This is a growing group of dentists that work toward respecting the health, function and aesthetics of oral tissue by preventing disease from occurring or intercepting its progress with minimal tissue loss. So, what does this mean? Previously in dentistry there was an idea of “extension for prevention.” This is why there are so many large silver fillings throughout the world. The idea was that if we could eliminate all of the ways that you could get a cavity in your tooth, thus placing a larger filling, it would save you from more dental problems. However, as the science of dentistry has learned more about the bacteria that cause decay we have learned that filling teeth doesn’t cure caries (or the disease of dental decay) and the less natural tooth structure you have the more likely you will have more dental problems. Therefore, today in dentistry we are trying to prevent decay before it even starts (with bacteria tests and treatments from Carifree) and we work toward preserving as much natural tooth when possible. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Posts Tagged ‘dental decay’
What is minimally invasive dentistry?
Monday, August 16th, 2010Why are baby teeth important?
Monday, July 19th, 2010As a family dental practice, we see a lot of children. Children typically have a total of twenty baby (deciduous) teeth. Many patients wonder why these are important to keep healthy if they are going to be lost shortly down the road. Since all of the baby teeth are usually lost by ages 10-12 it would appear that it wouldn’t be critical if any were lost before this time. However, this is not the case. The baby teeth are important in helping maintain correct spacing for the permanent teeth, speech development and eating, which contributes to overall development. In some cases, when a baby tooth is lost prematurely it becomes necessary to make something called a space maintainer in order to hold room for the permanent teeth. Consequently, we encourage our young patients to practice good oral hygiene and to keep their baby teeth cavity free in order to have great oral health for their upcoming permanent teeth. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
What if I am missing teeth?
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010It is very common to have missing teeth. Whether it is due to something unplanned, like dental decay or breaking a tooth, or it was done on purpose to make room for braces or to remove wisdom teeth, it is not uncommon. If you have missing teeth you are not alone. The decision that you can make is whether or not you want to replace the teeth you are missing. In many cases, patients get along just fine with one missing tooth. However, most people begin to want to replace teeth when it affects their bite, ability to eat, and smile. Today we have the ability to place dental implants. Dental implants are the most natural, cosmetic, and longest lasting solution to missing teeth. You can replace one tooth or an entire set of teeth with dental implants. Other solutions include dentures, partial dentures, and dental bridges. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why do I keep getting cavities?
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Dental decay is a bacterial disease, called Caries, that cannot be solved by only providing dental fillings, crowns (caps), or root canals. The bacteria enjoy living in an acidic oral environment and make acid from any form of carbohydrate that you eat. This acid demineralizes the teeth and causes holes, or dental decay. Your saliva acts like a buffer and dilutes this acid in order to protect your teeth. Thus, diet and medical condition can affect your risk for getting decay. In a healthy mouth, it takes about an hour for the saliva to neutralize the acid after eating. However, in individuals with acid reflux or dry mouth, for instance, this can compromise their ability to neutralize the acid and result in a higher risk of getting decay. At our office we test the bacteria on the teeth on an annual basis to determine risk of decay. This enables us to help treat patients with alternatives to “drilling and filling.” Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
Monday, April 12th, 2010Not every patient has the same requirements to maintain optimum oral health, thus, some patients have their teeth cleaned twice per year, four times per year, once per month, and once every five years. However, most patients typically fall within two to four times per year. Many things can affect how often you may want to get your teeth cleaned including gum disease, genetics, diet, home oral hygiene, and the patients goals for their teeth. The basis for determining a healthy maintenance schedule is determined by the patient based on the information found at each cleaning appointment. The better a patient gets with their home oral care, diet, etc. can often lead to a decrease in the frequency of professional dental cleanings. Whether a patient’s risk be to gum disease (periodontal disease), dental decay (caries), oral cancer, or TMJ pain, each of these conditions can be assessed on a regular basis to determine the best routine for having an exam and a professional cleaning. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Why do you get cavities in your teeth?
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010Dental decay has been an area studied by dentistry for hundreds of years. With the invention of the microscope and microbiology, a significant advance was made in how we understand the process of dental decay. Today, we know that the pH, or acid level, of the biofilm (bacteria living on the teeth) is what plays a key role in whether or not a patient is likely to get cavities. Dental caries is a bacterial disease in the oral cavity that has symptoms including cavities in the teeth. We know that there are two areas that primarily affect a patient’s risk of decay and these are diet and medical history (acid reflux, medications that cause dry mouth, etc). In the past, we thought that the risk of getting cavities could be solved with good oral hygiene and some fluoride. However, even with superb hygiene you can still get decay if you have other risk factors. Therefore, we measure the bacteria on our patient’s teeth on an annual basis and determine their risk for dental cavities. Not only does this protect the teeth but it also protects previous dental work as well. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Sensitive Teeth
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010Teeth can act sensitive for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons include gum recession, dental decay (caries), and problems with your bite. When the gum tissue receeds it can leave the root exposed to the rest of the mouth. Most of the time this is not a problem. However, in individuals with a high risk for decay this sets them up for more cavities. The root is also more likely to react painfully to cold, hot and sweets. Dental decay can also cause sensitivity. The deeper the decay the more the sensation. If the decay gets too deep this can lead to a root canal. Bite problems are the easiest problem to correct. Often following dental treatment, the bite can be slightly high and this can cause teeth to hurt and react to cold. Simply adjusting the bite can correct this scenario. If you have questions about sensitivity, don’t be afraid to ask as it happens to a lot of us. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
When should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010Wisdom teeth (third molars) are seldom a benefit to patients and often create problems with tooth crowding, gum disease (periodontal disease) and dental cavities (caries). Most patients do not have enough room in their mouth for wisdom teeth, however, there are a few individuals that will never have a problem with retaining their wisdom teeth. The best time to have wisdom teeth taken (extracted) out is typically when they are the smallest and patients are younger in order to make the procedure easier and the healing faster. Most patients have their wisdom teeth taken out between the ages of 15 and 25. We recommend that patients select a time that is convenient with their schedule since it may require a couple of days to heal. Getting wisdom teeth removed can be a very simple procedure with minimal healing and can prevent a variety of future problems. Carson Kutsch Dentist Albany Oregon www.drkutsch.com
Dental Cleanings and Pregnancy
Thursday, 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