Happy Holidays from all of us at David M. Glasscock DDS

 

Happy Holidays from all of us at David M. Glasscock DDS

On behalf of David M. Glasscock and all team members.

We want to wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and say thank you for being part of our dental family.

      Please note our change of schedule during the holiday season:

Monday, December 26th– Closed
Tuesday December 27th– Closed
Wednesday, December 28th– Closed
Thursday, December 29th– Closed
Friday, December 30th– Closed
Saturday, December 31st– Closed
Sunday, January 1st– Closed
Monday, January 2nd– Closed

We look forward to seeing you in the new year starting on January 3rd, 2017!

David M. Glasscock DDS

8430 University Exec Park Dr, Suite 610, Charlotte NC, 28262

(704) 510-1150 | smile@glasscockdental.com | http://www.glasscockdental.com/

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Halloween Candy Blues

With the exception of Christmas, Halloween tends to be a super holiday packed with high excitement for kids and adults alike.  Halloween is that one night where our “littles” can dress up and pretend to be anyone or anything they hope to be. Many adults, joining in the spirit of Halloween enjoy the costume, parties and dress up as much as the “littles”.   However, for the “littles”, it’s mostly about the elaborate selection of candy they get to hunt house to house for.

Once darkness has fallen and the hunt is on for door to door candy, their is much that runs through a parents head.   As wonderful as it is to give children much wanted sugary joy, the proverb still stands “eating anything in moderation is ok, overindulgence is not”.

Candy, being a sugary treat is ok.  The problem is the amount of candy typically collected on a Halloween night exceeds standard snack time limits.  Nevermind the sugar high associated with lots of candy eating by “the littles”  who are proud of their conquered sugary bounty.  As for their teeth and avoiding unwanted cavity driven visits to the dentist, moderation is important.

Halloween candy isn’t the problem, as it would be no different than eating any type of sugary snack.  The issue is in the amount.  Kids eat most candy in the evening and having so much to choose from brings about eating more than they should. Remember when I mentioned that sugar high from eating lots of candy?  Kids being amped up on lots of sugar typically makes for a later bed time.  Unfortunately being out of routine from the extra sugary energy commonly makes a child forget to brush their teeth.  This gives the sugar eating bacteria lots of time to attack the enamel on your child’s teeth.

The best way to protect your child’s teeth is the always remember to brush, floss and limit the sugary snacks.  Regular dental visits are also important to ensure your child’s teeth are always in perfect shape.

 

The Amazing Powers of Water!

We all know we need water to live, however many people don’t know about the amazing powers of water.  Our bodies are made up of 60 percent water.  Drinking  water throughout your day assist in distributing nutrients throughout your body and gets rid of waste from our system.  As an added benefit, it helps give our skin a healthy glow and keeps are muscles hydrated for top performance.

What people are less familiar with is the benefits that water can provide for your teeth. Drinking the required 2 liters per day will help in the battle to maintain good dental health.

Water Keeps Your Mouth Clean

Your mouth has lots of bacteria.  That bacteria in your mouth loves to eat sugar and produce acid that wears away enamel.  Most drinks such as soda, juice or sport drinks are loaded with sugar.  Many of these drinks also have added acids (phosphoric, citrus or malic acid) to make them taste less sweet, but those acids also eat away at your teeth.

Drinking lots of water washes away bacteria and dilutes acids in your mouth with each sip. It also washes away leftover food and residue that cavity-causing bacteria are looking for.  Many of us don’t carry a toothbrush throughout our day to brush after every meal.  So when in a pinch, sip on some water until you can thoroughly brush later in the day.

Water Keeps Your Mouth Hydrated

A dry mouth breads and multiplies the bacteria in your mouth.  That bacteria eats away the enamel of your teeth.  Drinking water keeps your mouth hydrated and washes away harmful bacteria and dilutes acids in your mouth.

Drinking Water with Fluoride Strengthens Your Teeth

Drinking water with fluoride is a great way to strengthen your teeth. Per the ADA, Water fluoridation is safe, effective and healthy. Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults.

What’s Up With Morning Breath?

