PREVENTIVE
DENTISTRY
Gum Treatments
Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed. In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
Treatment for gum disease depends on the severity of the problem. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins). In some cases, non-surgical therapy does have its limitations, however, and when it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal anatomy damaged by periodontal diseases and to facilitate oral hygiene practices.
Fissure Sealants
Sealants are a safe and painless way or protecting your children’s teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay. Sealants are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces.
Your dentist will tell you which teeth should be sealed after he has examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally form with deep grooves, which will need to be sealed, others with shallow ones which will not need sealing.
The process is usually quick and straightforward taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard – usually by shining an ultraviolet light onto it. It is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards. Sealants are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.
It is still vital that children continue to clean their teeth after sealants are placed. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal tooth brushing. Using a fluoride toothpaste will also help to protect your children’s teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of fillings your child might need.
Orthodontics
The Healthy Start System™ is a revolutionary departure from traditional orthodontics that treats children early, is non-invasive, and is a natural way of straightening teeth. It works as well as, or better than braces, plastic aligners, surgery, or any other options to achieve a picture-perfect, beautiful smile. Dr. Tabone is one of only a few doctors in this area trained to offer this innovative new system!
Healthy Start Results from Real Patients
Open-bite
Open-bite corrected with Healthy Start System
Overbite and Overjet
Overbite and Overjet corrected with Healthy Start System for
Pre-teens five years post-treatment.
Benefits of the Healthy Start System
Dr. Tabone and his staff work hard to bring their patients the most cutting-edge dental technology with the most benefits. When you choose the Healthy Start System, you experience the following benefits:
-
Achieve a perfect smile WITHOUT braces or surgery
-
Prevent crooked teeth versus correcting crooked teeth
-
Achieve permanent results
-
Experience no discomfort
-
Treats naturally, working with your facial growth and development
Beautiful Smiles Are Just the Beginning
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is an all-inclusive term for breathing difficulties, ranging from mild snoring all the way to severe airway obstruction during sleep. When your child’s breathing is disrupted, his or her body recognizes the disruption much like choking, thereby slowing the heart rate, raising the blood pressure, arousing the brain, ultimately disrupting sleep. Traditionally, there have been very few answers to treating this issue, but Dr. Tabone is now using Healthy Start to treat these issues.
Causes of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Crooked teeth, crowded teeth, or mouth breathing can cause underdevelopment of the mouth and jaw when your child’s nasal and upper airway is constricted. The Healthy Start system works to guide your child’s teeth into their proper position, expanding and fully developing his or her mouth and jaw.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has Sleep-Disordered Breathing?
Does it ever sound like a freight train is running through your child’s room at night or as they lay asleep in the back seat of your car on the way home from a trip? Loud snoring is one very apparent indication that your child may have Sleep-Disordered Breathing. Gasping and snorting sounds while your child sleeps may catch you off guard or even make you momentarily worry. These sounds stem from your child moving from a deeper sleep to a lighter (towards waking up) as they are struggling to breathe.
Common Sleep-Disordered Breathing Symptoms Include:
-
ADD/ADHD
-
Bed Wetting
-
Chronic Allergies
-
Asthma
-
Mouth Breathing
-
Snoring
-
Swollen Adenoids/Tonsils
-
Frequent Headaches
-
Teeth Grinding
-
Frequently Waking Up
-
Excessively Sweating While Asleep
-
Restless Sleep
-
Nightmares
-
Irritability/ Aggressive Behavior
-
Difficulty in School Subjects of Math, Science, and Spelling
-
Arrested Growth
-
Daytime Drowsiness
-
Dark Circles under the eyes
How Does The Healthy Start System Work?
The Healthy Start System works with the natural forces of tooth eruption. The soft, comfortable, removable devices gently guide the erupting teeth into their perfect positions. In addition, Healthy Start aids in the correct growth and alignment of the lower jaw, expanding the arches to ensure incoming permanent teeth have enough room to erupt in straight, and develop proper oral habits.
