Dr. Velasco's FAQCavities | Flossing | Gingivitis | Periodontitis | X-rays | Wisdom Teeth |
CavitiesWhat are they and how do we get them? A cavity is another word for tooth decay that can occur anywhere on your teeth. Most of the time, they are located on the chewing surface or between your teeth. They are caused by bacteria, which are normally found in the mouth. How a cavity starts begins with the foods that you eat that contains sugars, for example candy. The bacteria in our mouths will eat the sugars found in the cavity. After a little while, they will excrete their waste in the form of an acid. This acid is the one that causes the cavities on the teeth.Back to Top FlossingWhy do we need to floss? Flossing is one of the most important ways of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The bristles of our toothbrush can't get between our teeth, so we rely on dental floss to help clean those areas. It also helps break up the bacterial colonies that cause gingivitis and periodontitis. Bad breath, gum infections, cavities and tooth loss are just some of the problems that may develop if flossing isn't done on a regular basis. I would say that flossing is as or even more important than brushing.Back to Top GingivitisWhat is it? Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums from the food, plaque and tartar buildups around your teeth. One sure sign of gingivitis are redness and bleeding around the gums, which is the body's natural response to the inflammation. Once the buildup is removed, bleeding slows down and eventually stops. Your gums will look and feel much healthier. That is why it is so important to get your teeth cleaned professionally every 6 months. If the food, plaque and tartar buildup isn't eventually removed, the inflammation could spread from the gums and infect and breakdown the bone and supporting tissues of the teeth. This is called Periodontitis.Back to Top PeriodontitisWhat is it? Periodontitis is the actual degeneration and destruction of the bones and supporting tissues of the teeth. When this happens, gum recession usually occurs and teeth may start to become loose. Eventually, this may lead to tooth loss. The only way to stop this process is to have routine dental care and to practice good oral hygiene.Back to Top X-raysWhy we need them. Dental x-rays are an important part in dentistry. It gives us detailed images of the teeth, bones and soft tissues that are not readily visible with a regular oral examination. X-rays provide us with information essential for detecting, diagnosing and treating conditions that can be detrimental to your dental and general health. How many? For adults, we normally take a full mouth series of x-rays (18 pictures) approximately every 5 years. Once a year, we take what are called Bitewings. These are four x-rays that are taken on each side of the mouth. They show us if there are cavities forming between the back teeth. For children, we normally take four pictures. The first two are for the front upper and lower teeth. The other two are bitewings for the back teeth. We would take these four pictures once every six months or once a year, depending on the child's eating habits and cavity rate.Back to Top Wisdom TeethShould I get them taken out? Wisdom teeth are the 3rd molars in your mouth that start to erupt as early as 16. Each dentist has their own opinions about keeping or extracting them. On most patients, I recommend extracting them as soon as they start to come out. Here are just a few reasons to take them out:
Back to Top |
| Home | Objective | Profile | Staff | Office | Map | | Hours | Contact | FAQ | Sign Guestbook | | View Guestbook |