Dr. Kevin Rykard DDS and his dental treatment team are pleased to provide professional and caring dental services to their patients from Oklahoma City OK and the surrounding communities. Our dental services include: adult, children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, laser, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
“Laughing gas” – the nickname most people use to refer to nitrous oxide sedation – is regularly used to obtain a lightly desirable comfort level for treatment. Inhaled through a mask, this type of sedation introduces the medication into your system by allowing you to simply breathe the compound in. Then a state of relaxation is induced. Local anesthetic will be given in addition to nitrous oxide to prevent any pain in most cases. Kevin Rykard, DDS 12448 St. Andrews Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 752-2626 OklahomaDentistry.com
You know your dentist is looking for cavities during regular check-ups, but you may not realize your dentist can check for cancer at the same time. It’s estimated that approximately 51,540 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue in 2018. Regular visits to your dentist can help you detect such cancers early, and changing a few potentially harmful habits may help reduce your chances of developing them. Read on to find out the top risk factors.
Gender Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer. The American Cancer Society attributes this to higher rates of alcohol and tobacco use by men, but says more men of a younger age are being diagnosed with HPV-related forms of oral cancer.
Age Most people who are diagnosed with oral cancer are 55 or older, according to the American Cancer Society. HPV-related oral cancers, however, are often diagnosed in people who are younger. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Good Habits Can Produce a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth
Initiating proper habits early on, in an atmosphere that’s comfortable and fun, is an essential building block for creating a lifetime of good oral health. Children’s teeth can be particularly vulnerable to cavities even at a very young age for many reasons. Children struggle to brush well on their own. Because of this, it is vital for parents to assist in their child’s daily dental care. This produces thorough cleaning and inspires the development of appropriate dental habits.
Little kids like to eat all day long. This tendency generates a prolonged exposure to acid (every time you eat you make acid), which may bring about more cavities. A dirty tooth is more susceptible to damage when food and juice come in contact. The good news is that spotting and correcting poor dietary and hygiene routines, along with employing a fluoride varnish to the mineralizing teeth, can drastically reduce the risk of your child developing a cavity.
New Breakthrough Provides a Solution for Loose, Slipping Dentures
Did poor bone density prevent you from getting the implants you wanted? Are you frustrated with dentures that shift, slide, or wander, and you would choose to have the strength and stability of implants if possible? If so, you will be thrilled to learn about the fairly recent breakthrough known as mini implants. Mini implants can replace one tooth or anchor dentures, eliminating slippage and trapped food. They can be done in a single visit and are virtually painless. In fact, you can look forward to eating normal foods the same day you receive them. Additionally, they can usually be located where regular implants cannot, so it may be possible for you to receive the benefits of mini implants even if you are not a candidate for regular implants. Kevin Rykard, DDS 12448 St. Andrews Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 752-2626 OklahomaDentistry.com
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing-the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth. Here are a few helpful things to know about how what you eat can impact your dental health. Diet and Tooth Decay The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:
The form of the food-whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve makes a difference.
How often you eat sugary foods and beverages and how often you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages.
The nutritional makeup of the food.
The combination of the foods you eat and the order in which you eat them.
Medical conditions you may have, such as gastrointestinal reflux and eating disorders, which can increase risk of cavities and weaken teeth.
How Snacking Affects Your Dental Health For dental health, it’s recommended that people limit eating and drinking between meals. Of course, sometimes eating between meals must happen. Unfortunately, most people choose foods like sweets and chips for snacks; foods that harm teeth by promoting tooth decay. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice-such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables or nuts-for your overall health and the health of your teeth. Did you know that certain foods can put you at risk for cavities and other dental health problems? Here are some MouthHealthy tips. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org The right smile can leave you laughing, fill you with joy or make you melt with emotion. But, ultimately, the best smile is one that is healthy and strong. Here are some of the “tooth truths” about how tough your teeth really are ñ and how to keep them that way. 1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is even stronger than bone. This resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in your body - making it durable and damage-resistant. 2. Your bite is powerful! Did you know your teeth can exert an average of 200 pounds of pressure when you bite down? That’s probably what tempts us to use our teeth as tools from time to time ñ but as your dentist will remind you, that’s one of the worst habits when it comes to preserving healthy teeth. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Teeth can last for hundreds of years
Strong as they are, teeth can't heal on their own
Healthy teeth have the power to resist decay, but they need our help
In the past, silver-mercury amalgam served as the standard filling material used in dental practices, and many practices still offer it. While they are a common restoration, amalgams have undeniable shortcomings. Primarily, metal does not fuse well to teeth, so decay can and does seep into the repaired tooth. These days, most of our patients are choosing white bonded fillings, which are easier to camouflage than the ugly black plug that resulted from a silver-mercury amalgam filling. Dr. Rykard provides modern restorations that are a natural-looking white, contain no metals, and can add strength to your teeth. And since they bond very closely with the healthy part of a tooth, there is much less risk of decay in the future. Kevin Rykard, DDS 12448 St. Andrews Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 752-2626 OklahomaDentistry.com
“Laughing gas” – the nickname most people use to refer to nitrous oxide sedation – is regularly used to obtain a lightly desirable comfort level for treatment. Inhaled through a mask, this type of sedation introduces the medication into your system by allowing you to simply breathe the compound in. Then a state of relaxation is induced. Local anesthetic will be given in addition to nitrous oxide to prevent any pain in most cases.
