Blog - Page 16 of 21

What happens if my cavity is in a hard to reach place

July 20, 2016/in cavities/by admin

More than 3 million people each year have to have cavities treated. They’re very common, and are relatively easy to treat when they’re caught in time. Generally, the decay is removed with a drill, and a filling replaces the missing tooth material. However, cavities can form on any surface of the tooth. So if you have a smaller mouth, or the cavity is at the very back of the mouth, this can make the traditional treatment a bit more difficult.

Treating a cavity that’s hard to reach

There are a couple of different ways to treat a cavity:

Fluoride treatments
Fillings
Extractions
Crowns
Root canals

If the cavity is caught very early, fluoride treatments can help restore your tooth’s enamel. You’ll be given a liquid, gel, or foam that is either brushed onto your teeth, or placed in trays that sit on your teeth. It’s left on for a few moments each day, and that’s all there is to it, no matter where the tooth is located.

The typical cavity treatment, a filling, may be impossible depending on the cavity’s location; for instance, if the cavity is located on the backside of your 2nd molar (the last one if you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed). The most common filling nowadays, a white composite resin, requires exposure to a dental curing light to finish hardening. So if your cavity is at the very back of your mouth, it’s going to be difficult to get that light back there!

If the cavity proves to be impossible to traditionally fill, you can have a crown put on the tooth. Crowns are typically reserved for when the tooth is extensively decayed or weakened, but they can be used in other instances. Your dentist will take a mold of your bite, then remove all of the decay, as well as some of the healthy tooth, in order to ensure that the crown will fit properly. You’ll be given a temporary crown until your custom one is finished. Then the temporary crown is removed and you’re fitted with the permanent one!

The bad news: crowns are a lot more expensive than fillings. So if budget is a factor (or you just don’t want to have a crown put on), you can choose to have the tooth removed. Keep in mind, when a tooth is removed, other teeth may shift and cause additional problems. A bridge or a dental implant will prevent other teeth from moving.

This is why it’s so critical to maintain proper dental hygiene and regular dental checkups. The sooner a problem is caught, the less involved the treatment will be. Call Dr. Chauvin to schedule an appointment!

Why does my child need a tooth extraction

July 13, 2016/in Childrens dental/by admin

It may not happen at the same time for every child, but at some point, their primary teeth are going to fall out and the permanent teeth are going to erupt. In many cases, a child will lose their teeth at the right time, and their adult teeth will come in with no dental interventions. While that scenario is ideal, sometimes a primary tooth may need to be removed in the office.

There are a couple of different reasons why your child need a tooth extraction:

The tooth won’t fall out on its own

If your child has an adult tooth in place that’s about to erupt, and the primary tooth shows no signs of loosening, the primary tooth may have to be removed. If left on its own the adult tooth may come in crooked, or it may damage the primary tooth on its way out, causing further issues. It’s very important that the adult teeth come in correctly. If they don’t, corrective orthodontic action will be needed further down the line. Far better to nip a dental problem in the bud than wait for it to develop into a bigger issue.

Overcrowding

Adult teeth are much larger than primary teeth. It normally isn’t a problem, as the adult teeth come in slowly over time ; the child grows, their mouth gets bigger, there’s more room for adult teeth! If the child has an adult tooth ready to erupt and the tooth it is replacing is already gone, but there still isn’t enough room for the adult tooth, a neighboring tooth may need to be removed to insure that the adult tooth comes in correctly.

Tooth decay/Trauma

When it comes to primary teeth, depending on the age of the child, and the severity of the decay, sometimes a tooth extraction is easier than filling a cavity. If it’s a very young child whose adult teeth are a long way off, more than likely they’ll need a filling. A child with a fully formed adult tooth ready to erupt? Extracting the damaged tooth makes more sense than repairing a tooth they’re about to lose. This is also the case for trauma. If a child sustains a dental injury (for example, cracking a tooth during a sports event) they will need an extraction.

If you have questions or concerns about your child needing a tooth extraction, call Dr. Chauvin’s office. We will get you scheduled and see if an extraction is the best course of action for your child!

What is hyperdontia

June 15, 2016/in Dental Conditions/by admin

Did you know that it’s possible to have extra teeth? It’s called hyperdontia, and affects a very small number of the population (between 1 and 4%). The extra teeth, or supernumerary teeth, can grow anywhere in the dental arch. The most common supernumerary teeth are either the anterior incisors or the fourth molars. The fourth molars often appear as extra, impacted wisdom teeth.

