White Spot Lesions

Have you ever noticed glazed, unusually white patches developing on your teeth? They may be the first sign of decay. At Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we want our patients to be aware of when their body is signaling that it needs more help fighting incipient dental lesions, also known as white spots.

Acid is a by-product of bacteria eating food debris. It gets stuck in plaque, the sticky film covering teeth. As enamel is exposed to acid, it begins losing minerals. This causes it to look discolored and chalky in texture, as can also be seen in people with acid reflux. But while acid reflux mainly appears on the upper back teeth, erosion from decay can usually be found in places that are hard to brush, such as near the gum line and around orthodontic brackets.

White spots develop in as little as a month, but patients can halt their progress by improving their brushing. Teeth cannot regrow lost enamel mass, but they can remineralize. If a white spot does not disappear after the infection has been killed, we can discuss options such as masking it with a veneer.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Filling Replacement

Replacing old fillings is a standard part of maintaining oral health, and at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we’re particularly interested in biocompatible dentistry. To spare our patients discomfort, we want them to be able to recognize when a filling needs to be replaced.

Fillings replace parts of the enamel that have been drilled away. While patients are numbed during the drilling, it is normal for them to feel tender for a few days afterward. But if the patient has difficulty closing their teeth together or the filling appears to be leaking, it needs to be reshaped as soon as possible.

The bonding that is used to cement fillings in place lasts for about ten years. After that, it cracks, providing bacteria with a place to feed and cause more decay. Patients should have old fillings replaced before this happens, but we also urge patients to get fillings replaced sooner if they are made of amalgam. This material contains mercury, and besides being unattractive, it is also unhealthy. Our office is equipped to remove mercury safely and replace it with white-colored resin. The process of replacing a filling also provides dentists with an opportunity to see whether the enamel covered by the filling has cracked.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Sjogren's Syndrome

People with conditions that affect their oral health will be treated with understanding at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg. As a holistic practice, we pay close attention to how the mouth relates to the rest of the body. Sjögren’s Syndrome is one disorder which has repercussions for which patients will depend on an informed dentist’s help to manage.

Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that usually occurs in older women. It describes what happens when the immune system attacks the tear and saliva glands, along with the joints and skin. Besides being painful, it prevents the body from producing enough saliva, resulting in dry mouth. Without saliva, patients will also have more difficulty removing food debris from their mouths, increasing their risk of dental or gum infection.

It is unknown what causes Sjögren’s Syndrome. However, it is possible to manage dry mouth. Patients are advised to chew sugar-free gum and to use throat moisturizers. Diagnosing Sjögren’s Syndrome will require a sampling of the patient’s saliva glands. If the tests come back positive, we may be able to help patients obtain stronger medications for stimulating saliva production.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

At the holistic practice of Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we encourage our patients to develop the oral hygiene routine that meets their unique needs. In the face of the wide variety of products on the market today, we want to help our patients to make one of their biggest choices: whether to use an electric toothbrush.

An electric toothbrush is not cheap. Moreover, studies have shown that electric toothbrushes are not better than correct use of manual toothbrushes for preventing tooth decay and gingivitis. But correct use of a manual toothbrush requires it to be used for two full minutes per session and on every tooth surface. Some people have a lot of trouble doing this.

An electric toothbrush is obviously a less stressful option for people with motor neuron disorders or who otherwise have difficulty using their hands. Many electric toothbrushes also come with apps that inform the patient of which tooth surfaces they’re skipping over and whether they’re brushing too hard or for long enough. Some are also compatible with mobile device games for children that reward them for improving their brushing. Ultimately, it comes down to whether the price of the electric option is less than whatever cost a particular patient is likely to incur if they continue to be unable to use a manual toothbrush.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

How to Care for Dentures

We provide patients with comfortable, safe prosthetic teeth at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg. Our philosophy of personalized care ensures each patient’s dentures will be a good fit and will be supported as needed. But in order to prevent infection and further oral problems, patients need to understand how caring for dentures differs from normal oral hygiene.

Dentures need to be kept wet. When the patient removes them at night, the dentures should be placed in room temperature water. While there is nothing wrong with using a dissolvable product to clean them, the dentures should still be brushed each morning and night. This should be done by scrubbing them all over with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If patients have some remaining natural teeth, they may use separate toothbrushes, because dentures cannot be cleaned with ordinary toothpaste. Minerals in toothpaste which are beneficial to enamel can scratch plastic dentures. Patients should also brush their gums in the morning in order to restore blood flow and to clean in between any abutments of mini-implants they may have.

