Tooth Ache

Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth meticulously. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. Under no circumstances should you use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen is recommended. Please contact us for an appointment if the pain persists more than a day.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, go to an emergency room.

Broken Tooth

Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Seek immediate dental attention.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket, and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately.

Possible Broken Jaw

In the event of jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel, tie or handkerchief. Go immediately to an emergency room.

Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes. If bleeding continues, see a dentist.

Cold or Canker Sores

Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If you feel a cold sore "tingling" sensation, please call our office right away to schedule an appointment, as we can use a laser to stop the progression of a cold sore. We can also treat canker sores with a laser, which will lessen or remove the pain from the sore and help it heal much more quickly. If sores persist, contact us to schedule an appointment.

You've no doubt heard it said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In dentistry, you might say it's worth two pounds. Maybe even thousands of dollars. That's because dental problems can become exponentially more expensive — and painful — the longer they go unaddressed. Fortunately, modern dentistry has many easy and relatively inexpensive ways to make sure that today's minor annoyance does not turn into tomorrow's major headache.

Preventive dentistry describes all the procedures used to arrest tooth decay and other diseases in the earliest stages. The goal is to keep you as healthy as possible and maintain your natural teeth for life.

Preventive Dentistry Procedures

Preventive dentistry procedures range from the most basic services that have been used successfully for decades, to recent technological innovations. These procedures include:

Cleanings - This is where dental health starts. There's just no substitute for physically removing disease-causing dental plaque and calculus (tartar) from your teeth — especially in hard-to-reach areas near the gum line. That's why regular professional cleanings are so important to your health.

Dental sealants - These invisible plastic coatings fill the tiny grooves in back teeth so they do not become havens for bacteria. They prevent cavities from forming and the need for fillings later on.

Fluoride - This mineral is readily incorporated into the teeth's mineral structure, thereby making them stronger and more decay-resistant. Fluoride can even reverse tiny cavities that are starting to form. If you are not getting enough from your toothpaste and drinking water, it can be applied directly to your teeth at the dental office.

Mouthguards - Athletic mouthguards are designed to absorb and distribute the forces of impact and minimize traumatic injury to both the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. In fact, an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to teeth when not wearing a mouthguard. The best ones are custom-made for you by your dentist.

Oral Cancer Screenings - Your best chance of surviving oral cancer — a disease that affects not only lifelong smokers but also young non-smokers — is early detection and treatment. Oral cancer screenings are a routine part of every regular dental exam.

Salivary Diagnostics - This is an exciting new development in the field of preventive dentistry. While it is in its infancy, it is already possible to detect the presence of certain diseases with a salvia test, and the technology is developing rapidly.

X-Rays - For around a century, dentists have been using x-rays to reveal signs of disease not visible to the naked eye. Now, with CAT scans, they have become three-dimensional and are an indispensable tool to diagnose tooth decay, gum disease, bone density, bone volume and tumors.

Laser Bacterial Reduction - Gum and bone disease affects approximately 80% of adults and is a growing epidemic in our society. Understanding of this disease has increased greatly over the last few years. Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection in the pockets around teeth. We now not only treat periodontal disease by removal of mechanical irritants and diseased tissue (your normal cleaning or a deep cleaning) but are also addressing the underlying infection that causes it. With that thought in mind, we recommend that all of our patients have their teeth decontaminated prior to cleaning appointments for three major reasons:

1. To reduce or eliminate potential infections. During the normal cleaning process most patients will have some areas that may bleed, this allows bacteria that are present in all of our mouths to flood into the bloodstream and sometimes settle in weakened areas of our body such as a damaged heart valves or artificial knee or hip etc. We pre-medicate those patients that we know have a heart condition or artificial joints with antibiotics so that these bacteria can’t cause harm. Research shows that these oral pathogens have now been linked to a number of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, low birth weight babies, diabetes, etc. Needless to say, anything that we can do to reduce or eliminate these potential infections is in our patients’ best interest.

2. To prevent cross-contamination of infections in one area of your mouth to other areas. Decontamination minimizes the chance that we may pick up bacterial infection in one area of your mouth and move it to another.

3. To kill periodontal disease bacteria and stop infection before they cause physical destruction of gum and bone around your teeth.

The laser decontamination process is painless and normally takes about 10 minutes. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this service as part of your routine cleaning.

Periodontal Disease and Scaling & Root Planing.

Periodontal Disease

Your teeth are supported by gum tissue (or gingiva), connective fibers called the periodontal ligament that anchor the tooth root into its socket and into its bone. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem – there is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums.

Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket; generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket.

Scaling & Root Planing

Periodontal disease treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. The first step usually is a thorough cleaning that includes scaling to remove plaque and tartar deposits. The tooth roots also may be planed to smooth the root surface, allowing the gum tissue to heal and reattach to the tooth. In some cases, the occlusions, or bite, may require adjustment.

Your Role in Preventing Dental Disease

There's one more extremely important component of preventive dentistry: you. The procedures mentioned above can only be effective if you come in to the dental office to take advantage of them. Likewise, the importance of maintaining a good oral hygiene routine at home cannot be overstated. Daily effective brushing and flossing will go a long way toward removing the dental plaque responsible for dental disease, tooth loss, and the need for more complex dental treatment.

What does good oral hygiene mean to you: Flashing a pearly-white smile? Having fresh smelling breath? Feeling that squeaky-clean sensation all around your teeth and tongue? All of these are important indicators about the state of your oral health — and they're often the first thing people notice when they meet you. But getting your teeth, gums and mouth really clean, and maintaining that healthy state throughout the day (and in the months between professional dental cleanings) can be challenging.

Of course, there's much more to oral hygiene than just a bright smile. Take tooth decay, for example: Despite all our efforts, it's still the single most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting two-thirds of U.S. kids aged 12-19. It is 5 times more common than asthma, 7 times more common than hay fever — and it's almost totally preventable. Several other diseases commonly affect the mouth, including periodontitis (gum disease), which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and possibly systemic (whole-body) inflammation.

In many ways, the health of the mouth mirrors the health of the body. Diseases in other parts of the body often cause symptoms we can observe in the mouth; likewise, oral maladies (like tooth loss) not only reduce an individual's quality of life, but may also lead to problems in other areas. That's another reason why maintaining good oral hygiene is so important.

Keeping Up Your Oral Health

Regular dental visits play a critical role in maintaining your oral health — not only to find and remedy any problems with teeth or gums, but also to assess the general condition of your oral health, point out potential trouble spots, and offer suggestions for preventive care. In between visits, the best way to keep your teeth clean and free of disease, your gums pink and healthy, and your breath fresh, is a program of daily oral hygiene. Your regular routine should include the following:

How to brush and floss your teeth

You should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. This will help remove plaque, a bacteria-laden biofilm, from the surfaces of your teeth. The bacteria in plaque can turn sugars from food into acids, which attack the tooth's enamel and cause tooth decay. Some bacteria can also cause gingivitis and other gum diseases.

Make sure you're getting the proper amount of fluoride

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel — it's essential for children's developing teeth, and helps prevent decay in both kids and adults. Even if your municipal water is fluoridated, you should always use fluoride toothpaste. If more fluoride is needed, it can be applied directly to your teeth here at the dental office.

Limit between-meal snacks

Sugary snacks are the perfect fuel for decay-causing bacteria — and when eaten throughout the day, they keep the acid constantly on the attack. So give your mouth a break, and (if you allow them) limit sugary treats to mealtime.

Use an appropriate mouthrinse

Therapeutic mouthrinses do more than temporarily mask bad smells or tastes in your mouth — they can improve your overall oral hygiene. While some over-the counter products offer primarily “cosmetic” benefits, therapeutic rinses contain anti-bacterial and anti-cariogenic (cavity-fighting) ingredients. Using a therapeutic mouthrinse has been proven to control plaque bacteria and prevent cavities better than brushing and flossing alone.

Quit tobacco

Whether smoked or smokeless, tobacco use greatly increases your risk of oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay (not to mention heart disease and lung cancer… but you already knew that). If you use tobacco, ask us how to quit now.

Examine your mouth regularly

Once you've established a regular routine, you'll quickly recognize any changes in your mouth — like chipped teeth, red or swollen gums, or unusual sores. If you find something of concern, let us know. Early treatment offers the best chance to remedy many problems.

*A major goal of modern dentistry is to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. By following a conscientious program of oral hygiene, you have the best chance at making this goal a reality.

Q. How often should I see a dentist?

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting a dentist at least twice a year for a check-up and a professional cleaning. Our office also recommends a minimum of two visits per year.

Q. What do I do if I have a dental emergency?

A. Please call our office as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency. If you have a dental emergency during regular business hours, we will be glad to work you into our schedule. After hours, over the weekend and during holidays, please call our office for the doctor's emergency contact number.