What causes hyperdontia?

Although researchers haven’t been able to pin down a definite cause, many feel that environmental causes and family genetics are to blame. However, they are not sure what elements of the environment are responsible for hyperdontia. It can happen to anyone, but people with Gardner’s syndrome, cleft lip, or down syndrome seem to be more prone to it. And of the affected population, males are affected more than females at a ratio of two to one. In most cases, there is a single extra tooth.

Researchers do know how it happens though. During the first stages of development, a tooth bud can split, essentially creating a copy of itself. Both halves of the tooth bud will mature, resulting in duplicate teeth. Hyperdontia is much more common in permanent teeth than primary teeth.

Complications with hyperdontia

There are 20 primary teeth, and 32 permanent teeth. That’s just how our mouths have evolved. Many people have to have their wisdom teeth removed because they don’t have room for them, or they’re positioned incorrectly. Supernumerary teeth can come in underneath, or in-between permanent teeth. They may also be misshapen, or more prone to decay. And even though the extra teeth may never break the skin, they can still cause a variety of problems:

Dental crowding – this can make it difficult to eat normally
Keeping permanent teeth from erupting correctly, or at all
Fusing with permanent teeth
Tumor or cyst formation

Treatment for hyperdontia

It’s important to take your child to their regularly scheduled dental checkups, especially since hyperdontia is easily discovered during a dental exam. Treatment will depend on the location of the tooth, whether it’s primary or permanent, and whether it has erupted or not. In most children, it’s not necessary to surgically remove an extra primary tooth, as it will fall out on it’s own. Permanent teeth will most likely need to be extracted. Your dentist will determine the best course of action, as the extra tooth may need to be cut and removed in pieces. Or an orthodontic method may be required to ensure the surrounding teeth have room to erupt properly.

Are you concerned that your child may have an extra tooth? Call Dr. Chauvin to set up an appointment!

what does it tke to be a dentist dr chauvin lafayette la dentist

What does it take to be a dentist

June 1, 2016/in Uncategorized/by admin

As with any medical profession, becoming a dentist takes a lot of time and hard work. Good thing that the market is expanding! From 2012 to 2022, the market for dentists is expected to grow 16%! That means there is plenty of room for any aspiring dentists out there. What does it take to become a dentist? Well for starters, after graduating high school…

You need a bachelor’s degree

The first thing you need in order to become a dentist is a bachelor’s degree. At some schools, you can take a three pre-dental program instead. The big thing to keep in mind is, although all of the prerequisites fall along the same lines, every school is different. One school may require that you take so many second language courses, another may want you to have three PE classes! Just keep up with your degree requirements when enrolling for courses and you’ll be fine. The most common prerequisites include coursework in:

Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Organic Chemistry
Statistics

If your school doesn’t have its own dental school, or you were planning on transferring, make sure you look at the dental school you will be attending as far as degree requirements. Then, during your junior year, you’ll have to…

Take the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT)

There are only so many spots that open up each year when it comes to dental schools, so there is always competition for those spots. The DAT is one of the biggest things that schools consider when looking at dental candidates. There are four multiple choice tests that cover: natural sciences, perceptual ability, quantitative reasoning, and reading comprehension. If you aren’t happy with your score, you can retake the test up to three times. You just have to wait 90 days between each test. This is why it’s recommended you start taking it in your junior year – so you have enough time to study and retake it before you graduate. After you make it into dental school…

You must complete your doctorate

At dental school, you’ll typically have two years of classwork in advanced science and lab courses, and then two years of clinicals with additional classroom education. Your clinicals will be supervised, at dental facility. Once you’ve earned your Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, you need to…

Pass state and national licensing exams

The National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) is a test that all dentists must pass in order to practice. There are two parts to the exam: basic science and dental topics. This is only half of the necessary licensing though. Each state has their own licensing test, so make sure you take the test in the state you’re going to be practicing in. While the NBDE is a written test, most state tests involve clinical tests that involve real dental procedures on patients.

From start to finish, on average, it takes 8 years to complete all of your training and become licensed. You may shave off some time if you take a bigger course-load while working on your bachelors, but once you get into dental school, the courses are laid out on a schedule for you and can’t be changed. It’s hard, but we know you can do it!

