What Allergy Season Means For Your Mouth

It is spring yet again and we all know what that entails. This is the season where allergens are everywhere!  Though seasonal allergies tend to not be life threatening, unlike food and drug allergies, they can get rather annoying. So what do we tend to do when our seasonal allergies begin to affect our daily routine? We take antihistamines. Some of us real “sneezers” plagued by frequent allergy attacks may even take our Claritin or Zyrtec on a daily basis.

Because taking allergy medication is such a common practice, we tend to forget that those little white or pink pills are just that: a medication. Every medication has its side effects on the body and we need to take those into consideration. Sure some may have the common drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, and headaches, but one really common side effect that we tend to look over is a dry mouth.

Dry mouth, or Xerostomia, is very common with medications but usually is not taken seriously. The fact of the matter is that our mouths are full of bacteria. To be honest, they are the most bacteria-ridden places in our bodies. Besides washing away food, saliva helps to ward off some of these bacteria by neutralizing the acids the bacteria create in our mouths. When our mouths stop producing saliva, the bacteria has the opportunity to grow and cause more problems. This not only causes bad breath, it is also important because, as stated in our previous blog, your oral health can be a major influence on your heart health and overall health.

So how can we avoid it? Well unfortunately, you cannot avoid the dry mouth caused by your allergy medication unless you stop taking it and for some of us, that’s not an option. There are, however, some extra oral care practices you can take to make sure that the dry mouth you experience doesn’t cause you any other health issues. Just taking extra care of your mouth can save you from all the harmful symptoms of a dry mouth. Here are some quick tips to help guide you:

• brush more often
• drink lots of water
•  use mouth wash when you feel like your breath is starting to smell bad
• chew dentist recommended gum to encourage the production of saliva
• do not smoke

If you follow these practices, you will find that the dry mouth will not cause very many issues. Make sure you also read the information on the medicine bottle before taking anything. If you are unsure about whether or not you should be taking a specific medication or you have questions about it, you should contact your primary care physician. If you have any questions or the negative side effects of a dry mouth, you can always ask your favorite Valencia Dentist from Go Dental.

Shedding Light on Decay with Innovative Technology

Traditional methods of diagnosing tooth decay include clinical observations (what we can see and feel) and radiographs (x-rays for what we can’t see). While these methods are very reliable for detecting moderate-sized decay, sometimes smaller suspicious areas are not so obvious. To provide patients with the best quality of care, GoDental has a incorporated new, innovative tool that will shed more light to the diagnostic process. This week, I’d like to introduce you to the latest addition to our armamentarium: the SoproLife intraoral camera. This technologically advanced device uses a light induced fluorescence and camera imaging to diagnose tooth decay.  

Our brand new intraoral camera does much more than take photos of teeth. The very small camera (only a bit larger than a toothbrush) fits comfortably in the mouth to magnify images between 30 to 100 times the actual size. And with personal TV screens in every operatory, patients here at Go Dental can have a close-up look at every tooth that needs treatment. Additionally, this camera feature is very useful for taking pictures of inflamed gum tissue and suspicious lesions that are part of our routine oral cancer exams.

The most unique feature of this technology is the fluorescent light that can detect tooth decay, even at its earliest stages. The device emits a light which appears as different colors, depending on the tooth structure that is fluoresced. Healthy tooth structure generates less fluorescence and shows up as green. When the tooth starts to break down due to decay, the light signal becomes stronger and the decay appears red. By taking photos of these fluoresced teeth, we can show patients exactly where they have trouble spots. We can also use fluorescence during treatment to conservatively remove only the red areas of infected tooth, and thus preserving tooth structure.

With the SoproLife intaroral camera, patients here at Valencia Dentistry can actively participate in the diagnostic process. These intraoral photos help to demonstrate the tooth, surface, and size of treatment needed. Patients can also feel confident that we are using the latest technology to perform minimally invasive dentistry and to save tooth structure. By implementing this new device, we hope to educate patients about oral conditions and to preserve healthy smiles. 

