August 31, 2009 @ 07:31 PM — by unknown
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Hello, I just wanted to ask eveyone to check out my dental column at
www.marconews.com. Many of my columns have been posted on this blogsite. I would also like to encourage anyone to respond to this post with any dental questions they may want answered. Any posts made always get a response and maybe even a feature in the Marco Island Eagle.
Dr. Fred J. Eck
August 14, 2009 @ 05:46 PM — by unknown
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Q: I’m interested in getting implants to replace my denture. I’ve seen a few dentists and a couple of specialists for quotes. I’m hesitant to go ahead because all of them have different prices and different plans and each of them insist theirs is the best. How can I decide what’s best for me?
A: The decision to get dental implants will likely have a great impact on your life. It can affect your eating, speech, and even your social life.
As people are living longer, dentures and partials are no longer considered useful long-term solutions for tooth loss. You have every right to be reluctant about such an important decision.
There are a few important considerations you must take into account. Similarly, there are important factors that your doctor must consider when planning your treatment. I’m speaking about goals and also finances.
Your goal and that of your doctor should be in sync as well as feasible in order to have a successful outcome. It is the planning stage of implant treatment that is the most vital. It must be thoroughly and meticulously planned.
Today, implant treatment is one of the most successful types of dentistry that we can perform. However, if corners are cut and planning hasn’t been done properly the success rate drops drastically. This planning stage should definitely involve a CAT scan. This is now the standard of care when planning implant treatment. It allows the doctor to see a three dimensional view of the bone. By utilizing this tool the doctor can assess the quality of the bone, its density as well as height and width. This is vitally important and an x-ray is not adequate for implant treatment. Anyone you see for implant treatment should require you have a CAT scan. If they don’t, ask them why. If they say it’s not necessary, run, don’t walk out of their office.
Another vital part of the plan is your financial capabilities. The cost as well as type of implant treatment can vary widely. It is your job as the patient to determine the financial framework with which you need to work. This is extremely important because again cutting corners will significantly lessen the success of your treatment.
Sharing your goals and financial capabilities with your doctor will enable them to provide you with a treatment plan that will work for both of you.
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Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island, or call 389-9400. Web site: marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 05:38 PM — by unknown
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Q: Hey Doc, I’ve got a tooth that has been bothering me for a while. When it starts up I just take a couple of antibiotics and it goes away. Recently, I noticed a bad taste and bad breath. My insurance doesn’t kick in for another month. Can I wait until then?
A: My best advice to you would be no, you really shouldn’t wait that long. It sounds like you have an infected tooth. By taking just a small dose of antibiotics you eliminated enough of the infection to relieve your discomfort for a short period of time.
This is never a good idea for several reasons. The first is that the remaining bacteria can become resistant to antibiotic therapy making it more difficult to eliminate the infection totally. The second is that enough bacteria remain to cause the infection to persist and become larger. Antibiotics are not a cure all. They are meant to be used in conjunction with dental treatment.
Your dentist may prescribe them prior to, during or after needed treatment. They are never a substitute for dental treatment. In addition, when taking antibiotics that were not prescribed for the problem you are currently experiencing you can run into several problems.
As I mentioned before antibiotic resistance is one, taking the correct dosage is another and lastly taking the right antibiotic for the right problem. At this point, the infection is probably draining causing the bad taste and bad breath. That is very unhealthy because you are ingesting the pus every time you swallow. Also, as the infection persists it dissolves the bone surrounding the tooth that is bothering you. The longer you wait the more the condition will worsen. I would urge you to visit the dentist to at least determine what needs to be done to eliminate the infection. If you absolutely must wait for your insurance, discuss this with your dentist and they may be able to offer a solution that can help you temporarily.
Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island; call 389-9400 or visit marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 05:33 PM — by unknown
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A: Great question! This question gets asked in probably every dental office, every day, many times a day. No one likes x-rays but they are an invaluable diagnostic aid. They enable us to see much more than what is visible at the surface level.
I always wonder when people question having x-rays taken. Why would anyone want to wait until they are in pain before having x-rays taken? Why should pain be the motivation? Haven’t we gotten past that in terms of becoming healthier and living longer? Shouldn’t the prevention of pain be more important than waiting for its onset in order to act?
Perhaps cost is the issue. Well, dental problems only get bigger. In all the time I have been a dentist I have never seen one get smaller or go away. The cost for x-rays is minimal when compared with the cost of fixing a small problem rather than one that has been allowed to get bigger due to the lack of this very important diagnostic tool. We as dentists are focused on keeping our patients healthy and preventing disease.
X-rays don’t just show cavities, they can show anomalies within the jawbone, congenitally missing teeth, abscesses, fractures of the teeth or bone, developing and impacted teeth and much, much more. They can also show us if everything is healthy. Most offices today offer digital x-rays which have very, very little radiation at all. It is approximately 90 percent less than that of traditional x-rays. The exposure to radiation is minimal, about the same as being out in the Florida sunshine for about 10 minutes. Being Floridians means we spend a lot of time outdoors in the sunshine all year round.
