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You brush your teeth twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash but don’t forget about your tongue. Studies suggest that cleaning your tongue regularly can reduce unwanted mouth bacteria that can lead to bad breath, a coated tongue, plaque buildup, and other oral health conditions.

Why do you need to clean your tongue?

Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps called papillae. Food particles can get trapped within these bumps and attract bacteria, which can build up on your tongue just as easily as it can on your teeth and gums. When this occurs, it can result in serious bad breath, even if you brush and floss diligently. Bacteria accumulation may also result in a (usually white) discoloration of the tongue. Because of this, it’s necessary to physically remove the bacteria by brushing or cleaning.

How to clean your tongue with a toothbrush

You should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. It’s pretty simple:

How to clean your tongue using a tongue scraper:

Some research says tongue scrapers are the most effective tool to use. However, you can also use toothbrushes and mouthwashes to clean your tongue.

You can scrape your tongue once or twice a day.

Tongue brushing is an easy addition to your daily dental routine. Experts recommend making it a regular habit. Whether you use a tongue scraper, toothbrush, or oral mouth rinse, tongue cleaning is a good addition to your daily oral health practices. Cleaning your tongue once or twice a day may help you reduce bad breath and the risk of cavities as well as contribute to a clean-mouth feeling.

Although home methods like tongue scraping can help reduce tongue buildup, it isn’t a cure-all. See your dentist right away if you’re dealing with chronic dry mouth. They can assess your symptoms and determine whether you’d benefit from more frequent cleanings, special mouthwash, or other treatment options.

Call us today at 717-761-0341 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment!

Why is the Dental Assistant Filling My Tooth?

Perhaps the last time you saw your dentist for a filling, the dentist’s assistant did some of the filling and shaping part of the procedure.

Modern dental care involves a team approach to providing you state of the art dental care. These days, dentists rely on their entire dental team to help support them in providing the most optimized & efficient care to treat your oral health needs. 

One of the most important members of the dental team is the Dental Assistant, who typically provides supportive dental duties such as taking dental x-rays and assisting the dentist with procedures. For many decades, dental assistants have been the team member who sits in during treatment while the dentist performs procedures such as fillings and crowns.  However, now the role of the dental assistant has evolved into more responsibilities than in the past.

In many states, including Pennsylvania, the role of dental assistants has advanced to add an additional level of clinician status. Currently, certified dental assistants are eligible for additional training that will allow them to become licensed professionals called Expanded Functions Dental Assistants (EFDA).  

What is an EFDA?

An Expanded Functions Dental Assistant is a certified dental assistant who has acquired additional schooling and training in order to obtain the skills and licensure that allows them to perform some procedures that you might usually associate with ones that your dentist used to do.

Because of their specialized training, EFDAs can perform the following additional procedures such as:

What Training Does an EFDA Need?

In order to be accepted into an EFDA training program, one needs to be either a certified dental assistant or a registered dental hygienist. Training programs in Pennsylvania typically offer instruction over an 18-month period that involves both clinical and classroom instruction in advanced restorative techniques. Most programs require an internship with an approved dental office to finish clinical training.

Upon successful completion of training at an accredited school for expanded functions dental assistant training, students are eligible to sit for board examinations.  

Is an EFDA Certified?

Yes! If an EFDA passes the state board-approved examination, they may apply for state licensure. The PA State Board of Dentistry requires an EFDA to be licensed to practice within the state.

In order to practice, an EFDA must also have the following:

Why Do Dentists Use an EFDA?

Sometimes, patients are surprised to know that their dentist is not doing the entire filling procedure from start to finish. Often, that is because not all patients have heard of EFDAs, or their previous dentist never utilized one. While in the past having an EFDA was less common, today, EFDAs are a strongly utilized team member in a dental practice. 

Having an EFDA among the dental team serves many benefits.  One of the most important benefits is access to care.  Because the EFDA can finish a filling, the dentist is able to begin treatment for another patient, which allows patients to get more timely appointments.