Oil pulling: Benefits and side effects

May 25, 2016/in dental hygiene/by admin

Natural remedies are becoming increasingly popular. People are using essential oils for everything from treating bug bites to freshening up their laundry. You can do a web search for practically any medical issue + essential oils, and find countless solutions. One thing that has taken the internet by storm is something called oil pulling. In a nutshell, you take a plant oil, and swish it around in your mouth for an extended period of time (anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes), then spit it out. The most popular oils to do this with include sunflower, olive or coconut oil. Why are people doing this? It’s an ancient Ayurvedic practice, dating back to 700 B.C., and it has quite a few benefits!

The benefits of oil pulling

Although the American Dental Association holds that due to a lack of evidence, they recommend you do not replace your normal oral hygiene routine with oil pulling, you can still add it to your existing routine and reap the benefits. A 2011 study determined that oil pulling is just as effective as an antimicrobial mouth rinse called chlorhexidine. When done correctly (depending on the oil used), oil pulling can:

Kill the bacterium responsible for tooth decay (streptococcus mutans)
Reduce plaque
Prevent gum disease
Kill other harmful microbes, like viruses or yeasts
Help with bad breath
Whiten teeth
Detoxify the body

If you do choose to start oil pulling, remember that these are still oils. Coconut oil actually solidifies at room temperature! So instead of spitting it down the drain, spit it out into a trash can. That way you avoid clogging any of your drains.

The risks of oil pulling

As beneficial as oil pulling is, there are some risks associated with it. The biggest one lies with replacing brushing with oil pulling. While oil pulling does reduce plaque, it does not eliminate it entirely. You still have to remove plaque and food buildup manually, with a toothbrush. Another factor you should consider is that many of the oils marketed as specific “oil-pulling” oils are not food-grade. Therefore, they may contain harmful additives – since they aren’t up to the rigorous testing standards of actual food-grade oil.

Adding oil pulling to your dental routine, as long as you choose a reputable, food-grade oil, in the very least, will reduce the number of microbes and plaque in your mouth. And it’s never a bad thing to have less bacteria in your mouth! Have additional questions? Give Dr. Chauvin’s office a call.

Can your migraine be linked to dental pain

May 18, 2016/in toothache/by admin

Let’s face it, migraines are just awful. They’re debilitating headaches and can have several different causes, including tooth pain. If you’re plagued by migraines and have ruled out other issues, like sinuses, stress, or a lack of sleep, it may be worth a trip to the dentist to see if you have a tooth causing the trouble. Here are some things you need to know about migraines linked to dental pain.

Possible causes of a dental pain migraine

Our nerves are a connected web that span our entire body. Sometimes, discomfort in one area will cause pain in another, seemingly unrelated area. For example, you could have pain or tingling in your hand caused by a pinched nerve in your shoulder. Toothaches and headaches are both detected by the same, large nerve – the trigeminal nerve. That’s why some headaches are actually toothaches! Because the same nerve is responsible for detecting all of those pain signals, your body sometimes cannot tell the difference.

The pain could be coming from a(n):

Cavity
Missing filling
Abscessed tooth
Cracked or otherwise damaged tooth
Gum disease
Disorder, such as TMJ

Treatment

These headache toothache combos (referred to as extended toothaches) are usually remedied by a visit to the dentist. Your dentist will take x-rays and perform an exam to determine the cause. After that, it’s a simple matter of fixing the problem; whether it’s filling a cavity, or prescribing antibiotics for an abscess. If you’ve tried different things to stop the migraines to no avail, get to your dentist. When it comes to dental problems, the longer you wait, the worse they get. So it’s better to get in as soon as possible. If you let a cavity go too long, you may find yourself in need of a root canal.

However, migraines can also masquerade as dental pain

In some cases, you may find that you’re experiencing the reverse. It is possible to experience severe tooth pain, and nothing be wrong from a dental standpoint. If a visit to the dentist yields a clean bill of dental health, your tooth pain could actually be a facial migraine. These are atypical types of migraine, and difficult to diagnose. The good news is, they’re easily treatable with medication. That’s why it’s so important to visit the dentist at the first sign of tooth pain! That way they can either fix the problem, or rule out dental trouble altogether. If any of this sounds familiar, call Dr. Chauvin’s office for an appointment! We’ll figure it out together.

