May 17th, 2012
If you suffer from chronic jaw pain, you may be able to find permanent relief by seeking treatment from a neuromuscular dentist. Neuromuscular dentistry is concerned with the relationship between your jaw joints, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. When your bite is even slightly misaligned, your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can slide out of place, placing stress on your facial muscles and causing pain. Jaw pain is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Neuromuscular dentistry is not taught in most dental schools; it requires specialized post-graduate training. Our experienced Springfield neuromuscular dentists at Baystate Dental can evaluate your bite to determine whether or not TMD or some form of malocclusion is causing your jaw pain. If so, we will develop a treatment plan to help relieve your pain and bring your bite back into proper alignment.
Many of our patients experience relief from their jaw pain during the TMD diagnosis process itself, when we use a special device to relax your jaw muscles and determine your jaw’s ideal resting position. Once we have identified this, we can move forward with a permanent solution for your jaw pain.
If you are suffering from chronic jaw pain, please contact us today to schedule a neuromuscular dentistry consultation. Baystate Dental serves patients in the Greater Springfield, areas of Massachusetts.
Posted in TMJ/TMD | Comments Off
May 17th, 2012
There are many reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. Whether they become infected, broken, or simply unrestorable, teeth do need to be removed sometimes. The number one question and obvious concern is, “Is this going to hurt and how long am I going to be in pain after?” to which my response is, during the procedure and while you are under my care I will do everything I can to make your experience as pain-free as possible. It is once you leave our office when it is crucial that you follow the post-operative instructions judiciously to increase the success of healing and avoid unnecessary pain and possible infection.
By following this post operative protocol, we can minimize anticipated discomfort after oral surgery.
Day of Surgery:
- Using the gauze pad that has been placed over extraction site, apply continuous biting pressure until bleeding has stopped, replace gauze pad every 20 minutes or when blood soaked
- NO SMOKING! Avoid smoking for at least the first 72 hours
- No spitting or sucking through a straw the prevent dislodgment of the clot
- Apply cold compress to area, 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off to minimize swelling
- Limit physical activity and keep your head elevated
- Avoid crunchy, hard, small gritty foods that can get lodged into extraction site and interfere with healing
- Avoid hot temperature, spicy foods
- Avoid alcoholic beverages and rinses
- Avoid cleaning around extraction site
- Do eat a soft, cold diet (ice cream, mashed potatoes, pudding, yogurt)
- Drink plenty of water
Bleeding Considerations:
Bleeding is a normal, healthy and expected result after an extraction. However, the most important advice to help control it is, PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE. If slight oozing is still present, bite down on a moist tea bag. Tea contains tannic acid which helps the blood clot to form. You may want to place an old towel under your head in the event that a little saliva makes its way out of the corner of your mouth and onto your pillow.
Swelling Considerations:
Swelling after an extraction is to be expected. Typically the swelling is at its peak 2-3 days post-surgery. Depending on the type of surgery that was performed, the amount of swelling will vary. Do not be alarmed if days after removing all 4 of your impacted wisdom teeth, you have the infamous “chipmunk face”. Then again, you may have a single loose tooth removed and feel and look completely normal the very next day after surgery.
Pain Considerations:
Follow the recommendation of your doctor for pain management, whether he or she advised you to take over the counter medications such as Advil or Tylenol or written you a prescription. Again, this is all dependent on the type of extraction that was performed. To avoid discomfort the day of surgery, begin taking your pain medication before the anesthetic or numbness has worn off. Do not self medicate with alcohol or combine pain medications, as this can cause unwanted complications.
Avoiding a Dry Socket:
Dry socket or alveolar osteitis is a painful condition presenting itself 3-4 days following the removal of an adult tooth and usually occurs in patients who smoke, have poor oral hygiene, are taking birth control medication, have previously had dry sockets, or have failed to comply with the post operative instructions listed under Day of Surgery. Once the fragile blood clot is dislodged or dissolved, there is no longer a barrier to protect the bone and nerves within the extraction site and allow normal wound healing. This results in a hole in your jaw that is exposed to the elements; air, fluid, food, and any debris that comes in contact with your mouth. Symptoms include pain in the ear, surrounding teeth, and jaw. Unfortunately there is no pain medication that can alleviate the discomfort of dry socket. You can be seen by your dentist to have a medical dressing placed and this will help lessen the pain, but one will simply have to be patient to allow the body to heal.
Follow these post operative directions carefully and thoughtfully. Having the knowledge of how to care for yourself and loved ones after surgery will give you the power to create a positive experience from a potentially stressful one. In the event that you need additional guidance on your treatment, I encourage you to contact us. Here at Baystate Dental, we make ourselves available to our patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions.
