Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease

There are a number of health conditions that have consequences for a patient’s teeth and gums, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common. Dr. Stephanie Herbst of Enid Dental Care understands her patients’ needs and wants patients with RA to know they can expect compassionate care for gum disease.

 When people have RA, their immune system attacks their synovium, which is a tissue that lines the joints. The attacked synovium swells up and hardens, sometimes causing joint deformities. Johns Hopkins recently examined the connection between gingivitis and rheumatism. They found that people with RA are twice as likely as the average person to have gum disease and six times as likely to have severe gum disease. It is true that people with rheumatism commonly have limited dexterity and find it difficult to brush and floss. But another study found that synovium and gum tissue share similar cellular structures. This could help to explain why gum disease is common in people with RA who have not yet lost the use of their fingers.

By maintaining regular dental check-ups, people with RA can keep their gum pockets as clean as possible. We can assist them by guiding them toward grips for toothbrushes and prescription throat moisturizers. RA is believed to be caused by genetic and environmental factors, but people can significantly reduce their risk of developing it by not smoking.

Dr. Stephanie Herbst operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Reasons for Extractions

Tooth extractions are a common procedure and usually go quickly and comfortably. But removing a tooth is not recommended lightly. At Enid Dental Care, now under the operation of Dr. Stephanie Herbst, we believe that patients should be fully informed about their health options, which is why we want them to know what kinds of issues would lead to an extraction.

In most cases, extractions are done in response to dental overcrowding. Modern peoples’ jaws do not usually grow large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth (the backmost set of molars). As a result, the wisdom teeth commonly get stuck while erupting or force other teeth out of the way, ruining their alignment. Other teeth can be impacted, too, and although they wouldn’t usually be extracted, baby teeth might be removed if they don’t fall out and premolars are sometimes removed prior to orthodontic treatment.

There are a number of ways to save teeth that have been infected or injured, but sometimes they or the surrounding gum tissue are so compromised they need to be removed. This could happen if a tooth is cracked at the root. An implant that has become loose also needs to be removed, so patients with artificial teeth need to be especially vigilant about brushing.

Dr. Stephanie Herbst operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Inlays and Onlays

When a tooth becomes damaged due to decay, you’re faced with the decision on how to repair it. Depending on your budget and aesthetic needs, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS or Dr. Stephanie Herbst, DDS can provide you with dental inlays or onlays. In certain cases, inlays and onlays are a non-invasive alternative to dental crowns and are a stronger, longer-lasting solution to repairing a damaged tooth. 

Typically, an inlay or onlay procedure is completed in two dental visits. During the first appointment, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS or Dr. Stephanie Herbst, DDS, will need to prepare the damaged tooth for the restoration. Dental inlays and onlays are the same kinds of restoration, except they cover different portions of the tooth. Once the tooth is prepared, a molded impression of the tooth is taken and sent to a dental laboratory where the inlay or onlay is created. During your second visit, the temporary filling is removed and your inlay or onlay is placed. If cared for properly, the durability of these materials can last for up to 30 years.

If you have questions or concerns regarding inlays and onlays or restorative dental services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

A Child's First Dental Appointment

At the dental office of Dr. Dennis Morehart, we are proud to serve the families from our community, and we want them to know it’s just as important for children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development is important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seems nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home, and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants.

We love to see good oral hygiene habits formed early and make lifetime patients out of kids from our community!  To learn more about dental care for your kids, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Veneers For A Smile Makeover

Patients of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS are always asking our doctors about the latest cosmetic solutions for their teeth.  Some fixes are recommended just to repair damage or just to whiten, but veneers are the best way to give your smile a total makeover. Veneers are thin ceramic shells that bond directly to the surface of your teeth.  This gives you the opportunity to completely change the appearance of your smile and still look natural.

Patients with cosmetic issues like staining, cracked or chipped teeth, and even crooked teeth and small gaps can achieve a dazzling smile with veneers. We can make this happen in as little as two visits!  First, your dentist will discuss the shape and look you want for your new smile.  Then an impression of your teeth is taken in order to custom-fit the final product to the surfaces of your teeth.  The impression is sent to a dental laboratory where your custom veneers will be fabricated, which may take up to two weeks.  On your final visit, the veneers are bonded to your teeth for you to wear and enjoy!

