Brushing your teeth plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush; however appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are important considerations for oral hygiene. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we want you to know how and when to replace, clean, and store your toothbrush.
The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush approximately every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. However, toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. It is also important to never share a toothbrush because this practice could be a concern for people with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. If your toothbrush comes in contact with another, thoroughly rinse the brush with warm tap water to remove any remaining toothbrush and debris. When you are done using the toothbrush, store it in an upright position and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again.
If you have further questions regarding toothbrush care, 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.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Wisdom Tooth Decay
As we age, we acquire wisdom, and the same goes for wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17-21 and are known as the third set of molars. When they erupt correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chomp your food a little faster. However, if they start to cause you pain and discomfort, you may need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD of Lehigh Valley Smiles to discuss extraction.
If you bite on a piece of food that is too hard or you experience a mouth injury, wisdom teeth may become troublesome. They can also become cracked, broken, and decayed. Decay can form on any tooth surface, but when the decay begins to attack the wisdom teeth, depending on the position of the tooth it becomes difficult to clean. Depending on the individual case, Dr. Dilsaver may be able to fill the tooth, but even in cases where a filling could be successfully placed, if the wisdom tooth cannot be adequately maintained, recurrent decay can occur. Though many patients tend to procrastinate through the process, extraction is always best to avoid infection.
If your wisdom teeth are still intact and you have questions about removal, 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.
If you bite on a piece of food that is too hard or you experience a mouth injury, wisdom teeth may become troublesome. They can also become cracked, broken, and decayed. Decay can form on any tooth surface, but when the decay begins to attack the wisdom teeth, depending on the position of the tooth it becomes difficult to clean. Depending on the individual case, Dr. Dilsaver may be able to fill the tooth, but even in cases where a filling could be successfully placed, if the wisdom tooth cannot be adequately maintained, recurrent decay can occur. Though many patients tend to procrastinate through the process, extraction is always best to avoid infection.
If your wisdom teeth are still intact and you have questions about removal, 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 are Lumineers?
Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, Pennsylvania, is committed to providing our patients with the best cosmetic dental care, so that they can retain their dazzling smiles. Over the course of a person’s life, their teeth will inevitably lose some of their shine, and may be chipped or slightly crooked. One popular solution for cosmetic problems in the front teeth are porcelain veneers. At Alan Dilsaver’s office, we use the brand-name Lumineers, which have provided a superior application experience for over thirty years.
Veneers are custom-manufactured shells which are cemented to the fronts and edges of the patients’ teeth. They cover stains and are hard enough to compensate for the natural tooth if a part of it is absent or slightly out of place. However, they are thick and heavy. Placing them requires some of the patient’s natural tooth to be ground or sanded away. Lumineers are distinguished by their thinness and light weight. Usually, no adjustments to the natural teeth other than a deep cleaning are required, allowing the Lumineers to be applied in just two visits.
During the first visit, Dr. Dilsaver will make an impression of the patient’s mouth to be used as the basis for the Lumineers. After the Lumineers are made, they will be painlessly attached at the second visit. Though patients must care for their newly resurfaced teeth, they will continue to enjoy their bite function with a much prettier smile.
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.
Veneers are custom-manufactured shells which are cemented to the fronts and edges of the patients’ teeth. They cover stains and are hard enough to compensate for the natural tooth if a part of it is absent or slightly out of place. However, they are thick and heavy. Placing them requires some of the patient’s natural tooth to be ground or sanded away. Lumineers are distinguished by their thinness and light weight. Usually, no adjustments to the natural teeth other than a deep cleaning are required, allowing the Lumineers to be applied in just two visits.
During the first visit, Dr. Dilsaver will make an impression of the patient’s mouth to be used as the basis for the Lumineers. After the Lumineers are made, they will be painlessly attached at the second visit. Though patients must care for their newly resurfaced teeth, they will continue to enjoy their bite function with a much prettier smile.
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.
HPV-Related Oral Cancers
At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we’re proud to not only improve patients’ smiles but to also help save their lives. In recent years, the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses in developed countries has declined, as has the rate of smoking. However, diagnoses of oral cancer have remained stable or increased, and the culprit is none other than the human papillomavirus, better known as HPV. The cancers caused by this virus are deadlier than those caused by nicotine, so people must be made aware of the danger it poses.
Oral cancers can be caused by genetic factors, but most commonly, they are due to smoking or tobacco use, alcohol, or HPV. While the public is generally well-informed about the cancer risks of the first two, the rising rate of HPV, particularly in young men, suggests that many people still do not understand the connection between oral sex and cancers of the mouth and throat. Most strains of HPV are harmless, and the body often fights them off without the host ever having been conscious of being infected, but there are at least nine strains which cause cancer, and young, sexually active non-smokers are usually not aware they are in a high-risk population.
