8615 NE Hazel Dell Avenue, Vancouver, WA  98665

(360) 574-7477

The Concept of Dental Wellness

Although health could be defined as the absence of disease, the concept of wellness relates to how fit you are, and how well you are able to defend against disease.

Sometimes I meet people who assume that the absence of pain is an indicator of health. On discovery of gum disease, decay, or even an abscess, I have heard remarks like "How could this happen when it never hurt?" The reality is that dental disease seldom produces pain until something is very wrong. Consider these examples:

Tooth decay begins in the enamel, a crystalline surface layer of the tooth that has no nerve endings. Decay can easily advance deeper in the tooth without pain, even in to the dental pulp, which contains the nerves that help your teeth to sense when they are hot or cold. Pain may begin when the pulp has been invaded by decay and becomes very inflamed. Pain may only begin after infection has destroyed the pulp and started an infection in the jaw. Most teeth that have decay involving the pulp need root canal therapy, posts, buildups, and crowns. Some must be extracted. Early detection of decay precludes this kind of trouble. With respect to decay, Dental Wellness focuses on

• early detection of decay during regular checkups
• timely repair or replacement of previous crowns and fillings, before they break or develop deep decay
• prevention of decay through good home care, a sensible diet, and fluoride supplements or treatments

Gum disease is less likely to cause pain than tooth decay. The words "Don’t wait till it hurts" are prominent on the front of the Periodontal Disease brochure published by the American Dental Association. Gum disease is best regarded as a low-grade, chronic infection, where harmful bacteria quietly create pockets between the teeth and gums and destroy bone that supports the teeth. Most bone loss occurs in acute episodes called flare-ups that go unnoticed by the patient. Flare-ups are more likely when a) general health is compromised by stress, fatigue, and other illnesses, and b) health of the gums is compromised by lapses in brushing and flossing, and c) more than 41 days have passed since your last dental hygiene visit with us. This last point   relates to our recommendation that patients with moderate to severe gum disease have maintenance visits with our hygienists every three months.

Although x-rays show bone loss caused by advanced gum disease, the most effective diagnosis is achieved during probing at periodic dental exams. Dental Wellness regarding gum disease focuses on

• brushing, flossing, and other home care as needed to maintain health,
• early detection of pockets before they become deep enough to require surgical correction, and
• regular visits with our dental team to reduce risk of a "flare-up"