Our Blog
Hygiene Expansion
August 25th, 2015
Deese Dentistry, a local family practice and Angie’s List Super Service Award winner, has added another skilled hygienist to their stellar staff line up. After three years as an exemplary dental assistant, employee Whitney Cazalas was admitted to the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program offered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Deese gladly agreed to be her professional sponsor, an admission prerequisite.
Whitney Cazalas pictured with her certificate from the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, indicating her new status as fully licensed dental hygienist.
“Whitney has consistently proven her ability to meet the patients’ needs. Those in her chair are given the highest level of care in a comfortable and efficient manner. I am proud of her ability to continue to perform at such a high level while completing the rigorous coursework required to graduate from this program. While I am thrilled to be able to expand our hygiene offerings, it is our patients that will ultimately benefit from her thorough and gentle cleanings,” remarked Dr. Daniel Deese.
Located in Fairhope, AL, Deese Dentistry is a general and cosmetic dental practice providing quality care for all everyone in your family tree. Call today to schedule an appointment and see why they consistently receive such great reviews: deesedentistry.com or 251.990.0838.
Oral Health Stress Mess
August 20th, 2015
We all know that stress can affect our health in many negative ways. Stomach problems, difficulty breathing, headaches and sleep problems are all typical side effects. But you may not know that stress can have a very negative effect on the health of your teeth. Read on to learn more.
Sores
The most visible mouth problems that can be triggered by stress are canker sores and fever blisters. There are some treatments available, and you should see Dr. Deese as soon as you see an outbreak of either.
Grinding and Clenching
Another problem stress can exacerbate is tooth-grinding and/or clenching of the jaw. Often done unconsciously, asleep or awake, it can lead to the wearing down of molars, cracking or fracturing of teeth and TMJ. Fortunately, we at Deese Dentistry can help by crafting a custom mouthguard. This is a valuable tool available to help protect your teeth from this problem. Dr. Deese and his wife sleep in theirs every night – stressed or not!
Depression and Dry Mouth
Another way that stress can lead to dental problems is simply not taking care of your teeth because of sadness, stress or depression. When in this state, you may let your oral hygiene go. Also, some drugs for the treatment of stress can lead to dry mouth. If this happens, you should see Dr. Deese. Saliva is important in the prevention of tooth decay and a dry mouth should not be ignored.
Get Help
If teeth and jaw problems related to anxiety are causing you or a loved one difficulty, talk to the experts at Deese Dentistry. Help is available. Also, do your best to work through whatever is stressing you. Seek professional help if you need it. The effects on all parts of your body, including your teeth, can be devastating.
Located in Fairhope, AL, Deese Dentistry is a general and cosmetic dental practice providing quality care for all stressers and everyone in their family tree! Call today to schedule an appointment: deesedentistry.com or 251.990.0838.
Information adapted from the following articles:
http://www.dentistry.net/
http://www.knowyourteeth.com/
http://www.everydayhealth.com/
Are Crowns and Fillings Forever?
August 1st, 2015
After going through the process of a restorative crown or filling, most patients expect to avoid any future problems with that particular tooth. For various reasons explained below, this is not necessarily the case. Read on to find out what and why.
Lifespan
Fillings and crowns can last 5-15 years. However, the lifespan depends on many factors. One factor is location. Restorations at the back of the mouth, where most chewing takes place, are subjected to more stress than those at the front. Therefore, they are more likely to crack or fracture. Dr. Deese can identify weaknesses in your restorations during check-ups.
Hygiene Habits
Getting a new filling or crown does not give you an oral hygiene pass! It is very important to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss once a day. You also should have regular dental visits for a check-up and professional cleaning.
Decay
Dental crowns and filings can become loose and even fall out for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is decay in the tooth under the crown. If the seal between the tooth enamel and the filling or crown breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can work their way under it. Decay destroys the tooth structure, causing it to change shape. As a result, the filling or crown no longer fits and can become loose.
It is important that you receive dental treatment as soon as possible. If the tooth is decayed and you do not seek treatment, the tooth will become even more decayed. This could lead to such severe damage that the tooth eventually might break into pieces and have to be extracted.
The decay also could reach the pulp, the living part at the very center of the tooth. If this occurs, the tooth may become infected, or abscessed. If an infection develops, you will require a root canal. This generally is followed by the placement of a new crown.
Bottom Line
Crowns and fillings are great; but just like any other tooth, they require quality home care and regular visits to the dentist to ensure maximum health over time. Be sure to schedule an appointment with Deese Dentistry for any of your restorative or preventative oral healthcare needs!
Located in Fairhope, AL, Deese Dentistry is a general and cosmetic dental practice providing quality care for people nd everyone in their family tree! Call today to schedule an appointment: deesedentistry.com or 251.990.0838.
Article adapted from the following: http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW/st.24821/t.25501/pr.3/d.dmtSSAskTheExpert/c.536278.html
http://www.toothiq.com/dental-symptom/tooth-decay/
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/problems-dental-fillings?page=2
Dentistry and Diving
July 14th, 2015
Is scuba diving on your summer “to do” list? If so, you’ll want to be sure to read on. Meticulous oral health is advised for divers actively engaged in scuba diving. Below is a quick questionnaire that will help you pinpoint certain conditions that can cause complications while diving.
- Do you have air-filled spaces in your teeth? Because of the increase in pressure, diving with air-filled spaces in teeth can cause pain and severely limit a diver from functioning underwater.
- Do you have a temporary sealant? Teeth that have been temporarily sealed can explode from air trapping and expansion on surfacing. This is found to be more common in deep divers using a heliox mixture.
- Do you have TMJ? Many divers experience headache and facial muscle pain from the continuous jaw clenching that is required to maintain the mouthpiece of the regulator in proper position. Those individuals with TMJ find this to be so painful as to preclude diving at all.
- Do you have a dental prostheses? One should avoid wearing full or partial dental prostheses while diving as they can be dislodged and aspirated easily, especially partial dentures.
- Do you have Dry Socket? If you are experiencing dry socket, do not plan on diving until you are healed, which could take anywhere from two to eight weeks – depending upon the rate of healing, lack of infection and absence of pain.
- Are you in the process of treating a root canal? Wait until it is completed and has a solid core inside. Your pool classes shouldn’t be a problem but any open water dive could be. Stay away from the deep end of the pool if the root canal is not complete.
Of course, if you are unsure about the quality of your oral health, it is best to schedule a teeth cleaning and routine exam and discuss all areas of concerns with the experts at Deese Dentistry before you take the plunge. Happy Diving!
Located in Fairhope, AL, Deese Dentistry is a general and cosmetic dental practice providing quality care for scuba divers and everyone in their family tree! Call today to schedule an appointment: deesedentistry.com or 251.990.0838.
Questionnaire adapted from the following article:: http://www.scuba-doc.com/dendiv.htm