Dental Care Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Darlene Sand Wall DMD

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Dental Care

Erlanger KY Dentist: Is Your Popping Jaw a Symptom?

Does your jaw pop or click when you open and close your mouth? If it does, you probably find the noise distracting as the opening and closing of the mouth is a frequent occurrence throughout the day. In addition, a popping jaw may also be accompanied by soreness or outright pain in the jaw area. But what causes a popping jaw? Your Erlanger KY dentist explains below as she takes a closer look at the jaw joints.

The Jaw Joints and Stress

There are two identical joints on either side of the head that control the opening and closing of the mouth. These joints are called the temporomandibular joints, or TMJs for short. The TMJs are very important joints used frequently in chewing, drinking, and speech. However, despite their frequent use, they can be rather delicate, and they do not tend to react well to strain. Unfortunately, the TMJs can be subjected to strain in a variety of ways including bruxism (teeth grinding), malocclusion (a misaligned bite), and jaw misalignment. One indicator that the TMJs are experiencing strain is the development or a popping or clicking noise that occurs when the mouth opens and closes.

TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders are much more than a manifestation of strain on the TMJs. They can be very debilitating and lower a person’s quality of life significantly. The long list of symptoms connected to TMJ disorders includes jaw pain, a locked jaw, facial pain, frequent headaches, migraines, and earaches. You may have noticed that some of these symptoms occur in parts of the body that are quite distant from the TMJs themselves. The reason behind this phenomenon is the trigeminal nerve, a major nerve which innervates most of the head and neck and allows the strain from the jaw to travel to many various parts of the head and face.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger KY Dentist

Do you have a popping jaw? Your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Henry, can help. Contact our 41018 dentist office today at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment or a consultation. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger KY General Dentist Shares Three Tips for Better Homecare

Although attending regular dental visits is important in ensuring good oral health, so much of cavity and gum disease prevention relies on proper homecare. Therefore, in order to make sure your homecare is at its best, your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, is sharing three tips that can help boost your homecare.

Tips to Improve Your Homecare

Divide brushing into three phases. When brushing your teeth, it is important that you clean every available surface of your teeth in order to remove as much harmful bacteria as possible. Therefore, it is sometimes helpful to divide your brushing into three phases, during which you clean a specific surface for all of your teeth. The three phases should include the front surface, the back surface, and the top (biting) surface. By dividing your brushing in this way, you will be less likely to skip over areas in your mouth.
Angle the bristles of your toothbrush toward the gum line. Gum disease often begins because of the presence of bacteria on teeth near the gum line. You may, therefore, want to pay a little extra attention to these areas by angling the bristles of your toothbrush toward the gum line. By keep these areas clean, you can reduce your risk of developing gum disease.
Don’t overbrush. Brushing too hard or too often can do more harm than good. Too much abrasion can strip teeth of their enamel, lowering their defenses against bacteria and making tooth decay more likely. Thus, brush two or three times per day and be sure to use gentle pressure instead of heavy force.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger KY General Dentist

Are you due for a dental visit? If more than six months have passed since your last dental cleaning, the time has come for a checkup. Contact our 41018 dentist office today at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger KY general dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger KY Dentist: What’s Your Smile Type?

How would you classify your smile? Is it coy, enthusiastic, stunning? From a researcher’s perspective, it is none of the above. Researchers classify smiles according to two types, and the smile type that you wear most often may even predict how long you will live and the quality of your marriage. Read below as your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, explains smile types and what they can tell you.

The Study of Smiles

The first forays into a scientific study of smiles were made by a French neurologist named Duchenne de Boulogne. De Boulogne recognized that not all smiles share a common purpose or even involve the same muscles. This observation has led researches to classify smiles according to two types called Duchenne and non-Duchenne smiles.

Duchenne vs. Non-Duchenne

Two key differences separate Duchenne smiles from non-Duchenne smiles: intent and muscular involvement. A Duchenne smile is an expression of joy on behalf of the smiler, and it involves muscles around the eyes. A non-Duchenne smile, on the other hand, is a smile of appeasement. It is intended to placate someone else and does not involve the muscles surrounding the eyes. Thus, when people say a smile never reached a person’s eyes, they are, in effect, telling you that the person smiled a non-Duchenne smile.

