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SARTORIO DENTAL BLOG

Posts for: May, 2014

By John Sartorio, D.M.D.
May 27, 2014
Category: Oral Health
ThesePracticalTipsCouldEnhanceYourChildsDentalHealthforLife

Your children’s health is a major concern for you, even before they’re born. That concern should include their dental health and, yes, even before they’re born — a baby’s primary teeth are already forming just a few weeks into pregnancy.

Here, then, are some important tips for keeping your child’s dental health, before and after birth, on track.

Eat healthy during pregnancy. Your baby’s teeth actually begin to mineralize around the third or fourth month of your pregnancy. You can aid this process by eating a diet rich in calcium, phosphorous and protein.

Fight tooth decay by limiting sugar. Sugar is a major contributor to tooth decay, especially in primary teeth. To reduce this risk, limit sugary snacks as much as possible, and avoid bottles filled with sugar-filled liquids (including breast milk) during your baby’s sleeping hours.

Begin good hygiene early. When teeth first appear in the mouth you should begin to wipe around the teeth and gums with a water-soaked gauze pad right after feeding. As teeth develop, begin to gently brush them with a soft-bristled brush with just a smear of fluoridated toothpaste. Teach your child beginning around age 2 to brush for themselves with a pea-sized amount of paste on the brush. By age 6, they should be able to brush on their own and ready to learn flossing.

Schedule regular dental visits and cleanings. Dental checkups should begin around their first birthday and continue semi-annually. Your dentist is a key resource in monitoring tooth development, preventing disease and developing future treatment strategies.

Make your home “tooth-friendly.” Your home environment can be a danger to your child’s mouth. Check for hard or sharp surfaces your child could fall on and eliminate the danger — it’s estimated half of dental injuries to children under seven occur near home furniture. Check your drinking water as well — does your system add fluoride, a proven cavity fighter, or do you need to find other sources?

Taking a few precautions and establishing good life-long dental habits will help ensure your child’s teeth and gums remain healthy right into adulthood.

If you would like more information on oral health for children, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Top 10 Oral Health Tips for Children.”


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By John Sartorio, D.M.D.
May 15, 2014
Category: Dental Procedures
dental implantsAre you missing one tooth, or even multiple teeth?  Have you been hiding your smile, but are ready to bring it back to life?  Dental restoration is possible with the use of dental implants to bring your smile back to life.  While traditional dentures and bridges have been effective options for restoring missing teeth for many years, dental implants are increasingly becoming the preferred solution for tooth loss and the only treatment available that replaces the entire missing tooth.  Dental implants are effective, safe and permanent, restoring the mouth as closely as possible to its natural state.
 
 

The Consequences of Missing Teeth

 
 
Teeth can be lost for many reasons including gum disease, decay, root canal failure and excessive wear and tear. The loss of missing teeth can have serious consequences on a patient’s appearance, health and ability to perform normal functions. Even the loss of a single tooth can result in many repercussions. Common effects of tooth loss include:
 
 
  • Change in jaw structure
     
  • Shifting teeth caused by gaps left by the missing teeth
     
  • Change in the contour of the face, resulting in an older, sunken appearance
     
  • Difficulty chewing and biting certain foods, including hard fruits and vegetables
     
  • Poor self-esteem and lack of confidence during social and professional situations
 
 

The Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth with Implants

 
 
Dental implants, used to replace one tooth or multiple teeth, are root substitutes that are securely placed to simulate the root of a pre-existing tooth. Implants are designed to replicate your natural teeth while restoring function and preventing further decay, dental diseases and bone loss.
 
With so many benefits, dental implants have become the clear treatment of choice for Pittsburgh patients missing one, a few, or all of their teeth.
 
 
Advantages of Dental Implants include:
 
 
  • Improved Appearance Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth—so natural looking no one will notice you have undergone dental restoration.
  • Durability Dental implants rival the strength and function of natural teeth. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime.
  • Tooth-Saving Implants can support themselves and won't alter or impact healthy, neighboring teeth. By filling in the space of a missing tooth, implants protect the remaining teeth from unwanted shifting.
  • Comfort Compared to traditional, removable dentures, secure dental implants are secure and comfortable.
  • Renewed Self-Confidence As a result of preserved bone, improved appearance, comfort, health and function, patients can once again smile, eat and speak with confidence.
 
 
Dental implants are the safest, most accurate type of procedure conducted to replace a missing tooth. In fact, research has shown that this restoration procedure has a 98% success rate.  Regaining your smile is possible, and if you have missing teeth, avoid serious repercussions and talk to our office in Pittsburgh for dental implants today.

