Monticello Dental's Blog

There are several reasons why replacing your missing or extracted teeth is important. How you look when you smile, how you speak, and how you chew can all be negatively impacted by missing teeth. There are a few options for replacing teeth such as dental implants, dental bridges, and removable partial dentures. For more information, visit our dental links above, the ADA Mouth Healthy Website here, or call our O'Fallon dental office at 636-300-4280.

Choosing a dental insurance plan is hard enough, let alone understanding the details of how the benefits work. Can you see your dentist for a cleaning twice a year anytime or do you have to wait at least 6 months between cleaning visits? Can you receive x-rays 2 times per year or just once? What are your major benefits and is there a waiting period for those benefits? What is a missing tooth clause and does that apply to your plan? What is your deductible and what treatment will that apply to? What is the maximum amount your plan will pay out every year? The questions can go on and on!

A dental computed tomography (CT) scan is used to capture 3-D images of teeth, bone, nerves, and other soft tissue. The CT scan allows for more views and angles of the mouth than a traditional 2-D image, which then allows for more accurate treatment planning. Our office uses the CT machine for dental implant placement, determining bone structure, viewing the orientation of teeth, and for other procedures as needed.

If you have a question about our dental CT machine, or you would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at our O'Fallon MO dental office at 636-300-4280.

Screening for oral cancer is critical to the early detection of abnormal tissue. Our office uses the latest technology to emit a special blue light on oral tissue which causes the tissue to fluoresce. This enhances areas that may be questionable and lead to a more detailed examination to determine if any abnormalities are present. The oral cancer screening is painless and very cost effective for detecting cancer in its early stages. If you would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at our O'Fallon MO dental office at 636-300-4280.

As the end of the year approaches, we'd like to remind you that if you haven't used your dental benefits to the max, now is the time to schedule your appointment. Our dentist in Ofallon MO offers all of the standard dental procedures plus more - the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique, dental implants, and fluorescent oral cancer screenings to name just a few procedures. If you are unsure of how your dental benefits work, give us a call and we will be happy to help you through it.

Six Month Smiles - Straight Teeth in About 6 Months

The pinhole surgical technique (PST) is a new procedure for repairing gum recession. PST is usually less invasive and, in most cases, requires less healing time than conventional gum grafting. Visit our website here for more information including photos of this new procedure. Dr. Dejtiranukul, dentist in Ofallon MO, is currently one of only a few dentists who perform the pinhole surgical technique in the St. Louis area.

Pinhole Video

If you have been told that you snore and/or stop breathing during sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be a serious condition, and studies indicate that there is a correlation between sleep apnea and hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor or dentist about your symptoms. Very often, sleep apnea is treatable with CPAP Therapy through your physician or Oral Appliance Therapy through a dentist who has had advanced training in sleep medicine.

Health Concerns for Alternative to Smoking

There are many alternatives to smoking traditional tobacco these days. The most popular include e-cigs, smokeless tobacco, hookahs, and dissolving products. Many of these products are perceived as safe; however, the long-term effects of these products are still unknown. It will take a few more years before more accurate information can be made available. For more information on smokeless tobacco products, including a list of those products, please visit ADA Mouth Healthy.