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What Dr. Kulkarni has to say on Electronic Toothbrush?

He says, one of the most popular questions I am asked by patients is: Should I invest in an electronic toothbrush?? It will usually be followed up with: Is it worth it? At simple glance it is a simple yes or no question, but let’s take a deeper look at the toothbrush, our simple but highly important tool of oral hygiene.

When we normally think of “toothbrush” we think of the manual brush, which was invented in the late 1930’s. However, early forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since 3000 BC. The manual toothbrush truly is standing the test of time, yet in 1954, the technology boom taking place did not leave out the humble toothbrush. The electronic toothbrush was invented and started this century old debate on which is better for oral hygiene. The question is valid, which would be better? Most may just jump to think the technological advancement of the toothbrush means it is more effective and efficient than its simple manual counterpart. However, each tool holds it own, and has pros and cons that should be considered.

Manual Toothbrush

Pros:

• Thoroughly cleans teeth with proper brushing techniques. Brushing only takes 2 minutes and you can keep your teeth properly maintained with a manual toothbrush.
• Manual toothbrushes offer a variety of toothbrush styles, bristles, heads and colors to choose from. The variety offered by manual brushes, allow you to completely customize the type of brush you need. If you have a small mouth you can get a manual brush that fits the size of your mouth. Some brands even make special prints and designs to cater to children. Nevertheless, there are far more options with manual toothbrushes.
• Travel friendly! Manual toothbrushes are simple and travel well. No need to worry about chargers,and counter space. It carries a grab and go convenience.
• No batteries or charging.
• Manual toothbrushes are free when you visit your dentist, and significantly cheaper to purchase than electronic brushes.

Cons:

• Alot more work during the act of teeth brushing.
• No timing assistance. Some electric brushes have timers, manuel brushes force the user to either guess or use a timer to achieve proper brushing.

Electric Toothbrush

Pros:

• Easy to use, once it is in your mouth and at a 45 degree angle, the brush does all the work. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning your mouth and removing plaque and gingivitis vs a manual toothbrush.
• Children enjoy it more. Children love the ease of brushing their teeth with an electric brush, and it will clean their teeth better than they are able to as a child. Bonus! They have fun getting their mouth tickled by the brushes vibration.
• Optional built in timer. Some models of electric brushes offer built in timers. Some will notify you when two minutes has passed, some even split the two minutes and ensure equal cleaning time for each quadrant!

Cons:

• Power source, be prepared to ensure you charge your toothbrush. Some are able to be plugged into the wall and charge, others require batteries. Either way you have to remember to ensure your brush is charged.
• Electric toothbrushes are an investment. They cost significantly more than a manual toothbrush. They also will cost more throughout the time you own it. Buying new brush heads and for some models batteries, the cost can quickly add up.
• Traveling with an electric toothbrush can be a hassle. When traveling you have to make sure you have your charger or batteries with you. Which can be a hassle since people tend to forget to pack a toothbrush when packing.
• Electric toothbrushes are delicate pieces of equipment. Even a slight drop can cause the complete breakdown of your toothbrush.

So, which one is better?

In general both are effective to maintain proper oral hygiene, however, the better question is: Which one would be right for you? Invest in whichever will fit your personal lifestyle. Whether you choose an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush, remember that what’s most important is daily brushing and flossing, along with route visits to your dentist.

For a majority of Americans, teeth cleanings are considered to be a chore, and one that is easy to skip out on if the mood strikes you. While it may be easy to ignore the importance of a dental cleaning, don’t make the mistake of doing so yourself; cleanings and examinations can reveal a great deal about your physical health.

• Prevent tooth loss and dental caries. Throughout your life, a substance called plaque can build on your teeth, which can eat away at the protective cover of teeth. Plaque is acidic, and when combined with the acidic foods that many of us eat and drink every day, it can cause serious problems. With a dental cleaning, you’ll be able to clear away plaque build up, as well as get an early detection for any cavities that could be present on your teeth. Aside from cavities, cleanings can detect issues of gum disease, loose teeth, or teeth that have been otherwise damaged due to physical injury. Early detection of those can mean saving those teeth from needing to be removed.
• Combat tooth discoloration. Another problem that comes with every day life is tooth discoloration. From coffee, to cigarettes, to dark foods that may contain certain dyes, and more, there are a lot of different elements in the environment which can darken and stain your teeth. The best way to deal with them is to avoid them entirely, but that isn’t very realistic; there are more coffee drinkers in the world than there are those who abstain. The second best way to handle discoloration of your teeth is to get regular cleanings from a dentist that you can trust.
• Detect problems early. Oral health is actually a key indicator in your overall physical health, which shouldn’t be a surprise. So, many of the body’s systems are routed through the mouth in some form or fashion, and it is also one of the regions of the body which come into the most frequent contact with bacteria. Nervous conditions, circulatory issues, and infection can all be detected through the general health of your mouth. From the tongue, to your gums, to the condition of your teeth, your dentist could pick up on signs and symptoms that your regular doctor might miss.

