Cold Sore Help...

     This time of year the rush of the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Years can cause a bit of extra stress and sometimes our bodies react by producing a lovely red sore with lots of little blisters in the middle...usually right on your lips.  This is a phenomena known as a COLD SORE, or fever blister. 
     Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type I, also known as herpes labialis.  This strain of herpes usually leads to infection from the waist up, while type II infections are usually located below the waist, also known as genital herpes.  The most common areas for type I breakouts are the mouth, lips, nose and chin.  The virus is highly contagious and can be passed from kissing and other exposure to the sore.  That means hand washing is essential BEFORE you use the bathroom as well as after.  Children are highly susceptible, so be sure to avoid kissing and sharing drinks if you have a breakout.
     Once a person is exposed to the virus it may lie dormant in the body for years and be triggered at a later time.  The virus attaches deep in the nerve roots near the area that was exposed and remains there. Breakouts may be triggered from one of several different things including stress, excessive sun exposure, colds and other infections or monthly periods.  Some people will experience frequent breakouts while others may only have them one or two times a year. 
     The blisters associated with the cold sore usually dry up in a few days and are replaced with scabs that disappear in about 7-10 days.  While there is no cure for this virus there are several ways to treat the burning and pain from the sores.  Envision Dental offers a topical germicidal antiseptic, available only to medical professionals,that helps relieve pain and burning caused by the cold sore.  After multiple breakouts most people are able to "feel" when they are about to get a cold sore.  This feeling is often described as a tingly, itchy sensation and when this feeling occurs it is very important to start treatment right away to shorten the severity and longevity of the breakout.
     Contact our Team at Envision Dental for more information or to purchase this helpful product.

Smiles, Holly

Mouth Protection and Sports

          Protection for chest, knees, shins, elbows and heads is a requirement for many different high-school and college sports, however, we often neglect to protect one very valuable area of our youth...the mouth.  It is only in boxing and football that a mouth guard is generally required even though the mouth is the most injured body part from sports like Little League baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey and volleyball.  Even bike and scooter riding accidents can be damaging to the mouth and teeth.  A mouth guard not only helps protect the teeth from a blow to the mouth, but it also helps to absorb shock in the chin. This is why we highly encourage the use of a mouth guard for any child involved with these types of activities.  

          There are basically three different types of mouth guards available to you and generally cost from $10-$60 depending on the quality of the mouth guard.

     Basic * a generic pre-made guard that comes in one size.  These are often ill-fitting and can make it difficult to speak and breath.  These are usually found in the sports section of your sporting goods store.

     Boil-and-Bite   * this is a plastic material that is boiled and then bitten into by your child.  The hot water makes the plastic pliable and it then roughly forms to the shape of the child's teeth when bitten into.  This offers a somewhat better fit than the basic but can be troublesome to make.  These are also available in the sporting goods stores.

     Custom-Fitted Mouth Guard   *   This type of guard offers the best fit, resulting in easier breathing and speech as well as better protection.  The guard is made in-office by your dental professional and is perfectly fitted to your child's mouth and palate.  With a quick visit to our office you can ensure a season of sports and dental safety.

Mouth guard maintenance is simple.  Rinse with cool water after each use and for a better clean use liquid dish soap and cool water.  Avoid hot water, as that may warp the mouth guard and ruin the fit.  A mouth guard will wear out and should be replaced every season or so...depending on how many activities your son or daughter is involved with.

We look forward to helping you protect your child!

Smiles, Holly  

Time for the Tooth Fairy?

Many Mom's and Dad's start to worry if their child hasn't lost a tooth by age six.  It's okay.  Children usually lose their first tooth sometime between age six and seven years old.  Every child will grow and develop at their own pace, some may lose their first tooth a little earlier, others a bit later.  One of the big influences seems to be the timing of when he/she started to get baby teeth and when the last baby tooth came in.

The average child gets the first baby tooth at age six months and then gets three to four new teeth every three to four months.  This continues until the second molars erupt at about age 2 to 2 1/2 years, at which time your child should have all twenty baby teeth.

If your child got his first tooth early or finished getting all of his baby teeth early, then he might start losing the baby teeth early too.  On the other hand, if he didn't get the first baby tooth until age twelve to fifteen months, then he might be a little later than average in losing his first tooth.

Once your child starts losing his teeth, the pattern will seem like a reverse of how the baby teeth came in.  He should first lose the bottom two middle teeth, which are called the mandibular central incisors.  Next, the top two middle teeth will loosen and fall out, followed by the canines, first molars and then the second molars.

