Schubert Dental Care Blog

We at Schubert Dental Care wish everyone a happy Easter, the beginning of Spring and new life.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve your dental needs and for your friendship and loyalty.

Dr. David Schubert

Many sports have the potential for oral and facial injuries due to falls, collisions, or contact with hard surfaces. Contact sports, such as football, soccer, rugby, hockey and basketball, carry a greater risk of dental injuries. Collisions involve acute transmission of energy to the teeth and supporting structures with fractures, dislocations, separations, and crushing injuries occurring.

Recent research has shown the improved ability of custom-made mouthguards to prevent injuries. The “boil and bite” mouthguards are the most common but have limited protective capacity (thin vinyl material), can be poor fitting, have poor durability and interfere with speech and breathing. They are not recommended, as they may be displaced on impact therefore offering no protection with the additional hazzard of possibly lodging in the throat.

The correct solution is a customized mouthguard that is made from models based on impressions of the individuals mouth.

We just returned from another trip to Haiti. Travel was easy as there were no weather issues and the time in the clinic was very productive.
We were able to treat 230 patients in the 5 clinic days. This consisted of 50 cleanings and 630 extractions.
The group was small; the 6 volunteers were Laura Schubert, Duane Sellers, Nancy Maskowski (my sister), Vicky Krick (my daughter), Marvin Wineger. and myself.
At the end of the trip we travelled to Jacmel, a coastal city to visit Martin in the hospital. Martin is the driver of the 4 Michigan mssionaries who died in a truck accident a few weeks ago. The truck’s brakes failed and Martin faught 15 minutes racing down the mountain hitting speeds of 85 mph until the truck wentout of control, through the guard rail and down into a ravine. Martin was thrown from the truck and miraculously survived after falling 800 feet.
His leg was broken and has multiple other injuries but is physically healing. Emotionally he is struggling alot. He tried the emergency brake and that did nothing. The truck had automatic transmission and could not slow down the vehicle. The road is very winding with a steep incline for many miles.
We will keep Martin in our thoughts.

Have fun participating in our Patient of the Month Club!
Visit our website and by commenting on any blog article could win you Patient of the Month gift as well a provide great health information. Some very interesting articles are presented in the blog.

Tooth sensitivity most ofter arise from exposed nerve endings. These nerves readily detect changes in temperature or acidity within your mouth, sending a jolt through your teeth. Avoiding acidic foods or drastic changes in temperature changes prevents the discomfort, but avoidance does not address the underlying causes of tooth sensitivity.

CHIPS and CRACKS
When your teeth develope chips and cracks, the porous dentin becomes exposed. Hot, cold or acidic liquids can soak into the pores in the dentin as you eat and drink, channeling extreme temperature and pH changes directly to sensitive nerves. The result can be anything from mild discomfort to a galvanizing pain. Your dentist can determine the health of your enamel layer and repair chips and cracks that contribute to sensitive teeth.

WEAR
Enamel can eventually wear and can result in sensitivity of the chewing surfaces of especially molar teeth. A highly acidic mouth creates chemical wear on enamel. If you consume plenty of citrus fruits, pickles or soft drinks, rinse your mouth with water after to restore a more nuetral pH in your mouth. Prolonged illness that puts you teeth in regular contact with stomach acid can also lead to sensitive teeth.

RECEDING GUMS
If you notice greater sensitivity at your gumline, receding gums may be the culprit. Enamel protects the crowns of your teeth from temperature changes. The roots of teeth are not covered by enamel and when the gums recede, the root surface is exposed to temperature changes and acidity. Maintain gum health with regular, but gentle brushing. Overly aggressive brushing even with a soft-bristled brush can cause gum damage and erode enamel, leading to more sensitive teeth.

TREATMENTS
Desensitizing toothpastes slowly deposit mineral particles that plug the ends of open dentin. Because they work gradually, you must use these products for at least a month before they take effect. Ask your dentist for a recommended brand and look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the package. In-office treatments for sensitive teeth include painting you teeth with a fluoride gel or varnish, repairing fissures and applying a bonded coating that seals open dentin tubules.

Consult a good dentist to get the best treatment for you.

A brand new year is starting and many of us make ‘RESOLUTIONS’ to improve ourselves or our lives.
I find myself reflecting on the past year (s) and realize how grateful I am for all the people who entrust their dental health to me and my staff. We have wonderful patients, most who have become friends that we share a relationship with that is truly valued.

In spite of the point that going to the dentist is not a favorite activity, our patients are always friendly, kind and respectful as we do our best to be the same.

Thank You for your loyalty and support.

Dr. David Schubert

DRY MOUTH
Ever get the feeling that your mouth is full of cotton? Dry mouth is the culprit and if it’s happening frequently, it’s best to figure out why. Decreased saliva can start tooth decay. Tell your dentist about medications you are taking and about your changing health, as this can help the dentist identify the cause.

MISSING TEETH
According to the American Dental Association, the average adult ages 20-64 has 3 or more decayed or missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause a whole host of problems including how you speak or eat, shifting teeth, and in some cases bone loss. But there are options for replacing a tooth.
*BRIDGES: They can be removable or fixed, and are anchored to you adjacent teeth.
*DENTURES: An option if you have lost most or all of your teeth.
*IMPLANTS: An option that is most similar to a natural tooth. An implant is an artificial root that your dentist can attatch to crowns, bridges or dentures.

ORAL CANCER: Cancer can affect the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue, jaw, the hard or soft palate or throat. It will often start as a tiny white or red spot, soreness or swelling anywhere in the mouth or throat. The symptoms can include:
-Sores that bleed easily or do not heal
-A thick or hard spot or lump
-A roughened or crusted area
-Numbness, pain or tenderness
-A change in the way your teeth fit together when you
bite down.
During your regular dental visit, make sure to tell your dentist about any concerns you have about your mouth or throat. A regular dental check-up including an examination of the entire mouth is essential in detecting cancerous conditions.

Reprinted from CDS Review Dec.2012

Twenty-two professions were tested in the latest Gallup poll asking the public to rate professionals on their honesty and ethical standards.
“The honesty ratings of all medical professions are at the highest levels in Gallup’s history.” The highest ranking are nurses, pharmacists, physicians, engineers, dentists, police officers, college teachers, clergy, psychiatrists and chiropractors.

The lowest ranked professionals were members of
Congress and car salespeople.

“Children who reported recent tooth pain were almost FOUR TIMES more likely than those without tooth pain to have an grade point average lower than the median grade point average of 2.8.”

“For elementary students, 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems, and high school students missed 2.3 days due to dental issues.”

“They also found that 11%of children who had limited access to dental care–owing to lack of insurance, lack of transportation or other barriers — missed school because of oral health. In contrast, only 4% of children who had easier access to dental care missed school”

This information is from the Journal of the American Dental Association, November, 2012
Studies performed by American journal of Public Health and Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California.

After reading these reports I thought “Yeah. sure that makes sense” but previously never really thought about dentistry and acedemic performance.

Our halloween program “cash for candy” generated over 90 pounds of candy!!! We gave $5 for each pound and then donated the candy to Plainfield Pantry with the assistance of our Mayor, Mike Collins.

Thanks to all who helped.