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By John Sartorio, D.M.D.
May 12, 2014
Category: Oral Health
FlorenceHendersonTalksAboutPreventativeDentistry

Florence Henderson, star of one of television's most beloved situation comedies, is still actively engaged in a variety of projects at 75-plus years of age. Her bright smile was part of her character as Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch, a popular sitcom that played for five seasons from 1969 to 1974. Though the show was discontinued, syndicated episodes continue to play in the U.S. and 122 other countries.

“I played Carol as the mother I always wished I had,” she told Dear Doctor magazine. Her portrayal of mother and wife in a blended family with six children won her the Smithsonian Institution's TV Land Pop Culture Icon Award, which is on display in the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

After her successes on Broadway and in television, she was selected for numerous product endorsements, and The Wall Street Journal ranked her #5 in their top ten television endorsers based on viewer satisfaction. One of the products she endorsed was Polident, a brand of denture cleaners and adhesives. However, Henderson has revealed that she has her own natural teeth and does not wear dentures. Her advice to others who want to keep their natural teeth is to pay attention to prevention. “I think the most important thing one can do as with any health issue is prevention,” she said. “Flossing, brushing, and regular dental checkups are vitally important if you want to keep your natural teeth.”

When she was 22, she says, she had four impacted wisdom teeth removed at the same time. This experience made her aware of the importance of dental care, and since then she has had a checkup every six months. Wherever she travels, she says that she always has mouthwash, dental floss, toothpaste, and a toothbrush on the set.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your questions about tooth care. You can learn more about Florence Henderson by reading the Dear Doctor magazine interview “Florence Henderson, America's Favorite TV Mom Has Many Reasons to Smile.”


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By John Sartorio, D.M.D.
May 02, 2014
Category: Dental Procedures
FrequentlyAskedQuestionsAboutToothWear

What is tooth wear?
“Tooth wear” refers to a loss of tooth structure that can make your teeth appear shorter or less even than they used to be. Wear starts with loss of outer covering of the teeth, known as enamel. Although enamel is the hardest structure in the human body — even harder than bone — it can wear away over time. If enough enamel is lost, the softer inner tooth structure known as dentin can become exposed, and dentin wears away much faster.

What causes tooth wear?
Tooth wear can be caused by any of the following:

  • Abrasion: This is caused by a rubbing or scraping of the teeth. The most common source of abrasion is brushing too hard or using a toothbrush that is not soft enough. A removable dental appliance, such as a partial dentures or retainer, can also abrade teeth. Abrasion can also result from habits such as nail-biting and pen-chewing.
  • Attrition: This is caused by teeth contacting each other. Habits that you might not even be aware of — such as grinding or clenching your teeth — can be quite destructive over time. That’s because they can subject teeth to 10 times the normal forces of biting and chewing.
  • Erosion: Acid in your diet can actually erode (dissolve) the enamel on your teeth. Many sodas, sports drinks and so-called energy drinks are highly acidic; so are certain fruit juices. Eating sugary snacks also raises the acidity level in your mouth. If you can’t give up these snacks and drinks entirely, it’s best to confine them to mealtimes so your mouth doesn’t stay acidic throughout the day. Swishing water in your mouth after eating or drinking acidic or sugary substances can also help prevent erosion.
  • Abfraction: This refers to the loss of tooth enamel at the “necks” of the teeth (the part right at the gum line). This type of wear is not thoroughly understood, though it is believed to result from excessive biting forces. Abrasion and erosion can contribute to this problem.

How is it treated?
The first step in treating any type of tooth wear is to determine the cause during a simple oral examination right here at the dental office. Once the cause has been identified, we can work together to reduce the stresses on your teeth. For example, you may need a refresher course on gentle, effective brushing techniques; or you might benefit from some changes to your diet. If you have a clenching or grinding habit, we can make you a nightguard that will protect your teeth during sleep or periods of high stress. Once we have dealt with the underlying cause, we can make your teeth look beautiful again by replacing lost tooth structure with bonding, veneers, or crowns. This will also allow your bite to function properly again.

If you have any concerns about tooth wear, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “How and Why Teeth Wear.”


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Pittsburgh, PA Cosmetic Dentist John Sartorio, D.M.D. 6011 Baptist Rd., Suite 300 Pittsburgh, PA 15236 (412) 831-8700 Cosmetic dentist in Pittsburgh, PA Call For Financing Options