Clean Your Teeth the Right Way

Of course, the type of teeth cleaning KKDental patients can benefit most from will come from a dental office that has the experience and professionalism to do a thorough, and friendly, job. All three dental offices are available for new examinations, consultations, and cleanings for patients who may need the services of a dentist that takes the extras step for their patients.

Last, but not least, dental cleanings can help you to save money. When problems with your teeth are detected early, they can be treated with procedures and solutions that are less expensive, less painful, and more effective in the long term.

First, don’t panic. Stress and anxiety can actually make things worse in terms of physical pain and response time. Try to stay as calm as possible in your every Dental Emergencies, and consider your current situation:

• Severe pain, inflammation: You most likely have an infection in the vital pulp of your teeth, which indeed would require emergency care. The typical course of action would be to prescribe antibiotics in these situations, but it’s also possible for the dentist to relieve any build up or pressure in a safe and controlled environment.
• Swelling in the jaw, neck, or cheek. Never ignore these symptoms. This is often when an infection is getting to a serious concern. You will also likely get antibiotics to combat the infection, but there could be solutions to provide temporary relief as well. Remember that the swelling and inflammation of an infection are what’s keeping your body safe from the infection’s spread. Don’t try to just reduce the inflammation or swelling without curing the underlying problem.
• Broken teeth. Teeth can break through a number of different circumstances and actions. Try to preserve any tooth that’s been knocked out. See us at KK Dental Center if you’ve lost a filling, don’t bother trying to place it back in yourself.
• Damaged dental work. This may or may not be an emergency depending on the situation, but if you’re looking at damage to a crown or bridge, it likely is something that you will want emergency care for. Dental implants in particular should be examined by the dentist.

Emergency care can be a very effective way to stop a painful situation from getting far worse. In every Dental Emergencies cases where patients don’t seek dental care, there’s always a risk of further infection, which could lead to health complications. There have been stories of people suffering with dental abscesses that end up requiring serious medical treatment at the hospital, all because they didn’t get seen soon enough.

Contact us at KK Dental Center if you’ve got an emergency situation, or even if you believe it could be an emergency but aren’t sure. We’ll advise you from there.

Root canals get a bad rap; they’re often one of the most effective ways to end serious dental pain that you could be experiencing in your teeth. While commonly cited as a reason to avoid the dentist, they are in fact one of the most pressing reasons to seek emergency dental care. Without a root canal, at best you could be looking at an extended and painful infection. At worst, you could be putting your health at risk.

Here are a few of the signs and symptoms where a root canal may be needed:

When you’re in serious pain, you might be in need of a root canal. Pain and inflammation are part of your body’s natural immune response to an infection. They aren’t just there to cause you trouble; your body is fighting back against a far more serious, and sometimes even fatal, problem. Serious pain is a general sign that a root canal is going to be necessary, but that’s not always the case.

• Flu-like symptoms are another sign that you may be in need of a root canal. Dentists can check your lymph nodes to determine whether or not your dental concerns are rooted in an infection that a root canal may be able to correct. You could be prescribed with antibiotics before any procedure can be performed, however.
• Visual damage to the tooth may also mean that a root canal is necessary. Small cracks or fissures can sometimes be corrected with fillings, inlays, and other solutions, but if a tooth becomes seriously cracked, or even has a piece missing, then it may be time for a root canal.

In these situations, emergency care may be your best option, but so is visiting a dental professional that has experience and training in oral surgery techniques and dental diagnosis. The professionals at KK Dental Center can provide you with a thorough and accurate examination, even for emergency treatment, so that you can find out fast if a root canal is going to be the best course of action.

Whenever people think about going to the dentist and having an unpleasant experience, the go-to subject is a root canal process. The two words that every patient dreads to hear when they’re talking to their dentist about treatment options is one of the common sources of anxiety, and humor, as far as dentistry is concerned. It’s also something of an outdated stereotype about dentistry.

