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Dr. Funke is a professional contributor in one of our local Rochester magazines. You can see his contributions also posted here. Let us know if you have any areas you would like to learn or hear more about!

A Lifetime of Healthy Smiles: Your Guide to Dental Health from Baby Teeth to Golden Years – November 2024

From the moment that first tiny tooth breaks through a baby’s gums, the journey of dental health begins. Ensuring a lifetime of healthy smiles involves understanding and nurturing our dental needs at every stage of life. The Med City Dental team located in Rochester, MN provides dental care through every state of life. We would like to guide you through essential milestones in dental care, offering practical tips to maintain optimal oral health from infancy through adulthood and into our golden years.

Infancy: The Foundation of Care

Teething typically starts around six months of age, and it’s essential to establish good dental habits early. Also, proper evaluation of the mouth for oral lip and tongue ties can also allow for proper growth and development of the face and skull – setting a foundation of lifetime oral health.

1. Early Cleaning
   As soon as that first tooth appears, parents should start cleaning it. Gently wipe the gums with a soft, damp cloth after feedings. When teeth come in, transition to a small, soft-bristled toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.
2. Diet Matters
   Introduce a balanced diet, avoiding sugary foods and drinks, which can lead to early tooth decay. Instead, focus on healthy options like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
3. First Dental Visit
   Schedule a dental check-up by the first birthday or within six months of the first tooth eruption. This early visit lays the groundwork for positive dental experiences and education.

Early Childhood: Establishing Good Habits

By age three, most children have a full set of primary teeth, making it crucial to reinforce healthy habits.

1. Daily Routine
   Encourage kids to brush twice a day, ideally after meals. Supervise their brushing until they can do it effectively on their own, typically around ages seven or eight.
2. Fluoride and Sealants
   Discuss fluoride treatments and dental sealants with your dentist. Fluoride strengthens enamel, while sealants provide a protective barrier against cavities in the pits and grooves on the teeth.
3. Fun with Dental Care
   Make oral hygiene fun! Use colorful toothbrushes, apps, or charts to track progress. Engaging children in their dental care can foster a lifelong commitment to good habits.
4. Dental Visits
   Dental appointments during these years are important for establishing lifetime oral health and prevention. This is also an important time to monitor for proper dental and skeletal development. We may recommend early orthodontic intervention to help prevent more extensive future treatment needs.

Adolescence: Navigating Changes

Teen years bring unique dental challenges and lifestyle shifts.

1. Orthodontic Care
   Orthodontic treatment may offer many benefits beyond simply improving the appearance of the smile including: improved breathing and airway, proper function and alignment, long term periodontal health. Regular dental visits are crucial during this time to monitor oral health and prevent issues like decay around brackets.
2. Empowering Independence
   Encourage teenagers to take charge of their dental hygiene. Teach them about the importance of flossing and using mouthwash, especially if they have braces. Proper personal hygiene can also help improve social interactions and social wellbeing.
3. Smart Snacking
   With increased access to sugary snacks, remind teens about moderation. Encourage healthy choices and brushing after consuming sweets to minimize decay risk. Avoid sugary beverages like sugary sodas and energy drinks.

Adulthood: Maintenance is Key

As we move into adulthood, maintaining dental health becomes even more critical.

1. Regular Check-Ups
   Continue with biannual dental visits for cleanings and check-ups. These appointments are vital for early detection of issues like cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. These appointments also provide opportunities for professional fluoride applications.
2. Lifestyle Choices
   Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption, as both can harm dental health. Sometimes life can get in the way of maintaining desired oral health. Stress management techniques, such as exercise and mindfulness, can also benefit your oral well-being.
3. Ongoing Hygiene
   We recommend daily oral care routine: brush twice a day and floss regularly. A consistent approach to hygiene can prevent long-term issues. Regular dental visits and professional cleanings every three to six months also help to prevent gum disease and remove calculus buildup.

Golden Years: Adapting to Change

As we age, dental needs can shift, but maintaining oral health remains essential. Maintaining proper oral health allows for a higher quality of life.