By age eleven to thirteen, the process should be complete and all of the baby teeth will be gone.  In some instances the dentist may have to help "wiggle" out a baby tooth.  For instance sometimes a permanent tooth may push through the gums behind or in front of a baby tooth and the baby tooth would need to be removed.    There are also occasions when it may be necessary to remove a baby tooth due to orthodontic needs or because the child refuses to wiggle the tooth out themselves.

The secondary or permanent teeth soon begin to erupt as your child looses the baby teeth.  This process isn't complete until your child gets his third molars or wisdom teeth, usually between seventeen to twenty-two years of age.

If you have questions or concerns about the development and or loss of your child's teeth please feel free to discuss this with us.  We want to make this process of development a fun time and not something that causes undue stress.

A Message from Kayla!

A Message from Kayla!

I love animals, and am enjoying my work here at Envision Dental  immensely.  So to combine these two interests, you may find the following animal dental facts of interest to you and the family pet (including a few other critters)!

Keep in mind the average adult has 32 teeth...

- Dogs have 42 teeth

-  Cats have 30 teeth

-  Guinea Pigs have 20 teeth

-  Hamsters have 16 teeth (some of which will continue to grow throughout its lifetime)

-  Pigs have 44 teeth

-  An elephant will grind down and re-grow SIX sets of teeth in an average life span.

and,

-  An Armadillo can have over a hundred teeth!  (Aren't you glad you don't have to floss that many?)

A message from Lynne...

Is your breath as fresh as it should be?

Bad breath is an embarrassing problem.  Using mouthwash and or sucking on mints is only going to temporarily cover up the odor.  Getting to the root of the problem will be a refreshing way to a healthier and happier you.

The causes of bad breath are numerous and could include certain foods, alcohol, cigarettes, poor or infrequent tooth brushing/flossing habits, periodontal disease, diabetes, dry mouth, sinus infections and reflux issues.  Here are some tips to keeping mouth odor under control:

- Brush teeth twice a day

-  Floss daily to clean debris from between the teeth, under the gums

-  Get regular dental cleanings

-  Clean your tongue on a regular basis

-  Eat a healthy diet

-  Treat underlying health issues


Call me at ENVISION Dental,  Lynne

Is Your Smile Helping You or Holding You Back?

Your smile has a bigger effect on your business and personal relationships than any other part of your appearance.  It's one of the first things people will notice about you when meeting you for the first time.

For hundreds of years, from the Mona Lisa to today's cover girls, a smile has always carried great significance.  Your smile might say that your are shy and scared or it may say I am proud and confident.

It is a reliable indication of a person's sense of well-being and has an enormous impact on your health, self-esteem and your personal and business relationships.

In short...a beautiful smile makes peoples more attracted to you; more disposed to like you, more eager to do business with you and more eager to help you with any kind of favor you need.

Here are three questions that you might consider when thinking about your smile and changes that you would like to make with it...

1.  When you see someone with a gorgeous smile does it make you envious?

2.  Are you ever embarrassed to smile with your teeth showing?

3.  Is there anything you would do to change your smile?

4.  Do you frequently smile "behind your hand"?

We believe that everyone should have the smile they want.  A beautiful smile has the ability to boost your confidence and dramatically change your daily life.

Call us today and we can make your dreams come true

by helping you wear the smile of a lifetime!

Do You Suffer from Canker Sores?

     When it comes to managing canker sores, you need to know everything you can about them in order to help ease the pain, speed up healing and possibly reduce the number of canker sore outbreaks you experience. 
     Canker Sores tend to appear out of nowhere, may be very painful, and almost always heal up very well on their own.
     There are three types of canker sores that range from mild to very severe.  At their onset, canker sores will often begin with telltale raw, burning signs and then turn into a raw white sore.  Canker sores generally last for no more than two weeks.  
     These sores may develop for one of any number of reasons, from genetics to serious disease to a certain brand of toothpaste or food sensitivity.  When you know the cause of your canker sore outbreaks, treating these painful mouth sores may become easier.  
     There are treatments and remedies that may help ease the pain from canker sores and possibly help speed up the healing process, but presently, there is no known cure for canker sores.
     Dr. Berard is able to greatly reduce the number of days of healing by sterilizing the area(s) with laser treatment.  This is painless and takes less than 15 minutes.  
     It is important to keep in mind that the outcome from any course of treatment, whether it be prescription medication, over-the-counter products, or home-made remedies will be partially influenced by the individual and certainly dependent on the type and severity of the canker sores.

