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As a patient, you may wonder exactly what qualifications you need in order to poke around other people’s mouths! Many people don’t know exactly how much time and preparation goes into learning dentistry. If you’re someone who wants to work in the dental field or just plain curious, here’s a quick guide on how to become a dentist.
Aspiring dental students must first complete a four-year undergraduate program at a college or university. Usually, this involves studying biology, chemistry, and other sciences. Students are also encouraged to “shadow” a dentist to learn more about the career path. Before applying to dental school, they must pass a Dental Admissions Test (DAT); a comprehensive exam that covers basic academic subjects like math and science. Good grades and letters of recommendation are also required to get into dental school.
Like medical school, dental schools offer four-year programs. The first two years are mostly spent studying the fundamentals of science and dentistry, after which students are tested on what they have learned. In the last two years of dental school, students spend more time practicing on actual patients and less time in the classroom. Finally, there is yet another exam they need to pass before they get their degree. In some areas, students also have to take a postgraduate training course.
Once a graduate has completed the test, he or she becomes either a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (A side note: There isn’t actually any difference between these titles; both degrees have the same requirements!). Many people might consider this the “end of the line” for dental education.
In reality, dentists never stop learning. After graduating, some may choose to become specialists in specific subjects like orthodontics or periodontics, which typically requires two to six more years of education. For those who haven’t been counting, that means that dentists spend eight to fourteen years in school! Even dentists who don’t become specialists are usually required to take continuing education classes to stay licensed. While this might seem like an overwhelming amount of studying, the truth is that dentists love to keep learning so they can give you the best possible treatment with the latest techniques and advances.
Every few years a new dental care fad pops up and we dentists and hygienists start hearing tons of questions about whether the latest dental home remedy or DIY tooth care product really works. One of the most popular ones we’ve seen lately is using activated charcoal paste to whiten teeth. Some video bloggers are claiming amazing teeth whitening effects, but many patients are wondering whether this technique really works, and more importantly, whether it is safe.
The quick answer to both questions is: we don’t know yet. Viable studies have not been completed yet on whether charcoal can remove stains from teeth or whether charcoal can damage teeth.
In case you aren’t familiar with it, charcoal teeth whitening involves adding water to a fine powder of charcoal to make a paste. You then use this paste to brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush for three to five minutes. Supposedly, after you rinse the ghoulish-looking black paste from your mouth, you’re left with an ultra-white, megawatt smile.
The idea behind the trend is reasonable enough. Charcoal has been used for centuries as a purifying agent. Activated charcoal is very porous, and all the tiny little holes on its surface grab on to toxins and particles. That’s why charcoal is used in water filters and by as poison control in emergency rooms. However, whether this purifying effect works on teeth is not known, though in theory the concept does make sense.
Regardless of whether charcoal can be effective for teeth whitening, the more important question is if it is safe. It is possible that charcoal is too abrasive for your teeth, meaning that if the charcoal is too rough, it can damage and strip away the outer layer of your teeth (the enamel). This may not cause a problem after just one use, however, if a patient uses charcoal on their teeth repeatedly over time, they may wear out their teeth, leaving them vulnerable to sensitivity and decay.
Given that we don’t really have any evidence or studies to prove either the effectiveness or safety of charcoal teeth whitening, we can’t say that we recommend it. There are plenty of reasonably priced tooth whitening products at the drugstore that are known to be effective and safe that we’d rather patients use. And remember, the best person to ask for advice about whitening your smile is your dentist, your smile-care professional!
Anyone who has been around babies and toddlers knows that tiny humans use their mouths to learn about their surroundings. For the most part, using our mouths to explore is something that we grow out of, but in some cases oral bad habits and compulsions continue into later childhood or develop in adulthood, which can pose risks to your dental health. Here are a few habits that you should nip in the bud as soon as possible, and some suggestions for how to stop them.
