Should I get a Dental Implant or a Dental Bridge?

            When faced with the question of how to best replace a missing tooth, the first two options discussed are a dental implant or a dental bridge. Each individual situation is unique, and our goal is to assist in making the best possible decision for your dental health.

            In the majority of cases, when replacing a single tooth in the front or the back, a dental implant is the standard of care. It is the closest we can get to restoring the feel and function of a natural tooth. Unlike a dental bridge, an implant allows you to brush and floss the area the same way you would a natural tooth. Even though gum disease around the implant can develop if proper care is not used, cavities can not exist on a dental implant or crown. Since there is no remaining natural tooth structure, there is no place for traditional tooth decay to attack.

Another major advantage of the dental implant is it does not require drilling or invasive work on the adjacent teeth. The entire procedure is isolated to one specific tooth. A bridge requires substantial work on at least two other teeth to work properly. Subsequently, if these adjacent teeth develop a cavity in the future, the entire bridge may need to be removed to treat the growing tooth decay.

When discussing the advantages of a dental bridge, we always talk about the original time commitment of the procedure. Dental implants can take up to 6-10 months to fully restore, but sometimes only one month is needed to complete a new bridge. Because of the time involved and the materials used, a bridge is often less expensive and can be more appealing to patients from a financial standpoint. However, depending upon the location of the bridge of the patient’s history, a bridge may end up costing the patient more in the long run if it needs to eventually be replaced.

Since each individual circumstance is different, the safest approach is to consult your dentist about your situation. Dental implants have become the standard of care in many cases when replacing missing or lost teeth, but dental bridges still have a very viable place in the modern dental practice.

For more information on dental implants or dental bridges, check our website at http://www.brownandkupper.com/questions.php.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc

(513) 860-3660

In-Office Dental Savings Plan vs. Dental Insurance

            While the Affordable Care Act mostly effects the regulations concerning medical insurance, it has affected dental insurance indirectly. With rising health care costs for employers, many have cut back on their dental benefits they offer employees. In an effort to encourage good dental health while offsetting dental insurance limitations, we have instituted am ‘in-house’ dental savings plan. It is designed for patients who have very limited options through their employer or no longer have dental insurance.

What are some of the benefits of our dental savings plan?

• No yearly maximum
• No deductibles
• No claim filing
• No pre-existing condition limitation
• No waiting period

What is covered under the dental savings plan?

• Semi-annual dental cleaning

• Annual dental x-rays
• Semi-annual dental exams
• Fluoride applications for children of the appropriate age
• Percentage off all dental procedures, including cosmetic procedures.

How do you know if you are a good candidate for the dental savings plan?

            The value of this plan depends on your oral health. If you are generally healthy and typically only require professional cleanings and exams each year, this plan could offer significant savings over other options. These plans have been recommended for seniors by Forbes Magazine who have retired since it is likely less expensive than dental insurance plans not subsidized by an employer. This could also be a good option for single people or those with very young children and tend to be in good dental health.

            Please feel free to contact us with questions regarding our dental savings plan and whether or not it would be a good fit for you or someone you know. You can also visit us at www.brownandkupper.com for more details.

Can we Diagnose Cavities without X-Rays?

            We are always looking for new and improved ways to keep your teeth healthy and maintain a preventative and minimally invasive approach. To identify cavities as early as possible, we typically recommend bite wing x-rays (x-rays between the teeth) once per year. However, x-rays are not always 100% conclusive and we want to make sure we offer the best possible treatment for each individual. To help with our diagnostic abilities, we have added a new tool to our repertoire: the CariVu.

            The CariVu is an intra-oral device that uses a highly concentrated light to illuminate decalcified areas between the teeth. We are then able to save the images to the computer and use them as comparative references each time. Just like x-rays, they are not always 100% conclusive, but they are an excellent adjunct to our clinical exam and bite wing x-rays. But unlike x-rays, the CariVu is radiation free.

            So why don’t we do away with x-rays and simply use the CariVu only for our exams. There are a couple of important reasons:

1. Bite wing x-rays are still the standard of care in diagnosing cavities in between the teeth because of their proven history.
2. CariVu does not show the health of the area surrounding the teeth and cannot diagnose tooth, gum and bone infections.

As you can imagine, the more information we have on the historical health of your teeth, the better recommendations we can make. And just like the pictures we take of the teeth, there is no additional charge for us to use this device. We just added it to our armamentarium to better treat each person we see.

            When we recommend a treatment plan for you, we want to make sure it is individually catered to your health and needs. But in order to do that, we need the maximum amount of relevant information. The CariVu is another instrument we will use to help you stay healthy and smiling for a long time.

For more information, visit us at www.brownandkupper.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc. 

How Do Drug Addictions Affect Your Teeth?

October 23rd through October 31st is National Red Ribbon Week, which aims to raise awareness to the dangers of illegal drugs. I don’t claim to have the answers on how to keep people off of drugs, but I would like to take a look at how some drugs can affect your oral health and your teeth. Below we will briefly discuss the dental concerns that substances like heroin and crystal meth can create.
The first issue that can arise for those with substance abuse problems is a lack of proper oral hygiene and homecare. Unfortunately, the addiction can become so devastating that people will forget to brush or floss for days at a time. Their only priorities revolve around their addiction, and oral health takes a back seat. If problems do develop and pain is associated with their teeth or mouth, they will then self medicate with more drugs to feel better. It is a brutal cycle and can have destructive long term effects on their teeth and gums.
Substances like crystal meth and heroin often lead tooth decay resulting from dry mouth and an increased affinity towards sweets. Methamphetamines can cause the salivary glands to stop functioning properly, and our saliva is a key component in fighting tooth decay. Substances like heroin also cause users to crave sweets and sugary drinks. The sugary substances, combined with a lack of homecare, often increase the propensity of developing large cavities and serious gum disease. These factors often result in the condition commonly referred to as ‘meth mouth.’
Drug addictions can be debilitating to both the user and their families, and dental concerns are just one of the many issues they may face. We will always try to help work through these dental issues for anyone in need, but we encourage you to find the proper help for those affected by substance abuse problems.