Have you ever woken up in the morning snuggling with your significant other?  Waking up happy, relaxed and comfortable as reality begins to roll back in ?   As you’re thinking, “How could life be any better?”, when a devastating new thought pops in your head.  The reality of your offensive morning breath rushes to the front of your thoughts.  Now that could be an ugly end to a perfect moment.  Being careful to keep your mouth shut, you hurry to the bathroom to begin your morning ritual. Sound familiar?

Why Do We Have Morning Breath?

The big question is why do we have morning breath?   The main reason for morning breath is from a lack of saliva. When we sleep, saliva production slows down.  Saliva is what is needed to wash away bacteria, food particles and acids from your mouth and teeth.  As your mouth begins getting dryer, bacteria flourish, causing bad breath to increase.

What Makes Morning Breath Worse?

Everyone has a degree of bad breath when they wake.  The degree of your morning breath can be affected by many things.

Mouth Breathers are susceptible to bad breath.  When your mouth is open, it becomes very dry causing the bacteria in the mouth to flourish.  This happening over an 8 hour period can make for a foul smell come morning.

Many medications cause dry mouth. Medications such as Aleve or Advil Cold and Sinus, Benadryl, Lipitor Tabs or Omeprazole can cause your mouth to become more dry. If you are a person using one of these medications, you might be affected by dry mouth which will in turn increase morning breath.

Another indicator of excessive morning breath is a person with gingivitis or periodontal disease.  These conditions indicate that food, plaque and bacteria has entered underneath the gums.  As saliva production reduces, this condition will intensify a persons morning breath.

How Do You Reduce Morning Breath?

There is not much that can be done to eliminate bad breath in the morning but it can be made better.  Brushing and flossing your teeth before bed is important for removing excess bacteria from your teeth. As we mentioned, bacteria flourishes in a dry environment.  Removing as much food particles and bacteria from your mouth before bed will help the problem.   The use of a tongue scraper at bedtime is also helpful as it too will eliminate bacteria from your tongue.  Drinking a glass of water at bedtime is also helpful.  Keeping your body hydrated is good for your health and well as your teeth.

Why Do I Need A Root Canal?

Most people have heard of a root canal.  The idea of needing a root canal tends to create unneeded fear for its recipients.  Most of a persons anxiety in relation to this procedure is caused by misinformation or a lack of knowledge of what to expect.  The question is,”what is it and why do you need it?”.

Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

Let’s start by explaining why a root canal is needed.  This procedure is needed when your tooth’s root becomes damaged either by injury or a deep cavity.  The pulp (soft tissue inside the tooth) has become inflamed or diseased.   At this point, a patient typically displays symptoms of pain and swelling.  If this situation is not addressed, the tooth can become irreparable.  However, that is not the only thing.  A  patient with an untreated infection, even in a tooth, will become more ill as time passes.

How Is A Root Canal Performed.

First of all, not all dentist will perform a root canal.  If your family dentist does not perform that procedure, he will recommend an Endodontis (which is a dentist that specializes in root canals). During a procedure, the troubling tooth is numbed.  An opening is made in the crown of the tooth where special tools are used to clean out the infected canals and root of the tooth.  Once that is complete, your tooth is filled with a permanent material to ensure that your tooth remains free of contamination and infection.  The final step fills the crown of your tooth with a temporary filling.  The temporary filling  will remain until a permanent filling or crown is used to replace it.

What Is The Alternative To A Root Canal?

The only alternative to a root canal is to pull the tooth.  As a dentist, I always recommend working to keep all your pearly whites as they are not replaceable.  It is a cheaper option but ultimately can cause you other dental issues as time moves on.  For example, teeth shifting, eating, bone loss.

What is Arestin?

If you need to go for a deep cleaning then chances are you have periodontal disease that needs to be treated.  A deep cleaning is usually the first stage to begin the process of removing the bacteria and particles from underneath your gums.  The bacteria and particles break down your gums by detaching them from your teeth.  You can take that one step further by adding Arestin to your deep cleaning process.  The Arestin will be applied to the infected areas after your treatment.  The Arestin will dissolve so no removal is required.

