Aside from eating sweets too often causing decay, like ice cream, other pregnant women suffer from an unusual eating disorder called pica. With pica, you will have cravings for ice, freezer frost, or even soil! Pica can have adverse effects on an individual’s oral health during pregnancy and also can be hard to diagnose and treat during those nine crucial months.

Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which sufferers have a constant appetite for non-nutritious substances. Although the conditions’ association and cause during pregnancy are not known, some believe that depression or iron and zinc deficiencies during pregnancy could be a major factor. Nevertheless, pica can destroy the mother’s teeth since it can cause serious erosion of the tooth’s enamel, as well as sensitivity, thinning, and chipping.

While women often believe they should avoid dental care during pregnancy, and some dentist will wait until after the baby is born to treat cavities, it is very important for those suffering from eating disorders, like pica, to continue with their dental visits. Surprisingly, the family dentists are often the first to witness the physical effects of an eating disorder on an individual’s oral health.

Pregnancy is a time to make sure you take care of yourself, including your oral health. Consult with your family dentist for the best way to do this safely for you and your baby.

One of the goals is to treat cavities without the use of fillings that contain mercury. Many dentists are changing their viewpoints on mercury and practice alternatives to traditional root canals. There are also cases where in natural dentistry, the dentist treats secondary concerns, such as nutrition and other physical problems, which may be linked to dental problems.

The goal of many family dentists is to help patients become and stay healthy. As for cavity fillings, most dentists would agree that the amalgam fillings, commonly used to treat cavities in standard dentistry, can pose a health risk by exposing the body to mercury. To avoid any problems with mercury, these dentists fill cavities with composites made from resin.

Also a part of this type of dentistry is making the patient feel less like he or she is in a dental office. Keeping the patient comfortable and happy, with music or even video, soothes them and prepares them before/after treatment.

If you are looking for a Minnetonka dentistry, consider coming to our office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. Our office is comfortable and our staff is knowledgeable about modern dentistry. We treat patients of all ages too!

Facts On Wisdom Teeth

First, several factors need to be considered when evaluating wisdom teeth: The condition of the second molar, the presence of gum disease, the age of the patient and the risk of dental crowding are all things to consider. . .

Adults have 32 teeth in their mouth, which includes the second molars, located immediately in front of the wisdom teeth. When evaluating wisdom teeth, it is important to evaluate the health of the second molars to make sure they are not compromised by the position of the wisdom teeth.

Many people don’t realize that wisdom teeth can grow in a variety of positions: Sometimes they grow straight up like the rest of the teeth, but other times they will grow sideways or toward the second molars, causing some major space issues. All this needs to be looked at closely before the consideration of removal takes place.

Growing Older and Wisdom Teeth

More and more studies have shown that older adults have a higher risk of having a periodontal defect on the second molar when wisdom teeth are present. Also, the incidence of cavities on wisdom teeth also increases with age. As far as complications after surgery, the risks of post-op complications and recovery time both increase with age, especially in patients 25 years of age and older.

On the other hand, early removal of wisdom teeth, basically when the roots are hardly there, has been shown to result in very predictable and successful outcomes, with hardly any gum pockets, dry sockets, nerve injury or infections developing post-operations. It seems to the case that early removal of wisdom teeth is much better for the patient.

Talk with the dentist and staff at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa if you think your wisdom teeth are erupting. We can give you an idea what to expect. Visit us online!

When people avoid going to the dentist, their oral health tends to suffer. Not surprisingly, toothaches are the biggest reason a person visits the dentist, but unfortunately they come in too late – when bigger problems already are settled in. The main theme is that avoiding the dentist for a simple teeth cleaning, which takes less than an hour without pain, resulted in something bad and painful such as a root canal.

Keeping healthy oral habits is far more than just having pretty teeth, although you can have both. Gum disease can often lead to other diseases that can infect your entire body. One thing people forget is that poor dental hygiene can cause you to lose the use of your teeth therefore leaving you unable to have the foods you love. This may be a big enough reason to take care of your teeth!

