Denmark Dental

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?

bhelgeson — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:59:59 +0000

If you are reading this, you are likely one of the many individuals with at least one sensitive tooth. A research review published in 2006 by the Journal of the American Dental Association estimated that up to 57% of the population may be experiencing sensitivity in one or more of their teeth. So, lets get right to it: what causes sensitivity in teeth?

(1) One of the leading causes of sensitivity is either loss of enamel, or recession of the gum tissue by the root of a tooth. In instances of decay (a hole through the enamel), tooth brush abrasion, or erosion from acids, the enamel is lost or weakened in a given area. The enamel is the outermost layer of tooth and acts as a barrier to temperature extremes. A similar situation arises when the gum tissue receeds exposing the root surface of the tooth. The outer covering of the root surface is thinner than the enamel on the crown (visible portion) of the tooth. When the gums no longer cover the root surface, sensitivity is likely to occur.

(2) Another common cause of tooth sensitivity is from inflamation inside the tooth. Inflamation can be caused by recent dental work, a traumatic accident, deep decay or from bite issues. A common analogy I use to help explain this situation is comparing it to a sprained ankle…it swells up (blood gathers in the area to aid in healing) and it is difficult to walk on due to injury. For a tooth, the swelling occurs inside the tooth and leads to a weakened ability to tolerate stresses like hot or cold temperatures, and sometimes even chewing.

(3) Of course we couldn’t talk about sensitive teeth without addressing the sensitivity that occurs after using whitening products. Under the outer protective surface of the tooth lies the dentin. The dentn has tiny tubules that communicate directly with the nerve of the tooth. Over time the tubules develop plugs from minerals in saliva. When we whiten our teeth, the peroxide in the whitening gel removes the stain and also dissolves these plugs, creating a clear path for cold temperatures to illicit a response from the nerve of the tooth. After a period of time, the minerals in saliva reform these plugs.

As you can see, there are numerous causes of sensitivity. So, next time you catch yourself eating only on one side of your mouth, or deciding not to have ice cream because it makes your teeth hurt, know that sensitivity is quite common and there are solutions to reduce or remove the discomfort. Could the solution be as simple as using a new a specific toothpaste? Find out in our next blog.

Brandon Helgeson DDS

The Journal of the American Dental Association. July 1, 2006. Vol. 137 no. 7, 990-998.

We Want to Hear from YOU!

bhelgeson — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:20:43 +0000

At Denmark Dental we are continually trying to find ways to make you more comfortable when visiting us. We appreciate feedback, as it is also helpful for those individuals looking for a new dental home. Please share your experience with us on google. To write a google review click the following link Google Review. You will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Near the top of the page is an orange “button” that says WRITE A REVIEW. Thank you for choosing Denmark Dental!

The Ride Across Minnesota – National MS Society

bhelgeson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:33:18 +0000

Dear Friends and Family,

Bike riding continues to be a great outlet for me bringing me an improved level of fitness and stress reduction. I enjoy talking about biking almost anytime or place. This passion for biking has brought me to ride in the National MS Society Ride Across Minnesota Tram for the last four years. This year’s ride from July 24th to July 29th, will start in Rochester and go through Owatonna, Austin, Lanesboro, Winona and ends back in Rochester. It is said to be a hilly route to challenge all of us and is approximately 300 miles. I am writing to ask for your support by donating to the National MS Society.

Here are ways you can make a donation: (1) drop a check off at our office, or (2) make a donation online (see instructions below). Checks can be made out to the National MS Society.

Summer has started and it seems to move quickly. You can be part of this with me – please donate today. This is a great cause and it helps thousands of worthy individuals. Thank you, again for considering making a donation to such a great organization.

Warmly,

Robert A. Casper JR, DDS

To donate online go to: www.bikemsminnesota.org Click on the blue box in the middle of the page “Donate to a Rider”, choose the Donate/ePledge option next to ‘Star Tribune The Ride Across MN 2011 July 24 – 29, 2011′. Search for Robert Casper in MN and scroll down to click on ’Casper, Robert’, Click ‘Donate to Robert’.