Having to outlay a little money and a little extra time in the sun to prevent a problem or catch one early is much less expensive than the alternative of letting it become larger more complicated and costly to fix.
Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island; call 389-9400 or visit marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 04:51 PM — by unknown
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Q: I have a cavity under my cap and my dentist says he’ll need to make me a new cap. Why can’t he just use the old one?
A: Great question! Utilizing an existing crown or cap (same thing just different terms) when there is a cavity around it is possible in only the best of circumstances.
Your dentist cannot see the extent of the decay under the crown. Also, in most cases an x-ray is not diagnostic because the crown will obscure the tooth.
In order for decay to show up on an x-ray there has to be extensive destruction of the natural tooth. If the decay is below the crown area then a filling can usually be placed leaving the crown intact. If the decay extends underneath the crown then your dentist will most likely need to remove the crown by sectioning it in order to get access to the decay.
If the crown is loose it is sometimes possible to remove it without damaging it or the tooth underneath. However, once the decay has been removed and the decayed portion is replaced and built back up the shape of the tooth has been altered and the original crown won’t fit. At this point trying to retrofit it is not advisable as it will never be the same as before the tooth was altered. In addition, because the tooth has been altered you will always be susceptible to decay again.
It’s similar to a lock and a key. The key that was made for your car won’t open your house. The crown is precisely constructed to fit just that tooth and that tooth only. It is better to follow your dentists advice and begin the process anew. That way you can be sure that the new crown will be solid and long lasting and the tooth underneath it is strong and healthy.
Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island; call 389-9400 or visit marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 04:47 PM — by unknown
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Q: I need some help! My daughter sucks her thumbs and also three of her fingers. I’m worried that this is causing a problem with her teeth. How do I get her to stop?
A: Please rest assured that thumb sucking is a normal behavior and is cause for little concern. In, fact many babies begin sucking their thumb or fingers even before they are born.
The behavior will continue until age three or four. At that time most children will stop of their own accord. If the thumb sucking continues beyond that age and the child shows no signs of stopping then it may be time to intervene.
Intervention is important because the thumb sucking habit can affect the eruption and position of the permanent front teeth. The permanent teeth will be flared out with large spacing making orthodontics a necessity. In rare cases, it can cause the bones of the fingers to bow.
Fortunately, dental appliances can be fabricated to break the thumb sucking habit. They work so well because while the child can still get the thumb or finger in their mouth they are unable to maintain suction.
These types of appliances are generally made by either pediatric dentists or orthodontists. Your dentist or pediatrician can evaluate your child and make any appropriate referrals.
Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island; call 389-9400 or visit marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 04:44 PM — by unknown
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Thank you so much for the question. For a while there I was beginning to feel like an orphan because no one was sending in any questions. I really want to thank the Marco Eagle for their support and to also remind everyone that this column is dependent upon you. Please continue sending in questions. I do this because I feel its important for you to get your questions answered and to inform the public about dental health. Thanks again!
Well, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest I can address your question.
In today’s world just about everybody takes some type of prescription medication for one thing or another. Blood thinners are prescribed in order to prevent blood clots from forming. One adverse affect is that the clotting factor has been diminished, bruising can occur more readily and bleeding can be more difficult to control. However, most physicians feel that it is not in the patients’ best interest to remove them from this type of medication in order to have dental treatment. When a blood thinner is prescribed there is a therapeutic goal your doctor is trying to achieve. In other words, they are trying to control the thinness of the blood. This will be different for each person. Depending on how thin your blood is being kept will determine the need or lack thereof to alter the medications. We become concerned for dental treatment when a patient needs teeth extracted, dental implants placed, gum surgery or any procedure where there will be bleeding. Simple fillings and root canals are not a concern and neither is laser gum surgery because clotting is done with the laser. In the case where there is extensive dental treatment needed, it is best to consult with the patient’s primary care physician. Any contradictions can be discussed and a suitable treatment plan can be formulated that serves the best interest of the patient. I hope that this helps to put your mind at ease.
Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island; call 389-9400 or visit marcodentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 04:02 PM — by unknown
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Q: Doc, I haven’t been seen by a dentist in a while and want my teeth cleaned but were told I need a “deep cleaning.” Why can’t I just have my teeth cleaned like I wanted?
A: Well, this question has a very simple answer. You can have your teeth cleaned just like you wanted but it will serve no purpose other than to waste your time, money and adversely affect your health.
Some patients who haven’t had their teeth cleaned in a while require more than just a regular cleaning. This absence of dental care allows an accumulation of bacteria, plaque and tartar to form around the gumline. This serves to irritate the gum tissue making it inflamed and red. This is called gingivitis which literally means inflammation of the gums.