Dental Myths:  Fact vs Fiction

Myth:  I can't see any problems with my teeth and I don't have pain, so I don't need to go to the dentist.

Fact:  There are dental problems that aren't visible to the naked eye.  Gum disease, hairline fractures and root canal disease are just a few of these problems.  Dentists use technologies such as digital X-rays to detect problems both on and beneath the surface of your teeth.  Dental visits should be considered preventive care not emergency care.  Treating an issue BEFORE it is visible or painful is less expensive to fix.




Myth:  I don't need to worry about my teeth because my parents never had problems.


Fact:  Though genetics may play a small role in predicting your oral health, how well you take care of your teeth will be the single most important determinant in how healthy they are.






Myth:  Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal is just as effective as brushing.


Fact:  It is true that chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help clean your teeth, stimulate saliva flow and freshen your breath, however, it is no replacement for a thorough brushing and flossing, which actually removes dental plaque and food debris.  

Is It Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

About 80 million people in North America snore, and approximately 12 million Americans have sleep apnea.  So what is the difference, and why does it matter?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft palate and uvula, which occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep.  There are several factors that may contribute to the obstruction of the airway and cause you to snore including allergies, drinking alcohol before bed, being overweight and having large tonsils or a deviated septum.

If you snore now and then, you probably have nothing to worry about, however, chronic snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea.  This is a more serious sleep disorder and should not be brushed off as unimportant.  People with sleep apnea stop breathing in their sleep - sometimes up to 100 times in an hour - for one minute or longer.  Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your chances of serious health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.  At a minimum, you may feel groggy in the morning or unable to concentrate during the day.

The good news is sleep apnea IS treatable.  The two most common ways to treat sleep apnea are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (administered by a physician) and oral appliance therapy (administered by a dentist).  CPAP therapy can be very effective for people with sleep apnea, however, some people find it difficult to sleep with the required mask and the machine can be disruptive to your bed partner's sleep.  More people are turning to the oral appliances administered by their dentist.  Oral appliances are small devices that look like mouthguards.  They increase the airway space and reduce air velocity and snoring by moving the lower jaw into a slightly forward position.  Patients who have tried both say that oral appliances are more comfortable to wear, quieter, easier to care for and very cost-effective.  For more information or to schedule an appointment contact your ENVISION Dental Team @ 231-933-9000.     Snoring or Sleep Apnea

Dental Related Careers

Include Dentistry in Your Employment Options.

     When you and your child or teen are talking about what they would like to do with their future, consider mentioning the Dental Field.  There are multiple areas of Dentistry including: Dentists, Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Office Team Members, and Lab Technicians.  Related careers would include sales representatives from Dental Supply companies and Repair Technicians as well.

     Dentists have such a rewarding job.  They are able to change lives through the skills they learn and perfect.  There are many different categories of dentistry that you may be unaware of.


     General Dentist - Practices all phases of dentistry including placing fillings, preparing  teeth for crowns, bridges or porcelain facings, working with dentures and perform root canals.  The General Dentist also works with a hygienist to promote healthy teeth and gums.  The general dentist and the following specialists work together to provide the optimum oral health and patient care.

The American Dental Association recognizes the following 9 dental specialties:

• Dental Public Health - the specialty concerned with the prevention of dental disease.  The public health dentist works with the community to promote dental health.
• Endodontics - concerned with the pathology and morphology of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues due to injury or disease.  
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology - the specialty concerned with the diagnosis and nature of diseases affecting the oral cavity.  A patient with a lesion may be referred to the oral pathologist.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology - the specialty of dentistry and the discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data (X-ray) for the diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery - concerned with diagnosis and treatment of the oral and maxillofacial region due to injury, disease or defects.  If you need wisdom teeth removed you will often see an oral surgeon.
• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics - concerned with the diagnosis, supervision, guidance and correction of malocclusion in the dentofacial structure (mouth/head).
• Pediatric Dentistry - concerned with the prevention of oral disease and the diagnosis and treatment of oral care in children, from birth through adolescence.  Other patients requiring special care due to emotional, mental, or physical problems are often referred to a pediatric dentist.
• Periodontics - concerned with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth.
• Prosthodontics - concerned with the diagnosis, restoration and maintencance of oral functions.  This specialty is also concerned with the replacement of missing teeth through artificial means

There is another area that would require additional training which is forensic dentistry.  This is a newer area of dentistry that deals with many services, such as the identification of bite marks on a body and or the identification of an individual using dental records.  