For more information, visit www.brownandkupper.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

Is Red Wine Good for your Teeth?

            We have heard in the past that red wine can be good for heart health. Some research has shown that reservatrol, a chemical found in red wine, can be potentially beneficial for those with heart disease. However, the amount of reservatrol needed was so large that obtaining its desired benefits through red wine was nearly impossible. There is a new study from universities in Madrid and Zurich that suggests drinking wine could lead to stronger teeth, healthier gums, and fewer cavities. They believe there are compounds found in red wine that could have an antimicrobial effect that kills damaging bacteria. But before you start drinking too much, let’s take a closer look at some of the potential implications.

            The first concern I have with being reliant on red wine to help your teeth stay healthy is how little data there is to support it. A few studies over only a few years can be very short sighted and miss some of the long term effects. At this point, instead of thinking red wine is good for your teeth, I would feel more comfortable saying red wine isn’t bad for your teeth.

            Red wine, along with a few other beverages like coffee and tea, can lead to staining or darkening of your teeth. However, this staining does not put you at higher risk for tooth decay. Sometimes we are able to clean all of the stains during a routine dental exam and cleaning, but over time it may more permanently stain the teeth. Using whitening toothpaste may help limit the stains, but professional teeth bleaching can help keep the teeth white.

            At this point, it is a little too soon to say that drinking red wine will lead to fewer trips to the dentist. While there are some potential positive effects, I would still recommend doing all of the usual home care methods of brushing, flossing and rinsing to limit your trips to the dentist.

For more information, visit us at www.brownandkupper.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

            

Do your Eating Habits Affect the Health of your Teeth?

With Halloween right around the corner, it seems like we are constantly snacking on sweets both at home and at work. Our first concern may be packing on a few extra pounds, but all of this snacking can put you at a higher risk for tooth decay. Hopefully we can share a few helpful hints to reduce the possibility of developing cavities during this time and throughout the year.
Plaque is a term we use to refer to a sticky film of bacteria that adheres to your teeth. It forms as a result of different bacteria attaching to your teeth after eating or drinking.  If you do not properly clean all surfaces of your teeth, the plaque bacteria use the sugar we ingest to make acid. This acid attacks the enamel for up to 20 minutes after consuming sugar filled food or drinks. So if you eat or drink throughout the day over the course of a few weeks or months, your teeth are exposed to acid attacks over and over. These repeated attacks often result in tooth decay and the need for intervention by the dentist.
So how can you reduce your risk of tooth decay? Below are a few easy things to remember that can limit the possibility of developing cavities:

1. Limit sugary snacks and drinks between meals. This includes energy drinks and sports drinks.
2. When you do have sugary snacks and drinks, try to have them with your meals and not throughout the day or during snacking.
3. Chewing sugar free gum or gum with xylitol for 20 minutes after meals has been shown to reduce tooth decay. This doesn’t mean you can substitute gum for your normal brushing.
4. Drinking tap water throughout the day can help prevent tooth decay because it contains fluoride and can help rinse away any sugary drinks.
5. See your dentist regularly. They can help personalize a plan to limit your risk of decay. And if you do develop a cavity, they can help find in early.

For more answers or tips on good oral health, visit us at www.brownandkupper.com.


Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.
(513)860-3660

The Basics of Dental Implants

            In most cases where a tooth is lost, a dental implant is the best choice and the standard of care. Even though the initial investment is substantial, in most cases it will save you money and time in the long run when compared to other options. Below we will run through the basics of dental implants to help you gain a better understanding of what may be involved.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a metal post, typically titanium, which substitutes for a tooth’s root. It is placed in the jaw bone and allowed proper time to heal to become sturdy. Following healing (3-6 months depending upon a number of factors) a crown can be fabricated to be attached to the implant to mimic the natural tooth. This can be done to replace a single tooth, support a bridge, or even stabilize a denture.

Who can receive dental implants?

Dental implants are a viable option for patients of all ages who have lost teeth due to tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. People with dentures are also candidates if they need more support to hold their denture. However, the placement of a dental implant is a surgical procedure and you must be in good general health to allow for proper healing. There must also be adequate jaw bone at the site for the implant, but there are procedures available to improve the quality of bone if needed.

What are some limiting factors that may exclude you from receiving dental implants?

If you have a history of bruxism (clenching and grinding), diabetes, smoking or leukemia there is a higher failure rate of implants. While there is still debate on the subject, a history of taking bisphosphonates over an extended period of time limits your chances receiving dental implants.

How do I care for my dental implant?

The main reason implants fail is poor oral hygiene. While an implant cannot get a cavity because there is no natural tooth structure, an implant can fail if the area is not properly cleaned. Like all other teeth, it is essential to brush and floss the area if you want to protect the implant and implant crown.

For more information, visit us at www.brownandkupper.com

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.