Oral Answers
type: channel
description: A Dental Blog Focused on Improving Oral and Dental Health
date: 2015-01-03T03:45:50Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: What Happens to Your Tooth After It’s Extracted
items: Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth?
items: Why This Dentist Gives Out Halloween Candy
items: 60 Photos of Teenagers with Braces
items: Fluoride Supplement Dosage Chart
items: Can a Sinus Infection Be Caused by a Tooth?
items: Why Dental Anesthetic Has Epinephrine (Adrenaline) In It
items: Can Dental Anesthetic Really Make Your Heart Beat Faster?
items: Colored Fillings
items: How Your Dentist Knows You’re Not Flossing
items: Eruption Cyst: Photos of a Purple Bump on the Gums
items: Five Reasons to Go to the Dentist This Year

What Happens to Your Tooth After It’s Extracted
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2015-01-03T03:45:50Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: Have you ever wondered what happens to your tooth after it is extracted by your dentist? Surprisingly, it’s not so cut-and-dry. When a tooth is removed, there’s not really one specific place it goes. Some methods of disposal cost the dentist money, others result in a small profit for the dentist, and others are just a […]
encoded: Have you ever wondered what happens to your tooth after it is extracted by your dentist? Surprisingly, it’s not so cut-and-dry. When a tooth is removed, there’s not really one specific place it goes. Some methods of disposal cost the dentist money, others result in a small profit for the dentist, and others are just a little weird. Read on to find out what happens to extracted teeth. Eight Journeys Your Extracted Tooth May Take After a tooth is extracted, the dentist will usually place it on the tray next to the dental chair. While a lot of people may think that an extracted tooth has hit the end of the road; its journey has just begun. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-9425 size-large" src="http://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-700x450.jpg" alt="Extracted Teeth Heaven" width="700" height="450" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-700x450.jpg 700w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-150x96.jpg 150w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-450x289.jpg 450w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-100x65.jpg 100w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-555x357.jpg 555w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/extracted_tooth_goes_to_heaven-751x483.jpg 751w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> All Teeth Don’t Go to Heaven | © Kninwong/Shutterstock.com Here’s eight different journeys that your tooth may take after it leaves your mouth. 1 – Incinerated with Biomedical Waste According to the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, extracted teeth should be placed in a hazardous waste container. After that, the teeth are normally picked up by a medical waste management company that takes them and then incinerates them with othe…

Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth?
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2014-12-30T13:00:35Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: When I was in dental school, it was “against the rules” to give patients back their extracted teeth. I never really questioned this rule because I figured that not many people would really want their teeth back. When a patient would ask for their freshly extracted tooth, I would make up some excuse about how […]
encoded: When I was in dental school, it was “against the rules” to give patients back their extracted teeth. I never really questioned this rule because I figured that not many people would really want their teeth back. When a patient would ask for their freshly extracted tooth, I would make up some excuse about how it was against regulations for me to give them their extracted tooth. I remember a female oral surgeon let me bend the rules once with a teenager who begged for his extracted teeth, but she told me to keep it on the down-low. So that’s what I learned in dental school and thought was gospel: Patients are not allowed to get their extracted teeth back. There are many dentists that refuse to give patients their teeth after removal. I know of one that even gives kids a “Tooth Fairy I.O.U.” coupon in lieu of their extracted tooth and tells them to simply put that under their pillow and that the Tooth Fairy will understand. But is it really necessary to go that far and be a Tooth Fairy Scrooge when it comes to giving patients their extracted teeth? Let’s find out. Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth? Yes, you can keep your extracted tooth. There are no federal laws or regulations that prohibit, let alone discourage, dentists from giving patients their extracted teeth. Let’s take a look at some of the excuses dentists use to justify keeping extracted teeth that a patient requests to keep: “It’s infectious waste and could infect other people if I let you take it. I can’t be held liable for that.” “OSHA prohibits me from giving you back your extracted tooth.” “It’s against the CDC regulations for me to give it back.” Below, I’ll discuss what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say about giving extracted teeth to patients. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-9410 size-large" src="http://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/give_extracted_tooth_back_to_pat…

