Porcelain veneers offer a conservative way to change your smile. Whether your teeth are stained, darker than you like, crooked, misshapen, have old worn out fillings and more veneers can provide a new smile for you!
This patient wanted to improve the appearance of her teeth, so veneers were used to improve the color, shape and position.
Let us know if you would be interested in getting your dream smile. 214.368.6792
This past February Dr Palmer was formerly recognized as a member of the Southwest Academy of Restorative Dentistry at the Bush Presidential Library annual meeting.
01 Sep 2015 Dentistry Today
Participants in a clinical study of a new toothpaste for sensitive teeth reported significant relief after just 2 days, according to a recent paper in The Open Dentistry Journal. About half the participants claimed a significant reduction in pain after 48 hours. After 2 weeks, about three-quarters of the patients reported significant relief.
Dental hypersensitivity (DH)—a short, sharp tooth pain caused by cold, heat, sweets, or touch—affects approximately 85% of the population. Most dentists recommend over-the-counter toothpaste for their patients before trying professional treatments.
“Typically, so-called sensitive toothpastes, which contain potassium nitrate or sodium monofluorophosphate, take several weeks before the patient feels any relief,” said Samuel B. Low, DDS, MS, MEd, and lead researcher in the study. “Shortening that time before a patient feels relief is a momentous breakthrough.”
About 60 patients participated in the study. Participation was restricted to patients who had tried commercial toothpastes designed for sensitivity without success. Most patients had DH due to an exposed tooth root. Other causes included sensitivity due to teeth whitening or unknown causes.
Participants were given the sensitive formula toothpaste and instructed how to use it in their daily oral hygiene regimen. They also were told not to use any other toothpaste or treatment during the 2-week period.
Participants filled out a 5-question visual analog scale questionnaire that rated the degree of their tooth pain, its duration, its intensity, and its tolerability at the initiation of the study, after two days of using the toothpaste, and at the end of the two weeks.
Edward P. Allen, DDS, PhD, a periodontist and co-author of the study, believes the new toothpaste’s rapid effectiveness may be due in part to an ingredient called nano-hydroxyapatite.
“It’s a calcium-based compound found in the natural tooth structure that actually seems to replace some of the materials in the enamel and dentin,” said Allen. “The other ingredients in the toothpaste, monofluorophosphate and potassium nitrate, are routinely used in ‘sensitive’ toothpastes. However, most patients require at least one week to feel any difference in their pain.”
The study also suggests that the antioxidants phloretin, ferulic acid, and silymarin in this formula may further contribute to the test toothpaste’s rapid effectiveness. Additional research is planned to pinpoint the biochemical reasons why. The toothpaste used in the study is marketed as Sensitive AO ProToothpaste by PerioSciences. The study was supported in part by PerioSciences LLC. Low and Allen both are consultants for PerioSciences LLC.
The fitness world is constantly filled with talk about macros, macros, macros, but micros are crucial too. Specific vitamins, such as pantothenic acid and B-6, play a crucial role in helping the macros you count and consume be put to good use. To get the lowdown on pantothenic acid and B-6, as well as what foods to eat to consume them, keep reading!
Why you need it: If you asked a gym full of people to speak up if they’ve heard of pantothenic acid, you’d likely hear crickets. Pantothenic acid, aka vitamin B-5, isn’t as well known as many other vitamins and minerals. But like other B vitamins, B-5 is crucial for the proper breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—and we need that energy to function properly.
More precisely, B-5 is a precursor to the formation of what is known as coenzyme A, which itself is essential for numerous biochemical reactions in the body, including the formation of steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen, as well as vitamins A and D.1
How much you need: Adult men and women are both encouraged to ingest at least 5 milligrams daily.
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In addition to being a stellar source of vitamin A, this inexpensive cut of meat is also rich in pantothenic acid. Not all stores carry liver, so try to befriend a local butcher to get your hands on a steady supply. Liver from other animals like chicken, turkey, and lamb also supply healthy amounts of this nutrient.
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They’re meaty and low in calories, and the fact that these fungi are packed with energy-boosting pantothenic acid is another reason to start working more of them into your diet. Shiitakes also supply other B vitamins, as well as good amounts of the essential minerals copper and selenium. And, of course, they bring plenty of awesome umami flavor to the table.
