Why replace a lost tooth?

/in /by

As a child, losing teeth is a very necessary step in growing up. Baby teeth fall out, adult teeth come in. However, losing a tooth (and not replacing it) as an adult, can have very dramatic dental and medical consequences. Our mouths have evolved over the millennia to be what they are today, and when a tooth is missing, it throws off a lot of things.

The first problem is a loss in chewing efficiency. Every lost tooth is a 10% loss in your ability to chew properly. This leads to swallowing food that is not completely chewed, increasing your risk of choking, and leading to digestive problems (because the rest of the digestive system now has to compensate for your teeth not properly doing their jobs).

The primary function of the mouth is to break down food enough for the stomach to be able to digest properly. If food isn’t masticated properly, the stomach may not be able to fully break down the food, so your body won’t be able to properly absorb nutrients from what you eat. Also, large chunks of food that do not digest can become a breeding ground for bacteria, ultimately causing gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, cramping, and abdominal pain. This can also contribute to acid reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

lost tooth dr chauvin lafayette dentist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another issue from a lost tooth is something called extrusion or supereruption. Essentially, without support on the opposite side of the mouth, the tooth on the opposite jaw will begin to drift down (or up) into the vacant space. The teeth on either side of the gap can drift inward as well, causing additional teeth to be misaligned. This reduces your bite strength, increases wear and tear on your teeth, and makes them harder to clean properly.

You can also experience a collapsed bite. Your arch, the arc between the backs of your back teeth, will degrade over time. This will make your nose begin to point down, making your face shorter. After that, muscle tone in your face will be reduced, causing sunken cheeks and a pinched facial expression. In a nutshell, it makes a person look a lot older due to the loss of bone volume and muscle tone.

It’s very important to replace a lost tooth immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to fix. Once the other teeth start moving around, braces may be required to push them back into place. And as the teeth degrade, getting an accurate bite imprint will be almost impossible. Have a missing tooth you suddenly feel a need to have fixed? Call Dr. Chauvin!

symbol of dentistry chavin dental lafayette la

Do you know the meaning behind the official symbol of dentistry?

/in /by

symbol of dentistry chavin dental lafayette laThe symbol of dentistry, a staff with a snake coiled around it, flanked by leaves, inside a triangle, surrounded by (and intertwined with) a circle, and on a purple background. Chosen in 1965, the symbol has been around for over 50 years. It looks cool, but what in the world does it stand for?

As with many things, the symbol has its origins in mythology. Enter Asclepius – one of the earlier gods associated with health. Asclepius was a son of Apollo (who you may recognize as the god who drives the chariot across the sky each day, bringing the sun with him). Apollo was known for healing, among other things.

Asclepius was primarily known for his healing abilities, and his symbol was a staff entwined with a snake. Believed to have taken the form of a serpent, the story goes that Asclepius healed the Greek people that were suffering from a Roman plague.

Although snakes have a negative connotation today, from a mythological standpoint, the snake was a creature of rebirth. They saw the shedding of its skin as  a rejuvenation, a healing. You’ll notice that his symbol is also very similar to the symbol of medicine, the Caduceus; a winged staff with two snakes twirling around it.

Interestingly enough, the serpent has a healing representation in the Old Testament too! Moses made a brass serpent, put it on a pole, and “… if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:9) This is also connected to the origins of the Caduceus.

Also appearing on the symbol of dentistry are two branches of leaves with berries on them. This is a very specific reference to the number of teeth people have. There are 32 leaves, for 32 permanent (adult) teeth, and 20 berries, representing primary (children’s) teeth.

The triangle is actually the greek letter Δ, delta, here referring to “dentistry”. The circle is Ο, omicron. Omicron represents “odont” – the greek word for tooth. The two symbols are woven together. The purple color is actually lilac, and was selected as the color of dentistry by the NADF (National Association of Dental Faculties) in 1897.

Symbols and logos are never what they appear to be at face value. Each element is carefully chosen, and with a little digging, you too can discover what they really mean. In the meantime, if you need to see a dentist, give Dr. Chauvin a call!

adult braces dr chauvin lafayette la

What you should know about adult orthodontics

/in /by

adult braces dr chauvin lafayette laThese days, braces aren’t just for kids. As people are living longer, and advancements in medical and dental health continue, people are choosing to have their teeth corrected with orthodontics. If a person has good dental health, they can get braces – whether they’re twenty years old, or seventy years old!