Q. What kind of toothbrush should I use?

A. Dr. Yowell highly recommends a rechargeable electric toothbrush, as electric toothbrushes have really helped people improve oral hygiene at home. However, a manual toothbrush, when used properly, can be just as effective as a powered toothbrush. If using a manual toothbrush, adults should use a small-to-medium size toothbrush with soft-to-medium bristles. The head of the brush needs to be small enough to brush all areas of the mouth thoroughly, specifically the back of the mouth, which can be difficult to reach. Children should use small toothbrushes with soft bristles. People with sensitive teeth can benefit from using gentle soft-bristled toothbrushes.

More and more people are switching to using rechargeable electric toothbrushes, and for very good reasons. Electric toothbrushes that we recommend oscillate and pulsate (a combination, thereof) close to 50,000 per minute! The brush heads are designed specifically for your individual needs… some for deep cleaning, others for sensitive gums, some for cleaning in between teeth / around orthodontics / bridges and other restorative dental work. Most people brush for less than half the recommended 2 minute brushing doctors recommend. Because of that, the toothbrush we recommend has a 2 minute timer, letting you know when to switch quadrants (every 30 seconds). It also senses when you brush too hard, with an alert to help prevent over-brushing.

Q. How often should I replace my toothbrush?

A. The American Dental Association recommends that you replace your brush every 3 to 4 months. With each use, the bristles become worn and cleaning effectiveness decreases. Depending on your oral health, you may need to replace your brush sooner. Typically, children toothbrushes need to be replaced more regularly than adults.

Q. Should I brush or floss first?

A. As long as you brush and floss thoroughly, it does not matter if you brush then floss or floss then brush. However, flossing before brushing enables the fluoride in your toothpaste to better reach the areas between the teeth.

Q. Is one type of toothpaste better than the others?

A. No. However, we recommend you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride and carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means it has been assessed for safety and effectiveness. Studies consistently show that fluoride helps strengthen and rebuild tooth structure, and helps prevent dental decay.

Q. Are payment plans available for my dental treatment?

A. Yes. We accept most major credit cards and many types of dental insurance. We will process your insurance claim for you upon receipt of your co-payment.

We take great pride in providing our patients with high-quality dental care by using the most advanced technology available today! We believe our precise combination of knowledge, skill and technology enables us to deliver optimum results for each of our patients.

CEREC CAD/CAM System

Beauty and convenience in one visit, that’s what you deserve. We use Cerec by Sirona to deliver top-quality crown restorations in ONE VISIT, so you can get back to your busy life. Why CEREC? Unlike typical restorations, which require you to wear a temporary crown and return for a second appointment, CEREC restorations are created the same day, RIGHT IN OUR PRACTICE. Color matched, metal free and highly durable, CEREC delivers everything you need in a single appointment, whether you need a full crown, a simple filling or veneers.

CEREC by Sirona is the only CAD/CAM system backed by nearly 30 years of research and development. Plus, with more than 28 million restorations placed worldwide and a proven success rate of 95 percent, you can rest assured that you’ve made the right choice.

CEREC uses a state-of-the-art 3D camera to create a digital impression of the affected tooth. This digital image replaces the physical impression required in traditional procedures, so you don’t have to wait while a tray of goopy impression material hardens in your mouth. Using CEREC software, we will design every detail of your restoration with precise accuracy, ensuring the best possible fit. While you wait, WATCHING TV, SURFING THE INTERNET OR ENJOYING A CUP OF COFFEE, your all-ceramic restoration will be created in our onsite milling machine. Then, we’ll fit, polish and bond the restoration.

Check out how Cerec works by clicking this link!

Intraoral Camera

The standard X-ray is essential in determining any dental problems you may have, but unfortunately, it may not reveal everything happening inside your mouth. We are proud to use intraoral cameras in our office.

An intraoral camera is a camera at the end of a small wand that allows us to take digital pictures in the oral cavity. As it allows patients to see exactly what we see, it's used to build patient trust through visual communication.

NOMAD™ X-Ray System

We utilize the NOMAD handheld, cordless X-ray system in our office to provide us with invaluable information about your oral and dental health. Using this system, we can capture high quality images fast. Radiation exposure is minimal for the patient and technician. The NOMAD System allows the technician to remain in the same room as the patient providing additional comfort and assurance to children who may not prefer to be in the operatory room alone.

• American Dental Association

• Iowa Dental Association

• Oral-B

• Sonicare