A simple preparation is to slice the caps and sauté them in a bit of oil until tender, then season with a sprinkling of salt. You can also add shiitake mushrooms to chili, tacos, pasta sauces, and stir-fry. You might even try replacing some of the ground beef with them when making burger patties and meatloaf.
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Fatty in a good way, the avocado’s impressive nutritional resume includes plenty of pantothenic acid along with fiber (a whopping 7 grams per serving), vitamin K, vitamin C, and potassium. Use avocado liberally in salads, sandwiches, tacos, and even smoothies for creamy deliciousness.
Other good sources include sunflower seeds, yogurt, milk, egg yolks, trout, rice bran, wheat germ, whole grains, and sweet potatoes.
Why you need it: Involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions in the body, water-soluble vitamin B-6 is necessary for a wide range of important functions. These include protein metabolism, optimal immune-system function, neurotransmitter formation, and hemoglobin formation. Hemoglobin is a protein necessary to transport oxygen around the body.1 And when you pull carbohydrates out of storage (glycogen) to power your workouts, that process also requires vitamin B-6.
How much you need: Adult men and women should aim for 1.3 milligrams of vitamin B-6 each day.
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Most people should be eating more legumes. A good place to start is with chickpeas, which are one of the richest sources of vitamin B-6, as well as plenty of other good stuff like plant-based protein, dietary fiber, folate, thiamin, and iron.
When something is this nutrient-dense, you should look for ways to sneak it into your diet anywhere you can. Try salads, hummus, soups, and simmering pots of chili. The best texture comes from using dried chickpeas. Just remember to soak them overnight to expedite the cooking process.
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Here’s more motivation to slice into turkey more often than just during the holiday season, but there’s no need to take on the task of roasting up a whole bird. Most supermarkets carry less-laborious cuts of turkey, such as breast meat, that can add a significant shot of vitamin B-6, as well as protein, to turn on the muscle-making machinery.
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Did you know that this monkey food can help you nail your daily quota of vitamin B-6? Keep on using them to add recovery carbs to your post-gym shakes. The best method is to freeze chunks of ripe banana on a baking sheet, and then transfer to a zip-top bag for storage in the freezer until needed. Drop a few chunks into the blender along with your other ingredients and you’ll be guaranteed a frosty, creamy smoothie.
Other good sources: Peanut butter, salmon, tuna, liver, prunes, pork, chicken, spinach, potato.
A new study has confirmed that regular smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss.
Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were found to be 2.5 times more likely.
The research, published in the Journal of Dental Research, is the output of a long-term longitudinal study of the EPIC Potsdam cohort in Germany carried out by researchers at the University of Birmingham and the German Institute of Human Nutrition.
Tooth loss remains a major public health problem worldwide. In the UK, 15% of 65-74 year olds and over 30% of 75+ year olds are edentate (have lost all of their natural teeth). Globally, the figure is closer to 30% for 65-74 year olds.
Lead author Professor Thomas Dietrich, from the University of Birmingham, explained, “Most teeth are lost as a result of either caries (tooth decay) or chronic periodontitis (gum disease). We know that smoking is a strong risk factor for periodontitis, so that may go a long way towards explaining the higher rate of tooth loss in smokers.”
Smoking can mask gum bleeding, a key symptom of periodontitis. As a result, the gums of a smoker can appear to be healthier than they actually are.
Professor Dietrich added, “It’s really unfortunate that smoking can hide the effects of gum disease as people often don’t see the problem until it is quite far down the line. The good news is that quitting smoking can reduce the risk fairly quickly. Eventually, an ex-smoker would have the same risk for tooth loss as someone who had never smoked, although this can take more than ten years.”
Kolade Oluwagbemigun, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition, said, “Gum disease and consequential tooth loss may be the first noticeable effect on a smoker’s health. Therefore, it might give people the motivation to quit before the potential onset of a life-threatening condition such as lung disease or lung cancer.”
The findings were independent of other risk factors such as diabetes, and are based on data from 23,376 participants which aimed to evaluate the associations between smoking, smoking cessation and tooth loss in three different age groups.
The association between smoking and tooth loss was stronger among younger people than in the older groups. In addition, the results clearly demonstrated that the association was dose-dependent; heavy smokers had higher risk of losing their teeth than smokers who smoked fewer cigarettes.