Arestin is an antibiotic that helps kill the bacteria under your gums.  It is tiny particles that are smaller than a grain of sand.  The microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline hydrochloride.  These microspheres release the antibiotic over a 90 day period.  This is turn kills the bacteria under your gums so your gums can heal better than without it.

After Arestin Treatment

After treatment, avoid chewing hard, crunchy or sticky foods for 7 days.  You should also not floss or use a dental pick in the treated areas for 10 days,  Drink plenty of water.

After the days have passed, it is important to maintain a good oral health routine.  This should include brushing twice a day as well as flossing.  If you have any questions, feel free to give the office of Glasscock Dental a call.

 

 

What Will Happen If I Don’t Treat My Periodontal Disease?

The prognosis for untreated Periodontal Disease does not have the best outcome. Periodontal Disease not only can affect your teeth and gums but research has found it can affect your overall health as well.  As for your teeth, the beginning stages can cause painful chewing, bleeding gums and bad breath.  Most people believe that if they don’t treat their Periodontal Disease, losing some teeth and having difficulty eating  steak or corn on the cob would be their worst problem. However, that is far from the truth of what this untreated bacterial infection can do to you.  As medicine continues to advance, scientist continue to find supporting evidence of the association between periodontal disease and systemic conditions.  These conditions reach far beyond your teeth and can affect your health in a negative way.

Conditions Such As:

• cardiovascular disease (heart attack/stroke)
• type 2 diabetes
• adverse pregnancy outcomes
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• pneumonia
• chronic kidney disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• cognitive impairment
• obesity
• metabolic syndrome
• cancer

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection under your gums.  As with most infections, if you don’t treat it, it will only get worse.  This infection works by breaking down your gums and detaching your gums from your teeth. Over time, once this infection has progressed and has gone untreated, tooth loss will be imminent.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

• Bad breath that won’t go away
• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Painful chewing
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Receding gums or longer appearing teeth

But there is good news! Periodontal Disease can be prevented and treated.  I know you have been told all through your life that good oral hygiene is important for healthy teeth and gums.  It is true!  Regular brushing and flossing can mitigate your chances of gum disease.  That however is only the first step.  Regular dental check-ups and dental cleanings are important for maintaining a healthy smile.

 

Why Do I Need a Deep Dental Cleaning?

Sometimes we avoid going to the dentist as often as we should.   You can make all kinds of excuses ( lack of time, fear of the dentist, unable to get time off from work ) but when all is said and done, lack of maintenance of your teeth can be a costly mistake not only for your health but your pocket as well.   The consequence for  avoiding those much needed dental visits and cleanings can leave you dealing with gum disease and cavities which could have been prevented.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Over time,  plaque builds up on your teeth.  The bacteria in plaque causes gums to become inflamed and easy to bleed if not removed.  As the plaque and bacteria on your teeth increases, pockets begin to form in areas where the gum has began to pull away from the tooth.  These pockets leave more room for plaque and bacteria to build increasing the damage to the gums and depth of the pocket.  As the damage to the gums increases, the onset of gum disease begins.

How to Correct Gum Disease Once It Has Began

To correct the problem and return your gums to a healthy state, a deep cleaning is needed.  To determined if a deep cleaning is needed,  your dentist or hygienist will probe your teeth and determine if you have periodontal pockets 4 millimeters or greater in your gums.  Only the areas with periodontal pockets 4 millimeters or greater will need a deep cleaning (scaling or root planing) to return your gums to a healthy state.

What is a Deep Cleaning ( Root Planning or Scaling)?

A deep cleaning is when your hygienist needs to remove bacteria, tartar and plaque from below your gum line.  A regular cleaning  requires removing plaque and tartar from above the gum line.  Since the deep cleaning (Root Planning or Scaling) is more invasive, this procedure is performed using a local anesthetic for numbing.  While having this procedure done, Glasscock Dental highly recommends using Arestin along with your deep cleaning treatment.  Arestin is an antibiotic to treat the bacteria under your gums.  The antibiotic will last under your gums for approximately 90 days which will help your gums heal better than without it.

