Autism is developmental disability. It is a complicated disorder that can have a significant affect on social and behavioral abilities, along with the ability to communicate with others. Children and adults with autism often seem  to others to distant and detached from the world around them. Responses to questions, reactions to events and emotions are often not appropriate. Behaviors can include body movements that are repetitive and obsessive in nature, and reactions to stimuli are often exaggerated.

Autism itself involves an entire spectrum of behaviors, and the disability has a wide range of severity and symptoms which can range from mild to moderate to severe.

Dental care for autistic children is especially challenging. When you really think about it, the dentist-patient relationship requires a great deal of communication and trust. Even the simplest dental care like a cleaning is an experience that people without a disability do not like. The majority of people rely on a relationship built on trust and communication over time.. So when you consider an autistic child who processes the world differently,  needed dental care is often a challenge. Communication is difficult, responses are often exaggerated and unanticipated. Children with special needs require added levels of patience, understanding and TLC. There are times when autistic children require special surroundings, or anesthesia to have dental care, but we have found that these instances are few and far between. As our experience has grown over the years in treating children with special needs, we have been able to successfully create lasting relationships with our patients and their families. Regular care is essential, and the longer that care is neglected, chances are that problems worsen over time. There is nothing more heartbreaking than to see parents struggle with the opposing problems of avoiding care because they do not want to see their children suffer and having to watch their children suffer from inappropriate care or because of emergencies brought on by avoidance of care.

Huntington Bay Dental is proud to be sponsoring its third annual Huntington Bay Dental For Autism Event in support of the NSSA – the Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism. The NSSA was founded to provide services that meet the unique needs of individuals and families touched by autism. The goal of these services is to maximize potential, to enable individuals with autism to more fully participate in family life, to prepare for the transition to increasingly less restrictive educational environments, to develop the skills necessary for future employment, and to develop the skills that facilitate full participation in community living. Please join Huntington Bay Dental and our family of friends and patients on March 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Watermill inSmithtown.

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Are your teeth sensitive? If you are like many people, you have had the uncomfortable experience of drinking a cold refreshing glass of water on a hot summer’s day, only to have your tooth begin to scream at you. Or maybe you are out to eat at your favorite restaurant, taking a bite of your favorite steak, and your molar makes you see stars. The truth of the matter is that teeth are not supposed to hurt! When they are doing their job properly, they go unnoticed. And teeth have a major job to perform, being in use in one way or another nearly all day long. Teeth are necessary for speech, helping to form every sound that passes our lips. Eating is not possible without teeth, which are responbile for breaking down food so that we can both enjoy and process it. And teeth are necessary for appearance, with the smile being integral to how we are seen by others and ourselves. But when teeth are sensitive, for any reason at all, many things go wrong.
Tooth sensitivity can be caused by multiple reasons. The most common reason is as a result of gum recession or shrinkage. This can be physiological – caused over time, or it can be pathologic – cause by a destructive process such as excessive tooth grinding, brushing with too much force, gum disease where the bone shrinks, or a traumatic injury to an area. Receding gums usually lead to sensitivity to cold temperatures, and it goes away as soon as the cold stimulus is removed. But it can be really painful. Fluoride gels painted on the areas over the course of days can help to resolve this, as can sensitive-tooth toothpastes like Sensodyne. Laser energy directed at the areas has also been found to be effective. Sometimes a tooth colored filling needs to be bonded to the tooth as a covering that blocks the sensitivity.
When sensitivity to cold is not caused by recession, the reason often rests with the tooth’s nerve itself. The nerve is actually a useless remnant from earlier days in life when the tooth was forming. The nerve was responsible for creating the tooth, and the tissue becomes trapped in the structure it made, and slowly dies during the course of your life. But if something causes the nerve to die more quickly, it can become hypersensitive. Decay can cause this, so can trauma, so can cracks in teeth, so can a bite that is uneven, and even dental work can put a nerve on the edge over the edge. Sharp pain on biting often signifies a tooth fracture. Pain to cold and sweets often means you have a cavity. Pain that is spontaneous, or which lasts a long time after a stimulus, often means that the nerve is dying. Pain to heat often means that there is an infection brewing. Analgesics like advil, aspirin or tylenol can help give temporary relief by reducing inflammation, but true relief wont come until the source of the pain in these cases is completely removed. That means removing the nerve and sterilizing the tooth (also known as a root canal).
So the bottom line on tooth sensitivity is – it shouldn’t be there. Sensitivity signifies a problem. It can be minor, or it can be more involved. If it comes up out of no-where and lingers, its best to see your dentist for an evaluation. If the sensitivity becomes uncomfortable to the point that it affects your quality of life in any way – then its time to see your dentist. And I know you don’t want to hear this, but often the longer you wait, the less better it gets.
If you have any questions about tooth sensitivity, please feel free to ask Dr. Antenucci of Huntington Bay Dental.

Filed under: Tooth Sensitivity by laserdocc
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Just because your smile is attractive doesn’t mean that your oral health is what it should be. A healthy mouth is more than just an attractive smile. When oral health is poor and oral disease is untreated there are significant affects on overall health and on quality of life. In many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole.

There are several key factors in achieving and maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile. There really aren’t any shortcuts – its like eating – we need to eat to provide our bodies with the nutrients they require – we need to care for our teeth in order to keep our mouths healthy. Some of us are born with a disadvantage and are genetically predisposed to bad oral health – maybe because of a tendency towards gum disease, or with teeth that are more prone to decay. Others are at a disadvantage because of eating habits which began at an early age, or because of a lack of proper fluoride during the years when teeth are being formed. But the fact remains that there are basic things that everyone needs to do to care for their teeth and mouths. The following list comes from the Academy of General Dentistry:

Floss every day. It’s the single most important factor in preventing gum disease, which affects more than 50 percent of adults. Spend two to three minutes flossing at least once a day. Not flossing because it irritates your gums? The more often you floss, the tougher your gums will become.

Brush your teeth for at least two to three minutes twice daily. If you’re not sure whether you’re brushing long enough, simply brush for the length of an entire song on the radio.

Change your toothbrush or toothbrush head (if you’re using an electric toothbrush) before the bristles become splayed and frayed, or every three to four months. Not only are old toothbrushes ineffective, they may harbor harmful bacteria that can cause infections, such as gingivitis and gum disease.

Drink sugary beverages through a straw. This will minimize the amount of time that the sugars are in contact with your teeth, which can minimize the risk of developing cavities.

Replace carbonated beverages, which cause enamel erosion and cavities, with water, milk, tea, or coffee.

Chew sugarless gum that contains xylitol after meals and snacks. This will help cleanseyour mouth and prevent the bacteria associated with cavities from attaching to your teeth. Even better, gum will increase your saliva production and reduce bad breath!

Wait one hour to brush your teeth after consuming highly acidic food or drinks, like wine, coffee, citrus fruits, and soft drinks. Otherwise, you run the risk of wearing away the enamel on your teeth.

And finally, see your dentist at least twice a year in order to have an examination that will find problems in teeth and gums at a very early stage, and also in order to be fully aware of the overall condition of structures in and around the mouth. Oral cancers are more easily and successfully treated early, and systemic conditions are often seen first in the mouth.

If you have any questions regarding your oral health, or would like a complementary oral health screening, please feel free to contact us to set up a convenient time to meet with a doctor at Huntington Bay Dental.

Filed under: Maintaining Dental Health by laserdocc
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