Dental Health Can Keep Heart Disease Away

Good oral hygiene is important for good general health. Poor oral hygiene can lead to various dental, as well as, medical problems such as gum disease (periodontitis), infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes, oral cancer and more. Regular tooth cleaning and check-ups can help prevent some of these problems and provide you with good oral hygiene as well. Daily brushing and flossing and regular dental check-ups is the best way to prevent gum disease.

Recent studies have found a correlation between heart disease and strokes to gum disease. A professional dental cleaning twice a year will help keep your teeth and gums healthy and could lessen your risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Bacterial endocarditis is a common risk associated with gum disease. Bacterial endocarditis is an infection in the lining of the heart or heart valves. The bacteria from infected gums can migrate into the bloodstream and infect the heart.

There are two stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis refers to the early stage of gum disease which can be easily treated if diagnosed early. Gum disease at this stage is often undetected. Periodontitis refers to gum disease in its advance stage, which causes bone loss and is irreversible if left untreated. Studies have shown 80% of the population has some form of gum disease.

Some Symptoms of Gum Disease:

• Frequent bad breath
• Red and swollen gums that bleed easily
• Gums that separate from the teeth
• Loose teeth
• Tooth sensitivity
• Abscessed teeth
• Tooth loss

Source: Teeth Cleaning Helps Prevent Heart Disease

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Modern Technology Instant Orthodontics

In this age of fast food, drive-thru wedding chapels and microwave meals in 90 seconds, it’s no surprise that people want that speed in other areas of their lives. Why not in their orthodontia?

And, thanks to the progressive dental community, you can get a perfect, white smile now! It’s called Instant Orthodontics or a smile makeover and, compared to other treatments such as braces, it is fast.

With braces, you’d have to wait as long as two years while the metal wires on your teeth slowly correct a twisted tooth here, a small gap there. With instant orthodontics, you can have not only a set of straight teeth, but a beautiful white smile, in about two weeks.

It’s really simple, too. A wafer-thin shell known as a porcelain veneer is bonded, using dental adhesive, to the front of the each tooth. When finished, you have a smile that is full of straight, shiny white teeth.

Porcelain veneers can be used to cover up a lot that is wrong with your current smile, such as:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Fillings that are stained or washed out
• Uneven teeth
• Teeth that are inconsistent in size

Once your dentist determines that porcelain veneers are right for you, an impression of your bite will be taken so the veneers can be made in the correct size and shape for you. Temporary veneers are placed while the permanent set is created. Once they are ready, the dentist will use the dental bonding adhesive to permanently attach the veneers to your existing teeth.

The next step is the big reveal. You get to see yourself, and your beautiful smile, for the first time. There you have it – a perfect, white smile now!

You also get a renewed sense of self-confidence and will find yourself smiling more often. Not a bad side effect, right? See – you’re smiling!

Source: I Want a Perfect, White Smile and I Want it Now!

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Sugar Substitute Reduces Risk for Dental Cavities

Swedish researchers completed a study that found Xylitol, which is a sugar substitute has the ability to reduce bacteria that leads to dental cavities. In order to prevent cavities between teeth a relatively high intake would need to be available in order to reduce the acid production between the teeth. Pernilla Lif Holgerson will present her study at the at Umeå University in Sweden on February 23rd.

Xylitol in previous studies have shown reduction in cavities. You can purchase special chewing gum and candy with Xylitol as an ingredient. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol made sugar xylose also refered to as wood sugar. Xylitol is found naturally in fruits and berries such as pears and strawberries.

A series of studies of children and adolescents measured saliva samples for plaque. The studies found that 3.4 grams of xylitol consistently changed the bacteria levels. I did not however, reduce the amount of lactic acid in plaque. Another study found that a single higher dose of xylitol was able to reduce the acidity in the plaque in between the teeth.

In one study they gave 128 children ranging in age from 7 – 12 chewing gum with xylitol. They were instructed to chew a new stick of this xylitol chewing gum three times a day for a total daily dosage of 6.0 grams in one day. Initially, the amount of plaque and the production of lactic acid was reduced dramatically during the trial period. Over a four week time period, the cavity causing bacteria went down by around one-third. Six months later the values returned to the original levels. There were no side-effects reported from the xylitol.

The study concludes that xylitol can be beneficial and recommends the following:

If a person is at high risk for tooth decay they should supplement with a daily intake of xylitol.

Choose xylitol products that stimulate saliva secretion. They recommend xylitol chewing gum as the best method to introduce xyitol into the mouth.

You would need 6 grams of xylitol per day to cancel the production of acid which in turn will reduce the risk of cavities.

For optimal results, deliver the xylitol three times a day, instead of at one sitting.

The chewing gum or xylitol product should contain as much xylitol as possible and not be mixed with other sugars.

Xylitol is available as a sugar substitute sweetener at health and nutrition stores, as well as online. Xylitol chewing gum is available mostly online at this time. In the future, you might see it at health and nutrition stores.

Source: Xylitol Sugar Substitute Reduces Risk for Dental Cavities in Children

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Advanced Tooth Decay Detection Technology

We would all like to stop tooth decay before it affects the whiteness of our smile, and especially before it leads to painful cavities that may have to be drilled out. The problem is that dentists are only human and can only see with human eyes. Their eyes are trained, but by the time a dentist can see caries (tooth decay), so can anyone else, and by the time they can see the caries, the damage has already been done. Even worse, as surface dental health has improved through the fluoridation of water, caries has begun to appear below the surface where no one can see it until it is too late.

Until now, the only tool available to dentists to detect sub-surface caries was exploratory drilling. And who wants more drilling, especially in teeth that might be healthy?