1. Continue Regular Visits
   Schedule dental check-ups every three to six months. Seniors are more prone to issues like gum disease and dry mouth, making professional care crucial.
2. Care for Dentures or Implants
   If you have dentures or implants, follow your dentist’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance to ensure longevity.
3. Nutrition and Hydration
   A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamins is essential for dental health. Drink plenty of water to combat dry mouth, which can increase the risk of decay. Avoid sugary candies to help with symptoms of dry mouth. We recommend sugar free or pH buffered lozenges.
4. Open Discussions
   Encourage open conversations about changes in dental health. Seniors may face sensitivity or tooth loss, and addressing these issues can enhance overall quality of life.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Commitment

Dental health is a lifelong journey, and each stage presents unique challenges and rewards. By starting early, maintaining good habits, and prioritizing regular visits to the dentist, we can ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles.

At Med City Dental, we believe in helping you establish and maintain a lifetime or oral health. We enjoy providing care to all ages and fostering lasting relationships with our patients. Whether you have an infant, in your golden years or anywhere in-between! We would love to be a part of your lifelong journey of maintaining optimum oral health and wellbeing! Give us a call today!

Scott A. Funke, DDS, FAGD

Botox in Dentistry: A Revolutionary Approach to Oral Health and Aesthetics – September 2024

Botox, a brand name for botulinum toxin type A, is commonly known for its cosmetic applications, primarily for reducing facial wrinkles. However, its use has extended beyond the realm of beauty and into the field of dentistry. The integration of Botox into our dental practice is transforming the way we approach both functional and aesthetic concerns. Let’s explore the diverse applications of Botox, its benefits, and the future potential of this innovative treatment.

What is Botox

Botox is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When used in small, controlled doses, it blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing them to relax. This effect has made Botox a popular treatment for smoothing out wrinkles, but its benefits extend well beyond cosmetic use. In dentistry, Botox is being utilized for a range of therapeutic purposes, including managing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), alleviating bruxism (teeth grinding), and enhancing smile aesthetics.

Botox for TMJ Disorders

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a common condition affecting the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull. Symptoms of TMJ can include jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing. Traditional treatments for TMJ often involve pain management strategies, physical therapy, or dental splints. Botox presents a novel approach by targeting the underlying muscle tension that contributes to TMJ symptoms.

When injected into the muscles around the jaw, Botox helps to relax these muscles, which can significantly reduce pain and discomfort. By alleviating muscle spasms and reducing the strain on the TMJ, Botox can improve overall jaw function and provide relief from TMJ-related symptoms. Botox injections can be effective adjunctive treatment in reducing pain and improving jaw mobility for patients with TMJ disorders.

Botox for Bruxism

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is another condition where Botox can make a significant difference. This habit can lead to various dental issues, including worn enamel, cracked teeth, and jaw pain. Traditional treatments for bruxism often involve behavioral modifications, dental splints, sleep studies, and stress management techniques. Botox offers an additional treatment approach by targeting the masseter muscle, which is responsible for jaw movement and grinding.

By injecting Botox into the masseter muscle, dental professionals can reduce muscle activity and, consequently, the intensity of teeth grinding. This not only helps to prevent dental damage but also alleviates associated pain and discomfort. Botox in dentistry has demonstrated that it can be an effective treatment for bruxism, with patients experiencing significant reductions in muscle activity and related symptoms.

Enhancing Smile Aesthetics

Beyond therapeutic uses, Botox is also making waves in cosmetic dentistry. Aesthetic improvements to the smile can be achieved through Botox injections that address various concerns, including gummy smiles and lip asymmetry. A gummy smile, where a significant portion of the gums is visible when smiling, can be addressed with Botox by relaxing the muscles responsible for lifting the upper lip. This can create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile without the need for invasive surgical procedures.

Additionally, Botox can be used to enhance lip and facial contours and address asymmetries. By carefully injecting Botox into specific areas around the lips and face, we can improve the overall appearance of the smile, making it more harmonious and attractive. Other treatment areas also include forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, brow line wrinkles, brow lift, and lip flip to name a few.