 

 

There are multiple benefits to having braces as an adult:

  • Closing gaps between teeth
  • Fixing over/under/cross-bites
  • Improving their smile
  • Correctly aligned teeth are easier to care for via flossing and brushing

The most important thing to bear in mind when considering braces, good dental hygiene must be maintained, or they’ll cause more problems than they fix. Special care must be taken when a person has braces. Brushing after every meal is a must, and flossing properly will take roughly twenty minutes – also after every meal.

Thankfully, due to advancing technology, braces are no longer the gigantic metal bands that were around in the 80s and 90s. There are a number of options to choose from!

 

  • Traditional braces:

 

    • Are much smaller nowadays, which makes them easier to clean and easier for a person’s mouth to adjust to. The orthodontist will tighten the wires every four to six weeks, and adults will typically have these for anywhere from eighteen months to three years.

 

  • Ceramic braces:

 

    • Although more expensive, they’re harder to see, as the ceramic is the same color of the teeth.
      • Another option, if the visibility of the braces is a concern, is to have the metal brackets placed behind the teeth. It is important to note that this method is much more costly, as each bracket has to be custom fitted to the back of each tooth. This location also makes the braces more difficult to clean.
  • Clear alignment braces:
    • These can be removed for eating and teeth cleaning, but they tend to take longer than traditional braces. They’re meant for minor adjustments. If a large tooth gap is an issue, than metal braces are the way to go

 

  • Veneers:

 

    • A veneer is a thin layer of ceramic that cosmetically corrects any chipped or stained teeth, without actually moving anything around. Another thing to consider is the cost, as the dentist may need to shave some of the existing tooth to make the veneers look right.

If a person is considering braces, they should talk to their dentist about the options. They can make a recommendation based on the current state of their teeth, and refer a good orthodontist in the area. Need more information? Call Dr. Chauvin!

 

Getting a root canal over existing dental work

/in /by

tooth-anatomy-762x812There are a variety of reasons where a person may need to have a crown on their tooth. Maybe some trauma caused a tooth to crack, or they had a root canal. A person may also have a crown if they had a cavity that was in an area that was too difficult to fill via traditional methods. Regardless of the reason, they have a shiny new crown in place, and some time goes by. Then that tooth starts to hurt again… What does that mean?

There are a few things that could have happened. If the crown didn’t seal properly, bacteria may have gotten under the crown, causing additional damage or cavities. Trauma, such as a fall, sports injury, or traffic accident, can also damage or displace a crown. This would also allow bacteria to get into the underlying tooth and tissue. The end result being that a root canal is required.

 

What happens if there is already a crown and a root canal is needed?

 

The dentist will assess the situation and consider a variety of factors before proceeding:

 

  • Is the crown seated properly?
  • Is it intact?
  • What is causing the pain?
  • Can the crown be salvaged?

 

If the crown is seated properly and everything is intact, the dentist will be able to perform a root canal or cavity filling through the existing crown, and simply patch the crown when he’s finished. If the crown is damaged or hasn’t sealed properly, the crown will be removed. Replacing the crown will depend on whether or not there is enough remaining tooth structure to support a crown.

It’s important to remember that, while porcelain, crowns are not invincible. Proper dental care is required if a crown is going to last more than a few years. Although they will wear down over time, a crown should last many years before needing a replacement. Cavities can happen to crowns (because there is tooth beneath them), so make sure to brush after meals and floss daily. The edges where the crown meets the gum line, or margins, of the crown are especially susceptible to wear and tear. Make sure to get proper care instructions from the dentist after having a crown put in.

Be sure to notify the dentist if a crowned tooth begins to hurt. Any bacteria that get in under a damaged crown will be impossible to remove via brushing, flossing, and mouthwash. They will continue to eat at what’s beneath the crown until a dentist rectifies the situation, either via a simple cavity filling or a root canal. Having tooth pain? Give Dr. Chauvin a call!