Why Glacier Dental recommends sealants!

Sealants are often recommended to young children to help prevent cavities. A sealant is a plastic material used to cover the surface of a tooth to help fill in the grooves. They are considered preventative care because the plastic seal prevents food from getting stuck in deep grooves and causing cavities. The reason they are more often recommended to children is to help protect their teeth right away.

However, sealants are also highly recommended for adults who do not have them on their molars. If you're prone to getting cavities, sealants are a great way to help reduce that risk.  The biggest downfall to getting sealants later on in life, is the fact that insurances typically will not cover them if you are over the age of 14, but they are an inexpensive procedure. It is more cost effective to seal your teeth now, than pay for a filling down the road.

Sealants are a pain-free procedure and are applied to the teeth very quickly. Below is an image of how the Doctor or hygienist applies the sealant.

Once the sealant is placed, it can usually last for a few years, some people several years. It is important to remember, however, sealants do not stop teeth from decaying, it helps prevent decay. It is still very important to brush two times a day and floss at least once a day. Next time you're in, ask the Doctor or Hygienist if you have any teeth that they would recommend a sealant on, your teeth are worth it!

Are E-Cigarettes better for your smile?

To start out, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine, which we all know isn't good for our overall health. But what exactly does the nicotine do? It restricts blood vessels and increases risk for periodontal disease. 

What does all that jargon mean? Everyone has white blood cells that "eat bacteria" and reduce the bad bacterial levels (which is a very good thing!). If blood vessels are restricted, causing less blood flow, these white blood cells are unable to do their job of reducing bad bacteria. As a result, gingivitis may occur which can lead to a more progressed inflammation and redness of gums, also known as periodontal disease. According to National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research." In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces (called “pockets”) that become infected." If not treated, teeth may become loose and fall out. 

If you're curious as to whether or not it's worth switching to e-cigs from regular cigarettes, the answer may not be clear. There hasn't been enough research to say whether or not it's much healthier, but here are a few facts. 

E-cigs do not has as much of an effect on recovery processes as opposed to regular cigarettes, however they still do have some effect. According to WebMD, "The biggest danger from tobacco is the smoke, and e-cigarettes don't burn. Tests show the levels of dangerous chemicals they give off are a fraction of what you'd get from a real cigarette." 

Although e-cigarettes are not as "harsh" as regular cigarettes, they can still be harmful to your body and your smile, so use them as a "bridge" to help you quit, if you plan to quit eventually, but we wouldn't recommend just switching to them as an alternative or starting to use them for "fun" if you're not a smoker already.

What's better electric tooth brush or manual?

There truly is no correct answer to what is better, an electric toothbrush or a manual, simply because if you don't use it, it won't work. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, "The best toothbrush is the one you will actually use." But let's explore the pros and cons of each, and maybe it will help you decide what's best for you!

Of course the Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrush is excellent, several of Glacier Dental's patients have purchased these and absolutely love them. There are five different brushing settings and each have their own benefits. Sonicare toothbrushes are proven to remove 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush and can improve gum health in just two weeks. They're also used to whiten teeth in one week by removing surface stains. In addition, this automatic tooth brush has a built in timer and will shut off after two minutes (the proper brush time).

As nice and convenient electric tooth brushes they do have downfalls, just like everything else. The initial cost of an electric toothbrush can be pricey but the benefits of the toothbrush will definitely pay off! Also, you only have to pay that fee once, and the toothbrush heads are removable so more than one person can use the toothbrush. The other downfall is it does need to be charged, however, the DiamondClean can keep a full charge for over a week. It also can be charged with a wall plug-in or a USB plug-in for travel.

Now electric toothbrushes are great, but if you're not going to use it, it's useless. Manual toothbrushes also have many benefits. They're cost effective (especially if you get a free one at your six month check up!), they're easy for traveling, and they're easy for children. The problem is, two minutes of brush time is a lot easier to measure with an electric toothbrush than a manual. So brush time can be reduced by accident. Also, sometimes the toothbrush heads can be too big and proper brushing is not practiced. 

In all reality, whatever toothbrush you are actually going to use, is going to be the recommended one. An electric toothbrush (if you purchase the right one, Sonicare brand is highly recommended) will have more benefits over a manual toothbrush, simply because it can remove more plaque, but a manual toothbrush can get the job done too!

Glacier Dental offers Payment Options!

Whether you're coming in for a cleaning, or plan to have treatment done, Glacier Dental offers a wide variety of payment options. 

These options are available to patients with and without insurance! 

Some of the payment options are offered in house, but we also offer easy loan options through third parties. The payments can be broken up anywhere from 6-60 months!

As an added bonus, some of our options are interest free!

To hear more about these options, call today to reserve your cleaning or exam appointment. We'd love to discuss your options with you! 920-235-3251

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