Professor Heiner Boeing, also from the German Institute of Human Nutrition, added, “In addition to the many noted benefits for cardiovascular health, and risk of lung disease and cancer, it is clear that dental health is yet another reason not to take up smoking, or to quit smoking now.”
Dry mouth is the result of low-producing or non-functioning salivary glands. The often devastating condition – known as xerostomia – has a number of causes, including medication use, radiation treatment for head and neck cancers, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and the process of aging.
There are currently no treatments, and salivary glands have little capacity to renew themselves, highlighting a need for cell-based therapies that can grow new tissue and restore gland function.
In the journal Tissue Engineering Part A, a team from the University of Texas at San Antonio describes how they used silk fibers to provide salivary gland stem cells with a 3D scaffold on which to grow a matrix of salivary gland stem cells.
Senior author Chih-Ko Yeh, a professor in comprehensive dentistry who runs a lab focusing on salivary gland research, says:
“The cells had many of the same characteristics as salivary gland cells that grow in the mouth.”
The achievement is significant because “salivary gland stem cells are some of the most difficult cells to grow in culture and retain their function,” he explains.
Most of us do not give it a second thought – but the saliva we produce in our mouth is critical to good health. As well as initiating digestion, keeping bits of food off our teeth and preventing oral infection, saliva helps us swallow and speak.
Insufficient saliva can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease and infections in other parts of the body.
The findings bring promise to 4 million Americans with an autoimmune disease called Sjögren’s syndrome – a condition where the body attacks its own tear ducts and salivary glands.
They also bring hope to thousands of others who have poor salivary function as a result of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, and the 50% of older Americans whose medications can cause dry mouth.
For their study, the team made a silk framework from purified silk fibers, populated it with stem cells from rat salivary glands and added a nourishing medium to encourage growth. Prof. Yeh describes what happened:
“After several weeks in culture, the cells produced a 3D matrix covering the silk scaffolds.”
Prof. Yeh explains that silk is a good choice as a scaffolding for the stem cells because it is a natural product, it biodegrades and is flexible and porous.
These properties help oxygen and nutrients reach the growing cells easily, and do not lead to inflammation, which has been a problem with other scaffolding materials, he adds.
Because of the small number of salivary glands in the human mouth, the team is going to continue using rat salivary glands to fine-tune the method.
Eventually, they hope to use stem cells harvested from human bone marrow or umbilical cord blood to regenerate human salivary glands.
Looking further into the future, Prof. Yeh believes that within the next 10 years, we will be repairing damaged salivary glands in patients by transfusing stem cells, or engineering artificial salivary gland tissue to replace damaged glands. He concludes:
“This unique culture system has great potential for future salivary gland research and for the development of new cell-based therapeutics.”
Earlier this year, Medical News Today learned of another study where an injectable hydrogel boosted stem cell transplantation to help brain recovery after stroke and partially reverse blindness in mice.
The team, which included researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada, said the hydrogel did more than hold the stem cells together – it directly promoted stem cell survival and integration.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
The cost of dentistry in general can vary tremendously based upon many factors but let’s consider that we are using an excellent dentist, a great dental lab, high quality dental materials, super staff and a nice office environment. It would be reasonable to expect the fee for you veneers or crowns to run between $1200 to $1600. You should expect a beautiful result with great function and to have the treatment completed in about a month depending upon the dental lab. Let’s say you want or need four front teeth treated with porcelain veneers at a cost of $1300 each. Here is what to expect:
Initial exam and records taken to determine the treatment 40 minutes to an hour.
Scheduled 1st appointment for 2-2.5 hours at which time the teeth are prepared, impressed, temporaries are made and additional records taken.
3-4 weeks later your 2nd appointment to remove your temporaries and place your new porcelain veneers requiring 1 to 1.5 hours.
So, normally three appointments totaling 3.5 to 4.5 hours of your time over several weeks. While in your temporary veneers you can expect for your smile to look great and to have to be careful about what you chew. Once the veneers are in place you can eat, brush and floss normally expecting your new teeth to last 10 years or more.
Before and after photos of the front upper 8 teeth with porcelain veneers.
Click below to see how your enamel can be eroded away by acidic drinks.
