Children Suffering from Bad Breath

Generally, bad breath is caused by bacteria build-up in the mouth. But with children, there are a few special circumstances that need consideration, which is why the doctors of Bishop & Bishop Dental are ready to provide a thorough examination and diagnosis.
Children need to be taught to brush their tongues, as well as their teeth, so that bacteria can’t feed on the food particles which get caught in the soft, creviced tissue of their papillae. But there’s no easy way to clean the tonsils, which are also a trap for food debris, as well as nasal drip. Dentists can, however, recommend alcohol-free mouthwash. Children inevitably get more sinus infections than adults, providing bacteria with more fodder in the form of nasal drip, but it may be worthwhile to get them tested for allergies and, if they are very small, check to see if there is a foreign object caught in their nasal passages.
Bacteria also build-up easily when the mouth is chronically dry. Dry mouth is a common side-effect of medications, including those given for anxiety and ADHD. If medications which are contributing to bad breath can’t be swapped out, the child may need to try an artificial moisturizer.
David Bishop, DDS and Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, DDS, operate Bishop & Bishop Dental at 8830 Cameron St, #504, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. To set up an appointment, call 301-608-9270 or visit Bishop Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Pain around Fillings

We provide our patients with high-quality fillings at Bishop & Bishop Dental, ensuring that decay-causing bacteria won’t be able to hide in any cracks in their teeth. But sometimes fillings can cause soreness, in which case we want to help.
It is common for the area around a filling to be sensitive immediately after it has been placed, but the patient should be able to bite down completely. If they can’t, the filling needs to be reshaped. If the soreness does not go away after a few days, it is possible that the decay went deeper than was thought, and a more extensive restoration than a filling is necessary.
Even if a filling was made well and fixed the original problem, it may not last forever. The sealant used to hold a filling in place can crack, providing bacteria with a hiding spot and allowing tooth decay to occur. The filling can also come loose. In these cases, the work would have to be redone.
David Bishop, DDS and Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, DDS, operate Bishop & Bishop Dental at 8830 Cameron St, #504, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. To set up an appointment, call 301-608-9270 or visit Bishop Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Bruxism and Night Guards

Many patients at Bishop & Bishop Dental experience some negative effects of bruxism.  Bruxism is the medical term for any regular grinding of the teeth or clenching of the jaw.  This can be brought on or intensified by stress, but usually stems from having a crooked bite or missing teeth.  Some people grind their teeth consciously, but others only grind their teeth while they sleep at night and may not be aware of it.  Waking up with a stiff or sore jaw could be a sign you are grinding your teeth at night and shouldn’t be ignored.  Contact us for a consultation to see what damage you may be doing.
Whether the teeth grinding is taking place during waking hours or not, chronic teeth grinders often end up needing crowns, bridges, root canals, and in severe cases tooth loss can occur. A custom night guard is the best defense against the dangers of this habit.  We outfit patients with night guards by taking an impression and having a custom fit product made.  A night guard not only protects the grinding surfaces of the teeth but also aligns the jaw and can even help improve sleep!
To learn more about teeth grinding, night guards, and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bishopdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. David Bishop at Bishop & Bishop Dental here in Silver Spring, Maryland, call 301-608-9270. 

Oral Conscious Sedation for Anxious Patients

At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we have seen many patients who experience some level of anxiety with each dental procedure or appointment. Some patients have had negative experiences with dental procedures that make them anxious, and others may have a sensitive gag reflex that has always made dental work dreadful.  We understand why a dental appointment could be intimidating, but do not want to see patients delaying treatment because of these fears.  Oral conscious sedation is an option we recommend for patients experiencing dental anxiety.
Oral conscious sedation is administered by taking a pill orally before a procedure.  The light sedative relaxes the patient but does not ‘knock out’ the patient, as they remain conscious.  They are brought to an extremely relaxed state, and when the dentist begins working local anesthetic is still used at the site of the procedure.  The combination of oral conscious sedation and local anesthetic means the patient can stay relaxed and usually allows the dentist to complete more work in one session.  This makes a more pleasant experience for an anxious patient, and can even mean less dental appointments overall.
To learn more about sedation options and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bishopdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. David Bishop at Bishop & Bishop Dental here in Silver Spring, Maryland, call 301-608-9270. 

Crowns

Dental crowns are a restorative option for teeth that have a significant amount of decay or are at risk of being chipped. Bishop & Bishop Dental offers natural-looking crowns to repair smiles and restore function to a patient’s teeth.
The process for installing a crown can usually be completed in two visits.  To prepare the tooth your dentist will remove any decay, and may need to reshape the remaining tooth to ensure a great fit for the new crown.  Once the tooth has been prepared, your dentist will take an impression of the area.  This impression is sent to a dental lab where the crown is fabricated.  Ask us about temporary options to wear while your new crown is being made.  Once your custom crown is made, the crown will be cemented into place by your dentist at a second appointment.  Our crowns blend right into your natural smile and can last a lifetime!
To learn more about crowns and all the services we provide at our practice, visit Bishop dental for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. David Bishop at Bishop & Bishop Dental here in Silver Spring, Maryland, call 301-608-9270. 

Dry Sockets

Patients undergoing tooth extractions at Bishop & Bishop Dental have our guarantee that they will be given the best possible care. Extractions are generally a simple process with a short recovery time. There is, however, one major potential complication, which is a dry socket.
A dry socket occurs when the empty socket left after a tooth extraction lacks a blood clot to seal its moisture in. It could be that the blood never clotted at all—some medications inhibit clotting as a side effect, which is why patients need to disclose all the medications they’re currently taking to us. It is also possible for a clot to form but be knocked or sucked loose before the socket is closed. This is why it is important for patients to follow our instructions not to sip through straws or brush hard near the extraction site for a few days after the surgery.
If the patient experiences severe pain within forty-eight hours of the extraction, they should request a follow-up appointment right away. Extractions which required sutures are more likely to result in dry sockets, but patients shouldn’t wait until the appointment when the sutures were set to be removed to ask for help. We have medicated wound dressing to treat a dry socket and will want to closely monitor its recovery.
David Bishop, DDS and Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, DDS, operate Bishop & Bishop Dental at 8830 Cameron St, #504, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. To set up an appointment, call 301-608-9270 or visit Bishop Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Intrinsic Stains

Does getting tooth stains removed require you to undergo a root canal? In certain cases, it may. At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we treat our patients with the highest quality of care, and that includes addressing the health concerns underlying a cosmetic issue. That’s why we want our patients to understand what an intrinsic stain is.
Extrinsic stains are those on the surface of the teeth which are caused by what the patient consumes over a long time—dark colas and red wine, smoke, and coffee, for example. These are easy to remove with bleach. But intrinsic stains are caused by something affecting the dental pulp. This could be overexposure to fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics during the tooth’s formation, but if the stain shows up after the tooth’s development, it is probably due to inflamed tissue.
Dental pulp becomes inflamed due to trauma or infection, and it will not heal on its own. While bonding could conceal an intrinsic stain, an infection threatens the patient’s well-being, and possibly their life, so the pulp must be removed through a root canal. Once the tooth has been filled and sealed, our doctors can determine whether it needs to be bonded or given a new crown.
David Bishop, DDS and Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, DDS, operate Bishop & Bishop Dental at 8830 Cameron St, #504, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. To set up an appointment, call 301-608-9270 or visit Bishop Dental and fill out a contact sheet.