It’s Moving Week for Chesterton Family Dental! That’s right, TOMORROW, Tuesday May 18 will be our LAST day seeing patients in our Porter Avenue location! We will be closed Wednesday through Monday as we transition into our new space so please bear with us through these changes as we will be moving our phone lines and equipment.

We will reopen Tuesday, May 26 at our new and improved location at 505 Voyage Blvd, right off IN 49 and across from the beautiful Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve. We have designed this office with YOU, our patients, in mind, to give you the warm, comfortable service you have come to know and love in a bright, calming environment with windows facing nature’s beauty of the forest preserve. We are so excited to share our new space with you!

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

Marijuana use is coming up more and more in conversation and its use is increasing as statewide legalization spreads across the nation. Many consider cannabis a healthier alternative to other mind-altering substances available, alcohol or tobacco particularly- after all, it’s been approved for medical uses- but is it safe?

Dope has earned a place in the medical community for its uses as an anti-emetic as well as an appetite stimulant for patients with cancer or AIDS as well as a pain and spasm reducer in a number of chronic conditions; however the research about reefer as a therapeutic medication is still in its infancy since the legal as well as social acceptance has only grown recently. What does this mean for the public health community? We acknowledge that there is benefit to this drug as a medicine, but just as with all medications, side effects exist that we must recognize and learn more about.

The most common use of pot has typically been through smoking, which unfortunately leads to many of the same respiratory issues as smoking tobacco. Weed still contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco. From a dental standpoint, smoking Mary Jane is associated with gum enlargement and increased presence of red or white spot lesions that can develop into malignant lesions. There is an increased risk of oral and neck cancer in patients who smoke both tobacco and wacky tobacky, and unfortunately, the risk and aggressiveness of cancers associated with the devil’s lettuce are higher in younger users.

The use of Gangja has been associated with poor oral health, particularly with xerostomia, or dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities. Cottonmouth is a result of the cannabinoids interfering with the production of saliva. Saliva is important to help the body wash away bacteria and food from gums and teeth– without it, acids remain on the teeth and eat away the enamel. The main psychotropic agent, THC, is an appetite stimulant, so when the munchies hit, the user often reaches for sweet snack foods or drinks that cause cavities and might be too relaxed to make brushing a priority. Edibles, gummy bears, chocolates, or brownies laced with THC, are often laden with sugar, which also can promote dental cavities. 

Several studies have shown a direct relationship between the grass and periodontal disease, showing significantly higher rates of periodontal disease among herb users vs non users, with significantly higher numbers of sites with high probing depths and bone loss.

If you partake in the dank broccoli prior to a dental visit, it’s important to inform your dentist, as its use can lead to increased heart rate and other cardio-respiratory effects which are only heightened with use of local anesthetic for numbing for dental treatment. Frequent use of the chronic is associated with a threefold increase of risk of death from hypertension. Your dental professional will also recommend regular dental visits and oral care and increased use of preventative measures, such as fluoride varnish application and choosing healthy, nutritious snacks instead of sweet snacks when the munchies hit.

For more information, please visit: https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/cannabis

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

Good morning, my sleeping beauties! Is your breath not so beautiful upon waking? Did you ever wonder why? It’s not a fun way to start your day, but it’s very common. As it turns out, the most common cause of morning breath is dry mouth and poor oral hygiene.

Even with good oral hygiene, dry mouth can lead to stinky morning breath. Saliva is an important factor to help rinse away the bacteria that can lead to bad breath, and while we sleep, just like many other bodily process slow down, our salivary production decreases. Dry mouth is enhanced if you sleep with your mouth open or are a ‘mouth breather.’ Certain medications that you take before bed may also lead to dry mouth or decrease your salivary flow, which can only enhance the stink factor.

Poor oral hygiene is the other big cause of morning breath. Our mouths are a breeding ground for bacteria so if you don’t brush and floss effectively before bed, those food particles hang out in the crevices in between your teeth, in the grooves on your teeth, or by your gums. Overnight, the bacteria in our mouth have a buffet on what’s left behind and break down those food particles, creating sulfurous byproducts.

