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. 

Dental Implants

Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth, several teeth, or all of the teeth. A dental implant is a surgical fixture that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over a span of a few months. Today, dental implants are considered the stand of care for the replacement of missing teeth. If you have missing teeth that are leaving you self-conscious and are hindering your desire to smile, discuss your treatment options with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS.

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth. If you wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don’t want to have healthy tooth structure removed for a dental bridge, then you may want to discuss dental implants with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS. Most patients find that a dental implant is secure, stable, and a sturdy replacement for replacing a natural tooth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental implants or restorative dentistry, 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. 

Oral Cancer Screenings

At the dental office of Dr. Dennis Morehart, we want the families from our community to be aware of oral cancer and how to prevent it.  Heavy smoking and drinking do increase the risk of oral cancer, but oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth.  Because there is no way to predict cancer, you should ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup. 

To screen for oral cancer, Dennis Morehart, DDS will conduct a visual exam, and use an ultraviolet light to see any irregularities inside the mouth. This can be done quickly in addition to any appointment.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect yourself, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

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