Tooth decay is a result of periodontal disease. Having diabetes just adds to the potential problem of gum disease because of poor circulation in the mouth, a common symptom of diabetes. The germs that cause gum disease also affect how the body processes sugar, leading to an increase of sugar in the blood stream which then increases the level of insulin resistance. Having diabetes is complicated enough to control, but making sure that you take steps to avoid loss of teeth is important for health.

Diabetes, if not managed properly, will lead to various issues with dental hygiene. The first problem that diabetics face with oral hygiene is periodontal disease. Irregular glucose levels in the blood indirectly causes less saliva in the mouth and the diabetic will be prone to dry mouth. The drier your mouth is, the less saliva you have to neutralize salivary sugars, which lead to the development of ulcers. Monitoring blood glucose levels is an important part of controlling diabetes and maintaining healthy teeth and gums to prevent rot.

Because people with diabetes generally have poor blood circulation, they may not feel any pain or discomfort until their dental problems are at an advanced stage. As such, the diabetic should examine their mouths and look for any of the following:

• Tender or swollen gums
• Bleeding whenever brushing or flossing teeth
• Pus oozing from gums
• Teeth that seem to be longer than normal or seem to be moving away from each other
• For denture wearers, look out for loosely fitting pieces or dentures that no longer fit the way they used to

Diabetics who are not in control of their sugar level will find that, over time, they will get severe toothaches. This happens because the blood flow to the gums is reduced.  The ramifications to toothaches are obvious – you will not be able to chew properly due to pain. If you cannot chew, you may be tempted to skip meals or not eat a well balanced meal.

If you notice any of these signs you need to see your dentist immediately. Like everyone else, the person living with diabetes must visit their dentists at least twice per year.

Whether or not you have diabetes you should develop good dental care habits. This means brushing and flossing daily.  Use a soft-bristled brush so that you reduce the chance of irritating your gums. Ideally, you should try to brush at least twice per day and once being before going to bed. Make sure to brush your gums and tongue as well. To make sure that your toothbrush is in good condition, change it every three months. Flossing once a day is also vital to good dental health. Always rinse thoroughly after flossing to remove food particles from between the teeth.

Gum disease is a large issue for many individuals but is easily preventable with proper oral hygiene. Developing and maintaining a good dental care plan is especially important to the person living with diabetes. Otherwise, tooth decay and loss can become just one more issue the diabetic has to struggle with. To avoid joining the ranks of the ninety percent of adult Americans with gum disease, the diabetic must be vigilant in taking care of their teeth and gums.

To learn more go to Diabetes Education and at Juvenile Diabetes

By Karen Hansson

Much of today’s dental equipment has been refined over the years. The first dental instruments were drills made of flint, wooden sticks beaten to make one end fibrous and soft for scraping teeth, and the like. Evidently, man has been battling tooth decay and oral disease since time immemorial.

We can best show the kinds and use of certain types of dental equipment by illustrating them in use during a visit to the dentist.

Dentistry in the Barbershop?

A lot of people dread a trip to the dentist’s office. To them it holds about as much appeal as a medieval torture chamber. They can take solace in the fact that conditions now are much better than they ever were in the Middle Ages. It’s hard to imagine anyone going into their local haircutter’s nowadays and having their tooth pulled, but that was what happened then for the common folk with unsterilized instruments and no anesthesia.

Nowadays, dentists are much better trained. They or their assistants will often explain to the patient what the dental procedure is and what and where it will be done to allay the patient’s fears of the unknown and to also inform them. This begins even before the patient has set foot in the operating room.

Filling a Tooth

Once the patient has sat down in the specially-designed dentist’s chair, the assistant will usually prep them, placing a bib or napkin to catch any spills, talking to and reassuring the patient as the dentists readies the necessary tools for the procedure. This can include such instruments as an explorer, a probe designed to do exactly what its name says. If the patient is scheduled for a tooth filling, then the dentist will first apply an anesthetic to deaden the nerves. A topical gel to numb the gums prior to the injection is available too. After the Novocain, the dental procedure will continue with the dentist drilling into the tooth using a diamond-tipped bur to remove as much caries or diseased tooth material as possible. He or she can also use an instrument with a spoon-shaped tip called an excavator to do this task. The drilling will produce a lot of spray and dust, so the assistant will be there to suck all that up with an HVE (high-volume evacuator). The patient will also have a saliva evacuator placed at the floor of the mouth to suck up excess fluid that might pool there.

Once the dentist has removed all the caries, he or she then prepares the filling called the amalgam. This is then stuffed into the cavity and carefully compressed and shaped with a variety of tools such as condensers, burnishers, cleoid/discoids, and Hollenbacks. When everything is done, the dentist will ask the patient to bite down on articulating paper and judge if everything feels okay. If it does, the dentist then flosses and removes any material which might have gotten stuck in between the teeth while he or she was working. With that through, the patient’s chair is returned to an upright position, their face is cleaned, and they are asked to rinse their mouth out with some mouthwash, and the napkin is removed. Voila! A stronger and healthier, pain-free tooth in minutes.

Karen Hansson is specialized in medicine and health issues. She writes regularly on http://www.sethson.com. You can read more about dental equipment there.

Hi,

Just wanted to welcome you to the new Dental Equipment Specialties Blog. My goal is to share my thoughts and experience with you my clients. I’ll be posting tips and tricks to help you maintain your dental office equipment.

Dental Equipment Specialties provides Dental Equipment Service and Repair to the Orange County Riverside County, San Bernardino and Los Angles County. If you are looking for a top notch Dental Equipment Technician give me a call at (714)539-9126.