Dr. Papendick is working to teach children the basics of oral health, the dangers of sweets and sugars and the benefits of regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Developing strong dental habits at a young age, like brushing their teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day, can ensure a beautiful, healthful smile that will last a lifetime.

Join Waukegan Family Dental, the American Dental Association, and dental professionals across the country by educating, informing, and making our children aware of the importance of great dental health.

For more information, Call 847-336-7800 or visit our special offers section at waukeganfamilydental.com.

            There are numerous tooth-whitening procedures including tray bleaching, in office applications, whitening strips, paint on materials, and whitening toothpastes.  Numerous studies have examined these different methods and shown them to have varying degrees of success.  Professional applications provided by a dental professional are the most effective and have been shown to be safe and successful.

            The most common side effect is tooth sensitivity. For most people however it is not a significant problem and the sensitivity often diminishes without any major discomfort.  If you experience increasing sensitivity however you should contact your dentist about using a desensitizing agent. We utilize opalescence products from Ultradent, which contain potassium nitrate and fluoride.  These two compounds help prevent and reduce this sensitivity.

            Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are two different products that are used in teeth bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide is a stronger bleaching agent than carbamide peroxide.  Carbamide peroxide breaks down to about one third hydrogen peroxide, so a 18% carbamide peroxide bleaching agent will have the same effect as a 6% hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. Another major difference is that the shelf life of carbamide peroxide bleaching agents is much longer than hydrogen peroxide agents.

            I hope this information was helpful and should you have any questions please feel free to comment here, ask us on facebook or call us. Be sure to check out our blog from two weeks ago to see an in office bleaching procedure.

1^st:  Do I have a deductible and if so how much is it?

          What you are paying your employer for your coverage often reflects what your out of pocket costs will be. Deductibles will be collected on your first visit of each year.  However some procedures such as cleanings, x-rays, fluorides and exams do not require you to pay a deductible. Ask your insurance provider if preventative services will be deductible free.

2^nd: What types of cleanings are covered?

          Many patients think insurance companies will cover 2 cleanings every 6 months.  If you are diagnosed with healthy gums that is exactly what you’ll need.  Nevertheless 75% of the American population has been diagnosed with Periodontal Disease. Periodontal disease requires a different type of cleaning called Scaling and Root Planning, which many people refer to as a “deep cleaning”. After your Scaling and Root Planning patients will usually be placed on a 3month recall called Periodontal Maintenance.  Ask your insurance company how many times cleanings per year are covered and whether periodontal maintenance visits are covered.  It’s important to remember that if your insurance only covers 2 a year that you will be required to pay for the additional visits.  Remember that these visits, if necessary, are important for your health whether the insurance covers them or not.

3^rd:  Is there a waiting period for major work?

          Many insurance companies usually have a waiting period of 12 months or more before they will over certain procedures. Your insurance company can provide you with a list of ADA codes for the procedures that require a waiting period.

4^th: What is my plan maximum and what are the percentages I have to pay?

          Ask your insurance company what your maximum for the year is. Most insurance companies provide you with a maximum of $1,000-$2,000 annually. This maximum is what the insurance company will pay for services the patient has done in a calendar year. Another question that a patient should ask is what percentages of any procedures they will have to pay after the insurance pays. This will provide the patient with a more accurate total of their out of pocket expense.

Taking the time to ask these 4 questions will help you understand your dental insurance benefits and the procedures your company will cover to help you keep a beautiful and healthy smile.

            Veneers and bonding are effective methods but usually involve removing tooth structure and will require retreatment after they wear out.  Orthodontics can change your smile also and until recently often required years of treatment to achieve that new smile.  Now you can have the smile in about six months with the Six Month Smiles Ortho System.

            Six month smiles (6MS) is different from traditional orthodontics and invisalign as it is quicker, easier and doesn’t change your bite.  It only changes your smile.  The 6MS system utilizes tooth colored wires and is barely noticeable at conversational distances.  Most people with crooked or spaced teeth are candidates for this treatment.  After treatment is completed a hidden wire is placed behind your teeth to maintain your new smile.  To complete your smile they can be bleached to give you the dazzling new smile you resolved to get this year.  Give us a call at 847-336-7800 to set up a FREE consultation today.

            A crown or cap maybe necessary for a number of reasons including: 1.) To repair a tooth that has been severely weekend by decay. 2.) To prevent a tooth from breaking that has a crack in it.  3.) To restore a tooth that has broken.  4.) To repair a tooth that has been severely worn down. 5.) To cover a malformed or discolored tooth. 6.) As an anchor for a fixed dental bridge. 7.) To restore an implant.

            Whatever your situation is your dentist can help you chose the proper type crown to repair your tooth.

before and after

            Dentists recommend the modified Bass technique.  Does this mean you need to get a supply of fish hooks to care for your teeth? Actually it is named after a dentist and is a brushing method that will effectively clean your teeth.  Place the bristle of the brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gum line and move your hand slightly.  You want to make very small circular motions.  Another description would be to “vibrate’ the brush.  Be sure to always brush away from the gum line. Start in one spot and work your way through the whole mouth.  Don’t miss any surfaces.  Start for example on the upper right on the inner surfaces and work all the way back to the left again.  Finally brush the biting surfaces of all the upper teeth.  After finishing the uppers repeat the cycle on your lower teeth.  This whole cycle should take 2 full minutes to effectively remove all the plaque and debris.  This may not seem very long, but most people don’t brush long enough so be sure to use a timer.      