If poor oral hygiene is left untreated for a period of time, it can lead to gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums and finally, periodontal disease, where the bacteria causes so much inflammation that the gums and bone surrounding the teeth start to break down. Untreated periodontal disease leads to strong, persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away even with brushing. Periodontal disease requires a professional cleaning to remove the bacteria and buildup underneath the gumline which is causing the bad breath.

Tobacco use is also linked to increased morning breath. The tobacco can increase dry mouth as well as put patients at a higher risk for periodontal disease. Combining these with the stink from the tobacco smoke in the first place is a deadly breath combo.

Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, may also experience bad breath waking up due to stomach acid washing up their esophagus while sleeping. Patients with GERD will need to consult with their primary care doctors to get an acid-reducing prescription and may consider sleeping in a more upright position to prevent the reflux.

To help prevent morning breath, make sure you are brushing with a fluoridated tooth paste before bed. Flossing helps to reach the buildup in between your teeth that tooth brush bristles can’t reach and a tongue scraper can remove buildup on the tongue. Finishing with an antiseptic mouthwash will help kill bacteria left behind and help keep your breath minty fresh. Regular dental cleanings will help to remove the buildup that you’re missing to keep your gums healthy and breath fresh. Drink lots of water, particularly before bed, to help maintain a healthy salivary flow and minimize dry mouth. If you have any oral appliances, a removable partial or a retainer, make sure you are cleaning it daily after removing. If you are a smoker, please consider quitting all tobacco use. The most important thing is to maintain good oral hygiene to both treat and prevent bad morning breath.

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By Dr. Heather Hradek

In October 2018, the American Dental Association adopted a policy that urges dentists to support the use and administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. What does HPV have to do with dentistry? More than you might think. The American Cancer Society estimated that there were 50,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancers in 2018, of which 70-80% were attributed to HPV. Cancer is no laughing matter… if only there were a way to prevent these cancers for those 50,000 people…

Thankfully, there is. The HPV vaccine could help prevent a vast majority of oral cancers, but compared to other vaccines in the US, is widely underutilized. HPV is THE most common sexually transmitted disease. The CDC estimates that there is 6.2 million new infections EACH YEAR in the United States, so a vast majority of Americans will have some form of HPV early in the sexual experiences and do not realize it as many do not have symptoms.

While it’s not comfortable to talk about, it’s important because HPV and the oral cancers that can be caused by it can be prevented by being vaccinated. The newer version of Gardasil prevents against the strains of HPV that can cause oral cancer (HPV 16), cervical cancer (HPV 16 and 18), genital warts (HPV6 and 11), and 5 other versions of HPV. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend boys and girls receive the HPV during adolescence starting at 11-12 years as vaccination at the pre-sexual ages provides the most protection. For those who did not receive the vaccine in adolescence, the FDA recently announced approval for persons age 27-45 to be vaccinated.

During every periodic examination, our doctors perform a visual head and neck oral cancer exam. The signs and symptoms we are looking for are the following:
• An ulcer or sore that does not heal within 2-3 weeks
• A red, white, or black discoloration on the soft tissues in the mouth
• Difficult or painful swallowing. A sensation that things are sticking in the throat when swallowing
• A swollen but painless tonsil. When looking in the mouth, tonsils on both sides should be symmetrical in size
• Pain when chewing
• A persistent sore throat or hoarse voice
• A swelling or lump in the mouth
• A painless lump felt on the outside of the neck, which has been there for at least two weeks.
• A numb feeling in the mouth or lips
• Constant coughing
• An ear ache on one side (unilateral) which persists for more than a few days.

If you are concerned about any of the following symptoms, please give our office a call at (219)929-9289 for us to perform an oral cancer exam.

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

The dental office is not many people’s favorite place to be. Even we who work at the office much prefer being in the chair providing the treatment versus receiving it, but we know how very important it is to maintain our oral health so we can maintain our overall health and smile with confidence. At Chesterton Family Dental, we work very hard to try to make your visit as comfortable as possible so we provide several options to help make your visit more comfortable. Are you curious about what a few of those options are before you come in?

Anytime you come in, feel free to ask for a warm, comfortable blanket or a special neck pillow to help keep you cozy during your visit. For longer treatment, we offer videos you can watch via an IPad with noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones to help drown out the noises of the treatment around you. The time flies when you get to watch a movie or your favorite show!