Why This Dentist Gives Out Halloween Candy
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-10-28T12:00:00Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: While watching baseball’s American League Championship Series last week, I saw a commercial for Verizon that shows a family out trick-or-treating. Upon looking at his cell phone, the son says, “Wait guys, we’ve gotta stay away from 32 Elm Street. he’s a dentist… He’s givin’ out floss!” The dad responds with one word that sums […]
encoded: While watching baseball’s American League Championship Series last week, I saw a commercial for Verizon that shows a family out trick-or-treating. Upon looking at his cell phone, the son says, “Wait guys, we’ve gotta stay away from 32 Elm Street. he’s a dentist… He’s givin’ out floss!” The dad responds with one word that sums up this crazy behavior: “Weirdo!” You can view the commercial below, then scroll down to find out why I will continue to give out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters who knock on my door. Three Reasons Why Dentists Shouldn’t Give Out Floss for Halloween Here’s three reasons why dentists shouldn’t be giving out toothbrushes, floss, and other oral hygiene paraphernalia to unsuspecting trick-or-treaters on Halloween. 1 – An Occasional Treat Is Good Halloween is just once per year. It’s not like kids are out collecting mass quantities of candy every day! While it’s true that regularly eating candy and other sugary foods will take its toll on your teeth, the occasional splurge won’t ruin your teeth. If you are a parent, just remind your kids to brush, floss, and rinse when they are done enjoying their loot. One of the four things cavities need to grow is time. If you only occasionally splurge on candy, your chances of getting a cavity from consuming it are slim. 2 – Teeth Are for Chewing You have teeth to enjoy them. Having teeth and not enjoying the occasional treat is like having a nice car that never leaves the garage. Hopefully you are making a consistent effort to take care of your teeth so that they can last you for years to come — so reward yourself now and then! Read Can Kids Eat Halloween Candy and Have Healthy Teeth? to learn how to have healthy teeth while enjoying Halloween treats. 3 – The Purpose of Halloween Isn’t to Change Behavior There’s a time and place for everything. Is a child really going to start flossing after they receive floss in their bag of Halloween candy? They probably won’t change their habits overnight from that simp…

60 Photos of Teenagers with Braces
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-10-22T20:43:13Z
subject: Orthodontics & Braces
subject: Braces
subject: Colored Braces
description: Many teenagers wonder what they’ll look like with braces, and what colors of rubber bands will look best with their hair color and facial tone. Judging by the comments on this article about braces colors, I decided it would be a good idea to create a post with dozens of pictures of teenagers with braces […]
encoded: Many teenagers wonder what they’ll look like with braces, and what colors of rubber bands will look best with their hair color and facial tone. Judging by the comments on this article about braces colors, I decided it would be a good idea to create a post with dozens of pictures of teenagers with braces so you can get a general idea of how you’ll look with braces. As you take a look at the pictures below, you may notice that some people look confident with braces, and some people don’t. If you try to smile and look proud of your braces, people will see you as more confident, and you’ll likely enjoy having braces more. It all comes down to attitude. Hopefully there’s someone here that looks similar to you! 60 Photos of Teenagers with Braces #1 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8111" style="font-size: 13px;" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain.jpg" alt="beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain" width="644" height="644" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain.jpg 644w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain-450x450.jpg 450w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain-357x357.jpg 357w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain-483x483.jpg 483w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/beautiful_teenage_girl_braces_pink_powerchain-210x210.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px" /> This blond young woman appears confident as she smiles, showing off a pink powerchain on her upper braces. #2 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8113" src="http:…

Fluoride Supplement Dosage Chart
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-09-18T02:55:01Z
subject: Fluoride
description: In the 1940’s, water fluoridation officially started in the United States. While it is believed that water fluoridation does reduce tooth decay, there are many areas of the United States that don’t have fluoride added to their water. In the same decade that water fluoridation commenced, people in non-fluoridated areas wondered how their children could reap […]
encoded: In the 1940’s, water fluoridation officially started in the United States. While it is believed that water fluoridation does reduce tooth decay, there are many areas of the United States that don’t have fluoride added to their water. In the same decade that water fluoridation commenced, people in non-fluoridated areas wondered how their children could reap the the benefits of fluoride if their water supply was not yet fluoridated. Trials were performed in which dietary fluoride supplements were administered to children in order to determine if they could receive fluoride’s anti-cavity effects in pill form. After this trial period, the American Dental Association (ADA) came up with the very first fluoride dosage schedule in 1958. In the years that followed, the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the ADA had two separate fluoride dosage schedules. Unfortunately, many children started getting dental fluorosis, and as a result, the amount of recommended fluoride was gradually reduced. Finally, in 1994 the ADA and AAP finally agreed on the following schedule, which was reaffirmed in 2010. Fluoride Supplement Dosage Schedule <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8034" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fluoride_supplement_dosage_schedule.png" alt="Fluoride Supplement Dosage Schedule" width="644" height="236" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fluoride_supplement_dosage_schedule.png 644w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fluoride_supplement_dosage_schedule-300x109.png 300w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fluoride_supplement_dosage_schedule-450x164.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px" /> Do All Children Need Fluoride Supplements? Even if your water does not contain fluoride, your child may not need fluoride supplements. The American Dental Association states that fluoride supplements are intended for use by children “living…

