Maintaining good oral health is essential for a happy and pain-free life. Four crucial aspects of dental care include tooth extractions, dental fillings, sedation dentistry, and dental sealants. Understanding these procedures and their importance can help you make informed decisions about your dental health. In this article, we will delve into each of these aspects to provide a comprehensive guide.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are dental procedures in which a dentist removes a tooth from its socket in the bone. This is usually a last resort when other treatment options have failed or when the tooth poses a significant threat to your overall oral health. There are two types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical.
Simple extractions are performed on visible teeth that are easy to access. They usually involve loosening the tooth with an instrument called an elevator and then extracting it with forceps. This is a relatively straightforward procedure that can often be done with local anesthesia.
Surgical extractions are more complex and involve teeth that may be impacted (not fully erupted), broken, or have complicated root systems. These extractions may require making an incision in the gum tissue or even removing small pieces of bone. Local or general anesthesia is typically used during surgical extractions.
Common reasons for tooth extractions include severe tooth decay, advanced periodontal disease, crowding of teeth, impaction, and preparation for orthodontic treatment. While tooth extraction may seem daunting, modern dentistry has made these procedures much less painful and more efficient than in the past.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are a common treatment for cavities or dental caries. Cavities are caused by the gradual erosion of tooth enamel due to bacteria and acid exposure. Dental fillings are designed to restore the tooth’s structure and function, preventing further decay and pain.
There are different types of dental fillings, including amalgam (silver), composite resin (tooth-colored), ceramic, and glass ionomer. The choice of filling material depends on factors like the location of the cavity, the patient’s preferences, and the dentist’s recommendation.
Composite resin fillings have become increasingly popular because they blend with the natural tooth color, providing a more aesthetically pleasing option. These fillings also bond well to the tooth, reducing the risk of leakage. However, they are not as durable as amalgam fillings and may require replacement after several years.
Amalgam fillings are strong and long-lasting but have a silver color that may be less appealing to some patients. Despite this, they are still a reliable choice for back teeth, where they can withstand the pressure of chewing.
Regular dental check-ups are crucial to detect cavities early. If left untreated, cavities can lead to more extensive dental problems, such as abscesses or the need for root canals.
Sedation Dentistry
Many people experience anxiety or fear when it comes to dental procedures. Sedation dentistry is a solution that helps patients relax and receive necessary dental care without stress. There are several levels of sedation, from minimal to deep sedation, depending on the patient’s needs and the complexity of the procedure.
- Minimal sedation: Patients remain awake but relaxed, often using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or an oral sedative.
- Moderate sedation: Also known as conscious sedation, this leaves the patient conscious but less aware of the procedure, typically achieved with intravenous (IV) medications.
- Deep sedation: Patients are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened, often administered through IV medications.
- General anesthesia: Patients are entirely unconscious during the procedure, typically reserved for complex surgeries.
Sedation dentistry is particularly beneficial for patients with dental phobias, extensive dental work needs, or those who want to consolidate multiple procedures into one appointment. It ensures that patients have a comfortable and stress-free experience during their dental treatments.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a preventive measure designed to protect the teeth, particularly molars and premolars, from cavities. These are the teeth that often have deep grooves and pits that are difficult to clean properly. Dental sealants are typically applied to the chewing surfaces of these teeth.
The procedure involves cleaning the tooth, applying an acid solution to create a rough surface, and then painting on a thin layer of the sealant material. This plastic coating acts as a barrier, sealing off the deep grooves and pits to prevent food particles and bacteria from settling in and causing cavities. Reclaim your smile with K Luke Eades DDS by ensuring your teeth are well-protected against these dental challenges.
Dental sealants are most commonly used in children, as their permanent molars come in, to provide added protection against cavities. However, adults can also benefit from sealants if they have deep grooves in their teeth that are susceptible to decay.
Conclusion
Tooth extractions, dental fillings, sedation dentistry, and dental sealants all play crucial roles in maintaining your oral health. While it’s best to prevent dental issues through regular check-ups and proper oral hygiene, these procedures are essential when problems arise. Tooth extractions are often a last resort, dental fillings address cavities, sedation dentistry helps anxious patients, and dental sealants prevent cavities before they even start. By understanding these dental procedures, you can work with your dentist to ensure your continued oral health and a beautiful smile.
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States.[4] The population was 79,168 at the 2020 census.[5] It is the seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area. It is the home of Indiana University Bloomington, the flagship campus of the IU System. Established in 1820, IU Bloomington enrolls over 45,000 students.[6]
The city was established in 1818 by a group of settlers from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia who were so impressed with “a haven of blooms” that they called it Bloomington.[7] Bloomington has been designated a Tree City since 1984.[8][9] The city was also the location of the Academy Award–winning 1979 movie Breaking Away, featuring a reenactment of Indiana University’s annual Little 500 bicycle race.