Hygienists are a vital component of Dentistry.   This is a licensed position that requires graduation from a two- or four- year dental hygiene school and passing written and clinical tests in the state in which they will practice.  Once this is completed they receive the title registered dental hygienist (RDH).
     The Dental Hygienist is responsible for dental prophylaxis which includes removing plaque, stains and calculus from the teeth, along with patient education.  In some states the dental hygienist is allowed to take and develop dental x-rays, place sealants on teeth, chart conditions in the mouth, place restorative materials and administer local anesthetics.  Lasers are also becoming more frequently used by the dental hygienist in certain circumstances.



Dental Assistants    Depending on the state and licensing of the assistant a wide range of responsibilities can be assigned to the dental assistant.  Certification can be obtained by individuals who pass a comprehensive written exam from DANB, The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.  Other specialized certification can be obtained in areas including certified orthodontic assisting and certified dental practice management.
     Some states allow assistants to obtain the credential of RDA, or Registered Dental Assistant or Registered Dental Assistant in Expanded Functions (EDAEF)


 Dental Laboratory Technicians - some dental lab techs are employed by the dentist, however, others work in privately owned dental laboratories.  These technicians provide extraoral services such as fabricating gold and porcelain restorations (crowns, bridges, etc) as well as partial and complete dentures.

Office Team Members  - responsible for scheduling patients, working with insurance companies and possibly marketing and accounting.  This position is becoming more specialized with the use of computers and computerized dental claims.

Other Members of the Dental Team - Other important members of the Dental practice include dental service technicians, dental supply companies and their representatives and dental software representatives.

Defending Dental Films

Recently in the news you may have heard a lot about the possible link between dental x-rays and brain tumors.  You may NOT have heard that the research was poorly conducted and no direct link could be proven. 

            Fourteen hundred people with a certain type of benign brain tumor were asked to “recall” how many bitewing and panoramic x-rays they had over their lifetime.  Keep in mind traditional x-rays had more radiation exposure than the digital x-rays that most modern dental offices use today.  In addition, no other comparisons were made as to physical or environmental factors with these patients.  There did seem to be a slight increase of tumors in those patients that had yearly bitewing x-rays and panoramic x-rays before age 10.

            The American Dental Association recommends adults with low risk of dental disease be x-rayed every 2-3 years.  Children should have films taken every 1-2 years.  Without dental films (x-rays) your dentist can not properly detect infections of the teeth and gums, many cavities, abcessed teeth, tumors or cysts. 

            To minimize your exposure to dental films and get the proper treatment it is important to establish yourself with a dentist.  This will allow you to develop a history with that dentist so that problems can be minimized by early prevention and maintenance. 

            If you still have questions or concerns feel free to ask myself or Dr. Berard.  We want you to be comfortable with your dental care here at ENVISION.  - Lynne

Vitamin D Is Essential for Healthy Teeth

     Did you know that bone growth and the development of healthy teeth are directly related to vitamin D in the body?  Vitamin D can be manufactured by the body when exposed to ultraviolet rays.  We all need vitamin D to ensure healthy bones and tooth development.  The best food sources of vitamin D include eggs, liver and fortified milk.

Fear-Free Dental Visits for your child!

ENVISION Dental wants to help your child remain cavity-free for life.  We recommend your child's first visit be around age 1.  Early prevention is very important so that painful cavities do not lead to dental office fears. 


At the first visit, Dr. Berard will examine the teeth to ensure proper growth and development.  To help make this a smooth visit we provide a Knee-to-Knee exam allowing you to hold your child or sit in the dental chair holding your child so that they feel secure.


Our knowledgeable team will share facts on how cavities are formed and how diet effects the growth of cavities.  We will answer any questions such as "is flouride appropriate for my child?". 


It is a good idea to let your child watch you brush your teeth.   You should also be brushing your child's teeth and then allow them to brush on their own too!  Be a good example your little ones are wathching.


The last thing I want to say is PLEASE DO NOT try to scare your child into brushing his or her teeth by telling them, "if you don't brush you will have to get a SHOT when you go to the dentist."  This back-fires when they do end up with a cavity and they are scared to come get it fixed.  They become fearful of the dentist and can develop life-long dental related anxiety.  If a "shot" is necessary we call it "sleepy juice" and we call the drill, "Mr. Bumpy".  Be careful of what you say because our kids are listening too!