Depending On The Age Of Your Child The System Uses a Series Of Appliances:
-
Habit-Corrector: The habit-corrector eliminates or improves current oral habits that can damage your child’s dental health. He or she wears the habit-corrector at night while sleeping. With a design similar to that of a pacifier, your child will become used to wearing a device in his or her mouth every night. This step lasts about 1-5 months.
-
Second Phase: Your child will get an appliance customized and sized for your child to wear every night. It aids the incoming teeth into their proper places, corrects jaw relations, and expands your child’s arches for the incoming adult teeth. Your child will wear this device for 2-6 months.
-
Final Phase: The final treatment begins with a device that accommodates incoming adult teeth. It begins when your child has at least 4 permanent teeth. This phase is extremely important because his or her adult teeth are forming and the gum tissue fibers are starting to attach the teeth in the mouth. Healthy Start works perfectly to ensure the teeth erupt into proper alignment.
Consider the Healthy Start System
Dr. Tabone and his staff only offer time-tested and proven procedures to their patients. Researchers and developers have carefully designed the Healthy Start System, adaptable to each patient’s individual needs. Dr. Tabone’s ability to determine the optimal Healthy Start System for your child makes him the dentist you want to correct your child’s Sleep Disordered Breathing symptoms.
The dental practice of Dr. Anthony J. Tabone strives to provide their patients with healthy, beautiful, lasting smiles. Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation, and give your child the gift of a Healthy Start!
Oral Cancer Screening
Most people have heard of cancer affecting parts of the body such as the lungs or breasts. However, cancer can occur in the mouth, where the disease can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. Anyone can be affected by oral cancer, whether they have their own teeth or not. Oral cancers are more common in people over 40, particularly men. However, research has shown that oral cancer is becoming more common in younger patients and in women. There are, on average, over 35,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the US each year. The number of new cases of oral cancer is on the increase. Nearly 8,000 people in the US die from oral cancer every year. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the cancer was caught early enough.
People with oral cancers are more likely to die than those having cervical cancer or melanoma skin cancer. Most cases of oral cancer are linked to tobacco and alcohol. Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking are the main forms of tobacco use in the US. Alcohol increases the risk of oral cancer, and if tobacco and alcohol are consumed together the risk is even greater. Over-exposure to sunlight can also increase the risk of cancer of the lips. Recent studies have shown an alarming rate of oral cancer in people who have no risk factors at all.
Oral cancer can appear in different forms and can affect all parts of the mouth, tongue and lips. Oral cancer can appear as a painless mouth ulcer that does not heal normally. A white or red patch in the mouth can also develop into a cancer. It is important to visit your dentist if these areas do not heal within three weeks. Oral cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dentist during a thorough oral examination. If oral cancer is recognized early, then the chances of a cure are good. Many people with oral cancer go to their dentist or doctor too late.
The dentist examines the inside of your mouth and your tongue with the help of a small mirror. Remember, your dentist is able to see parts of your mouth that you cannot see easily yourself. If your dentist finds something unusual or abnormal they will refer you to an oral surgeon or ENT, who will carry out a thorough examination of your mouth and throat. A small sample of the cells may be gathered from the area (a biopsy), and these cells will be examined under the microscope to see what is wrong. If the cells are cancerous, more tests will be carried out. These may include overall health checks, blood tests, x-rays or scans. These tests will decide what course of treatment is needed.
If oral cancer is spotted early, the chances of a complete cure are good, and the smaller the area or ulcer the better the chance of a cure. However, too many people come forward too late, because they do not visit their dentist for regular examinations. It is important to visit your dentist regularly, as often as is recommended, even if you wear dentures. This is especially important if you smoke and drink alcohol.
When brushing your teeth, look out for any changes in your mouth, and report any red or white patches, or ulcers, that have not cleared up within three weeks. When exposed to the sun, be sure to use a good protective sunscreen, and put the correct type of barrier cream on your lips. A good diet, rich in vitamins A, C and E, provides some protection against the development of oral cancer. Plenty of fruit and vegetables help the body to protect itself, in general, from most cancers. Cut down on your smoking and drinking.