Halloween Decoration!

Dental Fear and Dental Phobia:

 What's the Difference?

For many people, the mere thought of going to the dentist triggers feelings of anxiety and fear. Around 15 percent of Americans - over 45 million people - suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia. 

The causes of dental anxiety and phobia can range from a fear of pain, fear of needles or doctors to past experiences of stress and discomfort. An individual's predisposition to anxiety can also play a key role. 

Dental Fear, Dental Phobia or Dental Anxiety?

Though the phrases dental anxiety,dental fear and dental phobia are often used interchangeably to describe a range of symptoms and reactions to dental practices in general, important distinctions can be drawn between them, which can be useful in finding effective dental treatment options. 

Anxiety refers to the sense of unease associated with the unknown. If you suffer from dental anxiety, you may find that working with a dentist who is sensitive to your needs and communicates with you to create a comfortable atmosphere can greatly improve your experience and help you to overcome your anxiety. 

A phobia is an intense and possibly irrational reaction to a specific situation or object that is perceived as threatening. If you suffer from dental phobia you may react to the sound of a drill, the expectation of pain or another aspect of dentistry for which you have a strong dislike or fear. 

 Overcoming dental phobias, especially if they are particularly intense, can be more complicated than dealing with anxieties and may require professional assistance.

 Dental fear is the term often used for a more mild form of dental phobia. 

"Our dental office in Chino, California has been committed to serving  patients with fear and phobia and has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success over the years" says Dr Cherukuri. 

"The online reviews are a testament of our patients' rehabilitation from dental fear and a source of confidence building for others looking for this care." Dr Cherukuri adds.

Trick or Treat!

Stress, Anxiety can lead to Teeth Grinding

Take a deep breath and relax. Stress and anxiety may bring some unwanted oral health concerns, such as teeth grinding—and you may not even be aware of it.

Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is when you clench your teeth, or slide your teeth back-and-forth over each other. Often, it occurs unconsciously while you sleep.
Although it’s not considered a dangerous disorder, it can put pressure on the jaw muscles and tissues, and wear down your teeth, according to the National Institutes of Health. It may lead to jaw pain, headaches and earaches, and permanent damage to the teeth.

While there are various causes to teeth grinding, daily stress may be the biggest trigger for most people. Symptoms include sensitivity in the teeth, sore jaw and insomnia.

To treat teeth grinding, the NIH recommends reducing your daily stress and learning various relaxation techniques, such as meditation. Relaxing your face and jaw muscles throughout the day—to make a habit out of it—can also help.

Often, avoiding hard foods such as candies and nuts, drinking plenty of water, and massaging the muscles of the neck, shoulders and face can help relieve or reduce any pain.

However, there are other possible causes of teeth grinding. These include: sleep disorders; an abnormal bite; misaligned teeth; and in children, irritation in the mouth and allergies.

In such cases, dentists may provide you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep. Dentists may also recommend a muscle relaxant to be used before going to bed.

"Teeth grinding is generally a chronic condition that is best treated conservatively in its initial stages" says Dr.Cherukuri from her Chino, California practice.

For a free dental evaluation:

 Visit www.chinosmiles.com    or      Call 909 627-6699.

Sweet Tooth?

Finding the Right Toothpaste!

Just the number of options you have when you buy a tube of toothpaste can be overwhelming. When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it's important to think about your unique oral health needs.

Toothpaste Basics

Toothpaste is available in paste, gel, or powder form. Despite the many types of toothpaste, there are some ingredients common to most varieties. These include:

• Abrasive agents.
• Flavoring.
• Humectants for moisture retention.
• Thickeners
• Detergents.

Fluoride Toothpaste

The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Its use has been instrumental in the dramatic drop in tooth decay and cavity occurrence that has taken place over the past 50 years. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starches that remain on your teeth after eating. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It does this in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by remineralizing areas that have started to decay.

Tartar Control Toothpaste

There are many tartar control toothpastes on the market, most of which contain fluoride.

Everyone has a layer of bacteria on their teeth called plaque. If plaque isn't removed promptly with proper oral hygiene, it hardens into tartar. This hard-to-remove deposit can build up on your teeth and under your gums, ultimately leading to gum disease.

Certain toothpastes containing multiple anti-plaque agents have been demonstrated to be even more effective at tartar control than varieties with only one plaque fighter.

Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth

For people who have teeth that are easily irritated -- for instance, by hot or cold temperatures -- there are toothpastes available that are made for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These chemical compounds, which can take up to 4 weeks to offer relief, help tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves inside the teeth.

Whitening Toothpaste

To help people on a quest for pearly whites, many whitening toothpastes are now being marketed for everyday use, says Dr. Cherukuri, from her Chino, California dental practice.

 

Whitening toothpastes do not typically contain bleaches. Instead, they contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or bind to stains and help pull them off the tooth surface.

October is Dental Hygeine Month!

 

Visit our website www.chinosmiles.com for our celebration specials

Skipping Dental Exams is Tempting But Costly!

It's understandable that you might be tempted to skip regular dental exams/dental checkups when the economy is bad or if you're experiencing a financial crunch. But brushing and flossing aren't enough to keep your dental health in tip-top shape. And the fact is putting professional dental care on hold can result in serious dental problems later - and treatments that are much more costly.

If you have dental insurance, be sure to take advantage of the benefits. Standard coverage usually includes preventive care - dental exams and checkups - as well as X-rays and basic restorative treatments like a tooth filling. Talk to your dental insurance provider to get all the details; knowing what's covered and what's not can be the difference between incurring extra costs and avoiding them. In addition, talk to your dental office's administrator prior to your visits to get an estimate of costs so that you can determine your out-of-pocket expenses (if any).

Even if you don't have dental insurance, there are many payment options available to help you stay on top of regular dental exams and checkups. One option is to directly make payment arrangements with your dental office. Sometimes dental offices will even give you a discount for cash payments, so don't be shy about asking! Many dental offices now accept (or even offer) financing plans such as CareCredit®, which can be used for a variety of health care treatments, including dentistry. Dental schools and community dentists also offer low-cost dental care.

Visit www.chinosmiles.com or Call 909 627- 6699 to take advantage of our National Dental Hygiene Month promotions.

Dental Humor!

Can the Body Reject Dental Implants?

Dental Implants cannot be rejected by the body because they are manufactured with bio-compatible materials like titanium. 

 However, implants can fail, 1) if the bone quality is poor, 2) the bone is over heated while preparing the site for the implant, 3) implant is under excess function, 4)infection present in the bone next to the implant, 5) poor oral hygiene as a implant is more susceptible  to gum disease than a natural tooth.

An implant could fail after it is placed if the patient's home care is not ideal and if the implant is working with unfavorable forces working against it. Implants respond well to forces in the center of the implant. 

Implant failure can also be attributed to poor patient health as well as smoking.

Appropriate case selection and treatment planning are critical to implant success
.
“Making use of all the available diagnostic tools like CT scan, panorex, intra oral images, and diagnostic study models are invaluable”, says Dr Cherukuri, from her Chino,California practice.

Good post operative instructions will prepare the patient in making their contribution toward treatment success.
Visit www.chinosmiles.com for more information.