585 Main St.
Chatham, NJ 07928
Phone: (973) 701-7777
Keeping Our Patients Safe

Keeping Our Patients Safe

Dear Friends:
I am excited to announce that we are being allowed to see patients again. We will be opening on Weds. June 3rd. We have made improvements to keep you and the staff safe. We would like to ease your concerns about coming to the office.

Click here for our  new office safety protocol

© All photographs on this site are of Dr. Allyson K. hurley's patients and represent her work and her photography.

Archives for October 2015

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My daughter’s permanent tooth is coming in behind her baby tooth. It’s a lower front tooth. I tried to wiggle the baby tooth, but it won’t budge. Should we yank harder on the baby tooth? Is she going to end up with 2 teeth? – Journee

Journee – If your daughter’s primary tooth isn’t loose at all, contact her pediatric dentist to schedule an examination. Don’t try to extract the tooth on your own. It can cause bleeding, unnecessary pain, and may damage adjacent teeth.

After the examination, the dentist will let you know if the primary tooth will eventually be pushed out by the permanent one, or if it needs to be extracted.

How Common Is It to Have Two Rows of Teeth?

It is not uncommon for a permanent tooth to erupt before the primary tooth comes out. It usually happens with upper or lower front teeth. This condition occurs in about 30% of children and is often referred to as “shark teeth,” because sharks have two rows of teeth.

When the primary tooth is removed, or when it falls out, natural tongue pressure should move it to the correct position. If your child’s teeth are overcrowded, and the tooth does not move to the correct position, it may be best to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist. Although many parents may wait for the teenage years before visiting an orthodontist, treatment at an early age can intercept future problems and help reduce treatment time.

While waiting for the developments of a tooth in a second row, be certain to care for it with daily flossing and brushing. The developing tooth should not be neglected, because it can decay.

Remember to consult with your daughter’s dentist and not try to resolve the issue on your own.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

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Wait a minute. That’s a loaded question. What do diabetes, dentures, and your stomach (?) have to do with each other? We need a little clarification, don’t we? Let’s start with stomatitis. Stoma is a Greek word that means mouth or opening. Words that end in “itis” refer to inflammation. So denture stomatitis is inflammation and soreness in the mouth that can be aggravated by wearing dentures. The result is irritated and very red oral tissue beneath your dentures.

In 2013, a study published in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry showed that people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience oral inflammation beneath their dentures than people who don’t have diabetes at all. 61% of type 2 diabetes patients were affected, while only 38% of non-diabetic denture wearers in the study had denture stomatitis.

What does all of this mean if you have diabetes and wear dentures?

You may know that diabetes increases your risk of skin and tissue irritation. Gum tissue is at risk also—particularly when dentures rub against your gums and irritate them.

So what can you do about it?

  • Ensure that you only receive custom dentures that fit properly and don’t irritate your gum tissue. If your dentures rest directly on your gums, it increases the chances of irritation.
  • Some patients choose dental implants, which are surgically implanted in the jawbone to support dentures and prevent them from resting on your gums. But not everyone can afford dental implants, and not all patients are candidates for them.
  • Good oral hygiene helps. Keep your mouth and your dentures clean. Whenever possible, rinse your mouth and dentures after meals to remove food debris. If food is left on or beneath your dentures, it can lead to bacteria and an infection. Smoking can also irritate your gums, and it encourages yeast infection in your mouth. Brush your dentures, mouth, tongue, and the roof of your mouth daily.
  • Don’t wear your dentures while you sleep. Instead, soak them in fresh water or denture-soaking solution. Your saliva production decreases while you sleep, which increases the chances of bacteria and plaque buildup on your dentures.
  • Drink plenty of water. It will keep your mouth moist and help wash away acid and bacteria from food that may otherwise collect in your mouth.
  • Keep your regularly scheduled dental appointments. Although you may not have natural teeth that need to be cleaned, a thorough examination by your dentist can result in early detection of any oral health issues that may be developing. Inform your dentist right away if you experience any irritation in your mouth or around your dentures.

Denture stomatitis is not automatic for people with diabetes. Insist on quality dentures that fit well, maintain good oral hygiene and how, and cooperate with your dentist to ensure that you maintain good oral health.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.