There have been some incredible leaps in dental treatment on all ends, from technique, to medications used, to technology for procedures, that have all resulted in treatments that have a faster recovery time, a reduced amount of pain and discomfort, and an overall better experience for patients who may need to have a root canal performed. Here are some of the ways in which root canal process have improved:

Better imaging and examination procedures. Accuracy is definitely a quality that you want in your dentist’s skill set, and when it comes to root canals, it makes all of the difference in the world for tools to be used accurately. With advances in imagery and examination comes faster procedures, reduced chances for errors that could be painful to patients, and greater success in situations where root canal process may have previously been unavailable.

Sedation and pain management options. Along with the accuracy of the treatment itself, monitoring and tests with pain and sedation therapy options have provided dentists and other medical professionals with a wealth of information in the field of patient comfort. Some dentists use a combination of pharmaceutical options and gas-based sedation, while others may prefer solutions including intravenous sedation. Whichever you prefer, there’s a growing list of ways to control and eliminate pain and discomfort, many of which also address issues of tension and anxiety during a procedure.

As our understanding of medicine grows, so too do our strengths in giving patients a much more pleasant experience whenever a root canal may be deemed necessary. It’s only natural to have some anxiety about any operation that will be performed on your body, but rest assured that we’re doing our very best to create and sustain methods, and an environment, that fosters comfortable, positive experiences for you.

If you’ve had a root canal in the past that was an unpleasant experience, speak with us about what we can do to make your next root canal a far better memory.

Is Deep Cleaning Important (Scaling and Root Planing)?

Maintaining proper dental hygiene (regular brushing and flossing) is not always enough to keep your oral cavity in good shape. That is why we advise you to visit our dentist at least once a year to have a general check-up and a regular cleaning. Unfortunately, more than 30 per cent of Americans do not visit their dentist on a regular basis resulting in increasing cases of different dental problems including gingivitis, and periodontitis.

So you already had your teeth cleaned and suddenly the dental hygienist tells you that you need to get a deep cleaning. You are like “what is that and why do I need it?” Read on to know what deep cleaning is, and when and why you need it.

What is deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, is a dental procedure that involves removing tartar and plaque from the pocket area between the gums and teeth, from the surface of the teeth, and even from the surface of the roots of the teeth. Apart from dental loupes, the dentists need to use either manual scaling tools or electric/ultrasonic instruments to carry out scaling and root planing.

The process usually requires around 20 minutes per quadrant of the mouth and it typically takes at least two visits for the dentist to completely treat all the afflicted areas. You will also be required to do a follow-up-visit to confirm that your gums and teeth are getting healthier and there is no pocket depth.

How is deep cleaning different from regular cleaning?

The main difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning is the area of focus. In regular cleaning, your dentist will only focus on cleaning the areas at and above the gum line to disturb the colonies of bacteria and to polish your teeth. While, in deep cleaning, your dentist will get rid of the colonies of bacteria that thrive in your mouth and thoroughly clean not only the teeth and the gum line but also the surface of the roots of the teeth and the pocket area between the gums and teeth.

When is deep cleaning needed?

Apart from your dental practitioner’s recommendation, there are a few signs that tell you when deep cleaning is needed. These include but not limited to:

• Pain especially when eating or chewing food – Tooth Pain: DON’T Just Ignore It.
• Sensitivity
• Bleeding or tender gums
• Bad breath that won’t quickly go away even after brushing and flossing
• Swollen or red gums
• Loose teeth

Why do you need a deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning is usually done to treat or prevent periodontitis and other gum and periodontal diseases. If you haven’t visited your dentist for a while, or haven’t had your teeth professionally checked or cleaned regularly, chances are, you will develop some gum and periodontal disease.

There are a plethora of bacteria that thrive in the mouth. When the bacteria mix with the other substances in your mouth, a sticky plaque will be formed on your teeth. Although most of the sticky plaque can be removed by regular brushing and flossing, those that can’t be removed will harden and become tartar which is the main cause of gingivitis or gum inflammation. Left unaddressed, simple gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. In order to avoid this from happening, your dentist will recommend deep cleaning.

Restore a Fragile Tooth

A tooth is tentative to be fragile after a root canal therapy since there is a process of drilling into the roots of the tooth to gain access to the infection. Plus we also find the tooth becoming weak from the cavity or infection before the root canal procedure and it is clear that the natural crown will not remain as strong as before. Daily exposure like biting and drinking can cause damage. So we suggest a permanent dental crown that will cover this tooth taking it much stronger for everyday use and preventing fractures or chips.

To Protect a Tooth from Sensitivity

Even after your root canal procedoure, there may be some nerves that become extra sensitive to temperature and touch. This can quickly get frustrating as patients would be exposed to hyper sensivity on tooth and gums , this is another reason to we recomend to cover the tooth after surgery with a dental crown.

