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Dental Care for Children with Cerebral Palsy

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We specialize in special needs dentistry, helping our patients with cerebral palsy achieve the best possible oral health.

Some parents hesitate to get dental care and treatment for their child with cerebral palsy because they fear it may be difficult or may go poorly. However, at the Dental Anesthesia Center, we specialize in special needs dentistry, helping our patients with cerebral palsy achieve the best possible oral health.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that impairs muscle coordination and function. It may be associated with uncontrolled body movements, balance-related abnormalities, seizure disorders, and sensory dysfunction. Many children with CP require a wheelchair and a lifetime of personal care.

Maintaining good oral health for children with cerebral palsy can be difficult for the parents and the dentist. While CP itself does not cause any oral abnormalities, several conditions are more common or more severe in children with cerebral palsy.

Why Children with CP are at Risk for Dental Issues

Many of the symptoms of cerebral palsy lead to oral problems and thus children with CP are at greater risk of developing dental issues. However, it is possible to help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums!

One of the issues with children with CP is the tendency to reflux or vomit on a regular basis. Increased drooling can also contribute to cavities as well as some of the medications that children with CP are required to take. However, there are a number of other issues that contribute to dental problems. Some of these include:

  • Difficulty using a toothbrush and floss
  • Trouble chewing or swallowing
  • Excessive gagging
  • Habitual grinding of the teeth
  • Having food in the mouth for long periods of time
  • TMJ disorders
  • Enamel defects
  • Malalignment of the upper and lower teeth

Providing Dental Care

When looking for a dentist for your child with CP, it is important to find one that specializes in working with children with special needs. Safety training is required for oral health professionals who work with special needs kids. Some of this training includes:

  • Supporting children with involuntary bodily movements
  • Knowing how to properly monitor breathing
  • Knowing how to clear breathing passages
  • Ability to establish a trusting relationship with the child
  • Ability to give commands in a friendly yet understandable way

Special Needs Dentistry at The Dental Anesthesia Center

Patients with cerebral palsy in St. Louis may be more hesitant about visiting the dentist for the fear that the visit might go poorly. This is especially true with parents who have young children with cerebral palsy. Luckily, we have Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Thoms on our team, each of whom specializes in working with a wide variety of patients, including those with cerebral palsy.

Our office is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We can accommodate patients with wheelchairs of all sizes.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

5 Medical Conditions that Can Affect Your Teeth

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There are a number of different medical conditions that can affect your overall oral health.

When you go to the dentist for your routine dental exam, your dentist will check for more than just cavities. Your mouth can actually signal problems that are going on in the rest of your body. From your lungs to your heart and to your immune system, be aware of 5 health conditions that are linked to tooth and gum disease.

5 Medical Conditions that Can Harm Your Mouth

  1. Gastroesophageal reflux, commonly known as acid reflux, can affect your teeth. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid or bile flows upwards into the food pipe. The result of powerful stomach acid in your mouth causes erosion on your back teeth because it dissolves the enamel. Brushing your teeth or rinsing vigorously with water during the day can reduce the effect of acid on your teeth. To prevent nighttime reflux, avoid eating before bed and avoid foods that are acidic and caffeine and alcohol.
  2. High Blood Pressure can increase your risk of developing gum disease. Some of the medications used to lower blood pressure can cause unwanted side effects such as gingival enlargement which is a condition in which your gums swell and begin to grow over your teeth.
  3. It is believed that there is a link between heart disease and oral health. Although not completely understood, if you suffer from gum disease, you are two times more likely to have heart disease. The idea is that bacteria from your gums is able to travel through your body, reaching your heart and causing cardiovascular issues. Therefore, the healthier you keep your mouth, the lower your risk of heart disease may be.
  4. Diabetes can cause severe gum disease. Diabetes may cause some peoples teeth to pull away from the gums, which can make them loose and even fall out. If you have diabetes and experience this problem, you need to work with a specialist so they can help you keep it under control with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
  5. There is a link between severe gum problems and chronic kidney disease. Long-term kidney disease can lead to a number of health problems including heart disease, poor bone health, and high blood pressure. All of these conditions can cause gum disease. It’s especially important for patients with kidney disease to have good oral care as a minor infection in your mouth could develop into a more serious problem.

General Dentistry St. Louis

For more than 20 years, The Dental Anesthesia Center has been a general dentistry office, unique to the field of Sleep Dentistry. We specialize in helping patients of all ages achieve good oral health. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

What is TMJ and How Can it Be Treated?

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TMJ refers to a variety of different issues that affect the TM joints, jaw muscles, and facial nerves. However, relief is possible!

