Archive for December, 2009
Invisible Braces for Kids and Adults
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Most people consider braces a cosmetic endeavor, but that’s actually about third on the list. Function and hygiene are actually the most important reasons to use orthodontic correction. If the bite is incorrect, it can have far reaching consequences in the ability to chew, the muscles in the face and neck, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that hinges your jaw, and even in the spine. If the teeth overlap incorrectly, that can also cause entrapment of debris and tartar between the teeth, making it much harder to clean and causing an increase in decay and gum disease.
Only after those other considerations can we dwell on the cosmetics. However, it just so happens that the correct functional and hygienic alignment of the teeth is also aesthetically pleasing, so the cosmetic result just becomes a byproduct of the other corrections.
Once we have our priorities in order, we can decide on the methods. Traditionally, the thought of braces brings to mind a mouth overflowing with wires, brackets, and bands. When I was a teenager, it was kind of embarrassing to be a metal mouth with a tin grin, but today, some kids think it is a bit of a status symbol; just like in some countries it’s a sign of affluence to have a big gold tooth in the front of your mouth.
However, there are some serious drawbacks to all that hardware. It causes a tremendous hygiene challenge, can injure the gums and roots, cause decay and staining of the teeth, and although some kids think it is cool, others, and especially the adults, would rather not go through all of that. In some cases the brackets are necessary, but most of the time invisible braces are the best choice.
Invisalign has developed a system that effectively produces orthodontic corrections with minimum time, expense, and discomfort. It consists of a series of clear trays, or aligners, that fit over your teeth and gradually move them into the correct positions. They look great, they’re more comfortable, and they’re removable so you can eat, brush, and floss much more effectively. These are benefits that kids and adults alike can appreciate. One concern is that braces can throw your bite off, but the Invisalign trays are computer generated, so the finished bite is correct to within one hundredth of a millimeter.
Behind the scenes, the dentist must be trained and certified with Invisalign, and we work with one of their orthodontic specialists to collaborate on the best course of treatment. So if you’re thinking braces, your choice may be clear!
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, January 2009
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Dental Economics
Friday, December 11th, 2009
In today’s financial climate, everyone is boarding up their windows for the storm. Budgets are tightened and spending is restricted to the essentials. At the store, we stick more to the necessities and look for bargains. We are cutting back on travel and entertainment and other things we can get by without. Rent, utilities and taxes are unavoidable, but what about healthcare?
Personally, I rate healthcare very high in the list. You might suspect that I am a little prejudiced on the subject, but few things are as important to me as the health of my family. Dental care is definitely as important as ever. However, here are some tips that may help you budget this necessity.
Number one in anyone’s book would be prevention. Dental insurance is generally pretty worthless, but why do you think they usually pay 100% on exams and cleanings? It’s because they are trying to save money! Statistics show that dental treatment is much less complicated and expensive if you discover the problem early, and the cleaner and healthier your gums are, the fewer problems will arise. So for you, the way to save money is to get in for your regular exams and cleanings. Healthy gums have even been shown to save on your medical needs, and any dental problems that occur within a year are usually minor. A typical example is a small cavity that might cost $150 to fix, but if you wait long enough, it may need a root canal and crown for $1500, ten times as much.
Don’t forget that home care is also a preventive activity. Diligent brushing and especially flossing make a bigger difference than anything else, but they can’t compensate for smoking. One more note on prevention: Start your children out early. In addition to discovering problems early, the child becomes more comfortable with seeing the dentist and may not need to see a specialist down the road. To help out, we provide all treatment at no charge to any children three years and younger.
