A tooth that has been ‘knocked out’ or avulsed can be re-implanted in its socket, but there are important guidelines to follow. A recent study discussing the effectiveness of liquids to store such a tooth before getting dental treatment had me review not only this article, but the current information on the treatment of teeth knocked out. It is not common to see teeth that are knocked out, but when it occurs it is more often in youth, and more often in boys than girls.

Current Information and Guidelines

• Time is a critical factor to successful re-implantation. Teeth re-implanted less than 15 minutes have a high success rate, and those out of the mouth for more than an hour a low success rate.
• In addition, how the tooth is handled and stored prior to re-implantation are very relevant.

Time, handling and storage are all related to the biology of a tooth, and in particular the cells holding the tooth in the jaw bone – the periodontal ligament. These cells are torn when a tooth is knocked out, and begin to die once the tooth is out of the mouth.

A baby tooth has been knocked out need not be re-implanted. A permanent tooth that has been knocked out, but broken, especially if part of the root remains in the socket, cannot be salvaged.

• once a permanent tooth is knocked out, call your dentist right away
• only touch the enamel part of the tooth, not the root (to not crush the periodontal ligament cells)
• do not rinse off the tooth
• do not store the tooth in water, salt water, or in your mouth
• preferred transport solutions: Save-A-Tooth (often with medical, paramedical professionals at sporting events), green tea (room temperature, not prepared drinks), milk

The re-implanted tooth will almost always need a root canal (not necessarily if the tooth root is not fully formed in a young person), and even then the tooth may not be saved.

Some helpful online resources: Colgate.com, Wikipedia, Save-A-Tooth.com, DoctorSpiller.com

The differences between men and women are extensive, especially when it comes to taking care of one’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), compared to men, women are better about seeing their physician for routine check-ups and are more likely to schedule a doctor visit when feeling sick or injured. And now, new research published in the Journal of Periodontology reveals another area where women are more proactive than men: in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Read more …

Periodontal Health: Women vs. Men

• Women are 26 percent more likely than men to floss on a daily basis.
• 74 percent of women would be embarrassed by a missing tooth, a possible consequence of periodontal disease, compared to 57 percent of men.
• Women are almost twice as likely to notice missing teeth on another person than men.
• 44 percent of women are aware that periodontists can help contribute to overall good health, compared to 33 percent of men.

Source: The American Academy of Periodontology

An article in today’s Washington Post, “Handing Out Diplomas with a Side of Clean”, addresses greeting and handshakes and hand washing. The basis for the article is the concern over institutionalized handshaking with upcoming graduations.

Before the Johns Hopkins University president gives 1,300 graduating students their congratulatory handshake Thursday, volunteers will give them a cautionary dollop of hand sanitizer.

Some notable points extracted from the article:

• “… there’s little scientific evidence that harmful bacteria are passed through a casual squeeze of the hands during commencement. One of the first studies to put the handshake under the microscope comes from Hopkins’s School of Public Health, and it shows little danger from dangerous pathogens.” (today’s WaPo article)
• automatic faucets common in public bathrooms are harboring excess bacteria (source)
• refillable soap dispensers so prone to contamination that users’ hands may be more bacteria-laden than before they were washed (source)
• palms, unless extra moist from stress, just aren’t good receptors for pathogens (today’s WaPo article)

Current Information About Hand Washing (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• When should you wash your hands?
• What is the right way to wash your hands?
• What if I don’t have soap and clean, running water?

See the video below, or click here.

The bite of an infected mosquito, tick or other disease carrying insect may result in a life changing illness, such as West Nile virus or Lyme disease. The Disease Carrying Insect Program (DCIP), established in 2003, works to minimize the threat of insect-borne diseases through active surveillance, vector management, and community education activities to help protect county residents.

Learn more about tick borne diseases, how to remove a tick safely, etc., through the DCIP program, click here.

Spring and flowers are here, and many people are thinking of graduation, and even upcoming weddings. If you’ve wondered about tooth whitening and want to have it done in time for that special event, now is a good time to get started.

The most effective (whitest) and longest lasting method of tooth whitening is the professionally made tray (upper and lower, ultra thin mouthpiece) that you wear for 30-60 minutes a day until your teeth are as white as you like. Special note: only teeth whiten, not fillings or crowns; there cannot be any leaking fillings or cavities; and, only for ages 16 and up. Tooth whitening today is easy and the results are great. Give us a call soon!

National Facial Protection Month, a good time to remember to get your sports mouthguard or get a new one. Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type. For more about mouthguards, click here.

Did you know: allergies caused by pollen can make your teeth hurt?

Those beautiful blossoms coming out now can be a source of pain for your teeth: sinus problems that are worsened with the onset of pollen season often show up as tooth pain.

Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and throat (pharynx), and is characterized by symptoms that consist of any combination of the following: sneezing, itching (of nose, eyes, ears, palate), runny nose (rhinorrhea), postnasal drip, congestion, dental pain (upper back teeth, and even lower back teeth), inability to perceive odors (anosmia), headache, earache, tearing, red eyes, eye swelling, fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise. Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of rhinitis. It is an extremely common condition, affecting approximately 20% of the population.

A common sign associated with allergic rhinitis is “allergic shiners”, dark circles around the eyes (related to vasodilation or nasal congestion). [Symptom versus sign: a symptom can more simply be defined as any feature which is noticed by the patient. A sign is noticed by other people. It is not necessarily the nature of the sign or symptom which defines it, but who observes it.]

How can you tell if it is your sinuses making your teeth hurt? Read the rest of this entry »

National Poetry Month began in 1996 to widen the attention of individuals and the media to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern.

How about some tooth / dental poems? Here is a collection of 17 dental poems and rhymes. Read the rest of this entry »

I had a fun time talking with 75 kindergarten children, ‘kinderbears’, at Franconia Elementary School today, home of the Franconia Mustangs. We talked about sugarbugs and cavities, how to make sure teeth are clean, and what a dentist does. Thanks to all the children and their teachers, especially Ms. Owens for organizing the speakers. See their pictures below or click here.

Updated thinking about fever in children’s illnesses was in the news recently. Fever is fairly common in children, and not all fevers are bad.

Longstanding belief, and even parental instinct, may compel you to fight your child’s fever to ease the persistent crying and discomfort. But most experts say not to worry so much about treating your child’s fever. In fact, they say, for children older than six months old, having a fever may be a good thing.

To see the original ABC News article, click here (for the video, click here).

For more about fever (definition, considerations, causes, home care, when to contact a medical professional, what to expect at your office visit, alternative names) from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, click here.

FYI, it is not uncommon to notice a slight elevation in temperature when children are teething, although research does not find any outright fever caused by teething.