A beautiful smile beautiful smile can make a significant difference in your life. That’s why so many patients look for cosmetic help every year. With the care provided by an experienced cosmetic dentist, you can face the people in your life with an improved sense of confidence and wellbeing.
The most common cosmetic services are:
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic services available today. Depending on your needs and your level of sensitivity, your dentist may recommend an in-office whitening solution or a take-home option. Regardless of which you use, both will help you see improved results.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are handcrafted from quality dental porcelain to produce results that look natural and beautiful. Once in place, veneers can help you create a smile that looks straighter and whiter without the need for teeth whitening or braces. A complete veneers procedure is typically completed in two or three visits.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings are used to help patients treat decay, which is among the most common oral health problems. Made from composite fillings, they will blend in with your smile for results that are seamless and durable.
Cosmetic Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is a simple procedure that, similar to porcelain veneers, will help you improve the appearance of a cracked, chipped, or stained tooth. Bonding is completed in a single-visit.
If you’re seeking cosmetic help, your dentist will complete a full oral health assessment before recommending a specific treatment plan. Some patients may need just a single service to achieve the results they want to achieve while others will benefit from a plan that includes multiple services.
Call your dentist to schedule a consultation appointment.
The WAND
What is it?
The Wand is essentially a computer-controlled dental injection. The flow rate of the local anaesthetic is controlled by a computer. This means that the injection is guaranteed to be slow, steady and therefore comfortable.
Most people who have had a bad experience with injections think that needles sting because the skin is pierced, but this is usually not so! Most often, the sting was caused because the anesthetic was pumped in too quickly. Obviously, it is possible for the dentist to control the speed with a standard syringe, but the idea of the Wand is to take out the “human error”. This can be very reassuring for people with previous bad experiences.
What does the Wand look like?
It simply doesn’t look like a syringe! Welcome to, Dentistry for Today!
As you can see in the photo, the “hardware” looks similar to a miniature computer tower.
On the top of the little tower sits a cartridge with local anaesthetic. A tube connects this to a pen-like handpiece which has a very tiny needle. The handpiece device looks just like a ball point pen and is held like a pen! Using the Wand is very enjoyable for the dentist because it is so light and easy to handle. To start the computer, the dentist presses a footpedal connected to the computer tower. The computer does the rest. That way, the dentist can focus all attention on holding the handpiece in the right position.
The WAND has two speeds, slow and slower and it even speaks saying “cruise” to let the dentist know they can use cruise control mode.
What are the advantages?
1. Looks non-threatening. Researchers have found that the Wand induces less anxiety than any other injection method (Kudo et al, 2001).
2. The precise control of flow rate and pressure reliably produces a comfortable injection even in potentially more “difficult” areas like the palate, where the tissue is less elastic.
3. Many dentists enjoy the light weight and easy handling. The penlike grasp allows the operator to rotate the handpiece, which can make it easier to glide the needle into the tissue.
What are the disadvantages?
So why do so few dentists use the Wand if the WAND is so great?
1. Cost! It’s more expensive than using traditional syringes, both for the machine and the disposables. And if you wanted to rely on the Wand alone, you’d have to have a backup Wand in case one breaks down sometime, which means more cost. Because the cartridge holder, tube and handpiece are disposables, there’s a larger volume of hazardous waste (and higher costs for getting rid of the extra waste).
2. Some dentists complain they lose time because it takes longer than their “standard” injection.
3. Takes up extra space. This can be a problem in some rooms, depending on space and layout.
4. A lot of dentists are happy with their painless injection techniques and don’t see the need for it.
How can I find a dentist who uses the Wand? Go to www.thewand.com or www.milestonescientific.com
My dentist recommended replacing my metal dental fillings with a composite material, which would be quite expensive. Is this necessary?
Answers from Alan Carr, D.M.D.
That depends on the reason for your dentist’s recommendation.
If your metal dental fillings are defective or show decay, it’s important to replace them. Untreated decay may eventually lead to an infection (abscess). In some cases, replacing a metal dental filling may benefit the long-term health of your tooth.
Generally, replacing metal dental fillings for cosmetic reasons should only be done after careful consideration and if your dentist feels it won’t compromise the long-term health of your teeth. Likewise, there’s no need to replace metal dental fillings because of concerns about mercury in your fillings.
