Dr. Simon strives to educated his patients on the various aspects of dental health.  Explore the articles linked below to educate yourself on these topics.  Also, be sure to check back soon for updates and new information. 

Have a question? 
Email Dr. Simon  info@drsimondental.com .

• The Battle for Your Dental Health

• Crown Preparation

• Dental Insurance

The Battle for Your Dental Health

Modern warfare battles begin with gathering and analyzing intelligence.  Our enemy is bacteria.  Our weapons of choice in the battle for your dental health are brushes, floss, picks and curettes.  We also have chemical weapons but those will be discussed later.

Most of us are aware of the condition of the teeth we can see in terms of the need for fillings or crowns.  However, gum problems (periodontal diseases) that cause the loss of more teeth than decay is not as obvious as a discolored or broken tooth. 

Like cavities, gum problems begin as small areas of bone loss and pocket formation.  Also like cavities, gum problems are caused by bacteria.  Unlike cavities the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease don't infect the bone around the teeth like decay bacteria infect a tooth.

Bacteria in plaque grow at the bases of the teeth and below the gum line like an advancing army.  Immediately after a professional cleaning there will be very few bacteria present.  Bacteria grow very quickly.  Within minutes their numbers double and continue to double several times  per hour.

There is a critical mass that builds up that triggers a response by your internal militia, the immune system.  The immune cells  collect at that area and begin killing the advancing front of bacteria to keep it in check.  This battle line can be recognized as a swollen reddened gum line that bleeds easily when brushed.

The immune cells can attack the bone and connective tissue of the tooth socket as well as the bacteria.  As the bone is destroyed the bone level shrinks away from the gum line.  Bacteria will then grow down the root surface to the new bone attachment level as it recedes.  As the bone loss continues bacteria grow further and further beneath the gum line because the gum line won't recede at the same rate as the bone loss. 

The immune system response can cause bone loss.  The amount and severity of bone loss is an inherited factor. 

The bottom line regardless of whether you have an inherited tendency toward greater than average bone loss or not:  plaque must be removed every day.  Timely professional cleanings and excellent oral hygiene at home will keep the numbers of bacteria down.  Reduced bacteria means reduced dental disease.

Crown Preparation

When your tooth has just been prepared for a crown an acrylic resin (plastic) custom made temporary crown will be cemented onto the prepared tooth.  

When the anesthesia wears off the tooth is occasionally cold sensitive.  Cold sensitivity after placement of a new filling or crown is common.  The sensitivity will diminish over 2 days to 2 weeks.  If the sensitivity remains the same for several days or intensifies please notify the office. If the bite on this new crown feels high you should return to the office at your earliest convenience for additional adjustment.

If your temporary crown should come loose please call the office and arrange to come in for recementation.  

If your return to the office must be postponed you may clean the area by brushing the prepared tooth and the inside of the temporary crown and replacing the temporary crown with denture adhesive paste a small dab of toothpaste inside the crown.
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If you have no dental insurance, don't buy any unless your employer offers it to you.  It costs more than a routine cleaning and a check-up and will pay less in benefits than you would pay in premiums.

Many employers today offer dental insurance as a benefit.  It isn't the same as health insurance though.  The important difference is that it is not intended to take care of all your dental needs unless you only need a check-up and a cleaning.

Dental insurance is a way for your employer to pay you more without having to withhold taxes on that additional amount.  It's important to remember that the insurance benefit is not unlimited.  Regardless of which plan you choose there will be a yearly maximum on benefit payments by the insurance company for your dental care. 

If your plan qualifies you to receive benefits for crowns, bridges, dentures or partial dentures it will often reach the limit that the insurance company will pay in one calendar year. 

There are two things to think about.  First, does the dental care you need qualify for benefits under your insurance plan?  And second, what is the dollar amount of those benefits.  If the benefit amount is more than the yearly maximum (which is usually $1000) the insurance company will only pay $1000 a year. 

It is possible to have insurance pay more than the yearly maximum for more extensive treatment needs.  There are two different ways.  First, treatment can be planned to take place in stages.  Second, treatment can be planned to overlap 2 insurance years by completing treatment in January 1994.  This could maximize maximum benefits from both 1993 and 1994 for a plan of treatment. 

If you have postponed treatment because of the cost, this is the time to call.