Can a Sinus Infection Be Caused by a Tooth?
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-04-22T15:02:33Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: A couple of years ago, I wrote a post discussing sinus infections, prompted by my wife’s experience. She had severe tooth pain caused by a sinus infection. While that post discusses how a sinus infection can cause tooth pain, it never addressed the opposite question: Can a tooth cause a sinus infection? Sinuses are simply chambers […]
encoded: A couple of years ago, I wrote a post discussing sinus infections, prompted by my wife’s experience. She had severe tooth pain caused by a sinus infection. While that post discusses how a sinus infection can cause tooth pain, it never addressed the opposite question: Can a tooth cause a sinus infection? Sinuses are simply chambers in your head that allow air to circulate to get warm and moist before it travels down to your lungs. Normally, the body is able to keep the sinuses clean and healthy, despite the dark, moist environment that bacteria love. However, when conditions are right, bacteria can grow out of control in the sinuses, causing a sinus infection. One cause of sinus infections is the common cold. Interestingly enough, teeth can also cause sinus infections. Before we get into a discussion on how teeth can cause sinus infections, we’ll talk about where the sinuses are located. Where Are Sinuses Located? There are a few different sinuses located in the facial area — around the cheeks, nose, and above the eyes. The diagram below gives you a little better idea of where the sinuses are, and how they look when they are healthy, versus how they look when they are infected. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image alignnone wp-image-8487 size-large" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-700x407.png" alt="How Sinusitis Can Cause a Toothache" width="700" height="407" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-700x407.png 700w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-300x174.png 300w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-450x261.png 450w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-613x357.png 613w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sinusitis_toothache-830x483.png 830w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> If you look at the diagram above …

Why Dental Anesthetic Has Epinephrine (Adrenaline) In It
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-03-19T13:03:09Z
subject: Dental Pain Control
subject: Local Anesthetics
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
subject: Adrenaline
subject: Anesthetic
subject: Dental Injection
subject: Epinephrine
description: When you get a dental injection, your body wonders why on earth you’re allowing a sharp metal object to penetrate your gums! It quickly tries to repair the damage by increasing blood flow to the area so it can carry away the anesthetic, which it views as a foreign substance. As you might have guessed, […]
encoded: When you get a dental injection, your body wonders why on earth you’re allowing a sharp metal object to penetrate your gums! It quickly tries to repair the damage by increasing blood flow to the area so it can carry away the anesthetic, which it views as a foreign substance. As you might have guessed, if your body’s protective response tries to get rid of all of the anesthetic, it’s not going to last very long. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-7985 size-medium" title="Dental Anesthetic Epinephrine" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dental_anesthetic_epinephrine-300x169.jpg" alt="Dental Anesthetic Epinephrine" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dental_anesthetic_epinephrine-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dental_anesthetic_epinephrine-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dental_anesthetic_epinephrine-633x357.jpg 633w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dental_anesthetic_epinephrine.jpg 644w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> This was a big problem with anesthetics back over 100 years ago. Then, something exciting (to dentists anyway) happened! A guy named Abel discovered adrenalin (a more common name for epinephrine) in 1897. In 1903 Braun suggested using adrenalin as a “chemical tourniquet” to make anesthetics last for a longer period of time. This Braun fellow recommended using epinephrine at the very small concentration of 1 part to 10,000. That may seem weak, but we’ve found that even diluting it to 1 part to 200,000 still retains the beneficial effects of epinephrine while minimizing the side effects. Epinephrine is what is known as a vasoconstrictor, which is just a fancy word for something that causes your blood vessels to constrict, or get smaller. Why Dental Anesthetic Has Epinephrine It is this vasoconstrictor effect of epinephrine that makes it …