The Benefits of Botox in Dentistry

1. Minimally Invasive: Botox injections are non-surgical and involve minimal discomfort compared to traditional surgical interventions. This makes it an attractive option for patients seeking effective solutions with minimal downtime.
2. Quick Recovery: Patients can often resume their daily activities immediately after Botox injections, making it a convenient option for those with busy schedules.
3. Effective Pain Management: For conditions like TMJ and bruxism, Botox provides effective pain relief by targeting the root cause—muscle tension—rather than merely addressing symptoms.
4. Customizable Treatment: Botox treatments can be tailored to individual needs, allowing for precise adjustments to achieve desired outcomes in both therapeutic and cosmetic applications.
5. Long-Lasting Results: While Botox is not permanent, the results typically last several months. This provides patients with extended relief and allows for periodic treatments as needed.

The Future of Botox in Dentistry

The application of Botox in dentistry is still relatively new, and ongoing research continues to expand its potential uses. Future advancements may include more refined techniques for enhancing treatment outcomes and addressing a broader range of dental conditions. As more dental professionals adopt Botox as part of their practice, we can expect to see increased innovation in its application and a deeper understanding of its benefits and limitations.

Botox is proving to be a game-changer in the field of dentistry, offering new solutions for both functional and aesthetic concerns. From managing TMJ disorders and bruxism to enhancing smile aesthetics, Botox provides a versatile and effective treatment option. As dental professionals continue to explore and refine its applications, Botox is set to play an increasingly important role in the future of dental care, offering patients innovative and personalized solutions for their oral health and cosmetic needs.

By integrating Botox into our practice, Dr. Funke is not only expanding treatment options but also enhancing the overall patient experience. The potential for Botox in dentistry is vast, and its continued development promises to bring even more benefits to patients seeking both therapeutic relief and aesthetic improvements.

Give us a call if you have ever wondered about how minimally invasive Botox treatment can improve your smile!

Do You Dream of Straighter Teeth? – May 2024

Historically straightening your teeth meant wrapping and banding every single tooth, difficulty cleaning your teeth, PAIN, SUFFERING…

 Thankfully times have changed! Clear aligner braces have become the new and better option for straightening your teeth. Having metal in your mouth, sore lips and cheeks no longer need to hold you back from getting the smile you deserve. We have all heard of the TV advertisements and brands to straighten your teeth without the wires, bands and brackets… but they still require 22 hours of wear, many office visits, additional brushing times per day, and discomfort when moving up trays!

Like everything from the rotary phone to touch tone phone to smart phone – materials and technology moves forward to better our experience and lives! Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an app to help us straighten our teeth? Wouldn’t it be nice to straighten your teeth mainly while you sleep and dream? NOW THERE IS!

Dr. Funke at Med City Dental strives to incorporate the latest technology to help make your experience in the dental chair (and at home) the best it possibly can be. The latest technology and technique he uses is using the only FDA cleared clear aligner braces on the market that only require nine to twelve hour wear. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly! You would only have to wear them about half the time as other leading clear braces!

What’s the catch? – There is no catch!

 Not all clear aligner materials are created equally. The clear aligners that Dr. Funke utilizes uses different materials that place a more consistent and steady force on the teeth to move and align them in the proper position. He partners with a company that incorporates the latest augmented intelligence to track progress of tooth movement in the convenience of your own home – meaning less appointments in the dental office interrupting your busy life! Photos and reports go directly to Dr. Funke to make sure that treatment is progressing smoothly.

 These new clear aligner braces can help to not only straighten your teeth but can also help:

• Reduce TMD/TMJ discomfort
• Reduce needed office visits
• Whiten your teeth while you straighten
• Better compliance – only wear in the evenings and while sleeping
• Less revisions due to augmented technology tracking with your phone
• Increased comfort due to gradual force and movement
• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced tooth chipping and cracking
• BETTER RESULTS!

 Just like the old rotary phone – old methods of straightening your teeth are a means of the past. New methods and technology are reducing or eliminating barriers holding you back from achieving the results you deserve.

 Dreaming of straighter teeth – There’s an App for that!

Will My Insurance Cover it? – January 2024

We all are required to have and carry car insurance to drive on public roads. This is intended to protect the owner driver as well as other drivers in the event of an accident. Our car insurance is intended to cover catastrophic events and have deductibles that must first be paid by the owner driver.