5 dental health tips for travel

May 11, 2016/in dental hygiene/by admin

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as clocking out for the last time right before a vacation. You rush home, eager to hit the road, and start packing. Ordinarily you take really good care of your teeth! However, there’s only so much room in your bags, so you settle for toothbrush and toothpaste. Or maybe in all the hustle and bustle you simply forgot to grab your floss! Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help keep your mouth healthy when you travel.

Use proper toothbrush storage

One of the worst things you can do, is throw your toothbrush into a plastic bag. There’s no circulation, so any lingering moisture and bacteria that were on your toothbrush now have a veritable playground! You’ll want to make sure you have a toothbrush travel container that has proper ventilation.

Clean your travel case

Make sure to keep your toothbrush case clean as well! Just because it can dry properly doesn’t mean there aren’t any bacteria inside. A survey found that a third of travelers don’t wash their toothbrush cases… Gross, right? It doesn’t take much! Little bit of hot soapy water and you’re good to go. Allow it to dry completely before putting your toothbrush inside.

Avoid sugary snacks – eat healthy ones!

If you’re taking a long car trip somewhere, instead of loading up on chips and gummy bears or chocolate at the gas station, bring along some healthy snacks! Pack up a small cooler with things like broccoli, baby carrots, or grapes. Sodas and other sugary drinks won’t do you any favors either. Drink water instead! If you feel yourself getting tired, try some green tea instead of an energy drink, as it can kill cavity causing bacteria, while still giving you a caffeine boost.

Brush your teeth when you stop for bathroom breaks

Brushing your teeth after meals is a bit difficult when you’re on the road. So take a few extra minutes when you stop to use the restroom to brush your teeth! You can also bring along some of those disposable floss sticks in the event that you’re trying to hurry and don’t have time to floss properly. Although we recommend you always floss the right way, the disposable option is better than nothing!

Clean your teeth thoroughly when you arrive

When you do reach your destination, you’ll undoubtedly be tired. Traveling is exhausting! Before you fall into bed, make sure you do a thorough teeth cleaning. Brushing before bed is an important part of any daily dental routine, so be sure you don’t skip it!

What does it take to become a dental hygienist

May 3, 2016/in dental hygiene/by admin

Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up and you’ll get answers like doctor, fireman, astronaut, dentist, chef, and so on. Kids don’t think about all of the work that goes into obtaining jobs like these, they simply have their dream and that’s all that matters. As adults, we realize that a lot of time, money, and hard work goes into a career. However, many of these career options have other avenues you can pursue. Instead of a medical doctor, you could be a nurse or lab technician. Or you can be a dental hygienist instead of a dentist! Interested? Here’s what it takes to become a dental hygienist.

What skills do I need to become a dental hygienist?

Much like a nurse, there are several things that are absolutely necessary for any aspiring dental hygienist:

Compassion – chances are, if you want to work in the medical field, you’re already a compassionate person. Being able to empathize with your patient is a must.
Communication skills – you’ve got to be able to talk to people, as you’ll be working closely with the patient and the dentist.
Detail-oriented – as a hygienist, you’ll have to memorize the process for multiple procedures, as well as keep an eye out for certain things as you clean a person’s teeth.
Manual dexterity – people’s mouths aren’t very big, so you have to have nimble fingers to get to all of the nooks and crannies
Patience – teeth cleaning takes time, especially if a person hasn’t been to the dentist in awhile!

What kind of education and training are required?

Hygienists receive their education via academic programs at community or technical colleges, dental schools, or universities. The school you choose must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in order for your degree to be valid in the eyes of the USDE. A dental hygienist program takes at least two years to complete, and at the end of it, you’ll have an associates degree. Depending on the type of school you attend, further education may be required. For example, some university dental programs offer baccalaureate and master’s degrees, both of which take another two (or more) years of classes.

Clinical education will be a large part of your dental education. These are essentially “on-the-job” trainings, where your teacher, or a certified medical professional will be monitoring your progress. You’ll start out with observations, and eventually move on to working with patients on your own. The number of clinical hours you have to complete will depend on your program of choice, and the state you’re learning in.

What happens when my training is complete?

Once you’ve completed your education, you’ll be eligible for any state boards or licensing tests. Each state has their own licensing service, so make sure you take the test in the state that you want to work in! Meaning, you can’t take the test in Louisiana, then move to California and use your previous certification to practice.

