Find out the latest news and topics of interest from Dr. James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.!
Archive for the ‘Family Dental Health’ Category
Ouch! Something Cracked
Monday, July 25, 2011
If this happens to you, you may have a very commonly occurring problem in one of your teeth, a cracked tooth.
Teeth may crack when subjected to stress of chewing hard foods or ice, or by biting on an unexpected hard object. Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with typical silver alloy restorations are most susceptible.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS (SOME OR ALL)
- Pain on chewing.
- Pain on cold air application.
- Unsolicited pan (usually leakage of sugar into tooth crack).
- No radiographic evidence of problem.
- No dental decay present.
- Easy verification of crack when tooth is prepared for restoration.
TREATMENT OF CRACKED TEETH
Simple Crack: The majority of cracked teeth (about 9 out of 10) can be treated by placement of a simple crown (cap) on the tooth. When the tooth is prepared for the crown and a temporary restoration is placed, the pain usually leaves immediately. If this is the case with your tooth, the final crown can be placed without a problem on your next appointment and the condition should be solved.
Complex Crack: Occasionally (about 1 in 10) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. If pain persists after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack into the pulp of the affected tooth. Call your dentist. This tooth may require endodontics (root canal therapy) before the final crown is placed. This will typically require about tw0 additional appointments before the final crown is then placed.
Call Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S., at 509-928-9100 if you suspect you may have a cracked tooth. It won’t go away!
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
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Your Oral Health and Pet Health
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Recently, a family pet was taken to the veterinarian for health reasons. The veterinarian did a great job, and now we won’t have unexpected puppies. While I was in the veterinarian’s reception area, I noticed a lady with obvious periodontal disease. She was concerned and conscientiously taking her little dog to the vet to be pampered and well cared for, which is great, but what about her oral health?
Why do we as humans overlook our own personal health problems, many times especially our oral health, but care for our children and pets? I am reminded of the airline attendant on a recent flight. I’m sure you’ve heard this on a flight, “In the event of an emergency, oxygen masks will drop down from the ceiling. Place your own mask on first, and then place a mask on your child.” It is difficult to provide care to another if you are not healthy yourself.
We as parents and pet owners must care for our own health problems so we can properly care for our children and our pets. Our children will learn and follow what we as parents do. Our pets will enjoy the company of healthy masters much more than sickly or dying pet owners.
Be aware and care for your oral and general health, and then use that knowledge to care for your children and family members. Then you can all work to keep your pets healthy.
Happy smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
First Day of Summer and the Importance of Follow-up Dental Care
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Hello and welcome to the first day of summer. It has been long time coming. This has been about the coldest spring on record here is Spokane, WA. All the flowering plants are about 2 weeks late. It has saved on air conditioning costs, and many people have yet to hook up their lawn sprinkling systems. Seeds planted are coming in slowly. Weeds are lush, green, and vigorous, with all the rain we’ve had. Today, the weatherman predicts the temperature to be over 80oF. If we hit that mark, this is the first day 80o or over for 2011! Not a record most people would have chosen.
During this warmest of all seasons, don’t forget about dental maintenance appointments. The most sought after 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. appointments are easier to find now that kids are out of school.
Today, I was talking to a lady and she said that her husband has an abscessed tooth, but it had emergency treatment a “while back.” She said he needed to have the root canal finished, but it didn’t hurt so she couldn’t get him in to have it finished.
When we medicate an infected tooth, we rely on antibiotics to get rid of the infection so that we can then seal the tooth and complete the root canal. Antibiotics, which became readily available in the mid 1940s, have been a godsend to medicine and dentistry.
Before 1900, what do you think the single most common reason for death in a hospital was? Yes, that’s right, tooth infection. Most people don’t realize how serious tooth infections can be, simply because we now have very effective antibiotics.
Today, we can effectively treat and save most infected teeth. On the earlier example, however, teeth that are treated merely with antibiotics will improve in the short term, but left untreated, the infection will return with a vengeance. And, usually, it will return when your system can least cope with fighting the infection (i.e. when you are sick, run down, over-worked, stressed, etc.).
So, the moral of the story is: relax and enjoy the summer season, take care of yourself, and maintain your dental health.
Keep smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
How to Keep Dad Around Longer
Friday, June 17, 2011
Women are much more likely than men to seek out dental services and maintain good oral health. With that said, encourage your dad, if he doesn’t already, to have regular dental exams to maintain his oral health.
We, as dental professionals, can restore and rehabilitate your mouth but, ultimately, it is your responsibility to take ownership of your overall health. And I want to attempt to imprint on as many people as possible the significance of dental health, as it affects overall health.
According to the American Dental Association, approximately 70% of the United States population has some form of periodontal disease. Two major effects of periodontal disease are inflammation and infection. Left untreated in the human body, infection and the bacterial by-products of inflammation can be the major factors in the development of many systemic diseases.
A few diseases, which science has proven can develop from untreated infection and inflammation, are diabetes, heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, even toxic shock syndrome, and more and more serious diseases are added to this list literally yearly.
Likewise, when diabetic patients had their periodontal disease treated, they experienced a “marked improvement” in blood sugar levels.
What I am trying to make perfectly clear to all of you out there who are still with me: Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health. Take care of yourself and take care of your dad.
And don’t forget, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Happy Smiles,
Dr. James G. Hood
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Fluoride – Topical and Systemic Treatments
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Fluoride is one of the most abundant and chemically reactive elements on earth. Many foods (including certain teas, red wines, meat, fish, eggs and cheeses) contain high amounts of fluoride. Everyone ingests at least trace amounts of fluoride on a regular basis. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that strengthens teeth.
Fluoride can be taken in one of two ways: topically and systemically. Topical applications of fluoride include toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments in a dental office. Systemic fluoride is taken as a tablet or added to the diet as mentioned above or added to something ingested (i.e., water fluoridation).
Water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the fluoride content in local water facilities to the recommended dose for optimal dental health. Hundreds of fluoridation studies, from more than 20 countries, have proven the effect of optimal fluoride levels in local diets at reducing tooth decay. In some communities fluoride needs to be reduced (taken out) from local water supplies, and in other communities it is added to water supplies to create optimal fluoride concentration.
There are still a few areas (i.e., Spokane, WA) which have virtually no naturally occurring fluoride in local water supplies and civic leaders have chosen (I believe unwisely) not to add fluoride to the community water. In such a case, your family dentist can prescribe fluoride tablets in the optimal concentration for local water supplies to prevent decay in residents.
Again, numerous studies have shown that fluoridated water, at an optimal level recommended for decay prevention in teeth, is completely safe.
Application of fluoride to teeth (both systemically and topically), along with pit and fissure sealants, are the two best preventive measures in reducing or preventing decay in teeth.
Fluoride does not replace flossing but, as part of a good oral hygiene program, can go a long way in helping to reduce or eliminate tooth decay.
Keep Smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1, Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com, www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com, www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com, www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org, www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
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