The 3 Necessities for Tooth Decay

bhelgeson — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:12:42 +0000

It may be surprising to hear that dental decay is the most common chronic infectious disease affecting children. It is a disease that is progressive and leads to more complicated treatment the longer it is neglected. This blog will cover the formula for getting tooth decay and provide simple tips to aid in its prevention. The formula consists of (1) a location that allows bacteria to easily adhere to the tooth, (2) bacterial plaque, and (3) sugar. Each aspect can be addressed to effectively reduce an individual’s susceptibility to getting decay.

Location - The two most common sites for tooth decay are on the top of the teeth in the grooves, and between the teeth in the contact area. The bacteria can “hide” from the toothbrush in these areas. For individuals showing signs of decay, we recommend sealing the back teeth in order to make it easier to keep the tops of the teeth clean. The second site showing high prevalence of decay is the contact area between the teeth. There is only one answer for this location and that is FLOSSING! Without flossing, we cannot keep all surfaces of the tooth clean.

Bacterial Plaque - Many people state that they have “soft teeth” or they inherited bad teeth. Dental caries (cavities) is a disease that affects us all differently. Though we have bacteria on all our teeth, only specific types of bacteria cause tooth decay and it appears that some individuals are more resistant to the types of decay producting bacteria. We cannot do much about our genetics, but we can do our best to remove bacteria plaque from our teeth. Eliminating plaque build-up is the goal of our daily oral hygiene routine. We recommend brushing twice a day and flossing before you brush at night. For those with active decay we customize oral hygiene instructions for each patient, so ask your dentist what plan would be best for your current oral health status.

Sugar - Sugar provides the food for the cavity causing bacteria to secrete acids that melt away the tooth structure. Once this process gets deep enough into the tooth, the decay needs to be removed and a filling placed to fill in the “cavity”. If left untreated the decay will go deeper into the tooth and the treatment options become more complicated. The first step is to decrease the amount of sugar we consume, and the second is to lower the frequency by which we expose our teeth to sugar. The frequency of sugar consumption directly effects the amount of time bacteria are active in producing acids on our teeth. By sipping on soda frequently throughout the day, your mouth stays in a constant cavity producing state. So both limiting the amount and frequency of sugar intake is another way to lower your risk for dental decay.

It is important to know that tooth decay is almost completely preventable. This not only saves you time, but money in regards to future dental costs.

Dr. Brandon Helgeson DDS

Children’s Oral Health. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Division of Oral Health. Jan. 7 2011

Does a Healthy Mouth Aid in the Prevention of Cancer?

bhelgeson — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:50:44 +0000

For years now there has been evidence supporting a link between unhealthy gums and heart disease, diabetes, low term birth weights and other systemic diseases. A link to cancer is seldom mentioned in current research. A study in Lancet Oncology found that men with a history of gum disease were 14% more likely to develop cancer of any kind; the link was especially strong for lung and pancreatic cancers. Though the cause/effect relationship isn’t totally clear the study states that those with gum disease had higher inflammatory markers in their blood stream that are also associated with cancer (amongst other health issues). This association will be the subject of extensive future research.

Both Dr. Helgeson and I are consistently searching for simple ways our patients can improve the quality of their lives. As has been discussed in previous blogs, we focus first and foremost on oral hygiene. Committing to proper oral hygiene is a simple way to improve your oral health and save you money in future dental care. What has become quite clear over the last few years is how this can also improve your overall health and likely reduce your future medical expenses. Just another reason to “effectively” brush and floss your teeth daily.

Dr. Rober Casper DDS

Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and cancer risk in male health professionals: a prospective cohort study. Michaud, D. S. et al., Lancet Oncology 2008 Jun;9(6):550-558.

Fear, Phobia, Anxiety and Dentistry

bhelgeson — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:30:28 +0000

I am fairly certain that I don’t need to explain the title of this blog; most of you can identify with the first three words and how they relate to the profession of dentistry. All three present differently and with varying degrees of intensity. I had one patient tell me “I would rather have another child than have you give me the shot.” Others are more subtle, and still some are brought to tears. It’s extremely unfortunate that routine dental visits can cause this much stress for our patients. It also leads us to the purpose of this blog: what can we do about it. First, you should do your best to find a dentist you trust; a dentist that is an advocate for your oral health, and strives to create a positive experience every time you arrive at the office. Second, be open and honest about what you are feeling and any apprehension you have about your appointment. When I notice apprehensive patients, the first thing I do is reassure them that dental fear is common, and then proceed to ask them what their concerns are. The most common answer I receive deals with a past appointment where adequate pain control was not achieved. I reassure them that without adequate anesthesia we will not continue with the procedure. Lastly, but equally important we use distracters; nitrous oxide, music, eye-glasses that can play movies, and blankets to name a few. Over the last few years dentistry has also created a product that adds vibration to the delivery of anesthetic aka “the shot”. The added vibration camouflages the notorious pinch felt by patients and has been a priceless addition to our practice. Let’s briefly review:

Find a dentist you trust.
Be open about your concerns.
Ask for the little things that will make you more comfortable.