Are you just anxious about getting treatment done in general? We offer several options to help lessen your anxiety to get the treatment you need and deserve in a gentle, calm environment. We offer Nitrous Oxide, or ‘laughing gas’ as it’s commonly referred to, for both children and adults. Nitrous oxide is a great option to help ‘take the edge off’ so you feel more comfortable to receive your treatment. Nitrous oxide is a gas, so once treatment is complete, we flush your system with pure oxygen so there are no residual effects. This makes it very safe for everyday procedures and you can drive to and from appointments with no worries about lingering effects after you leave.

If your anxiety is more severe, all of our doctors have completed the DOCS oral sedation course so they can safely provide you oral conscious sedation, commonly referred to as ‘twilight sleep’. We would have a pre-operative visit to discuss all treatment, thoroughly walk through your medical history, and make sure all your questions are fully answered. The day of the visit, you would require a driver to and from the appointment and plan to relax and sleep the rest of the afternoon as the medication will linger in your system for a period of time after the appointment. With oral conscious sedation, you would take a medicine by mouth that would make you very sleepy so you do not remember the appointment, but you would still be conscious, so no scary intubation or IVs are necessary. Our office is equipped with all the appropriate medical equipment to monitor your vitals throughout your visit so we can keep you safe.

If you know you need dental treatment, but are nervous about getting it done, feel free to set up a consultation with our doctors to discuss which of these options will work best for you by calling (219)929-9289. We strive to provide personalized, comfortable care for each of our patients so we can help you keep your teeth and smile for a lifetime.

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

While oral health care is important and necessary for everyone, not everyone can fulfill this important part of healthcare on their own. Those that are differently-abled, elderly, and/or handicapped may not be able to physically or mentally comply with the simple hygiene rules that others may easily follow through with, but it’s still important for them to brush twice daily too and have regular professional dental visits. Here’s a few tips for those who lovingly care for those who can’t care for themselves.

Everyone has different needs, but those who are differently-abled still need a daily routine for oral health care… it may just need to be adapted to best suit them. Some that are cognitively-delayed can perform the routine with encouragement or once shown what to do, while others are physically unable to complete it. For those who need encouragement, the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research suggests trying a “tell-show-do” approach: Tell the person how you’ll help them brush and what it might feel like. Show how you will do each step before you begin. Do the steps in the same way you just explained.

For those with difficulty with manual dexterity or holding and using a regular toothbrush, consider a power toothbrush to let the brush do the work but still provide some independence. Traditional floss may be challenging for some, but a pre-threaded floss holder, water flosser, or interdental brushes may be a suitable alternative approach to make it easier to clean between teeth. If your loved one has difficulty swallowing or with rinsing, skip the toothpaste, but don’t skip brushing completely. Even brushing with just a toothbrush moistened with water is going to better than no brushing at all.

Make your situation work for you. Oral hygiene doesn’t have to be completed in the bathroom if it is difficult to get them there. Set up where you are comfortable and have everything you need within reach: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a flosser, a glass of water, a bowl to spit, and perhaps a towel are all you need to do a thorough job. Have your loved one sit up or raise the head of the bed to avoid choking. Make sure you wash your hands and consider disposable gloves before you begin. After brushing and flossing, if they are able to swish and spit, consider a fluoride mouthrinse to further help prevent decay.

Even people who are missing teeth and wear full or partial dentures are still in need of daily oral health care. These prostheses need to be removed daily and cleaned with a soft brush and denture cleaner regularly. The prosthesis should be removed when sleeping to avoid risk of choking and when not worn, they should be stored in a cup of water.

Regular dental visits are important to maintaining oral health as the dentists can help look for signs of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Even an annual visit is recommended for those without teeth and dentures to complete an oral, head, and neck cancer screening and evaluate how the prosthesis is fitting to prevent sores from poor fit.

If you have any questions on how to best care for your loved one, we would be happy to help you brainstorm ideas so that we can ensure your entire family has the oral health care they deserve! Make an appointment for a consultation at (219)929-9289 so we can work together.

