The answer to this question is quite simple.... as soon as they can comfortably sit in a dental chair by themselves or lay back on a parent's lap. Dental schools often state a magic age of 3 years old. However, this has absolutely no scientific foundation. Unfortunately, many parents wait until their child has a toothache or an obvious cavity before…
For centuries, many concoctions have been devised for cleaning teeth and brushing. Some of those ingredients have been ground pebbles, honey, incense, burnt seashells, coral, talc, salt cattle hooves, and dragon's blood. The popularity of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as an ingredient has ebbed and flowed in popularity over the past two centuries. It has many beneficial properties for oral…
Healthy gums do not bleed. Any amount of bleeding during brushing on on minimal stimulation is, therefore, variation from health. Both gingivitis and periodontitis are forms of gum disease. Classification of gum diseases is very difficult because they are caused by many different types of germs and are dependent on the overall health of each individual patient. However, recently it…
Germs that cause gum disease, gingivitis, and tooth decay live in groups. These bacteria are much less destructive when their groups, called colonies, are mechanically broken up with a toothbrush. Another problem caused by bacterial colonization is the production of foul odors. This is why proper oral hygiene is important. The surface of the tongue is covered with many little…
One favorite American pastime is jumping on a Harley and going for a ride. It never ceases to amaze me how many motorcycle enthusiasts are actually out there, taking meticulous care of their beautiful bikes. However, as a dentist, it also amazes me to see how many of us fail to take care of our most precious asset…our noggins! When…
Patients at our office in Dover frequently ask us about halitosis (bad breath). Typically, they want to know what is causing their bad breath and how they can eliminate it. If you suffer from halitosis, you are not alone, reportedly 35 to 45 percent of people suffer from it. For the above reason, Dr. Huff wanted to provide some valuable…
Dental insurance pay-out is based on a contract between a patient and an insurance company. Unless a dentist signs into a related contract with that insurance company and essentially agrees to work for it, he/she legally is not obligated to work at a reduced fee for that company. An "out-of-network" dentist works for the patient and not for a dental…
On average, dentures should be replaced approximately every 7 years, and after approximately 1 year for an immediately placed "treatment denture." When a patient wears complete dentures, supporting bony ridges are subjected to unnatural forces that contribute to rapid loss of bone. Therefore, the fit of the denture changes rapidly. Secondly, ill-fitting dentures cause even more damage to supporting bone as…
There are many factors that affect the color of teeth and cosmetic dentistry. When we select the shade of a crown, for example, the "color" is determined by hue, chroma, and value. However, what we cannot control is a physical property of light passing through a prism. This is called metamerism. The shades of teeth are usually grouped under different…
Cold sores start out with a tingling sensation on the firmer tissues of the lip, outside of the cheeks, corners of the mouth, and on the tongue. Small blisters then form that are yellowish in color with red raised borders. Unlike other types of mouth sores, cold sores are contagious! Cold sores are actually a form of the herpes virus…
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