Our goal is to provide you with exceptional care and an experience that leaves you smiling. Hopefully this blog has provided you some helpful information to make your next visit a more comfortable one.

Brandon Helgeson DDS

Flossing: What you want to know (Part 2/2)

bhelgeson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:40:38 +0000

Part one of this blog on flossing gave some of the basic reasons to frequently floss your teeth; to prevent decay and maintain healthy gums. This update will take you a little deeper. The most common reason for adult tooth loss is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when the supporting bone that holds our teeth firmly in place is lost. When enough bone is lost, teeth can become painful, loose, and non-functional. This leads to the only treatment option of extraction. This disease is caused by the bacteria left on your teeth and gums. The bacteria also has access to your bloodstream through inflamed and weakened gum tissue. There is a strong relationship between oral health and the health of the rest of your body (this will be discussed in great detail in a future blog).

Years ago, the Dental community came up with a slogan; ONLY FLOSS THE TEETH YOU WANT TO KEEP! A simple thought that speaks volumes on why to floss. So how do you floss? My recommendation is to have your hygienist demonstrate the technique in your mouth. Basically, you want to think of it as washing a window; you want to scrape the bacterial plaque off the sides of the teeth and out of the contact area. As it pertains to the type of floss, there are two basic types; waxed and unwaxed. Ultimately you need to choose the type of floss that gets through the contact areas of your teeth while providing you the least frustration. Many times unwaxed floss can tear when used in tight contacts or around fillings that have poor contours/rough edges. In these situations, it would be appropriate to utilize waxed floss. Either way, it is important to recognize the benefits of flossing for your teeth, gums, and the rest of your body.

Flossing is a habit with a strong correlation to long life (stay tuned for more on this). We hope we have demonstrated the importance of flossing for your teeth and gums in these two blogs. I would like to personally wish you all a long, healthy and happy life with daily flossing being an important contributor in achieving that.

Dr. Robert Casper Jr. DDS

SoniCare winner has been announced!

bkaroff — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:50:23 +0000

Congratulations to Michael Champion who is the winner of the Denmark Dental SoniCare contest. Michael came in today, March 29th 2011 to claim his prize at our office, taking a photo with our Dentists; Dr. Casper and Dr. Helgeson. We had a little technical delay, but the next one will be coming up very soon.

Flossing: What you want to know (Part 1/2)

bhelgeson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:39:39 +0000

I can’t tell you how many times I see cavities in patients with impeccable oral hygiene minus one crucial component. It is clear to me that the general public understands the role of proper brushing….but not so clear is the importance of daily flossing in preventing decay between the teeth along with gingivitis (gum inflammation). According to the American Academy of Periodontology only 13.5% of Americans floss each day. It is important to understand, teeth that are plaque free cannot decay. Even the best of brushers cannot penetrate the contact area to remove bacterial plaque, and thus these individuals are still susceptible to decay (cavities) between the teeth. The benefits of flossing are two-fold; (1) flossing removes plaque from the contact area and along the sides of the teeth, and (2) removes plaque around the gum tissue while also providing stimulation for the gums. After just a few days the gum tissue returns to a healthy pink color and withstands proper flossing without bleeding. The bleeding we see during flossing is rarely a response to trauma but a reflection of the inflammation present in the gum tissue. Do your teeth, gums and pocketbook a favor and join the 13.5% that are flossing daily.

Brandon Helgeson DDS

American Academy of Periodontology (Perio.org). “Dispelling Myths about Gum Disease: The Truth Behind Healthy Teeth and Gums”. Feb 18, 2011. http://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-myths.htm

New LED Sign Timelapse

bkaroff — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 04:24:04 +0000

A little :30 video on our new LED sign.