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

Everyone is on the quest for a whiter, more perfect smile so it makes sense that our most requested service is tooth whitening. There are so many products on the market, it’s hard for most patients to know where to start! The other factor is that the answer for what is best is going to vary from person to person depending on what caused the stain in the first place. Teeth can become stained from a variety of reasons, from smoking, food, wine, age, cavities, medications, and even from the nerve in the tooth dying! If you are considering whitening, if you want to have successful results, your first stop should be at the dentist!

The most common stains on teeth are extrinsic, or surface stains caused by what we consume—from coffee, tea, wine, cigarettes, etc. A dental cleaning will help to polish away some of those tougher stains to help give you a good start on your whitening journey. We will also perform a dental exam to make sure the stains are not from cavities or a dead nerve in your tooth causing the discoloration. In between dental cleanings, avoiding those foods and drinks that stain teeth will help, but what fun is life without a little coffee or chocolate every once in a while, so using a whitening toothpaste will help to better maintain your teeth free from those surface stains. Whitening toothpastes contain a combination of abrasive ingredients and chemicals to help remove surface stains, but they do not contain bleaching products. This means the toothpaste will scrub away stains, but will not brighten.

If stains are more intrinsic, or part of the internal composition of the tooth, you’re going to need a little extra help with bleaching products. Bleaching products sold through your local retail stores work, but they are not as strong as what is sold through the dental office, so if you just need a slight touchup, these products may do the trick. If you want more guaranteed results, we can help discuss what options will work best for you.

In our office, the best bang for your buck if you want to regularly whiten to maintain your teeth is going to be custom whitening trays. We would fabricate these trays from a mold of your mouth and provide whitening gel to place in the trays. As long as you don’t have any major dental trays, these trays can last you quite some time and all you have to do when you want to whiten again is buy more whitening gel. If you’re a gagger and don’t like the impressions, we offer Opalescence Go, which are similar to whitening strips you may find in the store but have a higher strength whitening Gel.

If you want quick results or have severe stains from Tetracycline, the in-office whitening product we offer is Kor whitening. There are varying levels of Kor whitening depending on the level of stain you have. Kor uses a combination of at home whitening and one or two in office whitening visits with a higher percentage whitening gel. Kor is an amazing product, and while the investment for it is more initially, the results are the best with any in-office product I have ever used. I completed a case of Kor for a Tetracycline patient, who had the medication as a child and had severe intrinsic staining as a result, and she had tried many, many products throughout the years without big changes. Finally once she tried Kor, she couldn’t believe the results! She was ecstatic to finally see her teeth whiter!

Finally, if you want to drastically change the shade of your teeth as well as the shape, talk to us about a smile makeover! There are various options we can discuss based on your case. Commonly in smile makeovers, we use dental veneers, which are thin, porcelain shells that are bonded to the front side of your teeth to drastically change the appearance. All of our doctors have been trained in extensive cosmetic dentistry continuing education courses and Dr. Heather Hradek is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry so you can trust your smile is in good hands.

Are you interested in whitening your teeth? Make an appointment today for a consultation so we can discuss what option might work best for you! (219)929-9289

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By: Dr. Heather Hradek

We lived in a snack based toddler culture. Believe me, I know. I have a 4 year old daughter and every activity she has, from Sunday school to soccer practice to preschool classes all have a snack involved. Unfortunately, along with all these snacks and juiceboxes, come the cavities. As a dentist, I follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommended guidelines for fluoride toothpaste for all ages to help to prevent cavities, but sometimes they still sneak through. The parents of many of my pediatric patients often ask why we have to fill these cavities—they’re in baby teeth, so they’re just going to lose them anyways, right?

Well, it’s not that simple. Yes, they’re going to lose these baby teeth, but baby teeth are important too. Baby teeth are built different than adult teeth. They’re smaller, obviously, but that means the enamel, the thick outer covering protecting the teeth, is thinner. This means cavities can break through the outer covering quicker, exposing dentin, the softer underlying layer. Once a cavity breaks through to the dentin, it can grow very quickly, and since the tooth is smaller, can reach the nerve quickly. For your child, this means this tooth can become painful and potentially infected.

