori) as they continually work their jaws forward trying to open the airway.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of why we do all the things we do during a routine dental exam.  If you have noises when your jaw moves, wear on your teeth, boney growths on your jaw, or if you snore, ask us to take a look.  Your bite may be the issue and we may be able to help.

Thanks for reading,

Dr Bruce

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Money Well Spent… In Las Vegas?

This month I went to Las Vegas for the American Dental Association’s Annual Session.  The Annual Session rotates host cities.  Some cities I pass on, others I hate to miss.  Las Vegas is one I love to attend.  However, it wasn’t gambling sprees or late night clubbing this time around.  Over 3 days I took 6 classes and spent several hours on the exhibit floor.  I thought I’d use this month’s blog to share some of what I learned and saw.

My classes offered some review and some new, helpful information.
I won’t bore you with too many details, but I will share an overview of
each course and pass on any tips that might be useful to everyone.  My first class dealt with pharmacology.  It was a review and update on drug
interactions and some new choices when dealing with fungus, virus, infection or pain.  The best tidbit for my readers would be not to use 2 kinds of NSAIDs (ibuprofen) at the same time unless you enjoy having gas.  For those of you with artificial joints, there should be a new pre-medication guideline coming out in 2012.

Class number two was also about pharmacology, but dealt more with oral lesions like herpetic infections, oral ulcers, oral yeast infections and dry mouth.  If you get recurrent herpetic sores, one of the best things you can do is ice the area when you feel an outbreak coming on.   Ice on and off for 90 minutes and many out breaks can be reduced or eliminated.

My third class covered crowns, veneers and bonding of these restorations.  It was a nice update on new products, but nothing of interest to the average patient. 

My last three classes were all tied together.  They dealt with:

1. 1.  TMJ (jaw joint) pain and dysfunction.
2. 2. Bite problems, tooth wear and the use of bite splints.
3. 3. Sleeping disorders that involve breathing problems. 

At our office we have talked to many of you about wear on your teeth, grinding at night and jaw joint or face muscle pain.  All of these things may be tied together by several factors including poor bite, stress, jaw alignment and even inadequate airway space during sleep.  This is a huge topic and I will cover it in more depth in next month’s blog. 

In between and after classes I toured an expansive exhibit floor featuring
hundreds of vendors.  I learned of new products, tested new technology and practiced new techniques.  I purchased several items which will make
your next dental visit more enjoyable.  One such product is the DentalVibe.  This unique instrument uses what is termed “VibraPulse Technology” to block the discomfort of dental injections.  This devise promises to make your next visit a truly painless one. 

Another purchase that will be extremely helpful is the Spectra.  Spectra uses high-energy blue light to detect cavities in seemingly healthy teeth.
Our current technology (the Diagnodent) gives a numerical value to areas of decay.  Spectra goes beyond that and gives a visual, color image of tooth
breakdown and allows us to store those images for comparison from one visit to the next.  In conjunction with our new Cavity Prevention Program we will now be able to track the levels of decay in your teeth and record areas where
re-mineralization of enamel has occurred.

I also invested in an on-line service which will allow us to track current drug compatibility, interaction and dosage information.  We will be able to use this service chair-side to insure your safety when taking multiple drugs that may interact. 

I was a good shopper and purchased some supplies at reduced prices.
I got some ideas for better ways to treat certain challenging situations
in day-to-day dentistry. I networked with vendors, educators, colleagues and
friends.  So, you can see how a trip to Las Vegas can be successful without winning a jack-pot and how one can spend money in Vegas and have it be a good thing.

Thanks for reading.

Dr Bruce

Dental Insurance – Do You Understand Your Benefits?

Dental insurance is very different than health insurance. We like to think of it as a dental benefit. It may not cover everything you need and is very limited in the amount each policy will pay out in a policy year. However, it is a benefit that you should take advantage of. Hopefully what follows will help you understand your dental benefit plan better.

Dental Plan Questions? Talk With Us! It’s getting to be the time of year when your employer may offer you a choice of dental plans. If you are not really sure about what your dental plan covers and, more importantly, what it does not cover, you are not alone. If you are confronted with dental plan options this fall, be sure to talk with me or a member of our dental team. We’ll help you decide what’s best for you and your family’s oral health needs and what plan will allow you to maintain the positive doctor/patient relationship we have established with you.

While it’s important for you to know the basics about your benefit plan, keep in mind that only you and I should decide what treatment best suits your dental needs.

How are my dental fees determined? You are charged a fee for the actual treatment preformed and the time it takes to complete it, as well as a portion of the office overhead. My overhead includes the cost of having quality team-members, state-of-the-art equipment, modern dental materials, current infection control procedures, and continuing education to ensure that your dental team is up to date on the latest techniques.

Are you curious on how your dental benefits are determined? Your benefits depend on the contract your employer has set up with the insurance company. The higher the premium your employer pays, the less you will be expected to pay out of your own pocket.

Most insurance plans use what is called a “usual, customary and reasonable” (UCR) fee schedule to decide what portion of the dental treatment will be covered under the plan. A UCR plan will pay either a set percentage of the dentist’s fees, or its “reasonable” or “customary” fee limit-whichever is less. Because these limits are set by your employer’s contract with the insurance company, they may or may not reflect the actual costs of dental care in your area. If a plan’s “customary” fee limits are unrealistically low, you will end up paying a larger portion of the treatment costs.

