Archive for the ‘Dental Interest’ Category

Back to School

Hard to believe, but it really is not long before school starts up again. Make sure if you or the kids are due for your checkup that you schedule your appointment during the summer break when it’s easier. If college students need to have wisdom teeth removed, that’s best done at least a few weeks before returning to school.

Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type.

School calendars: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudon.

A tooth that has been ‘knocked out’ or avulsed can be re-implanted in its socket, but there are important guidelines to follow. A recent study discussing the effectiveness of liquids to store such a tooth before getting dental treatment had me review not only this article, but the current information on the treatment of teeth knocked out. It is not common to see teeth that are knocked out, but when it occurs it is more often in youth, and more often in boys than girls.

Current Information and Guidelines

• Time is a critical factor to successful re-implantation. Teeth re-implanted less than 15 minutes have a high success rate, and those out of the mouth for more than an hour a low success rate.
• In addition, how the tooth is handled and stored prior to re-implantation are very relevant.

Time, handling and storage are all related to the biology of a tooth, and in particular the cells holding the tooth in the jaw bone – the periodontal ligament. These cells are torn when a tooth is knocked out, and begin to die once the tooth is out of the mouth.

A baby tooth has been knocked out need not be re-implanted. A permanent tooth that has been knocked out, but broken, especially if part of the root remains in the socket, cannot be salvaged.

• once a permanent tooth is knocked out, call your dentist right away
• only touch the enamel part of the tooth, not the root (to not crush the periodontal ligament cells)
• do not rinse off the tooth
• do not store the tooth in water, salt water, or in your mouth
• preferred transport solutions: Save-A-Tooth (often with medical, paramedical professionals at sporting events), green tea (room temperature, not prepared drinks), milk

The re-implanted tooth will almost always need a root canal (not necessarily if the tooth root is not fully formed in a young person), and even then the tooth may not be saved.

Some helpful online resources: Colgate.com, Wikipedia, Save-A-Tooth.com, DoctorSpiller.com

The differences between men and women are extensive, especially when it comes to taking care of one’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), compared to men, women are better about seeing their physician for routine check-ups and are more likely to schedule a doctor visit when feeling sick or injured. And now, new research published in the Journal of Periodontology reveals another area where women are more proactive than men: in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Read more …

Periodontal Health: Women vs. Men

• Women are 26 percent more likely than men to floss on a daily basis.
• 74 percent of women would be embarrassed by a missing tooth, a possible consequence of periodontal disease, compared to 57 percent of men.
• Women are almost twice as likely to notice missing teeth on another person than men.
• 44 percent of women are aware that periodontists can help contribute to overall good health, compared to 33 percent of men.

Source: The American Academy of Periodontology

Spring and flowers are here, and many people are thinking of graduation, and even upcoming weddings. If you’ve wondered about tooth whitening and want to have it done in time for that special event, now is a good time to get started.

The most effective (whitest) and longest lasting method of tooth whitening is the professionally made tray (upper and lower, ultra thin mouthpiece) that you wear for 30-60 minutes a day until your teeth are as white as you like. Special note: only teeth whiten, not fillings or crowns; there cannot be any leaking fillings or cavities; and, only for ages 16 and up. Tooth whitening today is easy and the results are great. Give us a call soon!

National Facial Protection Month, a good time to remember to get your sports mouthguard or get a new one. Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type. For more about mouthguards, click here.

National Poetry Month began in 1996 to widen the attention of individuals and the media to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern.

How about some tooth / dental poems? Here is a collection of 17 dental poems and rhymes. Read the rest of this entry »

Sugarless does not mean cavity-free – usually. Most ‘sugarless’ products contain sorbitol and mannitol, sweeteners that bacteria can still grow on. But …

Xylitol is a cavity-free sweetener, and delicious candies are now available made with xylitol. That’s right. You can treat your loved one or teacher or friends – or yourself – to some tasty chocolates and not worry about your teeth in the process. Dr. John’s Candies, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, makes it possible to have a box of creamy chocolates that not only taste great, but are also a sugar-free healthy treat.

More about xylitol, click here.

Xylitol is perfectly safe for humans, but not for dogs. Did you know that grapes, raisins, onions and garlic are also harmful to dogs? See the ASPCA Poison Control Center info, click here.

On January 7, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced important steps to ensure that standards and guidelines on fluoride in drinking water continue to provide the maximum protection to the American people to support good dental health, especially in children.

HHS’ proposed recommendation of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water replaces the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. HHS is expecting to publish final guidance for community water fluoridation by spring 2011.

HHS and EPA are making announcements on fluoride based on the most up to date scientific data. See the full press release, click here.

There are several reasons for the changes seen over time, including that Americans have access to more sources of fluoride than they did when water fluoridation was first introduced in the United States in the 1940s. Water is now one of several sources of fluoride. Other common sources include dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, and fluoride applied by dental professionals. Water fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste are largely responsible for the significant decline in tooth decay in the U.S. over the past several decades.

For more information about community water fluoridation, visit http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation.

Getting kids started out right with their teeth is a mission of mine, and I hope yours too.

A simple thing you can do is to make sure that your children get their regular dental checkups. Most of what we do is preventive (teach preventive care, like dry brushing; sealants, etc.), and with regular checkups if a cavity is detected it will be no big deal. Dental health has long-term implications for heart disease and stroke. Most dental problems can be avoided if usual prevent practices are followed.

A question I’m often asked is when to bring a child for their first checkup, and even today most parents are surprised: 12 months old. The easy rule of thumb is first checkup by first birthday. Of course at that age we don’t clean their teeth at age one, but we make sure that you know what to do. More about me working with children, click here.

If it’s time to get your children in for a checkup consider getting them in February during National Childrens Dental Health Month. And … it’s not just for kids – had your checkup lately, click here?

A little history on Dental Health Month and some activity pages too (good for teachers!), click here.

On November 8, 1895, German physics professor Wilhelm Röntgen stumbled on X-rays while experimenting with Lenard and Crookes tubes and began studying them. John Francis Hall-Edwards was a pioneer in the medical use of X-rays in the United Kingdom. He took the first radiograph to direct a surgical operation, on 14 February 1896.

In the future … possible use of T-rays (read more, click here).