Archives for March 2014

How Tom Got His Tooth Back

One of our favorite patients in our office in Orange, CT finally got his tooth back! Tom was smiling from ear to ear after we restored his dental implant with an aesthetic all ceramic crown . See below:

Dental Implants photo and picture showing Tom smiling in our Orange, CT dentist office.

We helped Tom to get his million dollar smile back! Photos and dentistry by Dr. Nicholas Calcaterra.

After suffering trauma and then losing his front tooth, Tom had to wear a flipper for over a year. This was inconvenient and affected his ability to eat, smile, and even talk. After having a dental implant placed, we restored it with a cosmetic ceramic crown. Tom went from worrying about his little denture falling out while talking to flashing his million dollar smile!

Before and after photo of dental implant for patients in Orange and Woodbridge CT

A closeup of before and after shots of Tom. Photos by Dr. Nicholas Calcaterra.

Tom is one of the many patients from the Orange, Woodbridge, and West Haven, CT areas that we’ve helped over the years using dental implants.

Most people know that dental implants can be used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. This is what we did for Tom. But did you know that they can also be used to support a denture? Visit this page to see photos of cases we have completed.

Contact us by phone at (203) 799 2929 or go to this page if you would like to schedule an appointment to learn how we can help with an implant related dental need.

Fluoride and Infant Formula

Fluoride added to infant formula can strengthen adult teeth

At her age, adult teeth are already forming!

In our practice in Orange, CT, we see lots of kids as well as lots of moms with newborns. We often get questions regarding if and when fluoride should be incorporated into the diet of their newborn.

Most parents are unaware that at birth, certain adult teeth are already forming! Even though these adult teeth will not start appearing until age six, they are beginning to form deep inside the upper and lower jaws.

Fluoride and Teeth Development

Teeth development timeline showing calcification and root completion

Tooth development timeline (courtesy wikipedia.org)

The chart above shows the initial calcification times for all the adult teeth. Why do we care about initial calcification times? Because this is when fluoride can be incorporated into the developing tooth structure! As you can see, at birth, the six year molars are already beginning to calcify.

When fluoride becomes part of the developing tooth in a child, the tooth becomes stronger and more resistant to dental decay. For the adult teeth, this critical time begins at birth and continues approximately through age 8 (except for the wisdom teeth). Once the teeth are fully formed, the fluoride can only affect the most superficial layer of the teeth. This is why we do topical fluoride application on kids.

Please note that excessive consumption of fluoride can lead to a damaging condition called fluorosis.

Fluoride, Breast Feeding, and Infant Formula

For those mothers choosing to nurse, we agree with the adage “breast is best.” But for those opting to feed their infant formula, we always inform families of the option of buying formula with fluoride.

Current recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry are to avoid fluoride supplementation during the first six months of life of your child. We agree with and adhere to these recommendations.

Water for infant formula with fluoride for stronger teeth at the dentist for kids

Nursery Water with Fluoride

Once your child is 6 months old, it may be beneficial to incorporate fluoride into the diet. One way to achieve this is to use a powder formula mixed with water that contains fluoride. An example is Nursery Water (photo on the left) which has the appropriate amount of fluoride added to it as recommended by the American Dental Association as well as the Department of Health and Human Services.

Another option is to mix the powdered formula with tap water if you live in a town with a fluoridated water supply. Orange, Milford, West Haven, Derby, New Haven and other local towns all have fluoride added. Some towns such as Woodbridge have homes with mostly well water. See here for a complete list of Connecticut cities and towns with fluoride.

Should you supplement with fluoride?

There is widespread scientific evidence which confirms that fluoridation can and will reduce the rate of dental caries in both children and adults.

Each and every child is unique and has different risk profiles for developing cavities. Some kids have a consistent exposure to fluoride already while others do not. As a result, we always discuss various options, including no fluoride at all, with parents. Contact us with any questions or go to this page to request an appointment.