Recovery From Your Deep Cleaning

As with any more invasive treatments, it isn’t unusual to experience some tenderness or discomfort.  Discomfort typically won’t last more than 24 hours and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Frequently Asked Dental Questions

We at Glasscock Dental,  are frequently asked a number of questions in relation to ones dental health.  We love answering all your questions!  Our goal is to give you as much information as possible to ensure you maintain a happy and healthy smile.  Below is a list of the top ten questions that we hope will  help you with your dental education. 🙂

Top Ten Questions

1. How safe are dental X-rays?

All x-rays produce radiation.  Fortunately, the dose of radiation you are exposed to during a dental  X-rays is extremely small.

2. What are dental sealants, who should get them, and how long do they last?

Sealants are a thin, plastic coating that is put on the chewing surfaces usually of the back teeth (the premolars, and molars) — to prevent tooth decay.  It provides a protective barrier over the tooth enamel. Sealants are typically applied to children’s teeth between  the ages of 6 to 14.

 3. When will drill-less dentistry become a reality?

It is already being done.  Air abrasion or micro-abrasion, is being offered by some dentists.  Air abrasion can be used to remove some tooth decay,  old composite restorations, preparation of tooth surface for bonding or sealants, and to remove some stains and discolorations.

4. What’s the latest word on the safety of amalgam-type fillings?

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the FDA say amalgams are safe.  They conquer that any link between mercury-based fillings and disease is unfounded.

5. How do whitening toothpastes work and how effective are they?

Whitening toothpastes can only help remove surface stains as they do not contain bleach.  To get significant whiter teeth, a professional teeth whitening is recommended.  Our office will give you the smile you are looking for.

6. I’m interested in changing the shape of my teeth. What options are available?

There are a number of options:

1. Bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth.
2. Crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” that are placed and cemented in place over teeth to the gum line.
3. Veneers  are thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials that are designed to cover and bond to the front surface of teeth.
4. Recontouring or reshaping of the teeth is a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change a tooth’s length, shape or surface.

 

7. I have a terrible fear of going to the dentist. What should I do?

The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with your dentist and dental staff.  The office of Glasscock Dental specializes is stress free dental.  If you experience dental fear, let us know.  We will put your mind at ease.

8. There are so many toothpastes to choose from; how do I know which one to use?

Each persons dental needs can be different.  After meeting with your dentist and/or hygienist, ask what particular needs your mouth requires.  Then choose a toothpaste that provides those needs.  (Example: Tartar Control)

 

9. I can’t afford regular dental care. Are there some resources available to me?

We at Glasscock Dental offer a number of payment options to try and make your dental procedures affordable.  If these are not an option for you, The American Dental Association’s website provides links to state dental associations local societies, and state dental schools. Ask your dentist or call your local social service organization for assistance in locating these types of services in your community.

 

10. I recently moved and need a new dentist. How can I find one?

Glasscock Dental has been nominated  as a Top Ten Dentist by Charlotte Magazine.  We would love to have you as a new patient.  Our goal is always to provide our patients with the highest level of dental care.

Why Americans Aren’t Going To The Dentist

Millions of people do not get the dental care they need according to a 2011 report from  the Institute of Medicine.  Even though dental care is important to ensure a persons overall health, there are many reasons why many people are skipping their regular visits to the dentist.

More than one-third of Americans in 2016 are facing  serious challenges in accessing dental care for reasons of lack of insurance, prohibitive cost, too few providers, mobility and transportation problems.  Unfortunately, regardless of the reasons, having prohibited access to dental care is a problem that needs to be solved.  We already know that your dental care is as important as seeing your medical doctor.  It doesn’t make sense in 2016 to see people dying from a tooth infection.

Over the past few years, there has been a number of cases of dental deaths in the news of people who have died from what started as a simple tooth infection. Most cases were do to prohibited cost or lack of insurance.

31 year old man dies from tooth infection.

24 year old father dies from tooth infection

12 year old Maryland boy dies from tooth infection

The office of David M. Glasscock believes that dental care needs to be accessible for all people. Our practice provides payment plan options to make your dental care treatments affordable.  By establishing regular dental visits and cleanings, you are less likely to need major restorative services in the future.

Give our office a call to find out how we can help you!

Phone: 704-510-1150

smile@glasscockdental.com

8430 Univ. Exec. Park Drive Suite 610, Charlotte, NC 28262