When we provide dentistry for children, thumbsucking is one of the bad habits we watch out for. The biggest risk with sustained thumbsucking is how it affects the bite. Frequently having a thumb in the mouth causes teeth to shift around it. This can lead to problems such as an open bite, where the front teeth protrude and cause a large gap between top and bottom teeth, which can affect the function of the teeth while eating and speaking and affect facial aesthetics. Patients with an unaddressed thumbsucking habit that goes on for years usually end up needing orthodontic treatment (braces) that could have been avoided if the habit had been addressed.
The other risk of thumbsucking is that it can introduce bacteria from the fingers into the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Thumbsucking is considered normal up until age 3. After that point, you should consult with the dentist or your pediatrician to find a solution to stop the habit, such as oral appliances that block the thumb from entering the mouth or thumb shields that are worn on hands.
Chewing fingernails is a very common bad habit, but many people don’t know it’s just as bad for the health and appearance of your smile as it is for your hands. The protein that makes up your fingernails may be soft enough to bite through, but it’s actually hard enough that it can cause wear to your teeth over time. As a result, the bottom edges of front teeth start to look ragged or uneven and become more vulnerable to cracks or other damage. Ultimately, chewing fingernails is a compulsive behavior related to stress and is often a habit that people inherit. Luckily, because this habit is so common, there are lots of solutions out there. Try putting a bitter tasting solution on your fingers, occupying your hands with a fidget spinner or something else to fiddle with, occupying your mouth with sugar-free gum, or getting a manicure so there are no tempting rough edges or dry cuticles to gnaw on. If your habit has already caused damage to your teeth, the dentist can assess it and repair it with tooth-colored fillings and bonding to return your smile to it’s original appearance.
This may be one of the worst habits for your dental health. While liquid water is great for flushing debris and bacteria away from your teeth, chewing on frozen water is not that far off from chewing on rocks. Ice can wear out your tooth enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to cracking, tooth decay, and sensitivity to hot and cold. If you have fillings, chewing on ice can make them more brittle and prone to failure. Chewing on ice is like asking for a toothache. Like biting your fingernails, you can cope with your urge to chew by substituting ice for sugar-free gum. If you continue to find yourself tempted, consider not including ice in your beverages.
While tooth stains don’t come in all the colors of the rainbow, they come in a few, and they each may mean something different about the condition of your smile and what you can do about it. Here’s your color guide to tooth discoloration.
The most common cause of yellow teeth are drinking dark beverages such as tea, coffee, or wine. Of course, smoking or chewing tobacco also causes teeth to yellow.
Yellow teeth may also just be dirty. The plaque that builds up on teeth as the result of poor dental hygiene often has a yellowish color. Cleaning your teeth properly by brushing, flossing and seeing the hygienist can remove this plaque, but if you leave it there long-term, it can become a permanent, darker stain.
Just like eyes, hair, and skin, teeth come in many different colors. That is to say, sometimes the color of your teeth has more to do with genetics than your habits or health. If you’re from a family with naturally yellower or darker teeth, it will be harder to achieve perfectly white teeth, no matter how diligent you are about your diet or how often you get whitening treatments.
Yellow teeth can also be caused by aging. Your teeth have two layers: a hard outer layer called enamel that looks white, and a softer inner layer called dentin that’s more yellow. As your teeth age, your enamel gets thinner, and because it’s semi-transparent, the dentin underneath starts to show, making your teeth look yellow.
Brown teeth are often just a more advanced version of yellow stains, especially for smokers. If you smoke or chew tobacco throughout your life, expect your teeth to go from yellow to brown to dark brown. Brown stains can also occur when plaque left behind from inefficient cleaning gets stained by the foods and drinks you consume.
If you see brown spots on your teeth, you may have tooth decay. Cavities (called caries by dentists) often appear as white spots when they’re new but can become brown or black as the decay advances. You should always notify your dentist if you have a brown spot on your teeth.