There are many reasons why you should visit the dentist from getting your teeth cleaned, having a cavity filled, getting veneers, getting teeth whitened and cosmetic dentistry. These are all great reasons to see a dentist, although in the end, the best reason to go to a dentist regularly is so that you don’t have to go because of bad oral care. Cleanings are so much easier than getting a cavity filled.

Visit a dentist that offers an environment that is warm and inviting. . . and fun! Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa is a Minnetonka family dentistry that has an office with the comforts of home – including a refreshment area and video games! Check our office out online, where you can also make a dental appointment.

Here are some trivia for your weekend!

Did you know that. . .

• George Washington had several dentures made of hippopotamus, cow, walrus teeth and elephant’s tusks!
• A $250,000 mechanical mouth developed by dental researchers can duplicate a year’s worth of chewing in 24 hours and take four bites per second!
• Tooth decay remains the most prevalent disease in the United States – the cold is the first.
• Athletic mouth guards have been credited with preventing many sports injuries each year. The total number of orthodontic patients has doubled since the 1970s.
• Cheese is good for your teeth! Certain cheeses, including aged cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack, have been found to prevent tooth decay.
• In the past, dentures were common wedding gifts in the British Isles because many people expected to eventually lose all their teeth and hurried the process along by having them extracted at an early age.
• Chinese medical books have indicated potential value in the prevention and treatment of tooth decay and gum disease with herbs – about 60 of them. These herbs may be added to toothpaste and mouthwashes in this country in the future.
• American’s best-known author of western novels, Zane Gray, was a dentist before becoming a writer.
• As crazy as it may be, there is a name for the soreness that results when you burn your mouth on melted mozzarella- it’s called “pizza palate”.
• Americans spent $322 billion on health care in 1982, and of that amount, dental care expenditures totaled $19.5 billion- only 6 percent of the nation’s total health care bill.

If you are looking for a family dentist, consider coming to our dental office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. You can even make an appointment online.

Not many people realize that the five-year survival rate for those with localized disease at diagnosis is around 80 percent compared with just about 30 percent for those whose cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. With oral cancer, early detection and treatment is possible.

To detect oral cancer, there are clear warning signs including:

• Lesions. There are distinct lesions in the mouth that could be precursors to cancer, and they are red and white in color. Any white or red lesion that does not resolve itself in two weeks should be evaluated by a dentist and perhaps considered for biopsy.
• Problems in the mouth. Lumps or thickening in the soft tissues, soreness or a feeling that something is caught in the throat, difficulty chewing or moving the jaw and numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth could all be signs. If these problems persist for more than two weeks, you should seek the advice of a family dentist who may refer you to a specialist if he or she thinks these are signs of cancer.

Here are oral cancer risk factors:

• Tobacco and excessive alcohol use increases the risk of oral cancer. If you use tobacco and alcohol, you have a higher chance of oral cancer than someone who doesn’t use the substances.
• Exposure to sunlight. You care at a higher risk for lip cancer if you are in the sun a lot.
• Age. Incidence of oral cancer rises steadily with age, reaching a peak in persons aged 65-74. This is because they have been connected to risk factors for a longer time period.

If you would like to get an oral cancer screening, visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth family dentistry that offers restorative and preventative care plus offer oral cancer screening. You can even make an appointment online.

Many people are surprised to find out that the TMJ joint is the only joint in the body that acts as a two-sided hinge, which means that any stress or misalignment will cause problems on the other side. This dental health problem can be extremely painful.

TMJ dysfunction or TMD occur because of its association with the tri-geminal nerve. This nerve is associated with the chewing function of the upper and lower jaw, and with the eyes and ears. The pain associated with TMD is a chronic, dull, pain and pressure – both types sends pain straight to the spine.

Other painful effects of TMJ dysfunction include headaches, eye pain, sinus pressure, dental pain and even neck and shoulder pain. Many people with TMJ Dysfunction complain about facial pain too.