Visit your favorite Valencia Dentist and check out our new SoproLife intraoral camera!

Dental Loupes

Many patients have asked us in the past why we wear magnifying loupes.

It’s a good question and something didn't do until about 10 years ago.  

The most obvious answer to this question is that it helps us see better. But this doesn't mean that your Valencia dentists are blind or going blind.  In fact, in our practice, neither Dr. Monti or Dr. Lin wear glasses. I do, but it’s a really weak prescription for my nearsightedness (myopia).

First of all, the magnification helps us to be able to see the more detail of the tooth. Our loupes have very bright LED lights connected to them which really help to illuminate the dental field. It is truly amazing how much more we are able to visualize with the help of the loupes and the light. It doesn't help us get through the procedure any faster but the level of precision which we are able to cut our preps is truly remarkable. Our laboratory fabricates our crowns utilizing a high powered microscope and they are able to achieve incredible results from our precision preparations.  

The loupes and our headlights even help us completing root canals since we are able to see more of the internal anatomy of the tooth. During dental surgeries such as placement of dental implants, the light helps illuminate the surgical field so we can see anatomical variances that may not be easily visible to the naked eye. We like to wear our loupes during your check ups so we don’t have to depend solely on the dental explorer to find and detect cavities.  

Finally, utilization of dental loupes helps us keep better posture while working. We can hold our head further from your mouth which results in better posture. And better posture means that we’ll be less prone to back problems (and presumably be your dentist for a bit longer!)

Do I Need A Night Guard?

Night guards, or occlusal splints, are a very useful treatment for many patients. Generally, we prescribe them in an effort to avoid more expensive or painful treatments in the future. Good candidates for a night guard can be divided into three groups:

First, true bruxers. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is most commonly done at night. Often patients are unaware of the behavior, but there are some telltale signs. Wear facets, which are highly polished notches or depressions in otherwise normal teeth, are one classic sign. Often, they will look like dimples in the surface of the back teeth where there should be peaks. Also, many of these patients will say they wake up with their teeth feeling sore or tight. For these patients, a night guard provides direct protection of the teeth from one another, and significantly reduces the progression of tooth wear.

The second group, often related to the first, is patients with jaw pain. When you grind your teeth, the muscles that normally close your mouth are working very hard. In fact, they can produce far more force in your sleep than while you are awake. This also puts a lot of strain on the temperomandibular joint (TMJ). Many of these patients will complain of waking up with their jaw feeling tight or tired, and having headaches on the sides of their head. For these patients, a night guard allows the upper and lower teeth to pass each other without engaging. When the muscles aren't fighting the teeth, they calm down.

The third group are people who have had a lot of expensive cosmetic work done. Nighttime grinding and clenching, even if only occasional, can destroy crowns, veneers, and bondings. For patients who
have invested significant time and money in their teeth, please consider a night guard as an insurance policy.

As always, if you have any questions about this or other treatment the best plan is to set a time to come in and talk to us about it. We are always happy to take the time to make sure you have what you need to make good choices about your own dental health.

You can read more about the different types of night guards here. If you have any questions on whether or not you need a night guard, you can always ask your favorite Valencia Dentist at GoDental!

I'm Sorry to Tell You That I'm Leaving Go Dental

After almost three years at this amazing dental office, I am so sorry to tell you that I am leaving Go Dental. I have an opportunity to step away from dentistry a bit in order to concentrate more on my family. I am looking forward to spending more time with my two energetic, hilarious daughters. Or... they might wear me out, and I'll be begging Dr. Go and Dr. Monti to hire me again, lol!

The wonderful doctors, staff, and patients at Go Dental have become my dear friends, and I'm so grateful for the time that I have spent here. I am proud of the quality of their work and how much they care for patients.  I consider myself lucky to have been a part of such a special office. To all of the awesome patients that I have helped to care for...thank you and see you around town! Don't stop going to everybody's favorite Valencia Dentist just because I won't be there!