History
The area in which Bloomington is situated was previously inhabited by the Delaware, Potawatomi, Miami, and Eel River Miami.[10]
Bloomington was platted in 1818.[11] A post office has been in operation at Bloomington since 1825.[12] Bloomington was incorporated in 1827.[13]
The current city logo was adopted on January 6, 1986, by the Bloomington Common Council.[14] It was a combination of peony and trout lily, inspired by both quilt patterns used by regional folk artists in 19th century and the shape of Downtown Square.[14]
The Elias Abel House, Blair-Dunning House, Bloomington City Hall, Bloomington West Side Historic District, Cantol Wax Company Building, Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, Cochran-Helton-Lindley House, Courthouse Square Historic District, Hinkle-Garton Farmstead, Home Laundry Company, Illinois Central Railroad Freight Depot, Johnson’s Creamery, Legg House, Millen House, Millen-Chase-McCalla House, Monroe Carnegie Library, Monroe County Courthouse, Morgan House, J.L. Nichols House and Studio, North Washington Street Historic District, The Old Crescent, Princess Theatre, Prospect Hill Historic District, Second Baptist Church, Seminary Square Park, Steele Dunning Historic District, University Courts Historic District, Vinegar Hill Historic District, Wicks Building, Woolery Stone Company, and Andrew Wylie House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[15][16]
Many African Americans moved to Bloomington from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky during the 1860s through the 1880s. Bloomington also attracted Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from South Carolina.[17] [18]
Geography
According to the 2010 census, Bloomington has a total area of 23.359 square miles (60.50 km2), of which 23.16 square miles (59.98 km2) (or 99.15%) is land and 0.199 square miles (0.52 km2) (or 0.85%) is water.[19][20]
Climate
Southern Indiana receives an abundance of rain, with a yearly average of nearly 50 inches.
Geology
Bloomington is an area of irregular limestone terrain characterized by sinks, ravines, fissures, underground streams, sinking streams, springs and caves.[23] It is in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, resting on the intersection of the Norman Uplands and the Mitchell Plain. The city’s relatively varied topography is a sharp contrast to the flatter terrain more typical of central to northern portions of Indiana.
Water
Bloomington is on comparatively high ground, the summit of the divide between the basins of the West Fork and East Fork of Indiana’s White River. Accordingly, there are no major watercourses within the city, nor is much groundwater available for wells.[23] The largest stream within the city is Clear Creek, with its eastern branch known on the Indiana University campus as “The Jordan River”.
Because natural lakes or rivers or groundwater are absent from the city and its environs, a number of dams have been constructed on nearby creeks over the last 100 years to provide for the water needs of Bloomington and Monroe County. Early 20th-century damming projects occurred at locations southwest of the city, the most notable being the Leonard Springs Dam. Because of the limestone formations underlying the reservoirs and the dams, water kept seeping from the reservoirs through naturally developing underground channels. Despite all efforts, the city was never able to fully stop the leakage and had to resort to pumping leaking water back to the reservoir.[23]
By the 1920s, a more radical solution was needed to deal with the water crisis. A new reservoir, known as Griffy Lake, was constructed in a more geologically suitable area north of the city.[23] (It is now within Bloomington’s official city limits.) Later, in the 1950s, two much larger reservoirs, Lake Lemon and Monroe Lake were created in the northeastern and southeastern parts of Monroe County. Monroe Lake was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control but has since been used to supply the city and the county with water. The water pumping station at Griffy Lake was mothballed until May 2020.[24]
Presently, the city is supplied with drinking water from Monroe Lake, via the Monroe Water Treatment Plant on S. Shields Ridge Rd. Originally opened in 1967, it was expanded in 2014, and now is capable of producing 30 million gallons of water per day.[25] The sewer water from the northern part of the city is treated at the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant (constructed 1968) and discharged into the Bean Blossom Creek.[26] The sewer water from the southern half of the city goes to Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (constructed 1982) and is then discharged into the Clear Creek.[24] [27] [28]
Environment
PCB pollution, associated with Westinghouse‘s operations, long was a concern in the area.[29][30] A number of sites,[31] in particular, Bennett’s Dump and Lemon Lane Landfill at the northwestern edge of the city and Neal’s Landfill in the county, were listed as Superfund sites. Clean-up operations at the Bennett Quarry site, started in 1983, were largely completed by 2000.,[32] while cleanups at the other sites were completed in 2012.
Demographics
Bloomington is the principal city of the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Greene, Monroe, and Owen counties[33] and had a combined population of 192,714 at the 2010 census.[34]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census,[35] there were 80,405 people, 31,425 households, and 11,267 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,471.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,340.4/km2). There were 33,239 housing units at an average density of 1,435.2 per square mile (554.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.0% White, 4.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 8.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.
There were 31,425 households, of which 16.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 64.1% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.76.
The median age in the city was 23.3 years. 11.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 44.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 13.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census[34] of 2000, there were 69,291 people, 26,468 households, and 10,454 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,511.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,355.6/km2). There were 28,400 housing units at an average density of 1,439.1 per square mile (555.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.29% Native American, 5.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population. 22.9% were of German, 10.2% Irish, 9.1% English and 8.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke English, 2.9% Spanish, 1.3% Korean, 1.1% German and 1.0% Chinese or Mandarin as their first language.
There were 26,468 households, out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.5% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 12.7% under the age of 18, 42.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,377, and the median income for a family was $50,054. Males had a median income of $32,470 compared to $26,100 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,481. About 10.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Bloomington and Monroe County region is home to major employers representing a diverse collection of fields, including education, the life sciences, advanced manufacturing and technology.[36]
Bloomington is a regional economic center anchored by Indiana University and home to a diverse business community involved in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, technology, health care, and the arts. Bloomington’s concentration of employment in the life sciences is six times greater than the U.S. average, and employment in the technology sector has grown by over 80 percent in recent years.[37] Companies based in Bloomington include Cook Group, Author Solutions, OneWorld Enterprises, BloomingFoods, Bloomington Tutors, and Singota Solutions.
Bloomington has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of “America’s Best Cities for Doing Business” and as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 50 “Hottest Small Cities for Entrepreneurs”. Additionally, Forbes Magazine ranked Bloomington No. 3 in its “Best Places for Business Careers” feature.[citation needed]
Dr. K Luke Eades, D.D.S
Address: 2810 S Walnut Street Pike, Bloomington, IN 47401
Call: +1 (812)-336-2688
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