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.

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.

Acid enamel erosion

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

Drinks found to erode tooth enamel

Oral cancer symptoms

Some of the most common oral cancer symptoms and signs include:

• Persistent mouth sore: A sore in the mouth that does not heal is the most common symptom of oral cancer
• Pain: Persistent mouth pain is another common oral cancer sign
• A lump or thickening in the cheek
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
• A sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat that does not go away
• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
• Numbness of the tongue or elsewhere in the mouth
• Jaw swelling that makes dentures hurt or fit poorly
• Loosening of the teeth
• Pain in the teeth or jaw
• •Voice changes
• A lump in the neck
• Weight loss
• Persistent bad breath

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.

https://markpalmerdds.com/2015/04/08/oral-cancer-symptoms/

– 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.