            Another tip would be to use a gentle grip and soft bristle brush.  You don’t need to hold the brush like a club or use a hard bristle brush to get your teeth cleaned.  The hard bristles and excessive pressure will damage the gum tissue and doesn’t clean the teeth any better than light pressure with a soft bristle brush will.  I hope these tips will help and if you have questions please contact us or ask your dentist or hygienist.

           Anytime you visit the dentist, physician or other health care professional they will inquire about your health history.  If this is a first time visit to the doctor you will be asked to fill out a health history form.  If you have been to the same office recently it may only be a short verbal or written update that is requested.  Whatever your particular situation it is important to provide accurate and up to date information.  Inaccurate information can lead to life threatening consequences or at minimum an uncomfortable allergic reaction.

           Unfortunately with the busy lives we lead we quite often forget important information such as medication, allergy or health condition.  This is even more likely to occur when filling out forms for an elderly parent or child.  To prevent this situation from happening to you keep a detailed list of all family members medication, allergies, doctor’s names with phone numbers, and any health issues.  The list can be kept on your home computer where it can be easily updated.  Print a copy of the list and carry it in your purse or wallet so when you are at the doctor’s office the information is readily available.  Your doctor’s staff and the doctor will greatly appreciate this and it provides you with the comfort of knowing you have provided accurate and up to date information to them.

         Being a parent has many rewarding and anxious moments.  Being a parent, but also dentist, one of my parenting nightmares is having my son knock a tooth out.  It is estimated that 5 million teeth are knocked out annually and many more are chipped or broken.  This situation is extremely stressful for both you and your child, but if prompt action is taken the tooth can often be saved.

       The best way to treat this situation is through prevention.  Be sure your child has a professionally fabricated mouth guard for participation in any sport a properly fitted mouth guard will keep you and your child from going through the “knocked out tooth nightmare”.  Unfortunately not all avulsed teeth occur during organized athletic events.  Statistics show that falls are the leading cause of dental injuries.  Intentional injuries (fights) are a top five cause and other causes are car accidents, bicycle incidents, and being struck by an object.  Sixty two percent of these incidents occur at home.

            So what should you do if your child has a tooth knocked out?  The best results are obtained if the tooth is replaced into its socket within thirty minutes.  However immediate replacement is often not possible as the child is often scared and possibly not willing to cooperate.  Other injuries may require attention first and prevent immediate reimplantation.  The other problem is many people lack the confidence or are afraid of replacing the tooth in the socket.  Due to these factors the following steps should be accomplished.  First do not wash or scrub the tooth, as it will damage the cells on the root surface.  To keep the tooth from drying out it must be placed in a liquid solution.  The ideal solution is the Save-A-Tooth system, which utilized a Ph balanced solution.  If this isn’t available then the next choice would be milk.  Contact lens solution may also be used, but do not use water as this will kill the cells on the root.  If unable to place the tooth in any of these then place the tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gums.  The next step is to get your child to your dentist as soon as possible.

            I hope these tips will help you should you be confronted by this stressful situation.  As a service to those reading this, the first twelve to contact our office will be given a Save-A-Tooth system.

But the truth is 87 million Americans snore, so you are not alone, but you could be in danger. 40 million Americans are chronic sufferers of sleep disorders, with only 10% being treated or even diagnosed. That means taht there are quite a few walking strokes and heart attacks among you and your friends. 

Snoring occurs when the airway or passage through which you breathe becomes partially blocked. This can happen when your tongue falls back as you drift off into deeper sleep. As the diameter of the airway shrinks, throat vibrations begin, and snoring ensues.

Snoring is a “red flag” as it could be one of the early signs or a component of “obstructive sleep apnea” (OSA). In fact, 40% of snoreers have been shown to have OSA.

In one well known study, patients with untreated sleep apnea had a 37% chance of dying within eight years versus 4% for patients who had received treatment for their sleep apnea. That’s scary enough to pay attention to that bed partner who is sawing some serious logs.

OSA sufferers have a rough night and don’t even know what is happening to them.  In a given night, these apneic events ( when a patient stops breathing) can occur more than 30 times an hour! Obviously, these individuals awake exhausted each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep should be  a replenishing tool for each of us.

Should you be worried? Well, to answer that, first analyze some signs and symptoms of OSA sufferers. Common side effects of OSA include:

• heart attacks or irregular heart beats
• impotence
• high blood pressure
• stroke
• heartburn
• morning headaches
• dry mouth
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• impaired concentration
• depression and decreased quality of life
• decreased libido
• irritability
• poor job performance
• family discord

…and the obvious one, chronic sleepiness. A simple test can be taken that will grade this last symptom called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale ( you can find more info on our sleep apnea website).  Not all apneics will score high, but if you do, it is a very good sign of OSA.

OSA can cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off while on the phone or work. Obviously, sleep apnea patients aer at a much greater risk of having auto accidents.

So, what’s the cure? Unfortunately,there is not yet a cure for sleep apnea, but it is treatable. The treatment depends on the severity of the disorder as assessed by a sleep specialist.

Give yourself that early, Christmas in July gift.  Come on in for your sleep apnea consult so that we can help you get on the right path to better sleep, better days and a happier spouse!