     I never believed that an oral appliance could ever reduce the amount of migraines a person had.  I am now a true believer.  I had experienced bad migraines most of my life.  When I would start to get one I knew my day was over.  I would try just about everything to make it just go away.  NOTHING worked!  I would have to take a nap, or more less go to bed for the night.  Having three children and a very busy lifestyle we all know that it is impossible to just go to bed at 3 or 5 in the afternoon because you can’t handle noise, light, or any sort of movement.  The migraines took over my life, in a way that I could not function on a daily basis without anticipating I would soon have one. 

     I started working for Dr. Berard in November of 2008.  Soon after we opened I went through all the new patient exam questions with him and when asked if I had headaches or migraines, I told him I have them all the time, horrible ones, to the point of ruining my plans for the day (sometimes for a couple of days).  He told me we could do some TENSing and run the K-7 (computer jaw tracking system) scans on me to check how my facial and neck muscles are.  I was a little nervous, only because I was unsure of the procedures outcome.  Sooner than later, by choice, I was hooked up to the K-7 for some pre-scans and then TENSed for 1 hour.  After the hour of TENSing, he ran the post tensing scans.  We took a few different impressions of where he wanted my bite to be and that was it.  Dr. Berard sent everything out to the lab for them to create the orthotic, which I was going to have to wear all day except when I ate.  I was ok with it only because Dr. Berard said it could reduce my migraines.  I did believe him, after all, I was up for anything that would take these migraines away!!  

    About three weeks later, my orthotic was here!  Can you imagine how very anxious I was?  SO…..  Dr. Berard TENSed me again for another hour, and tried in the orthotic, which fit perfectly to my teeth, with a little adjusting, and was made of hard acrylic material.  It felt a little strange, but like I said, I was up for anything!!  So I wore the orthotic, which did take a little getting used to, for a week or so.  Dr. Berard then asked how I was doing with it.  I thought about it for a minute and replied, “I haven’t had a migraine or even a slight feeling of a headache this whole week.”  As time has gone on, over 3 years, I have had about a handful of headaches, and who doesn’t?  When you have a stressful day, kids are acting crazy, or just in need of that sugar fix!!!  That is about the only time I get one.

      I am now going to be getting all of my upper teeth restored in porcelain so that I do not have to wear the orthotic anymore, because my new porcelain crowns will put my jaw where it was when wearing the orthotic.  We will open my bite just a couple of millimeters.  Can you imagine that my "bite" is what was causing the horrible migraines?  My bite!  About 80% of the population has a misaligned bite, which may cause a variety of issues.  TMD, Migraines and Headaches, and Muscle tension from clenching and grinding are just a few I want to mention.

 

     I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for what Dr. Berard has done for me and have recommended him to many of my friends and family members, and always will.  He understands Nueromuscular Dentistry in a way that I believe no other Doctor in Traverse City does.  The continuing education he has put himself, and us as team members through, is truly remarkable.  

Denture Care

     Dentures are a vital part of the every day lives of many adults.  Often referred to as false teeth or a plate, dentures help give a more youthful appearance to those who have no teeth and help with speach and chewing food as well.   A complete denture replaces all the teeth on either the top or bottom or both.  A partial denture replaces missing teeth with some teeth remaining in the mouth. 

     Dentures need to be cared for as you should teeth.  They should be rinsed after eating if you are not able to brush them.  Using a soft bristle brush with denture cleaner will help preserve the denture and keep it in the best condition possible.  You may use a mild hand or dish soap to clean your denture, however, avoid using toothpaste and other household cleansers as they may be too abrasive.  This can cause small scratches in the tooth or acrylic material allowing bacteria to become trapped.

     Many people choose to wear their denture or partial all day and then take them out at bed time.  That is a good idea as it gives the tissue inside of the mouth a chance to "breathe".  Continue to brush the gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every day with a soft bristled brush and a mild toothpaste if you wish.  When you remove the denture make sure that you store it in a container with water to avoid drying the denture out.  Also remember that dogs love to chew on dentures so if you live with a Rex, Rover or Fido make sure that you are storing it up out of their reach as well.   

     Many people with dentures are under the false impression that once they have dentures there is no need to return to the dentist, however, it should still be a very important part of your life. Your jaw bones and gums can shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing.  You should plan on having your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once a year and your dentist should do an oral cancer screening, checking the mouth for sores and bumps that should not be there.  This yearly exam will let us know when relining or rebasing your denture is necessary.  Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease.  Even dentures that "fit" comfortably need to be evaluated and replaced, usually after 5-10 years.                                              Smiles, Holly