For those that need a lot of dental work, take some tips from the consumer’s guide: 1. Shop around. I encourage my patients to get other opinions. It’s in their best interest to find out as much as they can about their condition, and methods and fees could vary quite a bit. 2. Get financing options. We have several programs that allow patients to finance up to 24 months with no interest, or longer with interest. Health savings accounts can also be used for dental expenses. Another suggestion is to be conservative. Find out if there are any simpler options, and take time to consider them or discuss them with your spouse. For instance, a tooth with a chip or crack is often scheduled for a crown. Ask if it is possible to get by with a white filling for a while. The ceramic filling materials available now are much more durable than they used to be, and they are bonded to the teeth, leaving a stronger finished product. Plastic veneers cost about a third as much as the porcelain. A removable partial denture might be used instead of fixed bridges or implants. Although these solutions may not be ideal, they are much less expensive, and they don’t interfere with your ability to upgrade later. Finally, don’t panic! Every economist will tell you that prosperity is a state of mind. If people are afraid, they sell their stocks and pull their money out of circulation. That creates a self-fulfilling result. The decline of the stock market is simply the result of everyone selling out, and it’s being fueled by all the politicians trying to scare people into socialism. I suspect it will settle down as soon as we do another type of cleaning: a political house cleaning!
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, October 2008
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Don’t Play The Waiting Game with Oral Cancer Symptoms
Friday, December 11th, 2009
The waiting game is a dangerous game when it comes to oral cancer. It’s the reason why oral cancer is the only type of cancer that has not seen a decrease in death rates for decades. 34,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year and over half of those die before 5 years. For those not familiar with calculus, that’s more than 8,000 deaths per year. That is a higher percentage than many other cancers combined.
If you wait until the signs and symptoms become obvious, it may be too late, so early detection is the critical key to survival. Most people assume that this is a smoker’s problem, but the middle-aged non-smokers have the fastest growing oral cancer rate of all.
About one out of every 25 Americans have a dysplasia, or precancerous lesion at any given point in time. It could be a small red or white spot anywhere in the mouth, the cheeks, lips, gums, tongue, or palate. They’re like small cancer seeds. They usually slough off, but if they take root by gaining a blood supply, then they become dangerous. If they develop under the skin, they can be even harder to detect.
You can observe signs yourself, if you look carefully. The most common start is a small red or white spot or sore. It may bleed easily or never seem to heal. Other signs include:
A color change of the oral tissues
A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
A change in the way the teeth fit together
However, these signs may be difficult for you to find or discern. That is why it is so important to have your dentist check for you regularly. We include a complete cancer screening as part of our yearly dental exams, using a special fluorescent light to help detect any lesions. Then we do a simple brush test to send any suspicious findings in for a lab analysis.
This is the most effective way to combat oral cancer, because if you catch it early, the treatment is usually easy and successful, so the time to start is now!
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times,
September 2008
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Baby Tooth Blues
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
In this age of disposable everything from diapers to cell phones, baby teeth, also called primary or deciduous, are even considered disposable by some people. There is a growing attitude that since they are destined to be eventually lost, it doesn’t matter what happens to them along the way. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
There are 20 baby teeth in all that start to appear from 0 to 2 years old and systematically disappear from age 6 to about 13. Each one has a corresponding permanent tooth that develops underneath it, dissolving the baby root. During that time the permanent molars come in further back as the jaw grows larger to accommodate more and bigger teeth. That’s in an ideal world, but as you know, life never works out as planned. Besides accidents and decay, other problems, such as misalignment and developmental abnormalities can arise. I like to take every opportunity to remind parents about a common condition called baby bottle decay that occurs in children under 4 years old. If your baby uses a bottle or a sipper cup between meals, make sure it contains only water. Other types of drinks, even juice and milk, will cause decay to run out of control as the teeth are constantly bathed in nutrients that feed the bacteria. Because of this and other developmental problems that are so critical at that early age, we offer to provide all treatment of any child under 4 years old, at no charge as an incentive to give them a good start in life.
During the life of the baby teeth, the most frequent question we get about their care is whether it’s really necessary to treat them if they get cavities. I try to only treat them if they pose a potential hazard. It’s kind of a race between whether the tooth will be lost first, or the cavity will be a problem. Basically, if the child is 6 and has a cavity on a baby molar, then we need to fill it, but if the child is 11 or 12 and the cavity is small we usually let it slide. There are other mitigating circumstances of course, such as infection, the potential for the decay to spread to other teeth, and the need for space maintenance, but a more conservative approach is more in keeping with my mission statement: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, August 2008
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