As with anything that’s worth doing, becoming a dental hygienist takes a lot of work! Good news is, it’s a rewarding profession, and you’ll never get bored. Everyone’s mouths are different!

Oral health concerns for teens

April 27, 2016/in dental hygiene/by admin

There is a word that begins with a “P” that strikes fear into the heart of every parent… Puberty. A time of rampant mental and physical development, puberty can make a teenager’s life pretty rough! In addition to all of the regular side-effects, there are some oral health concerns that parents of teenagers should be on the lookout for.

Make sure they’re maintaining proper oral hygiene

Teens have a lot going on! Class, homework, friends, extra-curricular activities, and chores can make for a hectic schedule. When they’re exhausted from band or football practice, and have a mountain of homework they had to do the night before? An extra five minutes of sleep seems more valuable than proper daily oral hygiene.

Make sure you talk with your teen about the importance of taking good care of their teeth! They may seem annoyed now, but in the long run, they’ll be glad of it. Continue to take them to their annual or semi-annual dental checkups as well. Even if it’s difficult to work into their busy schedule, it’s still an important preventative measure!

It’s worth noting that if you had your teen’s teeth sealed as a child, the protective layer will have started to wear off by now.

Promote proper dietary habits

What happens when you take poor dental hygiene and add bad dietary habits? Cavities. Did you know that tooth decay has the highest rate among teens? It is four times more common than asthma in people aged 14-17! Frequent snacking on sugary foods and acidic beverages like soda, coupled with a decline in proper vitamins and minerals, equals a trip to the dentist. Encourage your teen to drink more water, and to eat snacks that aren’t laden with sugar and carbs. Or at the very least, have them brush after each meal.

Watch for gingivitis

When there is plaque surrounding the teeth, the gums have an inflammatory response. They become inflamed, red, and bloody when irritated. It’s a fairly common problem. As a matter of fact, gingivitis is more common in teens than it is in prepubescent children or adults. It is suspected that the increase of sex hormones during puberty is the reason. Luckily, it is reversible with proper brushing, flossing, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse.

By helping your teen prioritize their dental health, you will save them a lot of trouble down the road. And they’ll develop good habits that they will carry with them into adulthood. Call Dr. Chauvin if you need to bring them in!

What should you do if your child has a toothache

April 20, 2016/in toothache/by admin

We all know that toothaches are incredibly unpleasant, ranging from mild discomfort to incredibly painful. Some people will wait until the pain is absolutely unbearable before getting to a dentist, taking over-the-counter medications and trying to ignore it in the meantime.

Other people will get to a dentist at the first sign of any dental distress. Bottom line, adults are going to handle it however they see fit (although you really should be seeing a dentist straightaway). But what do we do when it’s our child with the toothache?

Causes and symptoms of a toothache

The first step to being able to treat a toothache at home is knowing exactly what symptoms your child is experiencing. Typically, toothaches can include the following:

Pain that is dull, sharp, throbbing, constant, or any combination of these
Swelling of the gums around the affected tooth
Headache
Fever
Foul-tasting drainage from infected tooth

These symptoms are often the result of:

Erupting teeth
Tooth decay
Fractured tooth
Food stuck between the teeth or in the gum line
Excessive chewing or tooth grinding
Damaged filling
Infected gums

At home toothache treatment

Once you know what the symptoms are, there are a number of ways you can ease your child’s discomfort until you are able to get him/her to a dentist:

You can mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water, and have them swish it around their mouth, then spit it out (if they’re old enough).
An oral anti-inflammatory will help with the pain as well.
- If you can, use a liquid, as a chewable pill may be difficult when a toothache is involved.
A cold compress on the cheek by the sore area will help reduce pressure and swelling.
- Ice cubes have hard edges and may further aggravate the area, so use a malleable, cold gel-style compress. Make sure to protect your child’s skin with a towel as well – you don’t want their skin getting too cold.
Clove oil is another option, as it acts as a topical analgesic.
- If you do use clove oil, be very careful, as essential oils are strong when undiluted. Alternatively, you can pick up an over-the-counter, child-safe, toothache medication that contains clove oil.

Get them to the dentist

While these things may help your child feel some measure of relief, you’ll want to get them to a dentist rather quickly. Does your child have a tooth that is bothering them? Come see Dr. Chauvin!