Most metal dental fillings are dental amalgam — a stable alloy made with mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metals. Although concerns have been raised over the years about the safety of mercury in dental amalgam, there is no conclusive evidence to support that you’re better off having amalgam fillings replaced with alternative materials. The American Dental Association supports the use of dental amalgam as a safe, reliable and effective treatment for dental decay.
If you’re unsure whether you need to replace your metal dental fillings, ask your dentist to explain the options and help you understand what’s best in your case.
Tests on tooth enamel samples have proven that the consumption of sports and drinks can lead to considerable enamel fat loss inside a few days. In the recently launched study, researchers have informed that acidic levels throughout these popular drinks vary substantially between brands and between different tastes of the brand.
According to research completed within the Southern Illinois College School of Dental Medicine, there is an escalating increase in the consumption of sports and drinks wealthy in acidity levels lately, particularly among children and adolescents.
To have the ability to select which physiochemical property affects tooth enamel most likely probably the most, the researchers examined fluoride, pH and acidity levels in 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks.
Four occasions every day, enamel samples from removed molars were cyclically uncovered to 100 mL of each and every beverage for a quarter-hour and 100 mL of artificial salvia for the next two several hours.
For just five days, the researchers observed considerable injury to tooth enamel. Energy drinks shown greater possible ways to damage teeth, because they are substantially more acidic than sports drinks. The mean enamel fat loss was 3.one percent for energy drinks and 1.5 % for sports drinks.
Among others, they learned that caused by titratable acidity on enamel depended largely round the level, because the importance of enamel dissolution elevated since the decreased.
Red-colored-colored Bull Sugarfree, Monster Assault, Von Nederlander, Rockstar and 5-hour Energy come up with to offer the finest titratable acidity values among the energy drinks examined. Gatorade Blue is discovered to offer the finest titratable acidity of sports drinks, then Hydr8.
In line with the researchers, roughly half from the adolescents and teens inside the U.S. consume energy drinks. Around 62 percent consume one or more sports drink every day, they suggested.
“Dental professionals must provide guidance for his or her patients in regards to the physiochemical characteristics of sports and drinks in addition to their effects on enamel,” they found the final outcome
Some of the most common oral cancer symptoms and signs include:
If any of these oral cancer symptoms or signs are present for days or weeks, see your dentist or physician for an oral exam. As with any cancer, having your cancer diagnosed as soon as possible will help ensure that any treatment is as effective as possible.
Nothing may be more indicative of one’s oral health than the condition of his or her gums.
Those numbers the dentist or hygienist is reciting are gum health, not the number of teeth present. A 3-mm pocket depth would be considered healthy, while 4 mm is a warning. When reaching 5 or 6 mm, a deep cleaning may be necessary. If the number is still higher, gum surgery is necessary. If effective, the patient can return to normal activity quite soon.
Gums recede and become inflamed or infected based on a buildup of bacteria. Gum disease and tooth decay comprise about 90 percent of tooth loss, based on information from the American Dental Association.
But gum disease is mostly preventable by regular brushing, flossing and dental cleanings. The problems stem from a lack of flossing and the incorrect brushing method that many people use.
That’s why it’s crucial for people to be proactive in their oral health, avoiding any expensive and time-consuming procedures in the future. Regular dental visits are also pivotal.
– See more at: http://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/todays-dental-news/item/151-bad-gums-mean-bad-future#sthash.y9RFJk4Y.dpuf
by Laura Tedesco
The health of your mouth may shine a light on what’s happening in the rest of your body. (Kulka/Corbis)
You expect your dentist to flag cavities, but did you know your drill-wielding doc might also be able to spot trouble that extends well beyond your pearly whites?
“It’s becoming clear that we need to consider integrating oral and general health care,” says Steve Offenbacher, D.D.S., director of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The oral cavity is the mirror to the rest of the body, so we can pick up on systemic problems by simple dental examinations.” In other words, the state of your smile may shine a light on the rest of your body — sometimes even before other symptoms show up.
