Health

Taking Antibiotics Before Dental Visits Unnecessary in the Majority of Cases and May Cause Serious Side Effects

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Whether or not someone should or should not take any antibiotics prior to dental visits such as wisdom teeth surgery is often a question that comes up. The purpose of doing so would be to potentially prevent an infection from developing from teh dental procedure. Research spearheaded by a group at the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that in the majority of cases antibiotics given before dental visits are not needed and instead can lead to serious side effects. The researchers presented results in October 2019 during IDWeek 2019, which is the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s annual meeting conducted in Washington, DC. The researchers also presented results in an article titled “Assessment of the Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescriptions for Infection Prophylaxis Before Dental Procedures, 2011 to 2015” published on May 31, 2019 in JAMA Network Open (Suda et … Read more

Preventing Tooth Decay: Five Simple Dental Care Tips

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Everyone hates going to the dentist and yet, most of us neglect our oral hygiene. Oral hygiene doesn’t require a lot of time and effort, but it does require consistency. You need to spend less than 10 minutes every day to prevent tooth decay and save yourself a whole lot of money and pain! Tooth decay is a slow process so it’s not too late to start paying attention to your oral hygiene. A regular dental care routine is essential for healthy teeth. You may have seen fancy dental gadgets in the store, but you don’t really need them – just a toothbrush and floss is enough to keep tooth decay at bay. Here are 5 simple ways to prevent tooth decay: 1. Brush Twice a Day Most of us are so tired by the end of the day, that … Read more

Benefits of Chairside Teeth Whitening

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Everybody wants a picture-perfect smile. Chairside or professional teeth whitening can increase the aesthetic allure of your teeth far more than over-the-counter whitening products can do. Because of advancement in modern technology, teeth whitening has become simpler, easier, and more affordable. Remember that nothing can substitute professional teeth whitening treatment. While you may find a lot of teeth whitening products online or in drug stores, you don’t have a guarantee that these will work and give amazing results. In this post, you’ll learn the benefits of professional teeth whitening. Your Safest Option Teeth whitening treatments don’t typically present any significant safety concerns. Whether teeth whitening is performed at home or in our office, dentists ensure a safe environment for patients. A dentist can help you right away if ever you experience issues, such as discomfort and extreme sensitivity. Also, a … Read more

Delivering Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment in Dental Practices

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An interesting article titled “Dentist-Perceived Barriers and Attractors to Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Provided by Mental Health Providers in Dental Practices,” written by Heyman et al. appears in Advances in Dental Research (vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 35-41, February 2018). The article discusses how over 20% of dental patients report having dental fear and how over 20 randomized controlled trials have show that Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) can help. Even though such CBT treatment has been shown to help it has not been widely used beyond dental fear specialty clinics according to the authors. The authors feel that the treatment is recognized but the way to disseminate it throughout the US health care system is needed. The authors explore enhancing the dental home via an approach known as evidence-based collaborative care where specialized mental health providers work within the dental home to provide … Read more

Reasons Why You Should Look Into Cosmetic Dentistry

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Aesthetic dentistry has many advantages to offer. That is why it’s so popular. Smile fillings are so affordable nowadays that almost anyone can improve their smile one way or another through aesthetic dentistry. You no longer have to be born with perfect teeth. A cosmetic dentist can create the smile you want when nature has not given it. It’s essential to point out that not everyone is the right candidate for aesthetic dentistry. Those who do not adequately care for their teeth and whose oral care is lacking may not be healthy enough to accept specific procedures successfully. In other words, you must have a certain amount of healthy tissue to work with. For example, the affordable dental in three locations will not compromise the function or health of your mouth for cosmetic procedures. On the other hand, if you … Read more