What Your Typical Smile Type Says about You

According to recent research, there is a correlation between increased longevity and Duchenne smiles. Researchers have also found that people who frequently smile Duchenne smiles experience lower divorce rates. Thus, if you find yourself hiding your smile because you are embarrassed about the appearance of your teeth, talk to your Erlanger KY cosmetic dentist, Dr. Henry. Her cosmetic treatmentscan give you a smile you’ll be dying to show off—Duchenne style.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger KY Dentist

Are you unhappy with your smile? Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger KY Dentist Discusses the Progression of Tooth Decay

Thorough and consistent homecare can help keep tooth decay at bay. But do you know how tooth decay begins and progresses? Read below as your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, discusses the progression of tooth decay.

Bacteria: The Beginning

Tooth decay is ultimately caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. These harmful bacteria create an acid byproduct when they feed on sugar in the mouth, and the acid they produce is capable of wearing down tooth enamel. Additionally, bacteria will adhere to teeth, creating plaque (a clear, sticky film) and tartar (hardened plaque). Once attached to teeth, the bacteria are difficult to remove, and they also begin to do damage to a concentrated area. As more and more damage is done, a cavity may develop, indicating a serious weakness in the tooth that requires dental care.

Cavities and Beyond

When a cavity develops, the tooth can be strengthened with a dental filling. When placing a dental filling, your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Henry, first removes the decayed material of the tooth and then fills the cavity with a tooth-colored composite resin that strengthens the tooth and prevents further decay. The composite resin is durable and offers a nice cosmetic result because of its natural color.

If, however, a cavity does not receive treatment, decay may continue until the bacteria reach the tooth’s pulp (the innermost, nerve-filled portion). Should bacteria reach the pulp, infection is likely, and the tooth is in peril of dying. It is, therefore, important that root canal treatment is performed to remove the infected pulp and fill the tooth against further decay and infection. Otherwise, tooth loss may be inevitable.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger KY Dentist

Regular dental visits can help maintain your oral health. If more than six months have passed since your last dental cleaning, contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger KY dentist, Dr. Henry, today. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger Dentist: Is Your Smile Too “Gummy”?

Do you wish you would see a little less of your gums and a little more of your teeth when you smile? If so, you’re not alone. Many people feel that their smiles are too “gummy” and look to cosmetic dentistry to give them smiles they can show off with pride. In order to improve the ratio of gums to teeth, a procedure called gum contouring is utilized. Read below as your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, tells you what to expect from a gum contouring procedure.

The Gum Contouring Procedure

Your Erlanger cosmetic dentist, Dr. Henry, uses a diode laser to perform her gum contouring procedures. This specially designed laser allows her to remove the precise amount of gum tissue quickly and as delicately as possible. When performing gum contouring, Dr. Henry first marks the gum tissue that will be removed. Next, she administers a local anesthetic to the treatment area. Once the anesthetic takes effect, she reshapes the gums with the diode laser. This laser simultaneously removes gum tissue while sealing it off, resulting in little or no bleeding and swelling. By contrast, gum surgery without a laser requires cuts and stitches as well as a significant recovery period.

Life after Gum Contouring

One of the best things about the gum contouring procedure is the minimal recovery period it requires. Because the diode laser is so gentle and minimizes bleeding and swelling, patients who undergo the gum contouring procedure are able to get back to their lives and show off their new smiles quickly. Although the work done by gum contouring may not seem like a drastic change, the transformations produced by the procedure can be quite dramatic. Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest differences, and when you see your new smile for the first time, you may agree.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Dentist

Would you like to transform your smile with gum contouring? Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger Dentist Shares Three Benefits of Implant-Secured Dentures

Denture wearers sometimes complain that their dentures have a tendency to slide around their mouths. Sliding dentures can lead to embarrassment as well as discomfort. Oftentimes, by improving the fit of dentures, comfort and stability can be improved. However, even with a proper fit, the occasional slip is possible. Dental implants, on the other hand, can ensure that dentures never slip again. They can be used to secure the dentures and provide a stable base that keeps the dentures from moving. Dental implants can be so beneficial for dentures, in fact, that your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, is sharing three major benefits of implant-secured dentures.