Best wishes,
Dr. Regan Lawrence

Happy Heart Month!

The month of February is often associated with Valentine’s Day chocolates, flowers, and romantic cards, but did you know that it’s also American Heart Month?

A healthy heart may seem unrelated to a healthy smile, but research shows that there is a significant association between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease. The Journal of Periodontology has published numerous longitudinal studies that show a strong causal association between severity of periodontal disease and coronary heart disease and stroke. Inflamed, irritated, and unhealthy gums can put you at risk for very serious heart conditions, including heart attacks.  

When gums are inflamed, bacteria from the mouth have a way to get into the bloodstream. Once there, these bacteria can attach to platelets (blood clotting cell fragments). Clumps of bacteria and platelets together form aggregates that attach to blood vessel walls, leading to the blockage of arteries and heart disease.

Keeping gums healthy not only prevents periodontal disease (and therefore bone and tooth loss) but also lowers your risk for a heart attack. Regular dental cleanings and proper at-home care can get your mouth and heart in great shape -- catch two birds with one worm!

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but there is still time to spread awareness about healthy hearts and smiles!

If you have any questions on dental health, you can contact your favorite Valencia Dentist on our website!  Go Dental - Valencia Dentist

Root Canals: Friend or Foe

It’s a moment that nobody ever wants to face:  The dentist pulls back in their chair and utters the unspeakable words, “I think you’re going to need a root canal”.  Your face feels flushed, your hands begin to shake, and your eyes begin to well with tears.  Then it’s - “OMG, A ROOT CANAL!!!”

Root canals are one of the most dreaded procedures the entire world.  It makes me cringe when I hear the expression, “I would rather have a root canal than _________” (fill in the blank with the most unpleasant, demeaning, disgusting activity known to humankind). Contrary to popular belief, root canals have come a long way and they are no longer the painful, time consuming procedures that they used to be.  In fact, most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between getting a root canal and getting a simple filling.

My favorite thing to tell patients is that our Valencia dental practice loves performing root canals. That being said, our dentists understand

that our patients don’t share the same enthusiasm. We love doing them because, professionally, they are one of the most challenging procedures to do, and honestly, we are really good at doing them. But we will try to avoid performing root canals because we know that patients cannot stand going through them.  

So how do we determine whether or not a Root Canal is necessary? If the nerve of a tooth has died or has even been compromised, it must be removed. Generally, we will access the nerve by creating an opening from the top of the tooth. The nerve and blood supply is then removed with small instruments which are fractions of millimeters in diameter. Once the nerve of the tooth is removed, we widen the tooth space where the nerve once was. This space is called the “root canal”, and clearing it out enables us to fill the tooth with a special filling material. Even though the tooth’s nerve and associated blood supply is no longer present, the tooth structure can last for many many years provided a crown is placed on it.  

So you can see why root canals can be associated with pain; we are essentially working on an exposed nerve. That is why anesthesia is so important. Without it, the patient would be in a great deal of discomfort. If you are really anxious, your body may lower the effectiveness of the anesthetic so we have options like nitrous oxide and twilight sleep available for you.

Our doctors have invested a lot of resources to acquire the latest root canal therapy equipment and to become experts in the most advanced techniques. Root Canals used to take 3 appointments of 2 hours to complete but now we can complete most procedures in just one appointment of 1 ½ each. The procedure not only is completed faster but it is also far more accurate, resulting in greater success rates.

Many emergencies that we see with our new patients are from root canals that have been done poorly in the past. Like I mentioned before, root canal procedures are one of the most difficult procedures to perform in dentistry. Not every dentist has the ability and resources to perform root canals with excellent long term results. When we see cases of failed root canals, we have a great team of root canal specialists that we can consult.  

From all of as at Go Dental, we truly hope that you never need a root canal. But if you do, rest assured, you are in great hands.

Sincerely, 

Your Valencia Dentist

Dr. Christopher Go