Can Dental Anesthetic Really Make Your Heart Beat Faster?
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-02-25T13:00:51Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: Back when I was in dental school, the instructors told us to always pull back on the anesthetic syringe before injecting. By doing this, we would make sure that we weren’t injecting the anesthetic into a blood vessel, which would cause the epinephrine in the anesthetic to make the patient’s heart feel like it was […]
encoded: Back when I was in dental school, the instructors told us to always pull back on the anesthetic syringe before injecting. By doing this, we would make sure that we weren’t injecting the anesthetic into a blood vessel, which would cause the epinephrine in the anesthetic to make the patient’s heart feel like it was beating out of their chest. They called this the epinephrine reaction, and I blindly believed it. I even wrote a post about why dental anesthetic makes your heart beat faster. Until one day, this belief was questioned by a comment on that article (which actually caused Gavin to post a rather entertaining comment). I realized that I’d blindly believed what I’d been taught without doing any research of my own. In this follow-up article, I’ll answer the question: Can dental anesthetic really make your heart beat faster? People Report That Dental Anesthetic Makes Your Heart Beat Faster A few weeks ago, a woman told me that she hates getting injections because it makes her heart beat really fast. I asked her if a dentist had ever offered her the anesthetic brand Carbocaine (a type of dental anesthetic without any added epinephrine). She told me that she’d never heard of it. I tried it on her and she told me that it was the first injection she could remember where she didn’t feel like her heart was beating out of her chest. Naturally, this (along with other similar experiences) made me a believer that regular dental anesthetic with epinephrine can indeed make your heart beat faster. As a dentist I realize that stories, while fun and exciting, may not be a very good source of evidence, so I decided to do some more in-depth research. Can Dental Anesthetic Really Make Your Heart Beat Faster? The main question here is whether or not the small amount of epinephrine inside the dental anesthetic makes your heart beat faster or if it’s simply caused by the epinephrine your body releases in response to being afraid of the crazy dentist that’s about to poke you. Many years…

Colored Fillings
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-02-01T21:20:28Z
subject: Fillings and Inlays
subject: Pediatric Dentistry
subject: Cavities
subject: Children's Dentistry
subject: Colored Fillings
subject: Fillings
description: “Your child has a cavity.” Not many parents want to hear those words, especially if their child has dental anxiety. Last summer, I saw a three year old child who needed to have a filling on one of his upper molars. The only reason he sat still in the chair long enough for us to […]
encoded: “Your child has a cavity.” Not many parents want to hear those words, especially if their child has dental anxiety. Last summer, I saw a three year old child who needed to have a filling on one of his upper molars. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7849" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_green.jpg" alt="Green Colored Filling" width="320" height="282" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_green.jpg 320w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_green-300x264.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" />The only reason he sat still in the chair long enough for us to remove the decay and get a filling put in was because we told him we were going to give him a yellow colored filling. He loved tractors, and wanted it to be yellow like his toy tractor. When he was all done, we took a picture of it and gave it to him so he could show his friends and family. I’ve found that giving children a colored filling (along with some other things we do to make the comfortable), helps them to sit in the dental chair and get their mentalhealthupdate.com needed dental work completed. Find out why baby teeth need to have fillings if they just fall out. Colored Fillings <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-7848" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_pink.jpg" alt="Pink Colored Filling" width="320" height="240" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_pink.jpg 320w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colored_filling_pink-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" />Colored fillings are made of the same composite materials as tooth-colored fillings, they simply have more exciting coloring added to them. At our office, we have five colors to choose from: blue, green, yellow, orange, and pink.…

How Your Dentist Knows You’re Not Flossing
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-01-24T22:13:51Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
subject: Dentists
subject: Floss
subject: flossing
description: A recent survey by the American Dental Association found that just under half of all Americans floss their teeth daily. What about the other half? My guess is that they’re the ones who floss twice a year — right before their dental checkups. They think they can pull a fast one on us, but here’s […]
encoded: A recent survey by the American Dental Association found that just under half of all Americans floss their teeth daily. What about the other half? My guess is that they’re the ones who floss twice a year — right before their dental checkups. They think they can pull a fast one on us, but here’s a little secret: dentists can tell when you’ve been flossing and when you haven’t. How Dentists Can Tell When You’re Not Flossing <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6698" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flossing_open_wide.jpg" alt="Woman Flossing Before Dental Exam" width="372" height="480" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flossing_open_wide.jpg 372w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flossing_open_wide-232x300.jpg 232w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flossing_open_wide-348x450.jpg 348w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flossing_open_wide-276x357.jpg 276w" sizes="(max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" />The way we can tell if you’re not flossing is if your gums are bleeding. Although there are other, less common conditions that can make your gums bleed, gingivitis is the main cause. Gingivitis is when the gums are inflamed due to all of the bacteria in your mouth collecting right between the gums and the teeth. The problem is that it takes about a week of daily flossing for gingivitis to go away and make it so your gums don’t bleed when they are cleaned. The most authoritative book on the gums — that’s 1,328 pages dedicated to your gums! — states the following: The presence of plaque for only 2 days can initiate gingival bleeding on probing, whereas once established, it may take 7 days or more after continued plaque control and treatment to eliminate gingival bleeding. So, if you end up brushing and flossing really well right before your dental cleaning and exam, your teeth will be clean, but your gums will still show the …