Benefits of Implant-Secured Dentures

Improved speech. When dentures are unstable and slide around the mouth, the facial muscles attempt to keep them in place by tensing. Unfortunately, when these muscles become tense, it is difficult to speak. Thus, denture wearers sometimes slur their words or mumble. However, with dental implants to secure the dentures, the facial muscles can relax, allowing for clearer speech.
Improved sense of taste. Traditional dentures cover the palate to create the suction necessary to hold the dentures in place. However, with implant-secured dentures, it is not necessary for the palate to be covered because suction does not need to be created or sustained. Thus, with the palate uncovered, denture wearers should notice their sense of taste improve.
A more natural feel. Natural teeth are rooted into the jawbone, which supports and stabilizes the teeth. The posts of dental implants create the same situation for implant-supported dentures, with the jawbone acting as the source of support and stability for the prosthetic teeth. Implant-secured dentures, therefore, provide denture wearers with a more natural feel than traditional dentures, which rest on the gums.

Implant-Secured Dentures from Your Erlanger Dentist

Are ill-fitting dentures causing you embarrassment and frustration? Dental implants can stabilize your dentures and improve your quality of life. Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

Erlanger Dentist: Filling Gaps with a Dental Bridge

A gap in a smile can mean serious problems, and not just cosmetic ones. If a gap forms as a result of tooth loss, the remaining teeth may see a decline in health. Thus, it is vital that gaps be filled, and filling a gap means the placement of a dental bridge. Below, your Erlangerdentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, discusses the many problems that can stem from missing teeth as well as what patients can expect from the placement of a dental bridge.

Why Gaps Are Such a Problem

When teeth are aligned properly, they function like a fence, protecting each other and the gums. However, when a gap develops because of tooth loss, the fence is no longer as effective, and tooth decay and gum disease are more likely. In addition to a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease, gaps can also cause teeth to shift and become misaligned. As teeth shift out of alignment, the risk of developing a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder also increases. Highly painful with symptoms of frequent headaches, earaches, migraines and facial pain, TMJ disorders can make life very miserable. Who knew a gap could cause so many problems?

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are made up of prosthetic teeth attached to dental crowns. The crowns are placed over the top of the teeth on either edge of the gap called abutment teeth, which provide the necessary stability to hold the bridge in place. In order to place a dental bridge, your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry, first shapes the abutment teeth for the crowns and takes an impression of them. She then sends the impression to a dental lab, which creates the bridge. Once the bridge is complete, she attaches it with dental cement.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Dentist

Has tooth loss formed a gap in your smile? A dental bridge can close the gap. Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger Dentist Shares Three Benefits of Dental Implants

In a child, a lost tooth is a sign of growing up. In an adult, it’s cause for panic. Just looking at the newly formed gap in a smile can be enough to raise anyone’s heart rate. Thankfully, dental implants can replace a lost tooth, filling in the gap and restoring the smile. But the benefits of dental implants are more than just cosmetic. Below, your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, explores several other benefits of dental implants.

Three Benefits of Dental Implants

They provide a more natural feel. Dental implants mimic a tooth’s structure. The prosthetic crown is visible above the surface of the gums, while the implant’s post, a titanium rod, acts as an anchor in the jawbone, just like a tooth’s root. Thus, rather than relying on the surrounding teeth to stabilize the prosthetic tooth, dental implants utilize the jawbone. The result is a more natural feel with increased stability.
They work against the domino effect. The domino effect is a particularly nasty complication that sometimes stems from a lost tooth. The domino effect refers to a condition in which teeth continue to fall out of the mouth one after the other as a result of a single lost tooth. This complication occurs because the body stops sending nutrients to the area vacated by the lost tooth. Unfortunately, nearby teeth sometimes don’t receive adequate nutrition as a result, and eventually they too fall out. Dental implants work against the domino effect because the body recognizes the post of the implant as a tooth’s root and restores the flow of nutrients to the area.
They can improve jawbone health. Another complication that sometimes results from tooth loss is decreased bone density in the jaw. This condition occurs because the bone cells of the jaw do not receive adequate stimulation. Bone cells thrive on the forces of biting and chewing, but when a tooth falls out, these forces are no longer transmitted. However, when a dental implant is placed, the stimulating forces can once again make their way to the bone cells by means of the implant’s post, resulting in an increase in bone density and a healthier jawbone.