By Dr. Laleh Sotoodeh, DMD
Posted in Oral Surgery, Wisdom Teeth | Comments Off
May 14th, 2012
Bruxism is a common condition that involves grinding, gnashing, or clenching your teeth involuntarily. For many people, bruxism is mild enough that they never even think about treating it, but it can eventually lead to headaches, damaged teeth, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD / TMJ).
Most people only grind or clench their teeth at night when they are asleep, making it easy for bruxism to go undiagnosed. You may not even be aware that you have bruxism until you examine other symptoms, such as:
- Teeth that are flattened, chipped, fractured, or otherwise worn down
- Worn tooth enamel that exposes deep layers of your teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Tired jaw muscles
- Earaches
- Chronic facial pain
If you believe you may have bruxism, our experienced neuromuscular dentistry team can help. We provide custom-crafted night guards and splints to protect your teeth at night, as well as restorative dentistry procedures that can help you re-align your bite. Bruxism and TMD are often caused by stress. In these cases, we may also recommend using certain relaxation techniques and jaw stretching exercises on a daily basis.
If you suffer from the painful symptoms of bruxism and/or TMD, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with our experienced Springfield TMD / TMJ team at Baystate Dental.
Posted in TMJ/TMD | Comments Off
May 10th, 2012
Orthodontics is the specific area of dentistry that involves diagnosing, preventing, and correcting misaligned teeth. If you have a bad bite (technically called a “malocclusion”), your teeth will come together incorrectly, causing premature wear and other dental problems as time goes on. TMD is also a common consequence of a misaligned bite.
Our experienced orthodontics team at Baystate Dental offers several different treatment options for patients who need to straighten their teeth, including:
- Invisalign® “invisible” braces
- Metal braces
- Clear braces
- Headgear
- Retainers
Traditional braces are still the most common method of straightening teeth. Some of our teenage patients enjoy using different colored elastics to make their braces decorative, while others prefer using clear braces that are unobtrusive when they smile. However, Invisalign® is an increasingly popular option that offers many advantages over traditional braces – as long as you are a good candidate. After examining your bite, we can help you decide on the treatment option that is right for you.
If you have further questions about your orthodontic options, please contact Baystate Dental today at (877) 507-1616 to schedule an initial consultation. We have offices in Wilbraham, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Chicopee, Belchertown, Ludlow, Springfield, and West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Posted in Orthodontics | Comments Off
May 7th, 2012
If you have been told that you’re not a good candidate for dental implants because you don’t have enough bone left in your upper jaw, now is a good time to get a second opinion. Our experienced implant dentistry team at Baystate Dental offers zygomatic implants: a valuable alternative for patients who lack bone mass in their upper jaw. Zygomatic implants only require a single surgical procedure for placement, and no bone grafting is necessary.
The upper jaw has long been considered one of the most difficult areas to place a dental implant because of the natural lack of bone quantity (and quality). If gum disease, tooth loss, and other factors have caused to you lose bone in this area, you may be an excellent candidate for zygomatic implants. When combined with the placement of a Marius dental bridge, zygomatic implants produce results that look as good as they function, allowing you to speak, eat, and smile with confidence again.
Zygomatic implants are longer than traditional dental implants since they are designed to anchor into your dense zygoma bone in your upper jaw. Within only three days of surgery, a fixed tooth can be placed. It will take around four months for your implant to fully fuse to the bone – a process called osseointegration. Once this process is complete, your final restoration will be made using porcelain or acrylic.
To find out if you are a candidate for zygomatic dental implants, please contact Baystate Dental today at (877) 507-1616 to schedule an initial consultation. We have offices in Wilbraham, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Chicopee, Belchertown, Ludlow, Springfield, and West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Posted in Dental Implants | Comments Off
May 2nd, 2012
What’s the big deal about dental sealants????
As a dental hygienist I often recommend placing sealants on primary molars (also known as baby molars) and permanent first and second molars. Parents usually have questions about sealants and wonder if they are really necessary.
But what is a sealant anyway?
A sealant is a thin plastic coating that is applied to the pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most cavities in children and teens occur on these surfaces. Sealants keep germs and food particles out of these pits and grooves.
Sealants are an easy, affordable and noninvasive procedure compared to fillings. The process takes only one minute or so per tooth!
- First, the chewing surface of the tooth is cleaned using a special gel (etch) to roughen the surface of the tooth. Second, the tooth is rinsed, dried and isolated with a cotton roll or dry angle.
- Next, the sealant material is painted onto the tooth.
- Finally, a special light (curing light) is used to harden the sealant material.
Sealants do not require the use of local anesthesia or a drill. A sealant can last up to 5 or 10 years depending on how well you take care of your teeth; and sealants approved by the FDA.
