I understand that periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults, but is there anything I can do about it?

Gum disease—periodontal disease—often progresses slowly, without pain, over a long period of time. This is one reason why it is common among older adults. The longer the disease goes undetected and uncontrolled, the more damage it causes to gums and other supporting tissues. Although periodontal disease is caused by bacteria, other factors can increase the risk or severity of the condition. These include food left between the teeth, smoking, smokeless (spit) tobacco use, badly aligned teeth, ill-fitting bridges or partial dentures, poor diets and some systemic diseases such as diabetes.

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Isn’t tooth loss inevitable in the later years?

Today, older adults are keeping their natural teeth longer because of scientific developments and the preventive emphasis in dentistry. This improvement was seen in the results of a survey released by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. They showed that among persons aged 55 to 64, the rate of toothlessness dropped 60 percent since 1960.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental care are important throughout your life, whatever your age. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting your dentist regularly, you will prevent dental problems and save time and money as well.

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When we ask for a Kleenex or a Ziploc we may not necessarily get that brand, but we know we will get a tissue or a sealable plastic bag. It is always interesting to me hearing the different things people say in the dental office that seem to be “standard” among the general population.

For example, most people use the term “Novocain”. Even dentists, including myself, use this term daily to describe the local anesthetic used to anesthetize or “numb” teeth before they are worked on. Novocain, apparently still available for purchase, has not been used in dentistry for probably 100 years, but we still use the term because everyone seems to know what we mean. We may say “Novocain” but that is not what we are writing in your medical record.

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If you missed any of this series, they can be found at www.thetowncommon.com.

The dental insurance industry is getting more and more competitive. Insurance companies are looking to increase profits and those purchasing dental insurance (usually employers), are mindful of the cost of plans. To increase profits, insurance companies either have to continue to increase the cost of their premiums, or decrease their expenditures. Employers certainly do not want to see an increase in premiums. So, most insurance companies are trying to remain competitive by keeping their premiums lower but paying out less in benefits.

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If you missed any of this series, they can be found at www.thetowncommon.com.

Is there a solution to the dental insurance problem we have in this country? I can tell you the way I see it, different groups of dentists may have different views, large dental chains see it from a different perspective, consumers have varied opinions, and insurance companies are leading the way with their solution. These are all very different perspectives.

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This is the second column my series about the state of dental insurance in our country. The information presented is intended to explain “dental insurance” from a perspective which may be different than most consumer’s view of insurance. I encourage you to read all the columns in this series. If you missed any they can be found at www.thetowncommon.com. I hope the information helps you to make more informed decisions about your dental health.

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The Merriam-Webster definition of insurance is “coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril.” We have insurance on our house and car. If our car gets damaged, we usually pay a deductible and the insurance picks up the rest. If our house burns down, we have insurance to help us rebuild it. Unfortunately, that is not the way it works in dentistry.

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Did you know you swallow approximately 2,000 times per day? When you swallow, the upper and lower teeth come together and some level of force is generated. People who have an unstable bite, missing teeth, or poorly aligned teeth can have trouble because the muscles work harder to bring the teeth together, causing strain. People with seemingly good teeth/bite are also susceptible. Pain can also be caused by clenching or grinding teeth, trauma to the head and neck, or poor ergonomics.

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Do you have any problems with dental decay (cavities), gum recession, and/or dental erosion (the chemical breakdown of tooth structure)? These dental problems are complicated multifactorial diseases of epidemic levels affecting both children and adults. A healthy mouth sometimes requires more than brushing, flossing, and “fillings”. With current scientific evidence and new technologies, patients and practitioners need to begin to look at these problems not just from a drilling and filling approach but also from a medical (preventive/therapeutic) approach.

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I was at a continuing education seminar last week and one of the topics being discussed was mouthguards. Although it seems basic, and you would think that everyone who should be wearing one does, this is far from the case. I still see far too many sports related dental injuries in every season which could have been prevented.

Any sport that presents the chance of contact or collision with another person, object, or surface can potentially cause injury to teeth, jaws, and oral soft tissue. These sports include, but are not limited to, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, field hockey, pond hockey, boxing, lacrosse, biking, inline skating, and skateboarding.

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