Tumors and lesions caused by HPV are usually farther back in the throat than those caused by tobacco use, so patients often will not notice them until they reach an advanced state. However, Lehigh Valley Smiles offers regular screenings for oral cancer which can catch HPV infections early, improving patients’ chances of survival.
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.
Oral cancers can be caused by genetic factors, but most commonly, they are due to smoking or tobacco use, alcohol, or HPV. While the public is generally well-informed about the cancer risks of the first two, the rising rate of HPV, particularly in young men, suggests that many people still do not understand the connection between oral sex and cancers of the mouth and throat. Most strains of HPV are harmless, and the body often fights them off without the host ever having been conscious of being infected, but there are at least nine strains which cause cancer, and young, sexually active non-smokers are usually not aware they are in a high-risk population.
Tumors and lesions caused by HPV are usually farther back in the throat than those caused by tobacco use, so patients often will not notice them until they reach an advanced state. However, Lehigh Valley Smiles offers regular screenings for oral cancer which can catch HPV infections early, improving patients’ chances of survival.
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.
Do Pacifiers Affect Baby Teeth?
It’s one of the hardest habits to break and can require a great deal of persuasion – parents often struggle with weaning their child off a pacifier. It's true that pacifiers provide a sense of security and a method of self-relaxation for infants, but the downside of them is the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we always welcome new patients, including pediatric patients who have yet to wean off of the pacifier.
Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth and create problems with tooth alignment. Long-term pacifier use can lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that children stop using pacifiers by the age of two. Up until that age, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.
If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, 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.
Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth and create problems with tooth alignment. Long-term pacifier use can lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that children stop using pacifiers by the age of two. Up until that age, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.
If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, 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.
Diabetes and Teeth
People with poorly controlled diabetes are more prone to dental problems. They are more likely to develop infections of their gums and the bones that hold the teeth in place because diabetes can reduce the blood supply to the gums. If you have diabetes, please call our office to schedule a professional exam with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD to prevent further dental complications.
If you have diabetes, symptoms of dental problems include bleeding and sore gums, frequent infections, and bad breath. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is critical. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. In addition, high blood sugar may cause dry mouth and make gum disease worse. The decrease in saliva can cause an increase in tooth-decaying bacteria and plaque buildup. You can prevent these problems by maintaining good blood sugar control, brushing and flossing and least twice a day, having a dental checkup every six months and especially by informing your dentist that you have diabetes.
If you have questions about diabetic oral care, 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.
If you have diabetes, symptoms of dental problems include bleeding and sore gums, frequent infections, and bad breath. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is critical. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. In addition, high blood sugar may cause dry mouth and make gum disease worse. The decrease in saliva can cause an increase in tooth-decaying bacteria and plaque buildup. You can prevent these problems by maintaining good blood sugar control, brushing and flossing and least twice a day, having a dental checkup every six months and especially by informing your dentist that you have diabetes.
If you have questions about diabetic oral care, 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.
Rotary Endodontics
Root canals used to get a scary reputation but with advances in technology, they now feel similar to having a cavity filled- minor discomfort. At Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, we use rotary endodontics to make this possible.
In the past, manual, steel files were used to perform root canals. Rotary endodontics uses an electric drill that has a much more flexible file, made of titanium alloy. The flexibility allows the dentist to go further into the root without stretching or damaging the canal. This means a more comfortable experience for the patient during and after the procedure. The electric drill is also much quieter than the manual files of the past, so those who get anxious about hearing the drilling will be at ease with the quiet noise. In addition to these benefits, rotary endodontics allows us to perform root canals quicker than before. This is a benefit for both the patient and the dentist.
To learn more about our technology or root canals, be sure to visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. To set up an appointment at Lehigh Valley Smiles of Easton, PA, call our office at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website.
In the past, manual, steel files were used to perform root canals. Rotary endodontics uses an electric drill that has a much more flexible file, made of titanium alloy. The flexibility allows the dentist to go further into the root without stretching or damaging the canal. This means a more comfortable experience for the patient during and after the procedure. The electric drill is also much quieter than the manual files of the past, so those who get anxious about hearing the drilling will be at ease with the quiet noise. In addition to these benefits, rotary endodontics allows us to perform root canals quicker than before. This is a benefit for both the patient and the dentist.
To learn more about our technology or root canals, be sure to visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. To set up an appointment at Lehigh Valley Smiles of Easton, PA, call our office at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website.
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