Do You Have a Dental Disorder?

The range of possible dental disorders is wide and many and some are more easily recognized than others. It could be a bit perplexing to consider you may have a dental disorder without realizing it, but it’s actually more common than you might think. Some disorders have obvious symptoms that may have you running to our office. Others can be more subtle. Do you feel tired, easily irritable, or have difficulty focusing? Do you have facial soreness or pain? Surprisingly, these may be the result of a dental disorder. Our goal is to educate our patients on common and uncommon symptoms that may be a sign to visit our office and receive the required care to remedy these conditions.

A dental disorder is a disruption of your body’s natural process relating to your oral health. Despite its origins, it is important to understand symptoms may be experienced elsewhere in the body. For this reason, many suffer from ailments they don’t consider relevant to tell their dentist. However, as we are a medical provider we encourage you to share things that may not seem related – you never know! Here are a few to keep on the lookout, so you can better identify signs should something be amiss.

Generally, wisdom teeth develop in the pre-teen years and by the late teens the crown of the wisdom teeth will begin to erupt. During the development phase if there isn't enough room, wisdom teeth will become impacted. Symptoms can cause or be caused by: infection to the gums, crowded teeth, decay of the wisdom teeth, incorrect positioning of the wisdom teeth, or a cyst that may destroy bone. All of these problems are painful and can be addressed during our consultation.

While scary to confront, oral growths are a condition that can emerge as serious. It is possible for oral growths to be completely benign and harmless, but in other cases they can be the beginning stages of cancer. For this reason it’s important a medical professional diagnose and treat the growths accordingly. Even if you are certain it’s harmless (for example, perhaps you suffered trauma to the face that injured your mouth), it’s still worth an appointment to ensure you’re not at an increased risk for infection or other potential issues.

We understand some conditions may seem complex. Rest assured we are here to work with you to find a solution to your unique needs. If you feel one or more of these conditions may apply to you or a family member, call our office to begin seeking relief today. We are here for you.

Dr. Gregory Olsen, DDS, FICOI

Folsom Oral Surgery And Implant Center

2370 E. Bidwell, Suite 130

Folsom, CA 95630

Phone: 916-983-6637

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars most individuals get in their mid-late teenage years. Not every person has wisdom teeth, and the number each person develops varies. While some individuals develop no wisdom teeth, others develop 1-8 wisdom teeth, with 4 being the most common. It is not always necessary to remove wisdom teeth, but it is common for them to threaten damage to the mouth. Extracting early minimizes these risks, while maximizing surgical benefits. Our goal is to educate patients on the different manners wisdom teeth can affect oral health.

How Do Wisdom Teeth Grow?

In some cases a wisdom tooth erupts healthy and properly aligned, in these cases they can be a valuable addition to the mouth! If we determine your wisdom teeth are not at any risk, we will respond accordingly and not take any unnecessary action. However, it is most common for the teeth to remain impacted. Impacted teeth occur when they become trapped in the soft tissues or bone of the jaw, increasing risk for cysts, tumors, infections, and grinding.

Wisdom Tooth Treatment

There are a few ways to address your wisdom teeth. Most commonly, they will be spotted via x-ray at your normal dental exam before they erupt or you ever feel them. The doctor will then present a treatment plan that is best for your specific case, and may extract the wisdom teeth before you ever notice they’re there at all. However, it is possible for you to discover a new tooth poking through! Don’t panic- just give our office a call and schedule an appointment.

Wisdom teeth can be a bit intimidating to think about, particularly because by the time they erupt, most of us have long forgotten how these growing pains feel. While it isn’t necessarily painful, that is a fear many people have and we understand. We place a premium on communicating with you from start to finish, so by the time the process is over the only worry you have is what flavor of ice cream you’ll be enjoying during the healing process!

Dr. Gregory Olsen, DDS, FICOI

Folsom Oral Surgery And Implant Center

2370 E. Bidwell, Suite 130

Folsom, CA 95630

Phone: 916-983-6637

Common Dental Myths Debunked

Facts About Dental Myths

With the magnitude of information available to us these days, it’s harder than ever to separate facts from myths; especially when it comes to your health. There are a million dental related myths that might steer you in the wrong direction when it comes to a healthy smile. It’s important to be informed and know the facts. Here are a few common dental myths, followed by the facts.

Oral Hygiene Only Affects Your Teeth

Many people hear the phrase “oral hygiene” and they think of the simple act of brushing or flossing. While oral hygiene is important for keeping your teeth healthy, poor oral hygiene can be linked to several other health problems- including heart disease. Taking care of your mouth actually means taking care of a lot of things within your body. Untreated periodontal disease contributes to more low birth weight babies than both drinking and smoking combined.  Having poor oral hygiene can cause a multitude of problems- not all of them related to your teeth.

You Shouldn’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out Until They Start to Hurt

Typically, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and your dentist will generally advise you of the same. If you wait for your wisdom teeth to become painful, they might have already done other damage to your gums or teeth. Many people believe that as long as they have no pain, there’s no reason to have an unnecessary surgery. In rare cases, wisdom teeth can stay intact as long as they are not interfering or causing damage. One of the most common reasons to remove wisdom teeth is because they are so difficult to keep clean and rather than incurring costly repairs to those teeth many dentists will suggest having them removed.  Frequent exams are necessary in this case to monitor and maintain your health. It’s generally better to have your wisdom teeth removed before any pain, rather than take the gamble.

White Teeth Are Healthier Teeth

Teeth are actually not meant to be pure white. Tooth color can vary widely, for example, depending on your race, pigmentation varies greatly.  Also, as you get older, your teeth will naturally take on a more faded color as things do with time, however they can still be perfectly healthy. A color beyond a light yellow could be cause for concern, but generally the pinkness of your gums is a better indication of oral health as opposed to how white your teeth are.

If Teeth Look Healthy, and Are Not Hurting, There is No Reason to Visit a Dentist

The most common mistake people make regarding their dental health is skipping regular preventive visits because they do not see or feel any problems. Even in the absence of a visible problem or discomfort, regular visits for x-ray exams, cleaning and necessary restorative care are necessary to maintain your teeth and gums for life. Discovering diseases in the mouth earlier rather than later will typically reduce cost, recovery time and severity of dental treatment that may need to be performed.

It’s important to educate yourself on the facts surrounding whole body health and well-being. Muddled information and common misperceptions can leave people confused. The best way to combat myths and augment dental health is to see and speak with your dentist regularly. Have open dialogue and productive conversations about what is and is not true. Being informed, savvy and educated will keep you and your dentist smiling.

Dr. Gregory Olsen

Folsom Oral Surgery And Implant Center

2370 E. Bidwell, Suite 130

Folsom, CA 95630