Acid Reflux

People are taught as children that prolonged exposure to sugar puts them at risk of tooth decay, and that’s true. But we want patients at Lehigh Vally Smiles to know adults have another major source of enamel erosion to watch out for: acid reflux. Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, acid reflux causes a number of health problems, but dentists will often be the first of the patient’s doctors to identify it.

Acid reflux describes when hydrochloric acid from the stomach escapes into the esophagus. If it gets as far as the mouth, it can damage the gums and mouth lining, as well as the teeth. The tooth erosion associated with acid reflux is painful and leaves the teeth discolored, and the damage to the gums leaves the teeth weak.

Enamel cannot be regrown once lost, but it can be replaced with methods such as fillings, bonding, and partial crowns. It can also be strengthened through fluoride treatments. Some strategies for reducing acid reflux include reducing intake of fatty foods, alcohol, tomatoes, and citrus juice, keeping a straighter posture, and not eating large meals before bed.

Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, operates Lehigh Valley Smiles at 2601 Nazareth Road, Easton, Pennsylvania, 18045. To schedule an appointment, call 610-252-7414 or visit LehighValleySmiles.net and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Obesity and Sleep Apnea

If your partner kicks you in the middle of the night because you’re snoring too loud it might be time to rule out sleep apnea. Those who experience loud snoring and breathing difficulties while sleeping are generally suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder, that Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD can treat, but this condition is worsened when a patient is obese. Let us explain why.

Obesity, especially the morbid kind (BMI>40), can lead to sleep apnea, which itself then causes hormones to become out of control. In addition to sleep deprivation, this condition can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even more weight gain because sleep apnea can cause a patient to eat more. If you are concerned about sleep apnea, you should talk to your doctor. As a treatment option, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS FAGD may suggest an oral appliance depending on the severity.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea, please give us a call. To learn about the services and technology we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Periodontitis

If you notice a bit of blood in the sink while brushing your teeth you are either brushing too vigorously or have one of the first signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease and is reversible at an early stage. However, if gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis – a more aggressive form of gum disease. Though Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD can treat the problem as it arises, he would much rather you prevent the problem before it starts.

Periodontitis begins with plaque – a sticky, invisible film that forms on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with normal bacteria in the mouth. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to become loose or worse, it can lead to tooth loss. This condition can be prevented by simply brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting our office for dental checkups twice a year.

If you have questions or concerns about periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn about the services and technology we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

What is an Infected Root Tip?

Infections at the tips of tooth roots, known scientifically as periapical abscesses, have been in the news recently after a study found a link between them and heart disease. We’ve long believed at Lehigh Valley Dental that oral health is crucial to overall health and we want our patients to be aware of how dangerous a tooth infection can be.

Pus is liquid comprised of bacteria and dead tissue. An abscess is what a pocket of pus at the site of an infection is called. When present at the tip of a tooth root, an abscess is the result of bacteria entering the tooth’s inner pulp. They may have gotten in through a carry caused by slowly progressing tooth decay or a traumatic injury. When limited to the tooth, an infection can cause pain, swelling, and a persistent bad taste. But when it spreads, it can cause a blood infection and deadly sepsis. The root tip infections linked to heart disease had not presented any symptoms.

The best way to prevent a periapical abscess is by maintaining regular oral hygiene. However, because one can occur without symptoms, it is important to regularly get x-rays done at a dental office. If an abscess does develop, it may require draining or root canal treatment.

Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, operates Lehigh Valley Smiles at 2601 Nazareth Road, Easton, Pennsylvania, 18045. To schedule an appointment, call 610-252-7414 or visit LehighValleySmiles.net and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Benefits of Waterlase Technology

If you are avoiding the dentist because you fear the sound of the drilling needle, fear no more, at Lehigh Valley Smiles, we utilize Waterlase Technology. The Waterlase is a revolutionary device that uses hydrokinetic technology to cut teeth, bone and gum tissue with fewer traumas while providing benefits such as fewer shots and less anesthesia as well as overall improved patient comfort.

The Waterlase is extremely versatile and can be used for a wide range of hard and soft tissue procedures. The Waterlase produces a laser beam that energizes an exact stream of water that, when directed at a tooth, is able to remove tooth enamel decay (the hardest substance in the body), bone and gum tissue precisely while leaving surrounding areas unaffected. Since cutting both hard and soft tissues with the Waterlase does not generate heat, vibration or pressure, many dental procedures can be performed nearly pain-free with fewer shots, less need for anesthesia, less use of the drill, and fewer numb lips.

If you wish to learn more about Waterlase technology, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dilsaver at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Dental Trauma

Accidents happen, but when facial trauma occurs, this can lead to physical and emotional trauma for the patient. Dental trauma is common and damage to the mouth can occur during sports injuries and even from a motor vehicle accident. Whatever the cause, Dr. Allan Dilsaver of Lehigh Valley Smiles is here to development a plan to give you your confidence back.

Examples of dental trauma include but are not limited to facial lacerations, knocked out teeth, broken teeth, or fractures to your jaw. Depending on the severity of the damage, the patient may require oral and maxillofacial surgery to correct the problem. Precautions that can be taken to avoid dental trauma include wearing a mouth guard while participating in sports or recreational activities and avoid chewing hard foods that may crack a tooth or a wire if you have orthodontics.

If you experience dental trauma, give us a call immediately. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dilsaver at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Guided Canine Eruption

We provide orthodontic solutions for several kinds of misaligned teeth at Lehigh Valley Smiles. Our wide range of devices suit clients of many ages and preferences. However, there is one kind of malocclusion which can only be corrected in kids and which requires bracket-and-wire braces: guided canine eruption.

After wisdom teeth, canines are the teeth which most often get stuck before they can fully erupt. This is unfortunate not only because we rely on canines for piercing food, but also because their misalignment is much more noticeable and because the position of the canines is vital to maintaining arch stability. Because unerupted canines are at a different level from the rest of the teeth, linking their brackets with the others will require a chain or for a loop-shape called a ballista spring to be bent into the orthodontic wire. Guiding them into place will often take a year of orthodontic work.

Sometimes, not enough of the canine will have erupted for an orthodontic bracket to be attached. In these cases, the canine must be exposed by the removal of some gum tissue. Because of the bone shifts required to move canines out of the jaws, the procedure can only be done on children and teenagers whose facial bones have not yet fully solidified.  Though ballista springs may look intimidating, guided canine eruption is often necessary for a lifetime of good oral health.

Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, operates Lehigh Valley Smiles at 2601 Nazareth Road, Easton, Pennsylvania, 18045. To schedule an appointment, call 610-252-7414 or visit LehighValleySmiles.net and fill out a contact sheet.