• Tooth decay: Cavities–caused by acids, sugars, and bacteria penetrating the enamel–will eventually reach low enough in the tooth to cause either direct sensitivity of the nerve, or microcavities in the teeth that are sensitive to heat, cold, and different types of pressure.
• New teeth coming in: When adult teeth or wisdom teeth are erupting through the gums, the inflammation associated with it can make teeth sore.
• Fractured tooth: Biting down hard on anything harder than the tooth can create an internal or external crack or fracture in a tooth. In some cases a chipped tooth may be extremely painful, other times it may not cause any pain at all. Depending on how the tooth is damaged, it will be more or less sensitive.
• Losing a filling: Fillings may fall out or be knocked out, resulting in a previously filled and cleaned cavity being opened. Because this part of the tooth may be hard to clean, it generally will degrade faster than the rest of teeth due to buildup of food or acids.
• Infection of the gums: If there’s inflammation, swelling, or other signs of infection, pain in the gums can sometimes feel like pain in the tooth. It is important to treat infections soon because they can quickly damage the mouth or spread beyond it.

Brushing regularly (with a fluoride-containing paste), flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash are generally good ways to avoid degradation of the teeth and avoid tooth damage. Healthy gums are also crucial to maintaining good overall oral health, and preventing toothaches. There are many other causes of a toothache, and many will vary with regard to sensitivity to temperature, sensitivity to sweets, and pain when applying pressure.

If your toothache lasts for more than a few days, or is painful, call the office of Dr. James F. Otten, DDS at 785-843-6404

James F Otten DDS, Lawrence KS Dentist‎
one, 930 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 843-6404

Typically, impacted wisdom teeth are categorized into a few commonly found forms:

• Mesioangular impaction, where the tooth is angled forward, accounts for half of all impacted wisdom teeth.
• Vertical impaction is also common, happening when a wisdom tooth does not fully erupt through the gum.
• Distoangular impaction and Horizontal impaction are much more rare, being seen in only a small percentage of all wisdom teeth. These types of impaction are when the tooth is angled backwards or sideways, respectively.

Because of the abundant levels of bacteria in the mouth, it often leads to pericoronitis, an infection of the gum mostly occuring in young people. When a tooth partially erupts from the gum, it exposes a flap of tissue that can trap bacteria and lead to infection. Keeping up with oral hygiene is extra important while wisdom teeth are breaking through the gums.

Generally, wisdom teeth are extracted quickly and painlessly. For many people, wisdom teeth will threaten to be impacted and change the bite or position of other teeth, and are generally considered to be unneeded. Others may not have wisdom tooth problems, or may not grow the teeth at all.

If you or someone you know is having an issue with a wisdom tooth affecting dental work, teeth, or gums, call the office of Dr. James F Otten DDS., at (785) 843-6404.

James F Otten DDS, Lawrence KS Dentist‎
930 Iowa Street Suite One
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 843-6404

Vitamins A, C, and D are very important to the health of your teeth, both for protecting and building them.
Vitamins A and D help to maintain and develop strong and healthy teeth. The antioxidant vitamin C helps to keep connective tissues and the gums healthy, helping the healing process of scapes or cuts in the mouth. Calcium is also important for the teeth, creating a strong jawbone and foundation for the teeth. In order to keep up your oral health, make certain that your diet has some sources of these vitamins, or foods that contain them.

The following is a list of common sources of vitamins A, C, and D:

• Vitamin A: Find it in dark green vegetables, eggs, liver, and fortified dairy products. Also sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese, pumpkin, cantaloupe melon, apricot, and papaya.
• Vitamin C: Find it in oranges, spinach, raspberries, gooseberries, plums, kale, garlic, and raw cabbage. Animal sources include raw liver, raw oysters, and cod roe. Vitamin C supplements are also an easy option.
• Vitamin D: Find it in catfish, mackeral, tuna, eggs, and fish or vegetable vitamin D supplements. It is also added to many calcium supplements, as these vitamins are harder to find in common foods than vitamins C and A.
• Calcium: Found in milk, soymilk (when calcium is added), nuts such as almonds, and sesame seeds. Because dairy is the most common calcium and vitamin D source, vegans or those who avoid dairy due to lactose intolerance may need to include blackstrap molasses, beans, figs, quinoa, collard greens, or okra.

Additionally, foods containing lots of sugar are usually not great for the teeth. Sticky foods like chocolates or caramels easily get stuck to tooth surfaces for extended periods of time, breaking down the tooth surface and causing cavities.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call Dr. James F. Otten, DDS at 785-843-6404.

James F Otten DDS
930 Iowa Suite One
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 843-6404

However, this biofilm does not stay harmless for very long. Initially, the biofilm is soft enough to scrape or brush off, but after around 10 days sitting on the teeth, plaque becomes calculus, or tartar. Tartar is solid and hard to remove, and while plaque and tartar are on the teeth, different processes and reactions created by the bacteria result in acid that may cause cavities. Tooth decay is the primary danger of plaque and tartar sitting on the teeth.
Saliva creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth, acting as a pH buffer and keeping the pH around 7. Nutrients are also present in saliva, giving the bacteria food. To help prevent cavities and the damage from plaque buildup, brushing your teeth is essential- saliva cannot penetrate the surface of the biofilm to reduce the acidity.

The following is a quick list of oral hygiene tips to reduce acid buildup, plaque, tartar, and cavities:

• Brush your teeth (for plaque removal)
• Floss
• Cleaning your tongue
• Gum hygiene
• Foods containing beneficial nutrients, like calcium, fluoride, and phosphate.
• Chewing sugar-free gum after eating.

Regular tooth cleanings and checkups will remove tartar and plaque buildup more effectively than you can at home. Having a dentist’s cleaning two times a year is recommended for sufficient removal of built up tartar. Having a fluoride treatment is a common dental treatment that will help strengthen your teeth.

