Dentistry

While the office will be closed for preventative and elective procedures, we will still be triaging true dental emergencies. Dental emergencies include the following:

• Severe toothache
• Swelling of the face, gums, or neck
• Bleeding in the mouth that does not stop
• Infection or the risk of infection
• Trauma (such as broken teeth)

If you are experiencing a true dental emergency, please call the office and follow the directions on how to contact Dr. Worthington directly.

We are growing!!  We added another dental hygienist to our Carmel, IN office.  Please welcome Missy Schnelle to Carmel Family Dentistry!

Sensitive teeth or teeth sensitivity can mean significant pain and it often impacts daily activities, such as eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth.

In healthy teeth, a porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and by the hard outer layer, called enamel. However, dentin can become exposed due to receding gums, fractured or chipped teeth or erosion. Microscopic holes in the dentin, called tubules, connect to the nerve, triggering pain when irritated by certain foods and beverages.

The two leading causes of sensitive teeth are enamel loss and gingival recession. The following are some examples.

Brushing too hard: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause gum recession and root exposure over time
Your age: You may experience increased sensitivity at different ages throughout your life
Acidic foods: Eating acidic foods and beverages on a regular basis can cause enamel to erode
To reduce sensitivity and enamel loss, your dental professional may recommend you use a soft-bristle toothbrush or an electronic toothbrush, paired with desensitizing toothpaste.

If you have sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with Carmel Family Dentistry to address the issue before it grows.

There are many reasons why a dentist may recommend braces and orthodontic treatment. It is used to correct a malocclusion, otherwise called a bad bite. Malocclusion is a condition caused by crowded, crooked or protruding teeth; teeth that are out of alignment, or jaws that do not meet properly. Malocclusion may be inherited; it may also be the result of thumb sucking, or the premature loss of teeth.

Correcting the problem with braces can result in better oral health because crooked and crowded teeth can make daily oral hygiene difficult. Over time, this may lead to caries (tooth decay), gum disease and possibly tooth loss. An improper bite can interfere with chewing and speaking, cause abnormal wear to tooth enamel and lead to problems with the jaws.

Two types of braces are available. There are fixed braces, which are worn all of the time and can be removed only by the dentist. The second is removable, which the patient can take in and out of his or her mouth. The dentist ultimately selects the type of braces based on the patient’s treatment needs and how well he or she will follow instructions regarding care and oral hygiene.

Orthodontic treatment time, and time in braces, is generally is an estimate that varies from patient to patient. The dentist has specific treatment goals in mind, and treatment typically continues until the goals are achieved. The result will be worth the wait.

Teeth grinding (aka Bruxism) is when you clench, or grind your teeth. People can clench and grind without being aware of it during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control. The cause of teeth grinding is not completely agreed upon, but daily stress may be the trigger in many people.

Symptoms of teeth grinding may include:

• Earaches (because the structures of the temporomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal)
• Headaches
• Hot, cold, or sweet sensitivity in the teeth
• Sore or painful jaw

To prevent damage to the teeth, mouth guards or appliances can be used to treat teeth grinding, clenching, and TMJ disorders. These appliances may help protect the teeth from the pressure of clenching. If your experiencing any of these symptoms, your dentist can help you find the perfect solution.

Mouthguards are advised for anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury. This includes a wide range of sports such as football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball.

Mouthguards or mouth protectors, which typically cover the upper teeth, can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well.

Accidents can happen during any physical activity. A mouthguard can help cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result in an injury to the mouth. A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss. A mouthguard can limit the risk of such injuries as well as protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.

A properly fitted mouthguard will stay in place while you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.  Call Carmel Family Dentistry of Carmel, IN today if you have any questions about mouthguards for you or your child.

Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. When the jaw isn’t large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted (unable to come in or misaligned). Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way from the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone.

Extraction of wisdom teeth is generally recommended when:

• Wisdom teeth only partially erupt. This leaves an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection. Pain, swelling, jaw stiffness and general illness can result.
• There is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth.
• A cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone or tooth roots.

Patients should ask the dentist about the health and positioning of their wisdom teeth. The dentist may make a recommendation for removal or send the patient to an oral surgeon for further evaluation.

If you, or a family member, are at a moderate-to-high risk of developing caries (cavities), a professional fluoride treatment can help.

In office Flouride Treatment

The fluoride treatment used in the dental office is a much stronger concentration than that in toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinses that may be available in a store. In the dental office, the placement of a topical fluoride treatment generally begins at age 3. The fluoride may be in the form of a gel, foam or varnish. Typically, it is applied with a cotton swab or brush, or for patients with braces, it is used as a rinse. It can also be placed in a tray with fluoride foam that is held in the mouth for several minutes. After the treatment, you may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride and help repair microscopic carious areas.

For fillings and cavities, dental amalgam has a 150-year proven track record as one of the safest, most durable and least expensive materials used to a fill a cavity. Ongoing scientific studies conducted over the past 100 years continue to show that amalgam is not harmful.

Much of the concern over the safety of amalgams arises from the use of mercury as a bonding agent. But when mercury is combined with other materials in dental amalgam, its chemical nature changes, rendering it harmless. The amount of mercury released in the mouth under the pressure of chewing and grinding is extremely small and no cause for alarm. In fact, it is less than what patients are exposed to in food, air and water, and less than what gets released in patients who opt to have an existing amalgam filling removed.

The American Dental Association (ADA) maintains that dental amalgam remains a safe, affordable and durable cavity filling choice for dental patients. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend the removal of amalgam fillings from patients who have them because this could cause more harm to the tooth structure and pose other health risks to the patient.

when filling a cavity, deciding which type of filling to use is best made by the patient and the dentist, taking into account the size and location of the cavity, patient history, cosmetic concerns and cost. Ask your dentist to discuss all of the choices available for dental fillings and help you decide which alternative is right for you.

Do you want a better dental checkup and teeth cleaning each time? We now have a great option for our patients when it comes to home care for your teeth and gums!  Rotadent Plus is a professional rotary toothbrush that delivers a higher standard of oral health, and prevents problem areas from becoming issues.

At Home Teeth Cleaning Technology

Three brush head designs are available to clean even the hardest to reach spots, making Rotadent Plus perfect for all patients, from advanced oral health care for the general patient to specialized needs of patients with braces, recession, periodontal disease, crowding, implants, crowns, bridges, or veneers.

Ask us today about purchasing this innovative tool for teeth cleaning and optimize your oral health care at home! Patients will see and feel a real difference, and so will your dentist! Call us today, you won’t regret it!