White stains or spots can be a sign of too much fluoride. Fluoride is case in dentistry where too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. While fluoride in general strengthens your teeth, too much of it can cause discoloration in the form of white spots or streaks.
Some types of antibiotics, specifically those called tetracyclines, can cause teeth to change color. Usually the color is yellow or brown, but sometimes it can be a grayish or gray-blue tinge. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to be done about tetracycline staining, because it occurs inside the tooth, not on the surface where teeth whitening solutions work.
The good news is that most types of stains can be prevented with regular professional dental hygiene cleanings and treated with both at-home or in-office teeth whitening systems (the latter being faster and more effective).
Your mouth has many ways of letting you know that something has changed or may be wrong. Nevertheless, when we ask patients whether anything is bothering them about their smile, we find out they’ve been dealing with symptoms for a while! If you have any of the symptoms described below, please make an appointment to come see us so we can make sure we keep your smile happy and healthy.
Perhaps it should be obvious that pain sometimes your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong, and the same is true of your mouth. You should not ignore tooth pain, especially if it is persistent and lasts for several days. Toothaches could be the sign of decay, a cracked tooth, or an infection. One thing we know is that oral pain isn’t something that usually gets better on its own. It’s worth a trip to the dentist to investigate the problem as soon as possible.
We find that some patients have heard conflicted messages on this topic. Bleeding gums is common, but that does not mean that it is normal. If you notice blood when you brush or floss, that may be an early sign of gingivitis or gum disease. Take it as a sign that you need to have a conversation with the dentist about your oral health habits and what can be done to get your gums back to full health.
Occasional tooth sensitivity is not necessarily a sign of a big problem, but you should discuss your symptoms with your dentist no matter what. Sensitivity to hot, cold or sugary foods can be a sign of tooth decay. However, tooth sensitivity can also come and go naturally over time. If you have persistent trouble with sensitivity, you may be damaging your enamel by brushing too hard. A chat with the dentist about your tooth sensitivity is a good way to come up with a plan to address this issue so you can go back to enjoying all the foods and drinks you love without discomfort.
If you have any question at all about your oral health, don’t wait to have a conversation with us. Dentistry works the same way as most other things in life: if you think something is wrong, it will be easier (and usually cheaper) to fix if you take care of it early, rather than ignoring it and letting it get worse! We won’t chastise you for not taking good care of your mouth or tell you that you did something wrong. Instead, we will do our best to make sure your teeth are healthy and functional.
Getting your first set of dentures can be a life-changing experience…for the better! If you’ve decided to replace your missing teeth with dentures, you’re well on your way to smiling naturally again and enjoying your favorite foods. What follows is a crash course on the process of getting dentures, so you know what to expect and what to discuss with the dentist.
Once you and your dentist have decided that dentures are the best choice for you (as opposed do other tooth-replacement options such as dental implants), the planning stage begins.
If you have one or more teeth remaining in either your upper or lower jaw (whichever will be receiving the denture), your dentist may plan to remove these. Once these teeth have been removed, your dentist will take an impression of your gums in order to make a model of your mouth to base the dentures on. A wax model of your dentures is then created, which allows the dentist to test the look and fit.
During the planning process, you and the dentist will also discuss the color and materials for your dentures. Most dentures these days are made from acrylic, plastic and sometimes porcelain. The denture base (the part that looks like gums) is usually made from acrylic and can be made to match the color of your gums. Most denture teeth are made from plastic, though it is possible to get them made from porcelain, but this can be more expensive.
Your dentist will have you try on the mock-up models of your dentures to assess the fit and look of them. After the dentist is satisfied with the fit of the model, the final dentures will be cast in the colors you and the dentist have decided upon. Once this denture is complete, you will go back to the dentist for the final fitting. At the time, the dentist can make final adjustments to the fit.
Like any significant change in your mouth, dentures can feel strange at first. Some patients report an increase in saliva flow during the first few days or weeks of having dentures. Speaking or eating may also take getting used to. Start slow by eating softer foods cut into small pieces, then graduate to tougher foods as you feel your chewing skills improving.