Whether you think you have a cavity or want to ask about teeth cleanings, call Dr. James Otten at 785-843-6404 today to schedule an appointment.

Dr. James Otten, DDS
930 Iowa Street Suite One
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 843-6404

Gnashing your teeth can result in the following symptoms:

A constant, pounding headache
Tooth damage, cracks in the tooth
Fractured or loosened teeth
Soreness of the gums, jaws, or teeth

As it is tough to prevent teeth grinding while sleeping other issues may arise.
Symptoms can lead to temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ) after they affect the muscles and other structures around the jaw. Symptoms can also lead to worn down teeth, a misaligned bite, or any of a large list of jaw-related problems.

Treatments for teeth gnashing seek to reduce pain, stop damage to the teeth, and reduce the time spent grinding or clenching the teeth. Mouth guards or appliances, such as splints, are advised for the prevention of irreversible damage to the teeth.

If you are bothered by any of the indications of Bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching), call Dr. James Otten, DDS at 785-843-6404 immediately and schedule an appointment. There are quite a few options offered to resolve the issue, both for prevention and repair. Mouthguards can aid in preventing nighttime tooth gnashing, while surgery for crowns or bridges may be needed for teeth that have been severely weakened.

While you’re waiting for your appointment, fast fixes to ease pain include curbing alcohol and caffeine, applying ice or warm water to ease soreness, relaxing and avoiding stress, and heating up your face (with a warm washcloth or steam) to relax the jaw muscles before going to bed.

Dr. James Otten, DDS
930 Iowa Street Suite One
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 843-6404

The reality of it is that dental offices very based on the type of practice. It is likely for example that a family dental practitioner on the West Coast may be similar to a family practitioner on the East Coast. Where the immense variety comes in, has more to do with the type of dental practice. For example, an orthodontist has different tools and different skills than a periodontist. An implant dentist will use different methods which also require a variety of equipment that you will not likely find in a cosmetic dentist’s office.

At the end of the day the type of office that you are looking for will largely be based on what you need. One of the easiest ways to determine the attributes and features of a given office, is to visit their website and do a little research. Most dental practitioners will explain what it is that they do on their site and give you more information on which to base your decision. We hope this video will help you to find exactly the perfect dentist for you.

All the best,

Dr. James F Otten “Life is Better with Great Teeth.”

Dr. Otten is a leading dentist in the Lawrence, KS area. Call his dental office at (785) 843-6404 to schedule your appointment.

Fortunately, modern medicine has made a number of significant advances in the past few decades. As a result of this, for most conditions, a patient can come to a dental office and not require extensive follow-up treatments. This makes it possible, under normal circumstances, for people to get what ever kind of care they need, no matter where they live.

It does get a little complicated, if you need very specialized treatment, Particularly the kind of treatment that may require a number of visits. Still, things are not what they used to be and the technological advancements are so significant that all but the most difficult cases can be resolved. Sit down for a full consultation with your dentist, even if the consultation needs to happen by phone. Ask every question you need answered and don’t stop asking until you feel completely satisfied.

We believe that life is better with great teeth and that you deserve a great smile. To that end, we will do everything we can to help you get that.

All the best,

Dr. James F Otten “Life is Better with Great Teeth.”

Dr. Otten is a leading dentist in the Lawrence, KS area. Call his dental office at (785) 843-6404 to schedule your appointment.

The reality of it is that there are many options when it comes to what you put into your mouth. The choices are extremely personal and where one person might want a gold filling, the next one might opt for a porcelain veneer. The first person to explore both the question and your options is yourself. What do you want? What would make you feel great?

With the wide variety of options from silver fillings to those made of gold, from porcelain veneers and perfectly matched crowns, you have many choices. Remember that your mouth is very personal to you and at the end of the day you are the person that has to live with it all the time. Carefully explore what your options are as well as your preferences and ask your dentist for their opinion as well. Good luck with your decision!

All the best,

Dr. Dr James Otten “Life is Better with Great Teeth.”

Dr. Otten is a leading dentist in the Lawrence, KS area. Call his dental office at (785) 843-6404
to schedule your appointment.

One of the challenges that often surfaces when we require more than an average visit to the dentist is the intimidation factor. Many of us are afraid or stressed out about expressing a special need. This can also apply to something that we want such as a cosmetic change, a better smile or even something as simple as whiter teeth. How much more intimidating can it be if we need a complicated implant or to have our receding gums treated through oral surgery?

At the end of the day you deserve to have the best possible care for whatever your needs may be. In that regard, sometimes you may truly need a specialist who has a higher level of training than your average family dentist and you should never feel afraid to ask questions and figure out what will give you the best possible results. We hope you found this video helpful and that you always receive the best care for you, whether you need a specialist or not.

All the best,

Dr. James F. Otten “Life is Better with Great Teeth.”

Dr. Otten is a leading dentist in the Lawrence, KS area. Call his dental office at (785) 843-6404 to schedule your appointment.

Are they my only choice? Watch this short video for the answer to that question.

The aging process can be a little taxing on the mouth. Not only may we lose a tooth or two, we may have other challenges such as gum disease or receding gums. This may require the help and support of specialist to correct. What if you have brittle teeth? What if you have leakage from old fillings that can lead to cavities and even infections?
The good news is that there are many options and Dr. Otten can explain your choices in detail to help you determine what is right for you. At the end of the day, being properly informed will help you make the best possible choice–and that is exactly what we want for you.

All the best,

Dr. James F Otten “Life is Better when you are comfortable with your dentures.”

Dr. Otten is a leading dentist in the Lawrence, KS area. Call his dental office at (785) 843-6404 to schedule your appointment.