While some patients might wonder why an EFDA is doing their filling, they should know that they are being treated by a dental professional who may have already placed hundreds to maybe even thousands of fillings each year!

Your EFDA Has Professional Pride!

EFDAs are valued team members who have a strong sense of professional pride because they can use their additional skills to improve patients’ oral health. In fact, our practice has several EFDAs who are passionate about their career and helping their patients achieve their best smile!

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, using a toothpick is fine when no other options are available and if you are very careful. But dentists don’t recommend them for regular use. The problem? A piece of the wood can break off and get lodged in the gum tissue. Once the gum tissue is pierced, bacteria can enter and cause an infection. If you are, or have been, a frequent toothpick user, your dentist is likely to notice some damage to your gums during a dental exam.

Why not a toothpick?

The main problem or risk you take when using toothpicks is that a piece of wood can break off and get lodged in your gum tissue. See below for more reasons you should avoid using toothpicks:

What to use instead?

Dentists can agree that the ideal way to remove food from in between your teeth is with dental floss. Flossing once a day removes leftover food stuck in hard to reach areas, but it also removes plaque that builds up in between your teeth.

Here are a few tips to start making flossing part of your daily routine:

Types of floss:

We know toothpicks might make you look cool, but they aren’t a sustainable tooth cleaning method. Next time you want to reach for a pick, grab the floss instead to keep your mouth healthy and happy.

Call our treatment coordinators if you have any questions, they will be happy to assist you. 

A crown restores a damaged or missing tooth to its normal shape, size and function. A crown can protect the tooth or improve the way it looks.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

  1. To protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
  2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
  3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
  4. To hold a dental bridge in place
  5. To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth
  6. To cover a dental implant
  7. To make a cosmetic modification

For children, a crown may be used on primary (baby) teeth in order to:

  1. Save a tooth that has been so damaged by decay that it can’t support a filling.
  2. Protect the teeth of a child at high risk for tooth decay, especially when a child has difficulty keeping up with daily oral hygiene.
  3. Decrease the frequency of general anesthesia for children unable because of age, behavior, or medical history to fully cooperate with the requirements of proper dental care.

The Process:

It usually takes two dental visits to complete the treatment. When a crown is placed over a natural tooth, several steps are involved:

What Types of Crowns Are Available?

How Long Do They Last?

On average, dental crowns last between five and 15 years. The life span of a crown depends on the amount of “wear and tear” it is exposed to, how well you follow good oral hygiene practices, and your personal mouth-related habits.

Does a Crowned Tooth Require Special Care?

While a crowned tooth does not require any special care, remember that simply because a tooth is crowned does not mean the tooth is protected from decay or gum disease. Therefore, continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily especially around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day.

If you’re interested in dental crowns or think you qualify for one contact us now at 717-761-0341. When done properly by an experienced dentist, it can be a painless procedure. We’re available to treat patients in the Lemoyne area.  

Toothaches can be very painful. Often times tooth decay is the culprit but there are many other possibilities for your tooth pain.

Tooth decay may lead to cavities if you don’t receive treatment. Cavities occur when acids and bacteria break through the enamel and eat away at the delicate tissues inside the tooth. This can expose the nerve, causing mild-to-severe pain.

What are possible causes:

Prevention:

Following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your dentist twice a year for professional cleaning. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

Treatment:

Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary. A root canal might be needed if the cause of the toothache is determined to be an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection. An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw. 

Remember that twice-yearly visits to the dentist are beneficial in preventing oral health issues from forming in the future, so schedule your appointment at Fox Dental now.

The cost of a root canal varies depending on which tooth is affected and the complexity of the problem. Molar teeth typically have more canals which cause a greater degree of difficulty.

Aside from your treatment and dental care needs, consider the following cost factors:

Many dental insurance policies at least partially cover the treatment. A ballpark estimate for the root canal treatment itself (not including a dental restoration following the procedure) performed by a general dentist could range from $500 to $1,000 for an incisor and $800 to $1,500 for a molar.