The same goes for speaking. If you notice yourself having trouble speaking clearly, try speaking more slowly and practicing troublesome words until your mouth gets used to them.
It’s also normal to experience soreness in your mouth as you get used to your dentures. However, if this soreness persists, you should talk to the dentist as it may be a sign that the fit of your dentures needs to be adjusted a little more.
Don’t wear your dentures at night in order to give your gums a break. Keep your dentures moist in a glass of water or denture cleaner overnight.
Contrary to what you might think, you shouldn’t brush your dentures with toothpaste. Toothpaste can be too abrasive for the plastic of dentures and can scratch them. Hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleaner is the best choice for dentures. You should rinse your dentures after each meal and be sure to brush them with a soft bristled brush and soap at least once per day.
As a dental patient, you may be more used to hearing which foods are bad for your teeth rather than good for them. While we all should know that acidic foods or foods high in sugar are bad for your teeth, did you know that cheese has been shown to be good for your teeth? If this particular dairy delight is one of your favorite snacks, here’s how you can use the prevention of tooth decay to justify eating more of it!
Cheese’s newfound tooth-strengthening super power is the result of a study conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry. The study looked at several dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese, and measured the effects that consuming each one had on the Ph of a person’s mouth. (The Ph scale measures how acidic, alkaline or base a substance is.)
What does Ph have to do with it? Acid, or substances with a low Ph, are the biggest enemies of your tooth enamel, which is the hard outer coating of your teeth. Acids can eat away at this layer, exposing the more vulnerable layers beneath and giving infection- and gum disease-causing bacteria a place to thrive. Acid can be found in citrus fruits and diet sodas and are a by-product of bacteria’s consumption of sugar. One of the purposes of saliva is to re-balance the Ph in your mouth after you consume these types of foods.
The study found that Ph levels in participants’ mouths were elevated for 30 minutes after consuming cheddar cheese. These results even beat out the other dairy products in the study: both milk and yogurt only elevated mouth Ph for 10 minutes each. The reason for this effect was the fact that cheese promotes saliva production and also contains calcium and protein, which are the building blocks for a healthy mouth and preventing tooth decay.
We realize that cheese isn’t the most “diet friendly” food there is, but the good news is the AGD study found that it only takes 1/3 ounce (9 g) of cheese to cause the Ph change that can help prevent tooth decay. Adding just a little cheese to your snack routine can help prevent cavities!
Wisdom tooth pain is a fairly common complaint and is often the result of these third molars coming in during a person’s late teens or early adulthood. However, it is also common for wisdom teeth to become impacted, meaning there isn’t enough room for them in the mouth so they start coming in crooked and get trapped under the gum or against the neighboring teeth. Impacted teeth don’t always cause pain, but if pain does occur, it may be the sign of a problem that needs a dentist‘s attention.
If you have wisdom tooth pain, the first thing you should do is call the dentist. Pain in your wisdom teeth may be caused by infection. This is especially true with partially erupted wisdom teeth, i.e. wisdom teeth that are poking out of your gums part of the way but haven’t actually come in. Because they are exposed to the environment of your mouth, bacteria can get in and around your wisdom teeth, including under the gums where you can’t brush or floss away debris and plaque. The result can be an abscess, which is swelling and pain caused by infection. If this happens, your wisdom teeth need to be extracted as soon as possible.
We happily see emergency patients, but in case you can’t get in to see us right away, there are a few things you can do to reduce discomfort at home. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can relieve minor or moderate pain temporarily, in addition to reducing swelling and inflammation. You can make a pain relieving rinse by dissolving salt in warm water and swishing in your mouth for 30 seconds. You can also find topical pain relievers at the drug store that can provide temporary relief, such as gels that contain the numbing agent benzocaine.
Ultimately, if you’re experiencing wisdom tooth pain, you probably need to have your wisdom tooth extracted. At the first sign of a problem, be sure to contact us as soon as possible so we can start a treatment plan to make sure we keep your smile healthy.