Case in point: Offenbacher once told a middle-aged patient he suspected she was pregnant, based simply on the redness of her gums. “The next week, she came back and said, ‘I went to the doctor, and yes, I am pregnant!’’ he recalls. In that case, Offenbacher was the bearer of good news, but not all of the secrets your mouth may reveal are so positive. Your teeth may also provide clues about these five health-threatening conditions:
Diabetes
Your dentist isn’t just worried about how white your teeth are. In a 2014 study, nearly two-thirds of dentists said they’d refer a patient with periodontitis (inflammation around the gums) for a diabetes evaluation. Why that’s a good thing: “Diabetes is not only a common problem, but it’s also highly under-diagnosed,” says Offenbacher. Read: Lots of people have diabetes and don’t know it, which means adding your dentist to your team of health detectives is a smart idea.
So what’s the dental-diabetes link? High blood sugar may be as damaging to your oral health as the sweet stuff in a can of soda. That’s because the condition can cause dry mouth, which increases plaque build-up, making people with uncontrolled diabetes more prone to dental problems.
“[Periodontal disease in diabetics] is usually severe for their age or for local factors, meaning they have pretty clean mouths, but they still have a periodontal problem,” says Offenbacher.
Two common oral signs of diabetes: multiple abscesses on the gums and bad breath. “It’s kind of a sour fruit smell,” Offenbacher says. “It’s ketones — metabolic products associated with poor glycemic control — in their bloodstream that you can smell.”
Heart disease
Your teeth may reveal what’s going on with your ticker. A 2007 study review found that people with periodontal disease are significantly more likely to develop heart disease than folks with good oral health. Among people who have both diseases, “if the periodontal disease is treated, the heart disease is greatly improved,” says Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., a professor and dean emeritus of dental medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
The common thread? Inflammation. “When you look in a patient’s mouth and you see chronic inflammation, you know that it’s creating systemic stress,” says Offenbacher.
Although there are no dental red flags specific to heart disease, “more severe periodontal disease is strongly associated with heart disease risk,” Offenbacher says. Signs include loose, shifting, or missing teeth, and increased probing depths, where the pockets around the teeth have deepened.
Dementia
Can tooth loss indicate memory loss? In recent British research, a lack of teeth was associated with mental decline, while a 2012 study found that older adults with poor dental hygiene were 76 percent more likely to develop dementia. This is a relatively new area of research, which means the link between the two isn’t entirely clear, says Jeffcoat. However, a small 2013 study detected Porphyromonas gingivalis — a bacteria associated with gum disease — in the brains of people with dementia, suggesting that it may play a role in the inflammation associated with cognitive decline.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis won’t cause your teeth to decay — but your dentist may be able to spot bone loss in the surrounding structures, like the jaw, with digital X-rays, says Jeffcoat. Normal, healthy bone should be dense both at the edges and in the interior, and when that’s not the case, “the patient is more likely to have osteoporosis,” she explains.
In fact, in a 2013 study in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, the thickness of postmenopausal women’s jawbones — as measured with a panoramic X-ray — was correlated with the bone density of their spine. This means that dentists could potentially diagnose osteoporosis, which often goes undetected until a fracture occurs, in its early stages, the scientists say.
Acid reflux disease
You may feel heartburn most intensely in your chest, but its effects may be most obvious in your mouth. If you have acid reflux disease, the constant uprising of stomach acid could wear away at the enamel on your teeth, says Jeffcoat. “You’ll usually see it in the lower front teeth,” she says. “You’ll see erosion of the teeth — they get thinner. You can’t miss it.” Another sign you may be suffering from acid reflux disease: You have a persistent sour taste in your mouth, she says.
In a 2008 study review, researchers found that about a third of adults with dental erosion also had gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Keep in mind, this erosion can happen even in the absence of chest pain — that is, you may have reflux without knowing it, until your dentist points out the damage to your choppers.
Compared to traditional X-rays, digital X-rays are safer, more accurate, faster, and environmentally sound.
Digital X-rays are safer because they may reduce radiation exposure by as much as 85 percent over conventional film x-rays. People who are worried about radiation exposure when undergoing a dental X-ray are now able to have the diagnostic benefit of an X-ray with much less risk of radiation exposure.
While traditional film X-rays take about eight to 10 minutes to process, results from digital X-rays are available in 4 seconds. The digital sensor is placed next to your teeth, and the image appears on the computer screen, viewable by you and your dentist. In addition, it is possible for a digital X-ray to be e-mailed to a specialist for consultation. Thus, the use of digital X-rays may shorten time usually spent on waiting, diagnosis, or consultation.