Dental pain from cavities can affect your child’s ability to eat a well-balanced meal, which can ultimately affect and possibly stunt their growth and development. Dental pain can also affect your child’s ability to concentrate and learn at school and lead to missing class. In fact, dental disease leads to children missing more than 51 million hours of school each year. Untreated cavities mean there is a higher level of bacteria in their mouth, which increases their risk for even more cavities to develop, potentially on the permanent teeth as they erupt in the mouth.

So why don’t we just pull these teeth? That is an option, but baby teeth are an important space maintainer for the permanent teeth that will come in later. Losing those teeth prematurely can affect the growth and development of the jaw, leading to severe crowding and a need for braces to recreate space for the permanent tooth to come in. Sometimes we have no option but removing baby teeth in cases of severe decay or infections, so we have to use space maintainer devices to try to hold the space, but there is nothing better than what God gave us, so if we are able to maintain the natural tooth, we prefer to.

Baby teeth matter. We try to treat cavities early, while they are small so as to minimize your child’s discomfort and make it more easy to maintain those teeth until it’s time for them to come out naturally. As a parent, you can help to prevent cavities by using a fluoride toothpaste at home. For children 2 and under, use a rice-sized amount. For over 2, use a pea sized amount. When you can trust that your child will spit, you can start to incorporate a fluoride mouthrinse. When back teeth start to touch, around age 3, start to incorporate flossing to prevent cavities in between teeth. At their regular dental checkups, we will recommend a fluoride varnish for a high level of fluoride that lingers around for up to 21 days to help prevent cavities.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommend children’s first dental visit around age 1 or six months after their first tooth erupts, so we start seeing children any time after that. Is your child due for a visit? Give us a call today at (219)929-9289.

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.

By Dr. Heather Hradek

Body piercings provide a form of self-expression and along with that oral piercings have increased in popularity over the years that provide that self-expression, but maybe feel a little less ‘permanent’. As a dentist, I have seen lips, tongue, and cheeks pierced… but I’ve also seen the negative effects of these piercings as well. Unfortunately, while the oral piercing may not be permanent, its effects can be. So what are some of these effects? Let’s talk about it!

1) Damage to gums and teeth- As with anything new in the mouth, patients have a habit of playing with the piercing, which can lead to dental recession, cracked or chipped teeth and fillings, and sensitivity. I’ve seen patients lose teeth due to the amount of recession and bone loss from playing with their tongue ring. The backing of a lip or cheek piercing can rub the gums away, exposing the roots of teeth. I’ve seen patients crack teeth and need root canals and crowns from accidentally biting on the tongue ring. Even plastic tongue rings are not safe from preventing this damage.

2) Infection, pain, and swelling- Your mouth has millions of bacteria and so any piercing can provide a new breeding ground for bacteria to gather and ultimately lead to an infection. Untreated infections in the mouth can quickly develop and spread. Also any piercing can cause swelling, so a tongue piercing could cause the tongue to swell and potentially block the airway and become life threatening.

3) Nerve damage or uncontrollable bleeding- Your mouth has several nerves and blood vessels which provide us the ability to enjoy our food. Unfortunately, piercing through areas can cause permanent damage to these nerves that could lead to loss of taste, movement, and affect your ability to eat or speak. Also, piercing one of the major vessels in your mouth could lead to uncontrollable bleeding that is difficult to stop.

4) Hypersensitivity to metals- Just as with ear piercing sites, some people have allergic reactions to various metals used in oral piercings that can lead to swelling and pain.

5) Difficulty speaking or eating- Particularly with tongue piercings, the piercing can click against teeth or in between teeth leading to difficulty swallowing, enunciating words, and get in the way of chewing!

If you have already chosen to have an oral piercing completed, we want to help keep your mouth as healthy as possible. With clean hands, make sure you clean your piercing regularly. Plaque and tartar can build up on these just like your teeth and lead to infection if not regularly removed. Make sure you regularly check that the piercing is fully tightened—if it unwinds, it can easily be swallowed or inhaled! If you notice any signs of infection around the piercing—redness or swelling and notice fever or chills, visit your dentist or primary care physician right away!

Chesterton Family Dental is the general dental office of Dr. Mystie Pieters, Dr. Heather Hradek, and Dr. Robert Pieters providing comprehensive dental care for the entire family.