Eruption Cyst: Photos of a Purple Bump on the Gums
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-01-07T14:55:56Z
subject: Pediatric Dentistry
subject: Teething
description: A little over a year ago, I wrote an article discussing eruption cysts. Those are the bluish-purple bumps that can form on the gums right before a tooth pushes its way into the mouth. Upon first glance, many parents are understandably concerned that their child has a serious problem in their mouth. The photo I […]
encoded: A little over a year ago, I wrote an article discussing eruption cysts. Those are the bluish-purple bumps that can form on the gums right before a tooth pushes its way into the mouth. Upon first glance, many parents are understandably concerned that their child has a serious problem in their mouth. The photo I used in the original article isn’t very clear, and I thought it would be good to post a couple more photos that were recently shared with me. Photos of Eruption Cysts The photo below shows two eruption cysts over the permanent upper front teeth. The teeth are still white, the purple color is due to bruising that has occurred between the gums and the permanent tooth. Usually, no treatment is necessary and the teeth will come through within a couple of weeks. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image alignnone wp-image-8511 size-large" src="http://www.OralAnswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-700x450.jpg" alt="Dental Eruption Cyst Upper Front Teeth" width="700" height="450" srcset="https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-700x450.jpg 700w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-300x192.jpg 300w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-450x289.jpg 450w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-100x65.jpg 100w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-555x357.jpg 555w, https://www.oralanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/eruption_cyst_dental_upper_front_teeth-751x483.jpg 751w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> The next photo shows an eruption cyst where the upper left six-year molar is preparing to come into the mouth. Many parents may not even notice eruption cysts when they occur this far back in the mouth. <img loading="lazy" deco…

Five Reasons to Go to the Dentist This Year
type: item
creator: Tom Draper
date: 2013-01-02T04:10:25Z
subject: Oral Health & Hygiene
description: It’s been estimated that half of all Americans don’t go to the dentist regularly. If you find yourself in that half, how about making a New Year’s resolution to make it to the dentist this year? Here are five good reasons why you should. Five Reasons to Go to the Dentist 1 – Catch Problems […]
encoded: It’s been estimated that half of all Americans don’t go to the dentist regularly. If you find yourself in that half, how about making a New Year’s resolution to make it to the dentist this year? Here are five good reasons why you should. Five Reasons to Go to the Dentist 1 – Catch Problems While They’re Small If you regularly visit the dentist, your dentist will be able to tell you about smaller problems that you can easily and inexpensively get fixed. The quicker you get a cavity filled, for example, the longer the filling will last. If you put off getting a cavity filled while it’s small, it could cost significantly more to get it fixed when it needs a root canal and crown a few years down the road. You won’t feel any symptoms with most dental problems until they are advanced. If you have gum disease, it’s important that you get it treated. However, unless you develop a gum abscess or have gum disease that is at a very advanced stage, you likely won’t experience any pain. 2 – Dental Care Is Better Than It Was In the Past If you had a bad experience in the past, let me assure you that dentistry has come a long way. There have been many recent advancements in the kinds of materials that we can use to fix your teeth. Many modern restorations such as crowns and veneers look completely natural and can give you the kind of smile you’ve always wanted. 3 – There Are Ways to Alleviate Dental Fear There are many drugs that you can take before you go to the dentist to make you drowsy so that you will be less anxious during your procedure. Also, if needles frighten you, many dentists can fill small cavities using a laser without any anesthetic. If you do require an anesthetic, there are very strong topical gels that can be placed on your gums before the injection to make the injection nearly painless. We’ve come a long way since the dark ages when dentists were a little crazy — check out these pictures of old school dentistry if you don’t believe me. 4 – There Are Better Deal…