What exactly is Tinnitus?

tinnitus chauvin dental lafayetteDo you suffer from a constant ringing or buzzing in your ears? That is tinnitus. It’s a common misconception that tinnitus is a condition by itself. It’s actually a symptom of something else, like a circulatory problem, or hearing loss due to age. Luckily, it’s just annoying, and often isn’t a sign of a serious issue. It can get worse with time though, so if it becomes unbearable there are things you or your doctor can do to deal with it.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is when you hear phantom sounds, even though there isn’t anything actually making noise, and is characterized by:

  • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Hissing
  • Roaring
  • Clicking

The sound’s pitch and volume can be low or high, and can occur in one or both ears. It can also be constant, or come and go. Some people are incredibly bothered by it, and others don’t mind. It all varies from person to person. Regardless of your symptoms, the sound you hear will help your doctor determine the problem.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience tinnitus after having a respiratory infection, if it comes on with no apparent reason, or if you experience hearing loss or dizziness with the tinnitus, you need to see a doctor to make sure that whatever is causing it isn’t serious.

How is it treated?

To treat, your doctor will first need to determine which kind you have. There are two types of tinnitus: subjective, which only you can hear, and objective, which your doctor can hear. Most people have subjective tinnitus, and it can be caused by problems within your ear, problems with auditory nerves, or problems in the auditory pathways of your brain. Objective tinnitus is rarer, and is caused by muscle contractions, blood vessel problems, or a middle ear bone issue.

Once your doctor determines the root cause of the tinnitus, treatment can begin. If the tinnitus is caused by impacted ears, your doctor will remove the earwax. If it’s caused by a blood vessel condition, you may need medication or surgery to correct the tinnitus. Certain prescriptions can also cause tinnitus, so you may simply need to use a different medication.

If it’s not something that can be treated, there are things your doctor can do to help reduce your symptoms: prescriptions, white noise suppression, masking devices, hearing aids, or tinnitus retraining. These things all help you suppress the sound, and in the case of tinnitus retraining, you learn to ignore it entirely.

If you suspect you have tinnitus, set up an appointment with your doctor just to rule out any serious medical trouble.

Night Guards: Complete cleaning instructions

night guard chauvin dental lafayette laProtecting your teeth and maintaining proper oral health is paramount to a healthy lifestyle. Dental problems can present themselves as a variety of different issues. Take bruxism, or teeth grinding, for example. If you find yourself waking up with headaches or a sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth at night and not even realize it. The good news is there are some things you can do to help bruxism, such as use a night guard. If you do use a night guard, here are some instructions on how to clean it properly.

How to clean your night guard

Simply rinsing off an item that stays in your mouth all night, every night, is not sufficient to clean it. There are a couple of different ways you can clean your night guard:

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
    • Use a softer bristle toothbrush and a gentle toothpaste in order to not damage the night guard with any abrasive substances. If the night guard becomes scratched or has pockmarks, bacteria will gather in the grooves and make it more difficult to clean correctly.
  • Soap and water
    • It’s important to not use hot water on your night guard, as it can soften the plastic and cause it to warp. Warm water and a gentle antibacterial soap are best – you can also use a soft bristle toothbrush to gently scrub away any debris.
  • Mouthwash
    • An antibacterial mouthwash is safe to rinse, or even soak your nightguard in. It will kill any lingering bacteria and give the night guard a pleasant taste. Be aware that it may become stained with regular use of a mouthwash – but that won’t affect the functionality.
  • Dental sanitizing devices
    • There are special cases that use antibacterial UV light to disinfect the night guard, however they do not remove any debris so it’s important to still remove that first.

How to store your night guard

Equally as important as cleaning your night guard is proper storage. You may have the most disinfected and spotless night guard in the world, but if it goes into a dirty case, all of that work is wasted. With proper night guard care, you should only need to clean your case once a week. You can use hot water and soap whilst cleaning the case. It’s also important to make sure your night guard is completely dry before going into the case, and that you keep the case in a cool dry place.

If you have concerns about teeth grinding and wish to be fitted for a custom night guard, set up an appointment with Dr. Chauvin!