Now, what happens to our insurance premiums?

Our insurance premiums are put into a large pot of money that we all hope we never have to use. Plans have deductibles intended to discourage use of the system unless there are major events that take place and also have caps (vehicle is totaled). Insurance does not cover things like routine maintenance (oil changes, brake changes, fluid changes, wiper blade changes, etc.) or things like tire changes.

How does this relate to “dental insurance” and coverage?

There are many similarities and differences between dental insurance and car insurance – even medical insurance. A major similarity is that there is a large pot that money is put into. There are individuals that oversee how that money is used and dispersed – they charge a fee for this. This fee goes to the CEOs and other employees of the insurance company – thus decreasing the total amount that can be paid for patient services. Companies work to make sure that the numbers favor the house – they want their end of year bonus! One way of guaranteeing that the numbers will make sense is that there is a maximum that the dental insurance companies will allow any individual to take out of the system in any given year – VERY different from medical insurance. Think of dental insurance as a coupon book! The dental insurance companies will also limit services provided and say they are “not covered” or have waiting periods to make sure that you have paid what they deem enough into the system before taking money out.

In many ways, paying dental insurance premiums is betting against oneself. If more money goes out of the system than in then it simply does not work – meaning “the house always wins”. Participation in an insurance plan may make sense if the premium was subsidized by an outside source (employer). This would decrease the amount the patient would be paying for the premium – thus decreasing the risk while keeping the reward the same.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the insurance companies will try to limit the services provided by having contracted (“in-network”) offices that have agreed to the rules the dental insurance companies have put in place. But the thing is, companies often pay out a similar amount even for non-contracted offices.

This makes one stop to think if paying for “dental insurance” makes sense or “will my insurance cover this?” are the right questions to ask.

Maybe one could create and manage their own “dental insurance plan” by placing money in their own pot and be the one to decide how and where it is used?

Technology in Dentistry – Fall 2023

The world around us is filled with new technologies that are changing and evolving. Everything from our vehicles we drive with hands free, smart watches we wear, and phones we keep in our pockets. These technologies are helping make our lives easier and better than ever before. Did you know the same can be said for technology in dentistry and your experience in the dental chair?

Not long ago it was a dreadful sound when your dentist would tell you that a crown would be helpful to fix a broken or fractured tooth. You would need to schedule multiple appointments involving uncomfortable “goop” in your mouth, a fragile temporary crown that may break or come off, a long two week wait for the permanent crown to be made by an outside lab, and then a need for another appointment and time away from work and family……

Now there is technology that allows for getting a dental crown to be a much more comfortable and convenient process. The process is typically completed in under a two hour time frame and in a single appointment – don’t worry, patients don’t have to hold their mouth open that whole time!

Utilizing CEREC technology allows for impressions to be made with a camera to digitally compute and create a model of the teeth within the computer program. These digital models are more accurate with less distortion than traditional stone models – they are much more comfortable too! The computer is then used by the dentist to design the new crown and send it to a milling machine to be made. Typically it will take anywhere from 8-12 minutes for the crown to be milled out – always a great time for a break for the patient! The crown is tried in the patient’s mouth and modifications made prior to being characterized to match the neighboring teeth. It is put in the oven for a short time of approximately 15 minutes – another great time for a break for the patient! The crown is then cemented into place, cleaned, made sure the bite is comfortable, and patient on their way! See – we told you patients aren’t open that whole time! Not so bad anymore!

Digital impressions with CEREC can also be utilized in many other applications as well including fabrication of dental sleep/snore appliances, TMD/TMJ appliances, clear braces, dental implants, larger cosmetic cases, as well as other removable appliances. All of these applications are utilized at Med City Dental to help improve your health and smile.

With improvements in technology all around us, there should also be improvements and utilization of technology in your experience at the dental office. The Med City Dental team is dedicated to implementing new and better technologies to help make your experience in the dental chair easier and better than before! Give us a call if you are looking for a better dental experience that is keeping up with the advances in technology around us!

Scott A. Funke, DDS, FAGD