To learn more about veneers and all the services we offer, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Interdental Cleaners

Flossing between the teeth is important to remove food particles that have been left behind. If these food particles aren’t removed by thorough brushing or flossing, they will linger and cause bad breath and potentially lead to gum disease. Most of our patients tend to stick with basic floss, but interdental cleaners are gaining popularity. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, would like to explain how an interdental cleaner differs from threaded floss.

Interdental cleaners are thin, round, or cone-shaped devices that come in different shapes and sizes. These devices have a small head with bristles held on by wire, and they are designed to gently be inserted between the teeth. People who benefit from interdental cleaners include those with braces, those who have gapped teeth and for people with limited mobility. Also, if you don’t feel comfortable using floss, an interdental cleaner may be a better option.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental services or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Why Must We Brush For Two Minutes?

You’ve heard the rule before. The American Dental Association recommends brushing the teeth for at least two minutes, after every meal, to prevent dental diseases and tooth decay. Brushing for two minutes will give your teeth and gums the attention they need and this will boost your oral health overall. If you get bored easily and find it difficult to brush for two minutes, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, suggests utilizing these tips.

Brushing the teeth for two minutes will eliminate more plaque than it would if you were to brush them for 30 seconds. When you brush your teeth, you should be reaching for the front of the teeth, the sides closest to the cheeks, the back of the teeth, and the sides of the molars closest to the tongue. It may help to play a song that lasts two minutes, watch something on TV for that duration of time, or simply time yourself and reward yourself with something healthy once you finish the task.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental services or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Types of Bridges

We’ve provided a lot of people with new teeth at Enid Dental Care. Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, there are now many options for tooth replacements. We wanted to take this opportunity to explain more about different kinds of bridges.

A bridge is a set of replacement crowns in one structure. A classical bridge was made up of two crowns which were placed over reshaped natural teeth, with a third crown suspended between them. Natural teeth tend to be more resilient than artificial ones so a dentist wouldn’t usually want to reshape them unless they need new crowns anyway. However, this method does have the advantage of leaving patients with their natural tooth roots.

It is also possible for dentures to be supported by implants. All-on-fours or all-on-sixes are bridges that are used to replace all the teeth in a jaw and are held permanently in place with normal-sized implants. Removable dentures can also be held in place with mini-implants. Partial implants have the advantage of allowing dentists to be more selective about which teeth a bridge replaces since they don’t require all the teeth in a row to be reshaped, but the denture itself will need to be replaced if the intervening teeth shift. Regardless of what kind of bridge a patient has, they will need to brush it on a daily basis.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Patients at Dr. Dennis Morehart’s practice benefit from the experience and expertise of a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry. That means that Dr. Morehart is knowledgeable about oral surgery and the complications that can arise. To set patients’ minds at ease, we want to explain more about something they may have heard of: osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

The death of exposed jaw bone tissue is extremely rare but there is a small chance of it happening in people who are on bisphosphonate medications. These medications are used to prevent bone resorption. They are often taken in pill form for osteoporosis and through an IV to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy on people with cancer.  Cases of ONJ typically result from the much stronger IV doses.

In the absence of extreme periodontal disease or other infection, the only way jaw bone tissue would be exposed is as the result of a tooth extraction. For this reason, it is wise for patients to get dental work done before starting cancer treatments and to make sure all their medical care providers are fully informed of what the others are doing. But if ONJ does set in, it can be treated with antibiotic rinses.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Common Retainer Options

Retainers help to stabilize teeth after orthodontic treatment has been completed. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS offers a couple of options to protect your investment, long-term. After transforming your smile, it’s important to wear your retainer as much as possible. Some of the options that Dr. Morehart may suggest are removable and fixed retainers.

• Removable Retainer – a removable retainer is the most common type, but depending on the individual, it may not always be the best choice. A removable retainer is crafted from a clear plastic that is formed by heat and a model of your teeth.  Removable retainers can be virtually invisible, and easy to wear.