At this stage it is common to have bleeding when brushing or flossing. If gingivitis is not treated it always progresses into periodontal disease which is essentially a bacterial infection. As the bacteria progress further into the tissue and below the gumline the bacteria become very pathogenic and destructive. As the infection progresses into the bone these bacteria begin to produce toxins as a waste product which acts like poison.
As the toxins increase the bodies defenses begin to act. The combination of the poisonous toxins and your bodies response is to dissolve the bone that support the teeth. This stage can be deceptive to patients because periodontal disease is never painful until it is too late to save the teeth. Some patients do not experience any symptoms or discomfort and therefore believe that everything is fine.
Some of the most common symptoms are redness, inflammation, bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, bad taste, bad breath, shifting or moving teeth or a change in your bite. A regular cleaning will not cure any of these problems as we are only working above the infection. In fact, a regular cleaning can worsen the infection by allowing the surface to heal trapping the infection underneath. This can result in a painful abscess.
There are a few different types of treatment for this disease depending on the stage. Gingivitis is the earliest stage and treatment involves the gentle removal of bacteria and tartar from just below the gumline. Unless a person has particularly sensitive teeth local anesthetic is not necessary. Once the disease has progressed and begun to alter the level of bone a more aggressive treatment is necessary. Typically, this involves keeping the patient comfortable with local anesthetic. Once numb the hygienist flushes out the bacteria and removes the accumulation of tartar from below the gumline. There is no cutting or sewing involved.
Generally, there is little to no discomfort and patients can resume their normal schedules the same day. Severe bone loss or infection may necessitate treatment with a laser to preserve and regenerate bone levels. Once treatment is completed it is essential that patients return for regular maintenance or else the infection will recur. This means that patients must be seen for cleaning three to four times per year.
If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease having it treated now will be of great benefit to your overall health later.
Dr. Eck welcomes your questions at www.marcodentalcare.com or (239) 389-9400.
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Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island, or call 389-9400. Web site: marcodentalcare.com. Dr. Eck received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 03:58 PM — by unknown
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Q: My denture keeps slipping and I think my face is sagging, what is going on and can it be fixed?
A: With all the advances in dentistry today, fewer of us need full dentures. We’re simply keeping more teeth longer. But life with dentures is now much improved. Materials are sleeker and fit more comfortably.
Now dentures can be custom-made to blend with your skin, hair and eye color, and look as natural as you want. If you attend to your dentures over time — meaning see the dentist to adjust them as changes in your mouth occur — you’ll enjoy strong, secure function for years.
Even the best denture, though, won’t last forever. As you age, and particularly if you wear dentures, your jawbone begins to shrink and the muscles that help your jaws close can shorten. This is called “overclosure” or collapsed bite — a condition where the lower jaw closes too far before the teeth make contact.
Overclosure can make you look older and give your face that sagging appearance. It can also cause you to chew your food differently. An ill-fitting denture and overclosed bite results in a squashed, flabby and older-looking face.
Don’t worry there is help to be had. Replacing dentures every five to 10 years is a good idea. After all, we’re living full well into our ‘80s and ‘90s. You wouldn’t wear the same glasses without having them checked periodically. Dentures are no different.
Relines and adjustments can help make you more comfortable. We adjust what we call “vertical height” — essentially a face-lift without the surgery.
Consider what your denture has gone through, and call us with your questions. You can reach Dr. Eck at (239)389-9400.
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Questions can be sent to Fred Eck, D.D.S. at Marco Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island, or call 389-9400. Web site: marcodentalcare.com. Dr. Eck received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
August 14, 2009 @ 03:56 PM — by unknown
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Q: Why can’t we just pull it Doc? It’s only a baby tooth.
A: Maintaining optimum dental health for your children is more important now than ever before.
How many of you remember being taken to the dentist as a child a having a filling or tooth pulled without any anesthesia? How many of recall your dentist as a barbarian held you down while he worked on you? Those early childhood remembrances make everyone who has ever experienced them shudder.
You want to spare your child those experiences, right? Well that is exactly why you should take them to see what modern dentistry can offer. When we were kids there were limited options available. The science of dentistry has improved greatly and we now understand far more than we ever did before about baby teeth and why they are so important to your child’s growth and development.
Way back while your baby was in the womb and you were picking out names and nursery colors Mother Nature was busy building your babies bone and tooth structure. As humans, we essentially have two sets of teeth, primary or baby teeth and permanent teeth. Baby teeth are so important because they develop first and occupy the space that will be later filled by an adult tooth.
If these teeth become severely decayed and need to be removed prematurely the space is lost and the permanent tooth, in many cases, cannot take its place because there isn’t enough room. Once this has happened, orthodontics or braces may be required to assist in what Mother Nature used to do on her own. This can create a myriad of problems for your child as they grow and develop.
Maintaining the health of your child’s primary teeth will give you peace of mind while setting them up for a lifetime of good oral health.
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Dr. Fred Eck can be contacted at Marco Island Dental Care, 950 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 305, Marco Island, or call 719-1044 or visit the Web site: Bonitadentalcare.com. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy and is licensed by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
