Top Dental Symptoms: Cracked or Broken Teeth

A cracked or broken tooth can happen for a variety of reasons- brittle teeth, teeth grinding, injury. The crack may be invisible to the naked eye and even X-ray, but they can be incredibly painful and create bigger problems if left untreated. If you experience pain when chewing see your dentist. They can diagnose the cause and develop a plan for treatment.

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

Saliva Shortage? Pay Extra Attention to Plaque Removal

Saliva has an important job to do in your mouth. For starters, it helps to remove food particles. But it also helps prevent tooth decay and infection by washing away plaque and keeping disease-causing bacteria from building up on your teeth and gums. But saliva can’t do all that work by itself. So it’s important to remove plaque yourself by practicing good oral hygiene, which means proper flossing each day, and twice-daily tooth brushing.

Most of us don’t think about the moisture in our mouths until our mouths become dry. A variety of conditions can cause dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, including the following:

• Cancer treatments. If you have any type of cancer of the head or neck and you receive radiation therapy, dry mouth is a common side effect because the radiation damages the salivary glands in addition to destroying the cancer. Some medications used to treat cancer in any part of the body can also cause dry mouth.
• Prescription medications. Hundreds of common medications, including many antidepressants and medications for high blood pressure, can contribute to a dry mouth. If you take medications that seem to make your mouth feel dry, be especially vigilant about tooth brushing and proper flossing.
• Nerve damage. Some types of injuries to the head or neck can damage the specific nerves that tell the salivary glands to produce saliva.
• Chronic illness. Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s disease are among the diseases that can contribute to a chronic dry mouth.
• Drug use. Methamphetamines have been associated with dry mouth.

To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com

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

Receding Gums

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about receding gums.

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

General Dentistry

Your Children’s Dentist is a Part of Their Good Health

Your teeth and gums are part of your body, and good dental health plays an important role in staying healthy overall. Children’s teeth are more vulnerable to cavities during their formative years, so we teach them how to brush and floss properly and encourage them to continue with good daily dental hygiene. We also ask parents to make sure they do so each day, so these habits build a lifetime of good teeth and better health.

Children tend to eat throughout the day, which exposes their teeth to acid more frequently. Every time food is eaten, acids are produced in the mouth to start the digestive process. However, if teeth are not cleaned properly, cavities will start. The more frequent contact with acids will increase the number and rate at which cavities develop.

This is why good daily dental hygiene is important. We also encourage better, more nutritional food choices to lessen the chances of cavities developing. One very important treatment for children and adolescents is the application of a mineralizing sealant, which will give added protection against the onset of cavities.

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

Scaling And Root Planing: Professional Plaque Removal

Perhaps you’ve been neglecting a good oral health routine. Or, you’ve done your best, but you’ve developed plaque and tartar buildup. A regular routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing is an important part of regular plaque removal for everyone. But if you have risk factors that have caused a buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums to harden into tartar, your dentist or dental hygienist may suggest scaling or root planing your teeth to remove the buildup. If left untreated, severe tartar buildup along and under the gum line can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, which may increase the risk of gum disease.

Scaling and root planing are common nonsurgical techniques that may prevent the need for more serious procedures, such as periodontal surgery or a root canal.

Here’s what to expect if your dentist or dental hygienist recommends these techniques:

• You won’t feel it. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area.
• Scaling: Your dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the areas both above and below the gum line.
• Root Planing: Your dentist or dental hygienist uses special tools to smooth rough spots on the tooth roots. This process not only removes bacteria and helps reduce plaque buildup, but it provides a smooth surface for gums to reattach to the teeth.

After a scaling and root planing procedure, be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions and maintain an oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. If your gums are sensitive after the procedure, try a spongy floss, such as Oral-BÆ Ultra FlossÆ, to help prevent painful flossing.

The above article is from: OralB.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 Plaque

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about dental plaque.

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

Clear Dental Braces

The Easy Approach to Orthodontics 
You will be pleased to know Dr. Kava offers his patients clear aligners that will straighten your teeth in only 9 – 15 months. They can adjust widely gapped teeth, overcrowding, overbite, underbite, or crossbite. 

With 3-D computerized imaging, a complete treatment plan is created from the current position of your teeth to your new smile. Clear thermoplastic aligners are made to fit exactly over your teeth. Approximately every two weeks you advance to the next set of aligners, as they gently reposition your teeth. Evaluation in our office is only every one to two months. Treatment time depends on your personal goals.

Remain Confident During Active Treatment
There are very good reasons to choose clear aligners to correct dental problems. They are nearly invisible, and only detectable when someone looks at your teeth extremely close up. This lets you keep your confidence during treatment. 

Aligners are completely comfortable. There are no adjustments to be made to metal wires and no mouth irritation. Headgear is completely eliminated, and you will spend much less time at the dentist’s office. 

The best part is that you can eat and drink whatever you like. You wear the aligners all day and during sleep, but you can remove them to eat and clean your teeth properly. You will have a nice, clean look to your teeth when treatment is completed.

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