• Fixed Retainer – also known as a bonded retainer, a fixed retainer consists of a wire being bonded to the back of the six bottom teeth. Bonded retainers tend to protect fewer teeth than removable retainers, but are ideal for the patient that may forget to wear his or her retainer at night.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Thank You for Your Positive Reviews!

Here at the dental practice of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS our entire staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team.  In this post, we would like to personally thank Carol C. for being a dedicated patient of ours. If you’ve recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know! 

"Dr. Morehart accepted me as a new patient with an urgent problem, that another dentist had neglected, and he fixed the problem immediately. I made another appointment to have the problem fixed permanently. DR. Morehart performed a very thorough exam; he gave me a detailed plan of care to fix other issues. The dental work was completed in a timely manner and without pain. The dental staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and caring! I highly recommend Dr. Morehart and his staff."

-Carol C.

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is the term for removing excess gum tissue from the surfaces of teeth.  Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS removes gum tissue from patient’s mouths for aesthetics and for function.  At our office we see many patients unhappy with their smiles, and even patients without any damage to their teeth feel like their gums keep them from enjoying their ideal smile.  When gum tissue is removed for function it is typically for making room to affix a restoration, like a crown, to a tooth.

Whether a crown lengthening procedure is done for function or aesthetics, it is a simple in-office procedure. Local anesthetic is used while your dentist removes excess gum tissue with either a scalpel or laser tools.  If tissue is being removed for a restoration to fit you may only require tissue to be removed from a couple of teeth.  Some people have more gum tissue than others and it results in a gummy smile, which can be corrected throughout the entire mouth.  The result is a visually pleasing ratio of teeth to gums that creates an even smile! 

To learn more about crown lengthening and all the services we offer at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

What is TMD?

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS can help patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD.

Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain, or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locks’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw. 

Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer with discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Causes of Gap Teeth

Are you tired of your gap-toothed grin? At Enid Dental Care, we provide orthodontic treatment for major as well as cosmetic tooth alignment issues. We can help close a diastema, or gap between teeth, but treatments may vary depending on other bite issues.

A small gap could be covered with veneers. These porcelain shells are cemented to the front of teeth and can be deliberately made somewhat larger than the natural tooth in order to cover gaps and chips. They also mask cracks and stains. When the teeth are slightly jumbled, the Invisalign brand of clear, removable aligners we offer can move them into positions that are healthier, as well as more aesthetically pleasing. Enid Dental Care also offers traditional braces for people with problems such as overbites which require more intensive orthodontic correction.

Sometimes, a diastema in the top front teeth is not just due to teeth coming in misaligned. There is a strand of tissue on the inside of the upper lip called the labial frenum which links it to the jaw bone, and when it is too thick, it can prevent the teeth from coming together. It must be thinned surgically. Tongue thrusting during swallowing and thumb-sucking can also result in an overbite and gap teeth. These may require coordination with other specialists, such as ear-nose-and-throat doctors, to fix.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Diabetes and Implants

As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Enid’s Dr. Dennis Morehart is an expert in placing implants. Many people have benefited from jaw-stabilizing tooth replacements, but for a long time, implants were considered risky prospects for people with difficulty controlling their blood sugar. Now, new research is indicating that diabetes may not raise the probability of implant failure, after all.

There are two ways in which diabetes was thought to be relevant to implant placement: duration of healing and inflammation. Because diabetes restricts blood flow, diabetic people take longer to recover from wounds. In order to place an implant, an incision must be made into the gum tissue, which is then sutured and allowed to heal during the time it takes for an implant to integrate into the jaw bone. Another incision may be made when an abutment is placed on top. While it is true that the gums take longer to heal in diabetics, the integration process usually takes six months, giving them plenty of time. And while chronic inflammation is associated with the failure of implants to integrate, the new study found that people with uncontrolled blood sugar do not experience higher failure rates within the first year of placement. It is still beneficial to a patient’s health to control their blood sugar, but if they find this difficult, they may not necessarily be disqualified from getting fixed dental restorations.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Treatment for Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be detrimental to a person’s mental health as well as his or her oral health. This is because chronic bad breath is something that mints, mouthwash, or countless hours of brushing can’t fix. Unlike a smell that lingers after a pungent meal, halitosis may be a sign of an underlying condition. To prevent bad breath it’s important to visit Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, to get the odor under control.

