The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association require that dental staff treating patients use disposable gloves and when necessary, put on masks and eyewear. Before treating another patient, a staff member must not only replace their gloves, but also wash their hands.

All dentist offices have special equipment used to sterilize dental instruments. Many offices, for instance, use an autoclave which works by subjecting dental tools to extremely hot, pressurized steam. The intense heat within the autoclave incinerates bacteria collected on the tools, making sure that none can spread to the next patient.

Additionally, all dental offices are cleaned and decontaminated regularly. Every surface, countertop, door and shelf handle is thoroughly wiped down and disinfected.

With all of these sterilization techniques in place, the dentist office may actually be cleaner than your own home. Don’t let a fear of unsanitary conditions stop you from getting to the dentist regularly. To make an appointment, call or contact us today.

One of the primary duties of an odontologist is identifying deceased victims. If the victim has an intact skull and up-to-date dental records, this process is rather simple. If the skull is badly damaged or the dental records are outdated, identification becomes more difficult. Sometimes alternative, full face x-rays can be used if no dental x-rays are present.

Odontologists also examine bite marks on both victims and objects found at the crime scene. In the case of bite wounds to a victim, the size and shape of the teeth marks are documented photographically. In the case of food found at the crime scene, odontologists preserve the bitten food with glycerol and formaldehyde. In both cases a suspect is then asked to bite down on another object which is compared to the bite marks from the crime scene. If the marks are identical, the suspect was undoubtedly present during the crime. If they differ, the police might be pursuing the wrong lead.

While dentists don’t make arrests or handcuff criminals, they are still integral pieces of the judicial process. So next time you flip on a crime show remember that behind that talented inspector or detective is probably an equally talented dentist.

The disease is particularly deadly because often people don’t recognize the early warnings. Common signs of oral cancer include persistent mouth sores, bleeding in the mouth or pain while swallowing. Another typical symptom is the development of off-color patches within the mouth and around the lips.

Those most at risk for oral cancer include heavy alcohol drinkers, those who use tobacco and those who suffer sun damage to their lips. The best defense against oral cancer is prevention. Not smoking and using lip balm to guard against the sun are two simple ways to significantly reduce the risks of oral cancer.

Patients should also make sure they schedule regular dental checkups. Most dental professionals know the early symptoms of oral cancer and can diagnose the disease before it becomes life threatening. If you have any questions regarding oral cancer or would like to schedule a check-up, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

A normal scaler is a handheld instrument with a metal tip used by dentists to scrape away plaque deposits. The metal tip of an ultrasonic scaler vibrates at a frequency which breaks down plaque cell membranes. This allows dentists to easily remove plaque that has hardened onto teeth.

While these vibrations are harmless to most patients, people with pacemakers need to be careful. Pacemakers deliver electrical impulses to the heart muscles regulating a patient’s heartbeat.  Certain types of ultrasonic devices however, are capable of producing electromagnetic interference that could disrupt the operation of a pacemaker. Recent studies have shown that ultrasonic equipment could interfere with pacemakers from as far away as two feet.

It is always important that patients keep their dentist updated about their general health. If you have a pacemaker and haven’t notified your dentist, you should do so immediately. If you have further questions about ultrasonic equipment and its effects on artificial pacemakers, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

Dental care workers, in particular, need to be aware of latex allergies. Dental professionals are at high risk for developing allergies since they deal with latex in gloves and dental dams on a daily basis.

Patients, however, need not fear. Minimal contact with latex gloves very rarely develops into an allergy. Moreover, if warned in advance, dental offices are well equipped to handle latex-allergic patients.

If you would like to learn more about latex allergies or need to schedule a latex-free appointment, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

The caduceus is often recognized as a symbol of medicine in general, but fewer people are familiar with the caduceus of dentistry. The American Dental Association made the official decision in 1965 to adopt the dental caduceus as an emblem of the profession.

Similar to the original caduceus, the dental symbol includes a snake wrapped around a staff. The staff is in front of 32 leaves and 20 berries, which are representative of the temporary and adult teeth. The drawing is surrounded by a delta sign and an omicron, the Greek letters representing dentistry and “odont,” the Greek word associated with “tooth.”

The caduceus is commonly found on dental paraphernalia: diplomas, graduation gowns, and banners, for example. The staff and serpent have been associated with medicine since Ancient Greece. The original caduceus has been recreated several times, including staffs with ribbons replacing the snakes and double-helixes to represent DNA.

Dental X-rays are essential because they reveal problematic areas of decay that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Cavities often form within the tooth, eating away at the dental pulp while leaving most of the enamel intact. Dark areas in the images help locate decaying internal areas which might require more invasive treatments if diagnosed later.

During your semi-annual dental check-up, we clean, polish, and inspect your teeth in order to prevent against tooth decay and other oral hygiene issues. If you have questions about dental X-rays or check-ups, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

Luckily, endocarditis from dental procedures is easy to prevent. Dentists can prescribe antibiotics before the procedure to decrease the likelihood of bacteria entering the bloodstream. Generally, having a heart condition should not dissuade a patient from electing to have a dental operation; bacteria regularly enters the bloodstream during brushing, flossing, and other non-dental activities.

Most chewing gums that claim to whiten your teeth have an added whitening agent similar to hydrogen peroxide. While you chew the gum, the hydrogen peroxide will help to break up surface stains, such as those from coffee or tobacco. Additionally, chewing gum promotes the production of saliva, which also washes away plaque and stains. However, while chewing gum may help remove surface stains, a dental whitening treatment is needed to remove deeper internal stains.

Any sugar-free chewing gum, with or without whitening agents, can encourage saliva production. Although gum may not be the most effective whitening tool, it can help prevent cavities by washing away plaque. For more information about maintaining your oral health, contact Culebra North Dental Care today!