Sealants are an effective preventive measure that protect your child’s teeth from tooth decay and ensures proper dental health. It is a procedure that is well worth providing for your child.
By: Tracey, RDH – Baystate Dental Hygienist
If you’re interested in learning more about sealants, or would like your child to have sealants placed on his/her teeth, contact the professional dental team at Baystate Dental now. We have extended hours and offices conveniently located in Springfield, West Springfield, Belchertown, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham.
Posted in Dental Hygiene, General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry | Comments Off
May 1st, 2012
Baystate Dental is always trying to make positive impacts on the lives of our patients and our communities. We’ve been “Helping People Smile Since 1983!” and we aim to do so every day, whether in or out of the office.
This Saturday, May 5th, Baystate Dental team member, Wanda, is volunteering at an event her church is sponsoring. She’ll be offering free oral health education to attendees and will also have informational brochures about how to protect your oral health and about Baystate Dental. The details of the event are below.
SATURDAY OF HOPE
Sponsored by CCNJ
Saturday, May 5th
11am-5pm
The event will be held at Medina’s Supermarket at 2705 Main Street in Springfield.
Posted in Baystate Dental | Comments Off
April 26th, 2012
The world of dentistry is always growing. With more advanced research, new products and testing are becoming available to offer the best treatment possible for our patients.
As some of you might read about or see on TV, there is a direct correlation between periodontal infections and systemic diseases. Within the past decade more information has become available in regards to the “Oral/Systemic” link. Gum disease can affect your blood pressure, diabetes and other heart disease. Vice-versa, uncontrolled medical conditions can show in your mouth. Many might think the oral cavity has nothing to do with the rest of our body BUT it is our GATEWAY to our system and ANY infection in our mouth can then travel throughout our entire body.
As we continue to learn about how closely related gum infections are to overall health what better way than to have a detailed report about susceptibility through DNA from our saliva! There are different and easy tests to help determine what our chances are of having the infectious bacteria and determining overall health.
With these QUICK, EASY and NON-INVASIVE tests - some being just as simple as a 30 second swish and spit – we can send them out to a lab and receive results to better determine what type of treatment would be best for each individual patient!
So be on the look out for innovations in Salivary Diagnostics! You could see them at your Baystate Dental office in the near future..and remember a HAPPY MOUTH IS A HAPPY BODY 
By: Jessie O., Baystate Dental Hygienist
Posted in Dental Hygiene, Dental Technology, Gum Disease | Comments Off
April 20th, 2012
Since primitive times, men and women have tried to maintain the health of their teeth in the best way they knew how. However, formal general dentistry is usually traced back to the early 1500s, when a German book was published teaching surgeons how to drill and extract teeth, as well as how to install gold fillings.
Two centuries later, a French doctor named Pierre Fauchard published a book called The Surgeon Dentist: A Treatise on Teeth. This was the first book to thoroughly address the practice of dentistry, making Dr. Fauchard the “Father of Modern Dentistry” according to most historians. Dentistry soon became established as a profession throughout Europe, and just a few years after the United States was founded as a new nation, an English dentist migrated to the States to set up America’s first-ever dental practice.
Some notable historic advancements in dentistry include:
- 1800s – Invention of the toothpaste tube
- 1900s – Invention of Novocain painkiller, allowing for the creation of false teeth and casting fillings
- Mid-1900s – Invention of dental implants; first school started for the study of dental hygiene
- 2000s – FDA-approved lasers for dental surgery, digital X-ray machines, computer-guided creation of dental crowns, etc
Today’s modern dental technology has made dentistry not only more comfortable, but more precise and effective than ever.
If you are searching for a skilled and trustworthy dentist in the Springfield, Massachusetts area, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation at Baystate Dental. We serve patients throughout Western Massachusetts in the Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham areas.
Posted in General Dentistry | Comments Off
April 19th, 2012
Did you know that dental decay is the number one most common chronic childhood disease and that 50% of children have NEVER even been to the dentist?
Most people nowadays know that brushing your teeth is important, but a lot of people have a different mind-set about baby teeth because “they fall out”. The first set of primary teeth don’t start falling out until the age of 6 or 7 for most children and the second set usually occurs around the ages of 10 to 12. Would you want a broken tooth in your mouth for that long? Plus the bacterium that causes tooth decay can also cause problems with the forming adult teeth as well as bodily infections, problems with nutrition, sleeping and even learning in school.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends visiting a Dentist by the child’s first birthday. This can help to ensure that parents and caretakers are learning the best methods for oral care and keep their kids on track. The Dentists at Baystate Dental can help to make sure your child is staying as healthy as possible. Make an appointment today to get your child started with the dentist.
By: Dr. Holly Nartker, DDS
Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Comments Off
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