Unfortunately, there are no standards for determining UCR fees, which are set by the plan administrator. What you pay depends entirely on the benefits your employer has set up with the plan administrator.

What should I do if I get a letter from my insurance company? If you get a letter from your insurance company stating that my fees are above it’s UCR rate, please talk to me. Your insurance company might have out-of-date information, or might not have considered local factors when it set its fee schedule.

Talk to ME! If you have questions about your dental plan, or if you need to make a choice about your family’s dental care, be sure to talk with me or a member of our dental team. Discuss your treatment options with me, so that together we can make decisions about what is right for you and your family based on professional recommendations, rather than an insurance company’s policy. We’ll help you make the right decision for your situation.

Thanks for reading!

Dr Bruce

Make sure to check out our website at: www.brucesextondds.com

and follow us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/WaylandFamilyDentistBruceSexton?ref=s

Are You Doing Everything Possible to Prevent Cavities?

The world of dentistry is growing with each and every passing year.  We are constantly learning new ways to improve our practice and the things we can offer to you, our patients.  One important change is in the fight against tooth decay.  We now know that cavities, or dental caries, can be prevented and even reversed if given the right set of circumstances. 

Over a 6-month period our team worked diligently to develop a program that would allow our patients at moderate to high risk for decay to benefit from the new knowledge that is available.  We are calling that effort our “Caries Prevention Program”.  This program will provide education on what causes you to develop cavities and what you can do to cut down on your decay rate. 

Some of the things we will cover during this program are saliva flow, saliva pH, sugar intake, snack frequency and timing, and food consistency.  We will also address dry mouth and how it is affected by medications and smoking.  We will supply you with the best toothpaste available to re-mineralize teeth.  Also, a recommended list of products that will help you cut down on your decay rate will be distributed.  Instructions specific for your needs will be reviewed with you. 

We will then follow up this education with an appointment designed to re-evaluate your risk factors and assess how well you are doing with our program to have fewer cavities, fewer dental visits and, ultimately, lower dental costs. 

I personally invite you to take advantage of this program.  It is designed to help patients like you who struggle with controlling their decay rate and are frustrated by the amount of time and money involved in constantly fighting cavities.  The small investment you make for yourself today will payoff many times over the course of your lifetime. 

We are proud to bring this program to you and promise to help you utilize it for maximum health now and throughout your lifetime. 

Thanks for reading!

Dr Bruce

Make sure to check out our website at: www.brucesextondds.com

and follow us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/WaylandFamilyDentistBruceSexton?ref=s

White and Silver Fillings: A Little History, A Little Education!

A large part of every dental practice is dental fillings.  The same is true in our office.  At each professional cleaning we examine every filling to determine its integrity.  A large percentage of my time is spent placing new fillings or repairing old ones.  The majority of you as patients have experienced having one or more fillings placed.  I thought it might be interesting to you to examine the history of dental fillings and the differences in the types of fillings available.

Ancient dentists used materials as diverse as cork, turpentine, gum, lead and stone chips to restore decayed teeth.  Then in China in 659 AD dentists began experimenting with using silver as a material to plug unwanted dental holes. After experimenting with many formulations over the years, in the early 1800’s a French dentist named Louis Regnart added mercury to the mix, creating the first version of the modern-day silver filling, known as dental amalgam.  The formula was so controversial that when two other Frenchman known as the Crawcour Brothers first introduced it in the United States, they were run out of the country!

Eventually the formula was perfected and it became the material still in use today, which we typically call “silver fillings.”  Most Americans who visit the dentist on a regular basis (especially those of us over thirty) have a few of these gems in our mouths. 

Lately some groups have pointed out that mercury can be a very unhealthy thing to have in your body, and have actually called for all of these fillings to be removed.  While it is true that in large quantities mercury is toxic, after extensive studies, the American Dental Association had concluded that there are no significant health risks to using this time-tested material. 

However, we feel it is important to point out two major differences between these traditional silver amalgam fillings and the more modern tooth colored materials. 

A silver filling does not actually bond to the healthy tooth material; it is kept in the tooth by placing the material using a wedge effect.  So, while it may do a good job of replacing a decayed area in your tooth, it also weakens the tooth and makes it more susceptible to cracks and fractures.  This often leads to more extensive treatment such as a crown, which covers the tooth completely.  For this reason, we are extra careful to check these fillings closely during your examination for any signs of breakdown. 

On the other hand, a tooth colored filling (known as a “composite”) actually bonds to the healthy tooth and creates one big, strong, healthy tooth unit.

The other major difference is obvious – a composite filing is a beautiful, almost invisible way to treat a decayed tooth while an amalgam filling looks black.  We’ve all noticed someone with a great smile but when they open their mouth it shows dark, unattractive fillings.

So, keep brushing and flossing well, eating a healthy diet and getting regular dental visits, and maybe you will never have to worry about this!  But should you have a “cavity” we will be glad to discuss all of the options with you and work together to figure out the best way to treat your individual situation. Our goal is to provide treatment that is strong and beautiful too!  At the office of Bruce Sexton DDS, we always recommend the absolute best options to suit your needs and keep your mouth healthy for the rest of your life.

Thanks for reading!

Dr Bruce

Make sure to check out our website at: www.brucesextondds.com

and follow us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/WaylandFamilyDentistBruceSexton?ref=s