July2023

Q: What happens when you lose a tooth?

A: There are several ways to lose a tooth. A fall or some other type of accident can knock a tooth out, or a tooth may finally fall to decay or loosen and fall out because of periodontal, or gum, disease.

One of the dangers of a lost tooth is that it can start a domino effect in your mouth. In a normal healthy mouth, the closely packed teeth support one another. When there is a gap in that support system, over time the teeth near the gap will start to shift and loosen. So, if you lose a tooth, for whatever reason, you should consult with a dentist immediately.

Your dentist may recommend a crown or a bridge. A crown would be fitted over the remaining portion of a tooth that was essentially, but not completely, lost. A bridge is an appliance that fills the space where a tooth is completely lost. You may also be a candidate for an implant, which involves putting a metal anchor directly into the jaw and, after a time, attaching a small post and artificial tooth to the anchor. Not everyone, however, is a candidate for an implant. You must have sufficient jawbone for the procedure to be successful.

If you are missing a tooth, or have loose teeth, talk with a dentist about your options. The best way to cut down the likelihood of being in that position, though, is to visit your dentist at least twice a year.

If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Q: Is nail-biting harmful to your teeth?

A: Nail-biting, a habit indulged in by thousands of adults and children, is not good practice for several reasons related to oral health. Regarding the teeth, if the habit develops when a child is very young, it can contribute to the development of a gap between the front teeth.

But it’s not just the teeth and gums that are put at risk through the habit of biting nails or fingers. Any activity that requires holding the teeth at unnatural angles for extended periods can injure the jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The injury is sometimes referred to as TMJ syndrome. Over time, the habit can also stretch the muscles in the jaw. That can cause pain and an imbalance in the TMJ.

Some dentists and physicians recommend coating the fingers with a non-toxic but unpleasant-tasting lotion. Others recommend putting a bandage on the finger just to serve as a reminder. Whatever the technique, it’s a good idea to come up with some mechanism for stopping the habit. Otherwise, a person may be facing the time, expense, and inconvenience of straightening teeth and/or treating the pain of TMJ syndrome.

If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Q: My husband grinds his teeth at night. Sometimes it drives me out of the room. What can we do?

A: The good news is that, yes, there are steps that can help your husband with his—and your—problem. The technical name for your husband’s condition is bruxism. Some experts estimate that as many as 30 percent of the population deal with this grinding. And that includes children right through the elderly.

The habit is not necessarily confined to nighttime. People who grind their teeth in their sleep generally have no idea they’re doing it. And they may wake up feeling fine. Others, however, wake with some combination of jaw, shoulder, and neck pain. Bruxism also can significantly wear teeth and loosen them. In severe cases, it can crack tooth enamel and chip or break teeth. During sleep, bruxism can cause a person’s jaw to clench at a pressure up to six times greater than the pressure during waking hours.

Causes of bruxism can vary. Stress, a sleep disorder, an abnormal bite, or crooked or missing teeth all can be factors. The best person to talk to if you’re suffering from bruxism is your dentist. Muscle-relaxing medication or a nighttime mouth guard, specially fitted by the dentist, may be the answer.

If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Q: What is a sealant?

A: A sealant is a plastic material a dentist usually applies to the chewing surfaces of the permanent back teeth — the molars — to prevent cavities. Those teeth, which are designed for crushing and chewing, have an uneven terrain of pits and fissures. They’re good for what they do, but they are susceptible to cavities. In this painless procedure, the dentist will thoroughly dry the teeth, then apply a layer of an acidic liquid that will etch the tooth slightly. Over that, he/she will apply the liquid plastic that will flow into the depressions of the teeth and harden.

The protective coating keeps out the plaque and acid that cause decay. Sealants are used most effectively with children who have newly formed permanent teeth. The American Dental Association says sealants are virtually 100 percent effective in preventing tooth decay where they are applied.

If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Q: How important can baby teeth be? They just fall out on their own.

A: It is a misconception that baby teeth are not important and, further, the misconception often leads to an overall disregard for dental care when it comes to young children. In one recent study, only 20 percent of parents who were told their young children needed dental treatment took their children to a dentist. The fact is that decayed baby teeth can have a negative effect on emerging permanent teeth.

Baby teeth with decay can infect emerging permanent teeth, resulting in the need for a filling or extraction. One of the most important functions of baby teeth is to hold the place for permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, it can lead to a more complicated occlusion, that in turn may cause more complicated orthodontic treatment later.

If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com