Will dental insurance cover my root canal procedure?

Whether or not your insurance will cover your root canal procedure will depend on your particular plan, but it is common for dental insurance plans to cover 50% – 80% of the cost of a root canal after the deductible has been met.

Finding a dentist in-network can provide significant savings. For an out-of-network provider, by contrast, you will pay a percentage of the dentist’s full, non-discounted fee.

Note that the dentist fee includes all appointments and X-rays necessary to complete the root canal treatment. Also, note that these fees do not include the final restoration of the tooth.

Will a root canal hurt?

The procedure of a root canal can be performed by your dentist and though it often evokes a scary response, when done properly by an experienced dentist the procedure shouldn’t be painful.

The most important thing to do if you have severe tooth decay is to first find a local dentist that has the team and experience necessary to properly treat you. The sooner you get to the dentist whenever a problem arises, the higher the chances of success your procedure will have. That’s why we encourage Lemoyne area residents to contact Fox Dental for root canal and treatment needs.

Don’t wait! Fixing your tooth now can save you from more pain later!

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, swelling, and discomfort you should contact us now at 717-761-0341 and get it taken care of before it gets worse. A root canal is nothing to be afraid of and when done properly by an experienced dentist, it can be a painless procedure. We’re available to treat patients in the Lemoyne area for a root canal. 

Although gum disease affects adults at higher rates, children can get gum disease too. Because periodontal disease is a serious gum infection that can risk losing teeth and harming our bodies, it is important for parents to recognize signs of gum disease in their kids and understand how to prevent and treat it.  

Generally, there are three types of gum disease in children. Sometimes the disease can be resolved with home treatments while other times, your child may need to see a dentist or periodontist for care.

What are the types of gum disease in kids?

Gingivitis:

Gingivitis is the most common type of gum disease seen in children.  Gingivitis can easily be spotted because your child’s gums will appear red, inflamed, and may bleed when brushed. Gingivitis often occurs with no gum pain or sensitivity so that’s why it’s important to visually check your child’s mouth for those signs.  

Gingivitis is usually caused if kids aren’t brushing well and bacteria are left to flourish around the gumline. If detected early, gingivitis can typically be reversed by good home care and regular dental cleanings. However, sometimes there are additional reasons for gingivitis including the eruption of new teeth, hormones associated with puberty, mouth-breathing because of allergy or sinus issues, poor nutrition, and even some medications.  

Aggressive Periodontitis:

Aggressive periodontitis, also known as juvenile periodontitis can be seen in children and adolescents. It is called aggressive because, at its onset, it causes rapid loss of tissue and bone that support teeth.  

Typically, aggressive periodontitis requires treatment with a periodontist.  Common treatment includes non-surgical therapy such as scaling & root planing and antibiotic therapy.  In some cases, periodontal surgery is necessary to treat this aggressive form of gum disease in children.

Chronic Periodontitis:

This form of gum disease is seen in adults more than children. Although rare, children can still present with chronic periodontitis, which progresses at a low to moderate rate compared to aggressive disease. Although rare, this form of gum disease requires treatment in a periodontal practice.  

What are the signs of gum disease in children?

Typically, gum disease occurs with no significant pain or sensitivity, which is why knowing the signs and symptoms is so crucial. The most common signs of gum disease in kids include:

How can parents help?

As a parent, you can help. First, knowing the signs and symptoms helps to lead you in the right direction toward better oral health for your children.  If your child has any bleeding when they brush or floss, that is not normal and should get your attention. Healthy gums should be pink, firm against the teeth, and never bleed.  

Next, if you see signs of gum disease, you can encourage your child to practice better homecare. Brushing two-minutes twice a day helps to remove the bacteria that causes gingivitis. After your child finishes brushing, it is sometimes a good idea to just look in their mouths to make sure plaque has been removed from the gumline. Sometimes, setting a timer helps encourage proper brushing time.