It is important to not put a denture in hot water, or else the plastic may bend and warp. If a denture does become misshapen, it should be only be repaired by professionals.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Inlays and Onlays

At Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we try to preserve as much of our patients’ natural teeth as possible. When teeth are badly decayed, it may be necessary to drill away and replace infected material. But instead of replacing an entire crown, we may be able to provide a partial crown, such as an inlay or onlay.

The molars and premolars have raised bits, called cusps, and indentations between them. Although sealants can flatten out indentations somewhat, it is still easy for people to skip over them while brushing. If the decay is not very severe but requires more than a filling, an inlay can be nestled in between cusps. If one or more cusps are broken or decayed, an onlay can be used to replace them as well.

After the decay has been removed, an impression will be made of the patient’s mouth. From this, the partial crown can be designed and milled. When it is ready, the patient will return to the dentist’s office, and the partial crown will be cemented in. This will restore their bite function and the aesthetics of their smile.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Preventing Dry Sockets

When a tooth extraction becomes necessary, we at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg do everything within our power to make it go as quickly and painlessly as possible. There is one major issue which we need the patient’s cooperation to prevent, and that’s a dry socket.

Teeth extractions are typically done by wiggling a tooth while pushing it upwards or pulling it, although incisions into the gum are sometimes necessary for complex cases. After the tooth is out, there will be an empty socket left behind with a bit of blood in it. The socket is vulnerable to infection, particularly if it dries out, but the blood will form a scab, sealing it off. We want to prevent the clot from being dislodged until the socket closes, which in simple cases, takes about a week.

Patients undergoing extractions are warned not to sip from a straw following the procedure, or else the suction may dislodge the clot. They should also avoid smoking, eating sticky foods, or brushing too hard near the extraction site. If the patient is in pain more than two days after the extraction, they should request an emergency appointment. We can provide medication to heal a dry socket and monitor its progress more closely.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

As part of our holistic practice at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we want our patients to know how to protect themselves from oral cancer. Each April is designated by a number of dental and cancer groups as Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so this seemed like a good time to talk about this disease’s causes and how to detect it.

About 60% of people diagnosed with oral cancer survive for more than five years, but this low number is partly due to cancer often not being detected until it has reached an advanced stage. Cancer in the oral cavity is usually caused by smoking, tobacco use, or heavy use of alcohol. Further back in the mouth, in a region called the oropharynx, it can be caused by a strain of HPV. Some of the warning signs patients should be on the look-out for are red or white discoloration, persistent pain, irritation, numbness, and difficulty swallowing.

Scans of the oral cavity are done with a special light which can detect suspicious growths beneath the tissue surface. If something suspicious is found, a sample of tissue, called a biopsy, will be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Acid Reflux and Teeth

Evans Dental Care is a holistic dental practice, meaning we emphasize the connection between oral health and overall health. One of the most obvious ways in which the teeth are impacted by problems elsewhere in the body is the effect of acid reflux, which erodes enamel.

A person is said to have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if they experience heartburn twice or more per week. Heartburn doesn’t actually have anything to do with the heart; it’s caused by the sphincter separating the stomach from the esophagus opening and allowing stomach acid to escape. The acid burns as it travels upward (which also puts patients at risk for esophageal cancer) and harms the teeth when it reaches the mouth. Due to their position, the upper molars are the first to be affected. Acid reflux can be identified as the problem by how the teeth take on a glazed appearance before becoming pitted.

Mineralization therapies can help to prevent erosion and matter that has already been lost can be replaced with partial crowns. But to prevent GERD, patients should reduce their intake of caffeine and alcohol, as well as fried meats, citrus juice, and onions and garlic. They should also avoid eating large meals before lying down.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.

 

Types of Teeth

As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Peter Evans is proficient in a vast array of dental and oral health procedures. But in order for patients to understand the options available to them, they first have to understand the different functions their teeth serve and what kinds of problems each is most likely to encounter.

Adults usually grow four incisors, two cuspids, four premolars, and six molars in each jaw, totaling up to thirty-two teeth. The incisors are the flat teeth and the front of the mouth that are used for tearing pieces of food. They are the most important teeth for speech function and are the most common location for caries in babies. The cuspids are also called canines and eyeteeth. They are for piercing and stabilize the overall arch of the teeth, but the upper ones often have difficulty erupting.

The molars and premolars have horizontal area and multiple cusps. Their large roots and ligaments allow them to tolerate the pressure of chewing. Lower molars usually have two roots, upper molars often have three. The molars furthest in back are the wisdom teeth. They are the largest teeth and commonly have difficulty erupting as well, but they are more often removed than corrected.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.