Dental issues such as cavities or periodontal disease can cause bad breath because bacteria are lingering and haven’t been removed. Bacteria are constantly forming inside the mouth which is why it’s important to keep the oral cavity as clean as possible at all times. Lifestyle habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco can also wreak havoc on your breath. Tobacco also tends to dry out the mouth which can additionally place a factor in bad breath. If you notice that your breath is less than fresh, treatment will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic treatment or orthodontic care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Foods to Eat and Avoid with Traditional Braces

It’s natural to think that once traditional braces are applied to the teeth, you won’t be able to enjoy the foods that you’ve grown so accustomed to eating. Though traditional braces come with limits, there are ways to modify your diet to adjust to this new lifestyle of wires and brackets. Once you complete your orthodontic appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, he may give you a list of the foods that are safe to eat and the ones to avoid such as the following.

Because you are likely to experience some discomfort during your first week with braces, you’ll probably want to incorporate more soft foods into your diet. Avoid foods that are tough, and opt for something like yogurt, cheese, mashed potatoes, pasta, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s critical to avoid hard and crunchy foods, especially during the first few months, as they can loosen your wires and brackets. We understand that the urge to resist pizza crust, potato chips, and sticky foods like gum, licorice, or any type of candy, but we assure you that you will be able to enjoy these foods to the fullest at some point.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic treatment or orthodontic care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Vertical Dimension Loss

As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Dennis Morehart of Enid is has experience treating some of the most complicated oral health problems. In people who are missing several teeth, the loss of vertical dimension in the face poses a threat to their appearance, comfort, and overall quality of life. It can even lead to bite collapse, which is why we want our patients to know more about it.

The teeth help to stabilize the jaw bones. When tooth roots are removed, the tissue from the jaw bone dissolves, and the face shrinks. This causes wrinkles to develop in the skin in between the nose and the mouth and makes the lower part of their heads look disproportionately small. It can also trigger temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), resulting in pain throughout the jaw, head, neck, and shoulders. If the back teeth are missing, patients may attempt to chew with their incisors, causing the front teeth to be pushed horizontal and causing misalignment problems as well as loss of vertical dimension.

There are a few options for preventing or repairing this. When a full set of dentures are fabricated, dentists take care to match the height of the artificial crowns to the patient’s needs. The temporary dentures worn as part of the treatment help to ensure the crown size is correct. If larger implants are being used to secure dental bridges, the patient may have additional jaw bone material grafted on by a surgeon.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tooth Sectioning

Recently, we described some of the reasons why a person might need to have a wisdom tooth removed. At Enid Dental Care, we always carry out extractions with maximal effort to keep the patient safe and as comfortable as possible. For that reason, wisdom teeth sometimes need to be cut into sections while being extracted.

The wisdom teeth are large and often unable to erupt fully. They can be trapped partially or completely beneath the gum line, in which case incisions will need to be made through which they can be removed. However, the wisdom teeth are also anchored by strong ligaments and have thick roots. Attempting to pull or elevate them out all at once may be impossible or require a great deal of force, which could hurt the patient or break the tooth accidentally. To avoid this problem, after the patient has been numbed, the tooth will be cut using a dental drill. The extraction site is bathed continuously with water to prevent heat damage and the smaller sections of the tooth can be removed with less force and through smaller openings.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Risks Associated with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth tend to appear during the ages of 17-21. They are the final sets of teeth that emerge, but they don’t always erupt. An impacted tooth is a tooth that lies below the gum line and doesn’t have room to erupt because of surrounding teeth. Teeth that are impacted will need to be extracted by Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS to avoid infection and prevent damage to healthy teeth. 

Wisdom teeth can grow sideways, emerge partially, or remain completely trapped below the gum line. When they are trapped, this means that they are impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth may cause headaches, pain, swollen gums, and cysts, but it is possible for them to cause no symptoms at all. To determine if wisdom teeth are impacted, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS will need to take X-rays to locate their exact position. If teeth are impacted and you are opposed to extraction, you may find yourself with chronic mouth discomfort, misalignment of teeth, and infection of the tooth or gums.

If you have questions or concerns regarding wisdom teeth extraction, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.