No matter where you live or what kind of lifestyle you enjoy, chances are you have a habit that could stain your teeth. Whether you’re a coffee lover, a tea enthusiast, or a red wine connoisseur, your teeth might not be as bright as you want them to be. Here are a few tips for reducing staining on your teeth without giving up your favorite foods or beverages.
Drinking water during or after you enjoy your tea, coffee, or red wine can also help reduce stains. That’s because the water can help flush away the staining compounds before they can adhere to your teeth. This is another reason why chewing gum afterward can help reduce stains. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, and saliva can help wash away staining compounds too.
Brushing your teeth can help remove stains because of the abrasive components of toothpaste. But did you know that brushing and flossing can also help prevent stains? You’re more likely to accumulate stains on teeth that have plaque on them. That’s because plaque gives the staining components of your food and drink something to stick to. Think of it like this: coffee sticks to plaque, plaque sticks to your teeth, eventually stains stick to your teeth. But if you don’t have any plaque on your teeth, the staining compounds in coffee have less to hold on to!
This one may sound obvious, but we always have to mention it. When it comes to the damage that smoking can do to your oral and overall health, yellow teeth seems like the least of your worries. But we still can’t emphasize enough that smoking tobacco (or using other tobacco products) does terrible things to the color of your teeth. If having whiter teeth is enough of a motivator to get you to quit, we support you!
If you end up with staining or yellowing teeth despite all the tips listed above, feel free to ask us for advice specific to your individual smile. The professional teeth cleaning you get from the hygienist at your regular checkup can remove some stains. Plus the dentist and hygienist can look at your teeth and let you know what other treatments or lifestyle changes may be helpful.
The best teeth whitening is professional teeth whitening done here at the dentist by a dental professional. Teeth whitening kits from the drug store are effective, but they are more time consuming and may not remove stains as easily. Dentists can also provide a professional, custom version of an at-home whitening kit, with more powerful bleaching gels and bleaching trays that fit your specific teeth. We are happy to discuss which teeth whitening technique that is best for you!
As something we all do every day, it might be surprising that many people do not brush their teeth correctly. While doing it wrong is a lot better than not doing it at all, brushing your teeth correctly can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, tooth sensitivity & more.
Maybe you had good technique, to begin with, but you’ve let things slip over time. Or maybe you never quite paid attention when your dentist or your parents showed you how it’s done. Either way, here are a few tips for keeping your dental hygiene routine easy and effective.
Holding your brush so the bristles are perpendicular to your teeth is actually not the best way to go. For the outside surfaces of your teeth, hold the brush so the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. This allows the bristles to sweep along the gum line, where plaque tends to accumulate most. For the inside surfaces of your teeth, rotate the toothbrush so it’s vertical, and gently scrub your teeth with up and down motions, using the tip of the brush for hard-to-reach spots.
The bumpy surface of your tongue is great at holding on to debris and is a hiding place for bacteria. Cleaning your tongue as part of your brushing routine can help prevent bad breath and even tooth decay by eliminating bacteria that can be transferred from your tongue to your teeth. By the way, you don’t have to use your toothbrush for this. There are many different kinds of tongue scrapers on the market. Try out a few different kinds until you find a favorite, or ask your hygienist for a recommendation.
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth, prevents decay and can even help heal cavities when they are very small. That’s why we recommend using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. However, if you rinse out your mouth with water right after you brush your teeth, you’re canceling out the affect of this fluoride.
If you’ve ever had a professional fluoride varnish at the dentist, you’ll remember that we always tell you to wait at least half an hour after the treatment to eat or drink anything. That’s because we want to the fluoride to sit on the surface of your teeth for as long as possible so it can do its work. The same is true of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to spit out the toothpaste foam when you’re done brushing, but don’t rinse out your mouth, with water or mouthwash, for at least a few minutes afterward.
