Many patients insist on being written a full 7 to 10 day round of broad-spectrum antibiotics before having a dental procedure performed. Patients hear from their friends, family members, and even some of their doctors that this is a reasonable, necessary precaution to take. From a provider perspective, it is quite understandable why this seems to be a well-reasoned belief. Probably one of the biggest concerns patients tend to express is their fear that bacteria will spread from their mouth or tooth to their bloodstream during a procedure. When bacteria or other foreign matter enters the bloodstream and causes inflammation to heart tissues, it is called infective endocarditis.
The American Heart Association says dentists and dental patients may be overreacting to the fear of infective endocarditis. and that we should reserve antibiotics for cases where infectious disease is more likely. Using antibiotics prophylactic are not only completely unnecessary for most patients, but are often only causing problems for the patient. Antibiotics should typically only be taken where there is a confirmed infection within the body. When patients take antibiotics when they are not sick, they take a risk of developing a condition caused by the medication. Rash and upset stomach are two of the less serious side effects to antibiotics, but there are also serious adverse effects that can result from taking them, as well, such as allergic reactions and life-threatening conditions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a severe skin condition that can be fatal. Another reason to be more selective about when to take antibiotics is because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are bacteria that cannot be killed with standard antibiotic treatments. If an antibiotic is used frivolously, the bacteria may develop an immunity to that medication and survive even the most rigorous medications. In cases like these, infections can be more dangerous and will require more serious treatments to be used. Those stronger antibiotics have an even higher risk for causing severe side effects and reactions. Continue reading →
The potential for cardiovascular and lung damage from using tobacco products are well-known. Much has also been advertised about the effects of second hand smoke. However, outside of the possibility of developing oral cancer from chewing tobacco, not much has been discussed concerning the effects that smoked and smokeless tobacco have on oral health. Along with the nicotine content, tobacco contains hundreds if not thousands of harmful chemicals that are used to process the plant, amplify the flavor or preserve the products.
Obvious Drawbacks
Using any type of tobacco product stains the teeth and tongue. Users have chronic bad breath and a decreased sense of taste. In order to create a healthier oral environment, individuals would have to brush and floss after each time they smoked or chewed tobacco. Smoking or chewing tobacco also depletes the body of vitamin C, which is necessary for a healthy immune system. Stopping the addictive habit is the ideal solution. However, at least cutting down on the number of times that you smoke or chew throughout the day helps improve your oral health.
Inhibits Oral Healing
Nicotine constricts blood vessels, which interferes with blood flow throughout the body and the mouth. Blood carries necessary oxygen and nutrients to oral tissues. It is not uncommon for oral tissues to suffer damage while eating. Coarse foods like potato chips may cause minute tears. Most people have experienced biting their tongue. Hot foods cause slight burns. Injuries might also occur when playing sports or becoming involved in some type of accident affecting the mouth. Without proper blood circulation, the tissues have more difficulty making the necessary cellular repairs. Continue reading →
Pain is a common concern among Roseville patients who are planning to get a dental implant. Although any type of dental surgery does come with some degree of discomfort, the majority of patients usually find that the pain they experience from dental implants is only minimal. At the same time, the results are often well worth the recovery process.
An Ideal Solution
A dental implant is often the ideal solution for people who want to replace missing teeth. This is because they feel, perform and look like natural teeth. At the same time, a dental implant can last an entire lifetime with proper care. This can be achieved with flossing, brushing and regular dental check-ups.
A Not-So-Painful-Procedure
Dental implant surgery in Roseville is often performed with either general or local anesthesia. Because of this, the procedure itself is often not painful. The patient’s mouth will be numb as the implant is surgically attached to their jaw bone.
Roseville patients who are concerned about any sort of discomfort during the procedure should ask their dentist about sedative options. This can help them to feel more relaxed while they are in the dentist’s chair. Because of this, many patients report that a dental implant procedure is less painful than a tooth extraction. Continue reading →
A variety of reasons may prompt a dentist to extract a patient’s tooth. For example, an emergency dentist may extract your tooth if it gets seriously damaged in an accident. Tooth extraction is a relatively painless procedure that can help you avoid serious toothache. Depending on the number of teeth to be removed, the dentist may give you either a local or general anesthetic. You will need to take proper post operative care to ensure proper healing.
Soon after tooth extraction, the emergency dentist will place a gauze over the socket to avoid bleeding and encourage clot to form. Of course, you will experience slight bleeding for about two days. Replace the gauze after every 20 minutes or so and apply firm pressure without chewing.