If you have TMJ Dysfunction you may experience some of these symptoms:

• Excessive wear on teeth caused by stress of bruxism and grinding.
• Clicking & popping of the TMJ joint caused by lack of cartilage at the rear hinge point.
• Grinding sounds caused by irregular bone surface at rear hinge point.
• Headaches and migraine headaches.
• Dizziness caused by lack of blood flow to brain when blood vessels are obstructed.
• Severe pain in the mouth, jaw, neck, ear and teeth as well as all over the head caused by pinching of nerves due to extreme misalignment of TMJ.
• Ringing in the ears caused by pressure on the ear canal.

It is possible to have TMJ dysfunction for a long period of time without actually realizing it. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with a family dentist, such as Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. As a Plymouth family dentistry that focus on preventative and restorative dentistry, we can evaluate your condition and find a solution for your right away.

You notice an increase in your tooth sensitivity. You will wince with heat and cold on your teeth.

• Check for receding gums. Improper brushing or gum disease can erode enamel – this will cause the gums to recede. If you see V-shaped notches near the gum line – this can indicate abrasion of the enamel due to excessive brushing. Some people do not know that overuse of a toothpick can cause notches of eroded enamel between the teeth.
• One thing to look for is chipped fractured teeth that may cause the dentin to be immediately exposed. Also, chronic teeth clenching or teeth grinding can cause the grinding surface of the molars to become flat.
• You may want to review your eating habits for sugar consumption. Exposure of the teeth to sugar can produce an acid that erode the enamel — a common cause of enamel loss.

Get a dental exam if loss of tooth enamel is expected. A family dentist can easily detect soft spots in the enamel by an exam. A simple X-ray can confirm the loss of enamel.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We can detect problems with your enamel as well as give you options for cosmetic dentistry. We are a Minnetonka family dentistry that also specialized in teeth whitening as well as restorative dentistry. Give us a call for a consultation.

The reason behind this is that teeth are never “locked” into a certain position. However, the best chance of having teeth that stay perfectly still is to have them well aligned. This can happen in a couple of ways: By being born with them that way or by having them properly straightened by an orthodontist. The truth is unless retainers are worn all the time, including those born with a perfect bite; everyone is prone to teeth shifting.

Although there are many factors that relate to the alignment of the teeth, you need to consider how they line up in the space between the tongue and the cheeks. Over time, the balance between the forces of the tongue and the forces of the cheeks and lips tends to change, just as the rest of our muscles and skin change with age. In many, that leads to crowding or spacing of the front teeth.

Front tooth crowding is not ideal, it is relatively common, and is therefore somewhat “normal.” But left unchecked, this crowding will continue and can lead to some pretty serious bite, tooth and gum problems. Most family dentists can see this coming and recommend treatments such as monitoring the teeth to make sure they don’t progress to the point of harm. Sometimes patients may have to get realignment the teeth or maybe braces such as Invisilign.

Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa can help you get you teeth in perfect condition — straight and white.

With CEREC, you don’t have to wait for the crown to arrive from a lab, and you don’t have to visit our office for a second appointment. It’s fast and convenient. CEREC also eliminates the need for messy impressions and temporary crowns. This state-of-the-art technology is backed by decades of research and delivers results that are highly esthetic, durable, and long-lasting. Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa, a Minnetonka cosmetic dentistry, is pleased to offer this comfort- and convenience-enhancing technology to patients.
But what are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are most often made of gold or porcelain, although they can also be made of stainless steel. Stainless steel crowns are typically used for primary teeth in children, because they’re temporary and not designed for long-term wear.

Yes, gold crowns are still worn and are biocompatible – they will not fracture. They’re generally reserved for teeth that don’t show when you smile. Porcelain crowns are often built on a metal base to provide additional strength and support for back teeth. All-porcelain crowns, which contain no metal, provide an excellent solution to restore front teeth and maintain a natural-looking smile.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental. Our dentist, Dr. Jason McDowell, and staff are committed to helping you find best and most natural option for your teeth. We will direct you in the right direction!