Finally, make sure that you schedule your child for professional dental cleanings twice a year. Your dental hygienist uses professional tools that remove harmful bacteria and can give you and your child home care tips to help prevent disease.

Remember, gum disease can affect not just teeth but also overall health. So, if better brushing does not improve the look of your child’s gums, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist who will evaluate your child’s gum health. 

Visit Fox Dental regularly to help prevent gum disease! Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.

A root canal often evokes a scary response but when done properly by an experienced dentist the procedure shouldn’t be painful. So what exactly happens during a root canal, and what should you expect?

First of all, a root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that’s badly decayed or infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp of the tooth are removed and the inside is cleaned and sealed.

A tooth’s nerve is not vitally important to a tooth’s health and function. The absence of a nerve won’t affect how your tooth works. But, without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth can become infected and an abscess may form. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth.

An infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:

The procedure will follow these steps:

Your dentist will discuss the need for any additional dental work with you. The procedure of a root canal can be performed by your dentist and though it often evokes a scary response, when done properly by an experienced dentist the procedure shouldn’t be painful.

The most important thing to do if you have severe tooth decay is to first find a local dentist that has the team and experience necessary to properly treat you. The sooner you get to the dentist whenever a problem arises, the higher the chances of success your procedure will have. That’s why we encourage Lemoyne area residents to contact Fox Dental for a root canal and treatment needs.

Don’t wait! Fixing your tooth now can save you from more pain later!

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, swelling, and discomfort you should contact us at 717-761-0341 and get it taken care of before it gets worse.

Tooth nerve pain can be triggered by food and drinks that are hot or cold, sugary, acidic, or sour. Sometimes it can be severe like a sharp, stabbing pain or as little as a dull toothache. If you avoid those triggering foods, you may be able to help reduce your pain until you are able to be seen by a dentist.

A brief period of tooth sensitivity doesn’t necessarily indicate a dental emergency, but you should see a dentist to diagnose the cause of the pain. In the meantime, you can help prevent and treat tooth nerve pain at home.

Relief and treatment options:

Depending on the cause of your pain, there are several possible dental procedures that can solve the problem. Two of the most common procedures for nerve pain are fillings and root canals.

Both adults and children can get this type of pain in their teeth. See a dentist immediately if you have any signs or symptoms. You will likely need a dental exam and an X-ray to find out what’s causing the tooth pain.

Here at Fox Dental, we want to help you with your pain. Contact us today for an appointment. Regular dentist visits help to prevent serious teeth problems before they cause pain. You can prevent the majority of dental problems by flossing, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. 

Mouthwash, also called oral rinse, is a liquid product used to rinse your teeth, gums, and mouth. It certainly is a good thing to use after brushing your teeth because it usually contains an antiseptic to kill harmful bacteria that can live between your teeth and on your tongue.

Some people use mouthwash to fight against bad breath, while others use it to try to prevent tooth decay. While mouthwash doesn’t replace brushing your teeth or flossing, it’s only effective when used correctly so it’s important to understand that different formulas contain different ingredients, and not all mouthwashes can strengthen your teeth.

You can use mouthwash prior to brushing to remove any food debris and plaque build-up in your mouth to set yourself up for a good cleaning.

How to use mouthwash:

Directions may vary per brand so always make sure to follow package instructions. Generally the instructions are as followed:

How often should you use it?

Most mouthwash products recommend that you use them twice per day, along with brushing and flossing. But you can also use it in a pinch to banish bad breath.

Also, one important thing to note is that if you’re using fluoride toothpaste, don’t use mouthwash for at least 30 minutes after brushing! Why? Because the wash will rinse the fluoride out of your mouth.

Speak to a dentist about any concerns you have about your breath or using mouthwash.

Contact us at Fox Dental to schedule an appointment or ask our treatment coordinators any questions.