Emergency Dentistry

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Emergency Dentistry!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Dental Assistant

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by your Dental Assistant!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Dentists Are the First Line of Defense for Elder Abuse

With the American population living longer, seniors' oral health has become an important issue, as has the widespread problem of elder abuse. Every year more than 2.5 million older Americans may be victims of elder abuse, and in some cases dentists serve as the first line of defense, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

To read the entire article, visit: KnowYourTeeth.com

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Dental Root Canal Therapy

Teeth with Root Problems Can Be Saved

If a tooth had infected or damaged roots in the past, it was always extracted. However, it has been shown that a missing tooth can eventually cause other problems. Root canal therapy will save a tooth, and today’s advancements in this procedure make it easy and no longer something to be dreaded.

The procedure centers on removing the interior pulp chamber of the tooth. A specific type of filling material is then packed into the tooth to replace the pulp. Occasionally, a crown is placed over the restored tooth for added strength.

With this procedure, Dr. Kava has successfully saved and restored teeth to full functionality for many patients. The latest anesthetics and procedures make it effortless, with little to no pain. 

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Top Dental Symptoms: Toothache

If your mouth or jaw hurt, it could be from a toothache. Toothaches usually indicate a cavity but they can also signal gum disease. In some cases, a toothache is a sign of an abscess or impacted tooth. A toothache should be evaluated by a dentist right away to determine the cause of the problem and prevent the tooth from dying.

Above article from:  MouthHealthy.org

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Laser Dentistry

You May Not Need Gum Surgery

Perhaps you have been told gum surgery is your only option. But there is an alternative that is easier and as effective as surgery. Dr. Kava uses laser technology that is minimally invasive and produces positive results. He has treated many cases of gum infection with a laser, eliminating the pain that often results from surgery. The laser is FDA approved and safe. It also helps to regenerate bone loss in the dental arches that often occurs due to chronic gum disease. 

A teacher as well as a student, Dr. Kava has lectured at the Western District of Nebraska State Dental Association and trained other dentists in soft tissue laser treatment in several venues, including the American Dental Association annual meeting. He is a contributing author to the Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry by Robert Convissar.

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Dental Tooth Extractions

In-House Tooth Extractions
If a tooth or third molar is extensively damaged, infected, or impacted, extraction is the solution to the problem. We do most extractions in our office, so you will not be inconvenienced with a referral to another office. Our compassionate manner will make you feel comfortable in our care for this treatment.
 
Third Molar Extractions
Third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, develop later than other adult teeth, usually between 17 and 25. These teeth are located at the very back of the mouth, often causing impaction if they don’t fit in the arch of the upper or lower jaw. Impaction does not allow the tooth to grow straight up; instead, it becomes enclosed in the jaw bone. This can create a range of problems, as they push and crowd other teeth, making them grow in improperly. Cavities easily develop as they are difficult to keep clean. Infection can even occur in the jaw bone.

The best solution is to have them removed as soon as they develop, before these problems and the density of the jaw bone increases, making it more difficult to extract them.

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Your Mouth Is Not a Bottle Opener!

Your mother was right: Never open bottles, packages, or other containers with your teeth. You might permanently chip or crack the enamel.

Gnawing on anything else -- like pens or fingernails -- or chomping down on seeds, popcorn kernels, or ice could have the same result.

Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Dental Treatments

Full Mouth Rehabilitation
If you have been diagnosed with bite problems, bruxism, TMJ, periodontal problems, or misshapen, crooked, or missing teeth, you don’t have to live like that any longer. Dr. Kava will thoroughly discuss your symptoms, concerns, and goals. He will make his assessment after reviewing digital X-rays, imprints, and photos of your mouth, and present all options for treatment so you will achieve your best smile and relief from symptoms and pain. 

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com

Treatment Options for Tooth Sensitivity

The best way to find out why a tooth is sensitive is to have dental professional examine you. They can look for the signs of dentin exposure, and run tests to determine what the true cause of the sensitivity is. Sometimes, the sensitivity is due to a cavity or gum disease - these can be treated to address the sensitivity. Other times, the cause of the sensitivity is because the enamel has been lost through abrasion or erosion, or the gums have receded, causing the roots to be exposed.

What Can Be Done?
If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.

However, if the cause is from dentin being exposed, then there are a number of professional and at home treatments that can be used to reduce the sensitivity.

In Office Procedures:

• Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin
• Fluoride foam or gel can be placed into a mouth tray; you then sit with this in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas
• Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity

At Home:

• Use a very soft bristle tooth brush, with low abrasive tooth paste
• Brush correctly and do not over brush
• Use a tooth paste specially formulated to soothe the nerve endings in the tooth
• Use a high concentration fluoride toothpaste (given to you by the dental professional) to strengthen the tooth surface

There are a number of treatments available, and your dental professional can help you find those that will work best, depending on your situation. Always seek a dental professional's help - do not try to diagnose this problem yourself. It may be the sign of something more serious, and only a dental professional can tell you what it really is.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com

Dr. Rick Kava's Sioux City Dental 
2930 Hamilton Blvd., Upper F Suite 101 
Sioux City, IA 51104 
(712) 258-6169 
DrKava.com