Extractions
Lots of people are worried about getting a tooth extracted. They usually think that they will have to go to sleep or that it is very difficult.
This is just not the case for almost every extraction that we do. A little push and squeeze, and you are done.
Baby Tooth Roots
Many of the parents in my practice are surprised to see that primary or baby teeth have roots.
The only baby teeth they had ever seen had no roots at all and they never really thought about what keeps them in.
Actually, the baby teeth have very strong roots that hold them firm when chewing and biting. As the adult teeth begin to grow, they push against the baby tooth roots and dissolve them away.
Shark Teeth
A surprising number of children develop a double row of teeth, especially on the lower front teeth. A six year old girl from Gresham saw me last week in my Portland office with just this condition.
Her mother was concerned that the permanent lower incisors would stay inside the lower primary (baby) incisors and look abnormal. She called them “shark teeth”.
Although this usually happens with lower incisors, it can also occur with upper incisors or primary molars.
Invisible Braces
While lunching in the Oregon City Shopping Center, I read an article about using thin sheets of plastic (aligners) that are custom formed to patient teeth to correct a deep bite.
Now Invisalign has been making these types of orthodontic appliances for years but they require much more cost because they use many more of the plastic aligners.
This article described how to use one aligner with some rubber bands to do the same job at a fraction of the cost.
Going Green 2
So much of the way we practice now depends on throwing away everything possible. That is not the way of the future. We have to go back to the days of reduce, reuse, recycle.
The Oregon Dental Conference in East Portland hosted the first major presentation on Green Dentistry, according to the speaker, Mr. Kevin Henry.
This course discussed LEED certified building that reduces Volitile Organic Compounds that outgas into the air. Receiving a LEED Platinum certificate is extremely difficult so the recommend continuous improvement step-by-step.
Continuing Education
The Oregon Dental Conference is coming up this week at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
There will be lots of great courses on important dental topics. Governor John Kitzhaber, MD will give the General Session presentation on Rethinking the US Health Care System.
I plan to attend lectures on Laser Dentistry and Going Green in the Dental Office.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Some children need help coping with the fear of the unknown or anxiety of the known. A five year old boy from Milwaukie, Oregon recently needed oral sedation for his dental care.
This child had several decayed molars and the cavity on one tooth was especially deep. Since his older sister had told him that we were going to use a big shot and yank out his tooth, he got really scared.
Midazolam (Versed) & Triazolam (Halcion)
Midazolam (MID-ay-zoe-lam) and triazolam (trye AH zoe lam) are in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. They are used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and to relieve anxiety before surgery or certain procedures. Midazolam is also sometimes used to produce loss of consciousness for patients in hospitals before and during surgery.
In our facility, midazolam and triazolam are given under the supervision of a doctor trained to use this medicine. Our staff will give your child the medicine and closely follow your child’s progress.
Going Green
Recently our building in Oregon City received a bid to place photovoltaic solar cells on our roof. You might ask what this has to do with being a Pediatric Dentist in Oregon?
Well, I believe that is everyone’s responsibility to help preserve the earth’s energy resources. See EnviroMom for more info. Also, we are converting to a paper-less dental office this year.
ART: Alternate Restorative Treatment
When children have lots of very large cavities and they are too young to hold still while hours are spent fixing the cavites, what do you do?
A child from Molalla came to the Oregon City office recently with just such a problem.
This little boy had cavities on almost every one of his baby teeth and most of the decay was very close to the pulp nerve tissue and probably needing baby root canals (pulpotomies).
- GreatGood to see everyone. Keep working on Dorian's dad, to get Dorian in. Sad that he would let his teeth go!
- ReviewGreat Grins is a great place and have wonderful employees! Always a pleasure to go in and both my kids are very comfortable when there.
- We love going to the dentist!You are all so great. Very good with kids of all ages. Everyone is friendly and patient.
- Five stars!Very caring staff. Dr. Mark gave me great motivating advice for caring for my teeth. Appreciate the video games in the waiting room, toys and books for young children, coffee and magazines for parents. ~Jared (age 15)
- Bailey's Visit TodayYou guys always do an awesome job. I wouldn't take my sons anywhere else!
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