Temporomandibular disorder, or TMJ, is a condition that millions of Americans suffer from. A person with TMJ may suffer from chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, earaches, and headaches. The source of this pain comes from one or both of the temporomandibular joints which are located on each side of the head.

Your temporomandibular joint is like a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. This is what allows your jaw to move up and down and from side to side so that you’re able to talk and chew.

Symptoms of TMJ?

TMJ refers to a variety of different issues that affect the TM joints, jaw muscles, and facial nerves. Signs and symptoms of TMJ may include:

  • Pain or tenderness in your jaw joint area
  • Ear pain when you chew, talk, or open your mouth wide
  • Issues with opening your mouth wide
  • Jaws that get stuck in the open or closed position
  • Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or when you – it may or may not hurt
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Tired feeling in the facial muscles
  • Swelling on the side of your face

Causes of TMJ

The exact cause of TMJ may be hard to determine. It may be due to a physical injury to the jaw. Genetics, disease, and wear and tear are other factors. Other causes of TMJ include:

  • Bruxism – or teeth grinding, is a habit that may contribute to muscle spasms and inflammation that can cause the initial pain
  • Clenching – someone who continually clenches their jaw or bites on things while awake
  • Arthritis – just as other joints in the body, the jaw joint can be affected by arthritis
  • Malalignment of the top and bottom teeth
  • Jaw dislocation or trauma to the jaw
  • Stress and anxiety

How Can TMJ Be Treated?

If you suffer from TMJ that is painful or disruptive to your life, you no doubt would like to find relief.

For most people, the discomfort from TMJ will likely eventually go away on its own. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen may help relieve your pain. There are several things you can do that may help. Some of these things include:

  • Stretch the jaw
  • Relax your jaw
  • Strengthen jaw muscles
  • Do not grind your teeth
  • Do not clench your jaw
  • Increase jaw mobility

All of these things promote jaw healing. While it may take a concentrated effort to do some of these things, it may very well eliminate your pain associated with TMJ.

If you’re suffering from jaw pain in some way or another, make sure that you set up an appointment with us so that we can get to the underlying cause and get you back to your normal self! We’re the only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

How Anemia Can Have an Impact on Oral Health

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At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we provide gentle, safe, and relaxing dental care.

It is known that oral health can have an affect on your general health and that it is connected to the other functions of your body. Poor oral health might contribute to numerous diseases and conditions, like digestive issues, bone erosion, extended infections, and possibly cardiovascular disease. But your oral health can also be influenced by other conditions in your body.

How can anemia impact oral health and oral health treatments?

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition that directly affects your body’s blood cell numbers. A low number of blood cells is the main indicator that you have anemia, and it leads to various symptoms in your body. One of the most common symptoms of anemia is having pale gums. This symptom also shows how oral health is directly impacted by this condition.

Blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients to every cell of your body, so having a low level of blood cells will deprive your body of the necessary vitamins, minerals and from the needed amount of oxygen.

There are many types of anemia, the most common ones being: iron deficiency, sickle cell anemia, and vitamin deficiency anemia. Getting the right diagnosis is important for choosing the best treatment and for understanding its impact better.

How Does Anemia Affect Your Oral Health?

When your gums and teeth don’t get the nutrients they need through the blood, they are much more susceptible to disease. Patients with anemia can get cavities, gum disease, ulcers, infections and even problems with the tongue, like soreness or pain.

Iron deficiency anemia can have pica as a side-effect. Pica is an eating disorder in which patients tend to eat things that lack nutrients: chips, paper, cardboard, etc. This not only makes them ingest items with no nutritional value, but it can also damage the teeth.

Sickle cell anemia leads to different types of problems: glossy, sore tongue, demineralization in the tooth enamel, delayed tooth eruption.

Vitamin deficiency anemia shows symptoms like gum disease, mouth ulcers and a reduced feeling of taste.

There are many other associated symptoms that may show up in your oral health, and proper diagnosis is important in solving the underlying issues. Be sure to see your general practitioner if you suspect having anemia.

St. Louis Sedation Dentistry

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we provide gentle, safe, and relaxing dental care. During your consultation, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Thoms, or Dr. Daugherty will decide which level of sedation is best for you based upon your medical history and current physical health.

Call us today to schedule an appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

7 Dental Fads You Might Want to Avoid

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If you are looking for alternative solutions because of anxiety related to going to the dentist, consider sedation dentistry.

Being on the Internet can easily convince you that wonder products exist and they will change your life. Dental care is no exception. You might have already heard about some of the following practices that are supposed to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful with little cost and usually a little DIY effort.