Digital X-rays may result in more accurate evaluation and diagnosis of dental problems. Images can be enlarged and enhanced, such that any abnormalities are more easily seen by your dentist and yourself during discussion of results.
With digital X-rays there are no chemicals, this makes it easier on the environment. In contrast, the film development process used in traditional X-rays requires the use and disposal of toxic chemicals.
All of our x-rays are digital.
We can enhance your smile with conservative porcelain veneers. Stains, yellow teeth, unattractive fillings, cracks, chips & gaps can all be corrected with veneers. Remember that a Beautiful Smile is the first thing you see and the last thing you forget!
Written by Dentistry Today
Tooth decay may be even worse than originally thought.
A new study suggests that tooth decay may push back growth in children. The study appeared in the online version of Pediatrics journal and was conducted at University College London and King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
The research team wanted to explore the relationship between oral health and growth after previous studies failed to show definitive evidence one way or the other. In this study, the researchers looked at the dental decay and the correlation between height and weight in Saudi Arabian children ages 6 through 8.
The oral health of the children was graded on the DMFT scale, which is a scale that determines the seriousness of decayed, missing and filled teeth.
The research team later analyzed the statistics and concluded that there was, in fact, a relationship between low height/weight and a greater number of cavities. Children with severe decay had a higher chance of being underweight and shorter when compared to their peers.
Even when some secondary factors, like demographics and social values, were factored in, the correlation between decay and stunted growth still existed. Based on this study, it’s fair to say there is an inverse relationship between growth and tooth decay in children. More research is necessary to confirm this study’s findings.
PerioSciences Launches Two Oral Hygiene Systems with Antioxidant Toothpaste, Mouth Rinse, and Dental Gel
Your smile. It’s the facial feature that half the people you meet notice first.
Your breath. If it’s bad, it’s the number-one turn-off for face-to-face encounters.
Your oral health. Scientists are constantly increasing the list of chronic diseases that are linked to oral disease. Heart attack, stroke, diabetes, even problems with fertility and pregnancy are just a few.
Every health and beauty expert will stress the importance of a bright smile and fresh breath. And every dentist will recommend good oral hygiene, including regular dental visits. Now, PerioSciences is proud to provide the most complete and effective systems available for at-home oral care.
A new suite of PerioSciences products, including antioxidant toothpaste, mouth rinse, and dental gel, with powerful antioxidants that work together to maximize effectiveness, are revolutionizing oral hygiene. PerioSciences, LLC is launching two new complete oral care systems. The NATURAL system is formulated with natural ingredients; the WHITE CARE system is designed for people who use teeth-whitening treatments. Both feature the proven, powerful antioxidants, phloretin and ferulic acid.
The AO Pro family of oral care products promote fresh breath plus a brighter, healthier smile. The new WHITE CARE System — with AO ProToothpaste, AO ProRinse and AO ProVantage dental gel —soothes oral tissues following teeth-whitening procedures while it boosts and extends the whitening effects. The system supplies antioxidants to help maintain normal, healthy pH balance and counteract the harsh chemicals of teeth whitening. In addition, maximum strength fluoride fights cavities.
The NATURAL system features specially formulated antioxidant-infused toothpaste and mouth rinse, along with the AO ProVantage dental gel. All the products in the NATURAL system are free of alcohol, fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and artificial sweeteners. Environmentally friendly and naturally healthy, the powerful antioxidants counteract toxins that cause free-radical damage.
Both the NATURAL and the WHITE CARE formulations of AO ProToothpaste include hydroxyapatite, or crystalline calcium phosphate, which is the mineral that forms the structure of teeth. Dental scientists are researching hydroxyapatite as a means of remineralizing teeth and combating cavities. PerioSciences is the first company to include this important mineral in a toothpaste.
PerioSciences president and founder, Russell Moon, was the co-founder of SkinCeuticals, the high-end, antioxidant-based skin care product line acquired by L’Oreal in 2005. “SkinCeuticals was and is a fabulously successful product line because the antioxidants were clinically and scientifically proven to be effective,” says Moon. “In the same way, the antioxidants in PerioSciences products have been tested and proven in both laboratory and clinical settings.”
PerioSciences is dedicated advanced science in dental care and to providing the best oral care products. If you would like to learn more about our products, visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
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