Dental Implants from Your Erlanger Dentist

Have you lost a tooth? Dental implants can replace it with a realistic and functional prosthetic. Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger Dentist: Kids’ Teeth Grinding Is Common

Walking past your child’s bedroom late at night, have you poked your head through the door and heard what sounded like a saw cutting wood. Taking a closer look, you may have seen your child’s jaw sliding back and forth, grinding his or her top and bottom teeth together. A sight like this one is not easy to forget, especially when the teeth in question belong to the smile you adore so much. However, before you get too panicky, you may be interested to know that in the majority of cases, teeth grinding (bruxism) is not treated in children. Below, your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, explains why.

Bruxism in Children

A recent study showed that 38 percent of children grind their teeth. Yet very few of them receive treatment for their bruxism. This lack of treatment may seem like an oversight, but rest assured that it is not. Many children grind their teeth between the ages of three and six. However, because bruxism often ceases around age six, treatment isn’t often necessary. At this age, the threat of damage is not significant enough to warrant treatment.

Treatment for Bruxism

In a few cases, treatment may become necessary for bruxism in kids. Pay attention to your child, and keep an eye out for any recurring sensitivities in teeth. Sensitive teeth may be the result of bruxism, but they could just as easily be a fleeting sensitivity or the result of tooth decay. However, if you notice recurring sensitivities, contact your Erlanger children’s dentist, Dr. Henry, for dental assistance. Also keep an eye out for a sore jaw as jaw soreness can point to problems with the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint).

Bruxism in Older Children and Adults

A bruxism habit that does not fade away during childhood requires treatment. As the forces of grinding become greater, teeth are at an increased risk of cracking, chipping, or breaking. However, teeth can be protected by wearing a sleep guard prescribed by your Erlanger dentist.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Children’s Dentist

When was your child’s last dental visit? If it was more than six months ago, the time has come for another checkup. Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 today to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger children’s dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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Dental Care

Erlanger Dentist Answers Your Most Frequently Asked Questions about Dentures

Do you need dentures to replace your missing teeth? Are you hesitant to get them because of the horror stories you’ve heard about embarrassing slips and slurred speech? If so, nothing will put your mind at ease quite like information. Here to provide you with that information is your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry. She answers your most frequently asked questions about dentures.

Why do dentures slip?

Dentures slip when they do not fit properly. Dentures rely on suction to remain in place, and that suction will not hold if the fit is improper. Instead, ill-fitting dentures will slide around the mouth, irritating the gums as well as the wearer. However, your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry, carefully considers the entire mouth of each patient when she fits dentures, resulting in a better, more precise fit.

Why do some dentures wearers slur their speech?

Again, the cause is an improper fit. When dentures are moving around the mouth, the facial muscles attempt to compensate for the improper fit by trying to keep them in one place. Unfortunately, this muscular effort causes mumbling and slurring.

Can dentures be held in place with dental implants?

Absolutely, providing the patient has adequate bone available. In cases in which a patient does not have adequate bone availability, he or she may be eligible for bone grafting. Once it has been determined that there is enough quality bone available, the dental implants are placed into the jawbone. Once in position, they fuse with the bone, providing a stable base to which your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry, can attach the dentures. Patients with implant-supported dentures can enjoy dentures that will not slip. The dentures will also feel more natural as they are supported by the jaw rather than the gums.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Dentist

Are you missing your teeth? Don’t let tooth loss ruin the quality of your life. Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 today to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.

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