Some people look for alternative dental solutions because they have anxiety or fear of going to the dentist. Unfortunately, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Many of these dental fads are not effective, or are even harmful for your teeth. In addition, relying solely on these techniques may lead to dental problems.

Oil Pulling

An ancient practice in terms of oral care is oil pulling. It involves swishing oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes. The oil is supposed to collect all the bacteria on your teeth and gums, making it easy for you to just flush it afterwards. While oil does remove some of the plaque on your teeth, relying only on oil pulling will eventually lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Rinsing Your Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide

In the search of the whitest smile, people try easy at-home remedies, like rinsing their teeth with hydrogen peroxide, a common ingredient in whitening products. This practice can be very harmful in the long-run, weakening the enamel.

Brushing Your Teeth with Activated Charcoal

Often seen on Instagram, this trick can be damaging for your teeth. Using activated charcoal for your teeth corrodes the enamel and will eventually leave your teeth vulnerable to cavities.

Wearing Tooth Grills and Gems

Grills will cause micro cracks and scratches on your teeth, and wearing gems can create breeding places for bacteria.

Using Coconut Oil to Treat Canker Sores

Canker sores can be very annoying, and coconut oil as a remedy seems quite harmless, but it doesn’t really make the healing process faster. If you have persistent sores in your mouth, see a dentist who can evaluate them.

Using Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Anti-fluoride seems to be part of a wider trend that fights allopathic solutions, but fluoride, besides being present naturally in the environment (in low quantities), is also one of the best ways to prevent cavities.

Brushing Your Teeth with Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Another dangerous habit is brushing your teeth with lemon, baking soda or a combination of the two. Lemon is highly acidic and baking soda very abrasive, so using the two will result in creating micro-scratches on your enamel, then attacking them with acid.

There’s nothing wrong with trying out some new things if you believe they are good for your health, but doing a little research on these subjects is enough to show you what’s truly effective and what’s only an internet fad.

If you were looking for alternative solutions because of anxiety related to going to the dentist, consider sedation dentistry – it is often the best solution to get the much needed dental treatment for patients who don’t like being in the dreaded chair.

6 Fun Dental Apps to Make Your Kid Love Brushing His or Her Teeth

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If your child is already using mobile devices and you’re having trouble getting them to brush their teeth, test out some of these apps and find the right match for you!

Kids nowadays are familiar with how to use a mobile device, but they still need help when it comes to some basic healthy habits, like brushing their teeth. Parents are trying various methods to make brushing more fun and enjoyable and create a positive association in their children’s minds.

Luckily, there are plenty of solutions to make brushing and flossing fun, and we have compiled a list of six excellent app examples that can help parents and their kids.

Disney Magic Timer (iOs and Android)

This Disney license app by Oral-B is going to have any little Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars fans excited about brushing their teeth, with characters like Darth Vader, Belle, Olaf, and many others. You have to pair it with an Oral-B toothbrush and used twice a day to unlock new pictures in the app. This encourages the kids to use the brush regularly and do the brushing for at least two minutes.

Toothsavers Brushing Game (iOs and Android)

An app that uses the power of a good story to make children brush twice a day, Toothsavers features an evil witch that sends cavities to everyone’s mouths, and who can be defeated by brushing twice a day for at least two minutes. After 30 days of regular brushing, the evil witch can be defeated, and hopefully, the habit is already set in your child’s routine.

Brush DJ (iOs and Android)

This very simple app allows you to play music for your phone for exactly 2 minutes, which is the minimum amount of time kids should spend brushing their teeth. In addition to playing their favorite songs, this app also allows them to choose the color of the display.

My Teeth (iOs)

Thorough brushing is important, which is why parents have to assist their children for a few years before they brush on their own. This app is very helpful, because it shows the proper technique in a fun way, and allows parents to brush their child’s mouth with full cooperation from his side.

My Bright Smile (iOs and Android)

This app by Colgate has five mini-games that include visiting the dentist, choosing a healthy diet and brushing your teeth. It is meant to teach the little ones about how to keep a good overall dental health by not only brushing but also having the right diet and seeing the dentist regularly. As with most dental health apps for kids, it also features a song that will encourage your kid to keep on brushing for at least two minutes.

Time 2 Brush (iOs and Android)

An app created for Aquafresh, this fun game makes brushing fun by presenting lovable characters and allowing the child to personalize them and collect more. 

If your child is already using mobile devices and you’re having trouble getting them to stay still during brushing, test out some of these apps and find the right match for you!