Did you know that a lot of people have what is called ankyloglossia (”tongue tied”) and cannot stick out their tongue. In some cases this can cause speech problems, feeding problems, or just prevent the patient from doing simple things like licking their lips. This situation can easily be remedied today in dentistry with the use of a laser. The laser is very gentle to tissue, doesn’t require any stitches (dental suture), and typically only requires a topical anesthetic………That’s right! No shots! Whether you are an adult or a child, having a frenectomy with the laser (eliminating the tongue tied area) can be a great benefit with very little post appointment problems or discomfort. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Can you stick your tongue out?
March 9th, 2010Family dentistry-Then and Now
March 8th, 2010Most of us can remember our first dental appointments and the anxiety that accompanied those experiences. Today, our younger patients (child patients) don’t have the same types of experience with dentistry. As we have increased our magnification, implemented digital x rays, and changed to more conservative materials, the process of getting a dental filling is no longer a traumatic experience. Today’s fillings are smaller, require less anesthetic, and often lead to a shorter appointment time. Thus, our younger patients often enjoy their visit to the dentist and have teeth that will be in much better condition for the long term. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Getting your teeth cleaned is such a treat
March 4th, 2010This the time of year when we all take turns having the seasonal “cold.” Unfortunately, some of us get our turn more than once. Keeping your immune system at its strongest is your best defense against the cold and flu season. Many people do not realize that gingivitis and periodontitis (gum disease) are infections of the gum tissue and this pays its price on the immune system. Keeping your gums and teeth at their healthiest not only decreases your risk of heart disease but also makes your whole system function better. If it has been a while, treat yourself to a dental cleaning and enjoy the other health benefits that will follow. A simple tip is to change your toothbrush when you are sick or have been sick. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
How can crowns be made in one appointment?
March 3rd, 2010There are several different types of crowns used in dentistry. Previously, gold crowns were the most common, especially before the innovation of higher strength porcelains. Today in dentistry, most patients would rather have natural looking teething and not have more metal placed in their mouth. Thus, full porcelain crowns are starting to become the most common and these can be done in one appointment. A computer, called the Cerec, takes a 3D picture of the tooth (instead of an impression) and another computer makes the crown in a matter of minutes. This eliminates the need for temporary crowns and multiple appointments. Not only is this more convenient for the patient but the teeth experience less sensitivity and a better crown! Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Dental costs
March 2nd, 2010Patients frequently call our office and ask about the cost of specific procedure. The cost of dentistry can range very significantly depending upon the procedure, materials used, technology, and even warranty. Most practices in an area will charge within 10-20% of each other. Some offer discounts for those without insurance or seniors citizens. Other practices might include several things into one fee. It becomes very difficult to exactly compare “apples to apples” as not everyone does everything exactly the same. The bottomline is that it is like anything else in this world and you usually get exactly what you pay for. Find a practice where you are comfortable, you understand your options, and you trust the quality of your care. The way to save money on your oral health is usually over a long period of time as the smaller the problem usually the less it costs to fix. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
When is root canal therapy a good choice?
March 1st, 2010Today in dentistry it has become more and more common place to take out broken or infected teeth and replacing them with dental implants. Until implants were possible, dentists made every attempt possible to salvage whatever tooth the patient had left. Sometimes this created a long lasting result, however, many times it only delayed the inevitable loss of the tooth. We can now evaluate teeth and decide when to keep the teeth that are a safe, long term solution and extract (take out) the teeth that are either too broken or unpredictable. Thus, teeth that have a lot of tooth structure left, don’t have a lot of cracking, and have a healthy bone foundation are good candidates for root canal therapy. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Is it ever too late to get dental braces?
February 26th, 2010We have a lot of adult patients in our dental practice who are being treated with braces (orthodontics) for a variety of reasons. Some patients simply want to straighten their smile for cosmetic reasons while others have problems with their TMJ or the way they bite. Regardless of whether you are 12 years old or 82, braces can be a valuable service to give patients the smile and comfort that they want. The lenght of time that a patient wears braces can range most commonly from 12 to 24 months depending upon the goals of the patient. In addition, braces give us the opportunity to move teeth in a conservative way without causing harm to the teeth and can create a more youthful smile. It is never too late to be proud of the way you smile or to have a more comfortable eating experience. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Dental Cleanings and Pregnancy
February 25th, 2010Having a baby is a very exciting time in life. There are many changes that occur in the body in order to make this miracle happen. As a consequence, a lot of stress is put on mother’s body and this can create a problem for the teeth. We frequently have patients without any dental problems become pregnant and then have problems with dental decay (caries) and gum disease (gingivitis, periodontitis). It is prudent to increase oral hygiene during this time. We recommend having your teeth cleaned every three months instead of six months in order to reduce the risk of periodontal disease as well as we monitor the bacteria that lead to cavities in the teeth. These two simple measures help ensure that “Mom” has a healthy mouth and a healthy baby! Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
We are a mercury free practice
January 20th, 2010Do you remember the days of silver, mercury fillings? This material, dental amalgam, was invented over 100 years ago and was the standard of care up until the 1980’s. Recently, the American Dental Association decided that it was nolonger acceptable to use mercury fillings in children or pregnant women. In the state of Oregon, it became law on January 1st to have a special filtration device in order to keep this harmful material out of our community’s water. In our practice, we have never used mercury fillings on any of our patients. It is important to us to use only materials that are conservative, similar to tooth structure, safe to the patient, safe to our team and safe for the environment. If you would like to become part of a mercury free practice, check us out at www.drkutsch.com. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon
What is a dental crown?
January 19th, 2010Often called a “cap,” a dental crown is something that it used to encase a tooth when it has fractured, cracked, or has a filling that occupies most of the tooth. These are placed very frequently in order to prevent tooth loss and damaging the nerve. When a tooth doesn’t hurt, has a lot of cracks, and hasn’t fractured yet, this is often the most reliable time to crown a tooth. These teeth tend to have less of a chance of a root canal and are more predictable long term. Crowns are primarily done in one appointment using a computer called the “Cerec.” The Cerec enables us to take pictures of the tooth, design a crown, and cement it in the same appointment. We nolonger need impressions or uncomfortable temporary crowns. There are several materials used in making crowns. Gold used to be most popular, however, most people today want something that looks like a natural tooth. If you have questions, please ask. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com