 

Benefits of dental sealants

There is no replacement for taking proper care of your teeth. However, it can be difficult to get children to brush and floss as much as they should, which is why they are more susceptible to cavities. Since our adult teeth can come in as early as six years of age, it’s very important to take care of them, as we will have these teeth for the rest of our lives. Fortunately, there is an additional measure of protection parents can choose to put on their children’s teeth: dental sealants.

What is a dental sealant?

A dental sealant is simply an additional layer of protection that can be placed on children’s teeth. It’s made of a very common dental composite that is resin based, bis-GMA (bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate). This is often the same material used for cavity fillings. It bonds micro-mechanically to properly prepared teeth, providing a lasting hold that actually strengthens the teeth it’s attached to. The process is simple:

  1. Teeth are cleaned of all plaque and food deposits
  2. A tooth is dried
  3. Then etched – which creates tiny irregularities that make it easier for the resin to bond to it
  4. It is rinsed and dried again
  5. The sealant is applied
  6. A self-curing light is used for thirty seconds to harden the resin
  7. And the process is repeated until all teeth are finished

When should their teeth be sealed?

Once the final permanent tooth erupts. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says that using a sealant “has shown a reduction of cavities’ incidence [by] 86 percent after one year and 58 percent after four years.” So it’s important to have it done quickly after the child has all of their permanent teeth for maximum protection, typically around age six.

How long does it last?

If the child takes proper care of their teeth, the sealant can last as long as ten years! Chips, wear, and tear will happen as time goes on, but a dentist can repair any chinks in this particular armor. It’s a simple matter of reapplying the sealant to the affected tooth. For this reason, it’s important to maintain your regular dental check-ups, twice a year.

Adults that don’t have decay or fillings in their molars can also have their teeth sealed! It’s a wonderful way to keep your teeth healthy and prevent cavities. If you are interested in having your or your child’s teeth sealed, set up an appointment with Dr. Chauvin!

nitrous oxide chauvin dental lafayette dentist louisiana

How Nitrous Oxide works

nitrous oxide chauvin dental lafayette dentist louisianaIf you’ve ever had any dental work done, especially as a child, you’re probably familiar with nitrous oxide. On its own, the gas can be fatal. When mixed with oxygen (typically at a ratio of 30% nitrous oxide and 70% oxygen) it becomes N2O-O2, more commonly known as laughing gas.

How does nitrous oxide work?

Nitrous oxide is administered via a small facemask that covers the nose. Sometimes the mask is scented (typically for children) to give the otherwise undetectable gas a pleasant odor. The easiest way to describe the effects of the gas is that it gives the patient a “happy drunk” feeling. After breathing in the gas for around five minutes, you experience a euphoric feeling throughout the body. It can also make you feel light-headed, and make your limbs feel weighed down, but not in an unpleasant way. People often get the giggles, hence the “laughing gas” moniker.

After light-headedness, depending on how much gas is administered, the patient will descend through the following levels of sedation:

  1. Tingling or vibrating sensations in the limbs
  2. Warmth
  3. Euphoria or floating (the patient’s hearing may dissolve into distant throbbing)
  4. Sleepiness and difficulty speaking

If you begin to feel nauseous, you’ve been over-sedated. If at any point do you feel unpleasant sensations, tell your dentist. They can adjust to N2O-O2 dosage and make you feel better, or even remove the mask to dispel some of the effects.

Uses of nitrous oxide:

It is primarily used for partial sedation, but can double as an anaesthetic, as N2O deadens virtually all sensation, including pain! In fact, it’s so effective at minimizing pain that it is often used instead of gumline injected anaesthetics. It also inhibits some emotional response, which is why it can be used to calm down people (and children) who are incredibly afraid at the dentist.

It works quickly, reaching your brain in under thirty seconds. Within five minutes, you’ll be optimally sedated. It is easy to adjust the dosage, so if a patient is somewhat resistant to the effects, or is feeling badly, necessary changes can be made quickly in order to minimize discomfort.

Another reason it’s so popular for dental procedures is there are no aftereffects. Once the gas is turned off, all effects are removed from the body in a matter of minutes. You can even drive after laughing gas!

If you’re in need of any dental work, come see Dr. Chauvin!