To Keep a Natural-Looking Color

Immediately after root canal treatment, some teeth go through changes in colour. In case a tooth looks discoloured or appears Gray-scaled, a dental crown will be able to provide a more natural appearance and whiteness to match the other teeth.

To Keep a Tooth Safe from Infection

Infection and contamination pose a greater threat and risk to the surface of the tooth after root canal therapy. As a preventive measure for recontamination, a dental crown will be placed atop the tooth to seal it thereby cutting off harmful leakage so that you need not have your tooth extracted. This process is also known as a failed root canal treatment.

Backup Security

Mostly teeth that go through a root canal therapy have had a cavity earlier. A tooth which has gone through significant decays earlier must not be sealed with a filling. Fillings provide temporary protection which is not enough for a vulnerable tooth with a history of decay. Tooth with fillings have suffered visibly extensive decay previously, was chipped or fractured preceding the root canal treatment, should most definitely be restored and protected with a dental crown.

Receiving a dental crown or another form of restoration of the tooth should not be delayed prior to the root canal therapy. The susceptibility to damage of the tooth has increased now and should not be left at such a vulnerable state.

Many of us think that our teeth are in healthy and good shape, but a regular visit to the dentist is an essential task. Diseases and problems come mostly uninvited so, prevention is better than a cure. Avoiding earlier problems is a wise way out of dental problems. It might avoid the hassle of extraction or filling or root canal therapy.

A visit the dentist just twice in a year is a safe and easy way to maintain oral health.

What are things that a dentist check?

1. Exposure of the Dentine or the significant softening of the Enamel which are the early signals of a future cavity.
2. Impending gum disease or Periodontitis will be identified when the dentist will be checking for swelling or impalement in gums. Suitable medicines will be prescribed in accordance with the magnitude of swelling or implement of the gums.
3. Training to detect abnormal impalement or discolouration of gums or suspicious lumps has also been imparted to the dentists. These signs cannot be ignored as these are the initial signs of Oral Cancer
4. A biopsy will be done to detect underlying Oral Cancer (if any) and an X-Ray of the underlying jaw bone will be done to check for any other underlying issues such as calcium deficiency in tooth or bone loss.

Dental Cleaning

A thorough dental clean up is essential to cleanse the hard to access areas in the mouth. The accumulated plaque and tartar can be cleaned easily through professional dental cleaning processes. A clean mouth is a fundamental step to avoid oral problems.

For regular Dental Checkup and Dental Cleaning feel free to give us a call

Most of the dental problems arise due to the lack of proper dental care and remain unnoticed. They suddenly undergo rapid growth without us being aware of it. A small cavity is a source to a large scale decay. A small cavity might not hurt but as it starts to spread and affect the sensitive inner layers of the teeth, the pain becomes unbearable. Self-medication is never an option here. And by this time, there is no more way other than a root canal or an extraction which is not very pocket-friendly.

The perils of Dental issues can be overcome by following few steps which would not cost them much and help maintain Oral Health.

• Regular Brushing: Brushing your teeth twice a day with a good quality bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with high calcium concentration ensures proper cleansing of the mouth.
• Flossing: Dental floss is very important for maintaining Oral health. It enables the cleansing of areas like between the teeth which are not easily accessible by a toothbrush. Cleansing of plaque becomes easier.
• Using Mouthwash: Mouthwash can be used in addition to brushing and flossing. It helps get rid of bad breath.
• Regular Dental Checkups: There are several dental issues that only a dentist can recognize. The initial stages of every issue are on a minuscule level and cannot be easily pinned down until it transgresses to a more serious level.

Regular dental checkups can help avoid this problem as any existing oral issue can be detected at the very beginning and immediate treatment can avoid serious problems because prevention is always better than cure

What is Bruxism?

While sleep our body undergoes many involuntary actions. A big example of such involuntary action is Bruxism i.e. teeth grinding which is one of the implications of stress or other psychological distress.

These teeth grinding causes the jaw muscles to overwork which may cause muscle tenderness around the jawline and gums which may cause headaches, soreness and can also lead to infection or damage of tooth nerve. Rapid tooth loss, gum recession, and TMJ disorders also count among many other issues that could be caused by bruxism.

How to prevent Bruxism?

Out of all the other ways to prevent Bruxism, the simplest and most effective solution is using Night Guard (mouth guard).

Night mouth guards are oral devices that people usually wear at night to avoid any kind of damage taken from bruxism. It also reduces strain from grinding teeth and as a result, eradicates the experience of headache and grogginess after waking up.

How to get a Night mouth guard?

Getting a night guard is not much of hassle. Contact us to get your night guard at reasonable prices.

For more information feel free to contact us.