But now a new solution is available. DIAGNOdent laser caries detection aid that can “see” safely through the enamel to detect caries that are too small or too deep for dentists using more traditional methods.

DAIAGNOdent is more effective than traditional detection methods

We have all suffered under the dentist’s pick. The grating metal against our enamel, the scraping, the (sometimes painful) probing. No one likes it, but we suffer through it because we assume that it allows the dentist to find all those caries that need to be treated to keep our teeth healthy, bright, and functional. What if you were told that a study showed dentists using the pick were only able to find caries 58% of the time? That means that if it were a test, dentists would get, at best, a D- in finding cavities.

What about x-rays? You remember biting down on that obnoxious plastic film while the dentist puts a led apron on you and then hides in the other room. With all that discomfort and radiation exposure, it must do a better job of finding caries. Yes, but not much. The same study showed that the x-ray bitewing only detected 67% of the caries: a C-.

But don’t you deserve A-level caries detection? Of course. And only one method allows that level of detection: DIAGNOdent. DIAGNOdent has proven 90% effective in finding dental fissures.

DIAGNOdent has none of the drawbacks of traditional methods

Not only is DIAGNOdent more effective than traditional detection methods, but think of all the unpleasantness associated with the dentist that you can do without:
NO scratching or probing with the pick
NO x-ray exposure or uncomfortable bitewing

And most of all:
NO exploratory drilling.

And even without all these painful nuisances, you’ll be getting unprecedented accuracy in the diagnosis of present and possible future caries.

Additional Benefits of DIAGNOdent

In addition to these appreciable benefits over traditional detection methods, DIAGNOdent allows numerous other, previously unanticipated benefits:

• Allows the use of minimally invasive treatments without unnecessary procedures by ensuring an accurate diagnosis of even hidden caries. Ideal for use with air abrasion and micro-rotary treatments.
• Allows dentists to track the development of caries over time to immediately identify problems to possibly isolate and remedy causes.
• Results are completely reproducible and documentable.
• Increased confidence and comfort mean you won’t dread returning to the dentist and can stop any problems before they get out of hand.

Source: Now Lasers Can Detect Invisible Tooth Decay

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Dental Implants in Just One Hour

Dental implants may be a better alternative for denture wearers. The problem is that implants take a very long time to complete and can be very expensive. Since most insurance plans do not cover the expense, most individuals in the past have turned to dentures and bridges to replace lost teeth.

Implants start at around $500 and can go up to $6,000 per tooth. Most implants will cost between $1,200 and $2,000. There are reasons why the cost could go up, so you will want to choose a dentist familiar with many restorative options.

Usually, anyone that can undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for an implant. Patients will need healthy gums and enough bone to hold the abutment that attaches to the crown. Patients with diabetes, heart disease or other chronic disorders need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

There are several types of dental implants and some procedures can take up to nine months with two surgeries. Recent advances have made the process much quicker.

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About Different Types of Teeth Fillings

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Main differences between metal, composite and porcelain fillings.

Fillings are materials placed in tooth cavities to stop additional damage and avoid having the tooth extracted. The decayed tissue is removed, along with bacteria and their toxic debris, and the filling material replaces it.

Metal Fillings:
Metal fillings are traditional and are made from a mix of about 50% mercury, with smaller proportions of silver, copper, tin and zinc. This mix of metals is packed tightly into the cavity and can last for a long time. Durability and strength are the main advantages.

One disadvantage is that they are highly visible, being dark gray and totally unlike tooth enamel. Many people consider them unsightly. Another disadvantage is that they weaken teeth in several ways:

• By exerting outward pressure on the tooth’s periphery, eventually causing fractures
• By expanding and contracting in response to hot and cold substances put into the mouth, and thus stressing the tooth tissue around them. This also contributes to eventual fractures

Composite Fillings:
Composite fillings are one of the offerings of modern cosmetic dentists. They are done with dental composite, also called dental bonding, white composite, and dental resin. This is a soft, pliable material that comes in a range of white shades. Your cosmetic dentist will choose a shade to match your natural teeth. It is placed directly into the cleaned-out cavity and then hardened with a curing light. This bonds it to the surrounding tooth structure, and makes it a part of the tooth.

Advantages of composite fillings:

• Aesthetically pleasing tooth-coloured appearance
• Done in one visit
• No sensitivity to hot and cold substances
• Strengthen the tooth by holding it together

Disadvantages of composite fillings:

• May not last as long as metal or porcelain fillings
• Susceptible to discolouration over time
• The tooth needs to be isolated from saliva when the bonding material is placed, but usually this is managed easily with wads of cotton or a rubber covering

Porcelain Fillings:
Porcelain fillings are another offering of cosmetic dentistry, and a very popular one. They are called indirect restorations because they are custom-made in a dental lab and then cemented to the tooth, rather than being applied directly to the tooth. They are called porcelain inlays and onlays. Porcelain inlays are smaller and sit within the cusps. Onlays extend over one or more cusps. Because they are made in a lab from impressions of your teeth, they fit precisely into the cavity.

Advantages of porcelain fillings are:

• Tooth-coloured ceramic material with a glossy surface like enamel
• Invisible as fillings, unlike metal fillings
• The strengthen the tooth, as they’re bonded to it, unlike metal fillings
• Stain resistant compared to composite fillings
• More durable and strong than composite fillings

There are no disadvantages of porcelain inlays and onlays except that they require two visits. They give you a strong tooth surface, they last as long as metal fillings and they look far nicer.

Source: What’s the Difference between Metal, Composite, and Porcelain Fillings?

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No Dental Fear For Anxious Patients & Nervous Patients: Sedation Dentistry

No Dental Fear For Anxious Patients & Nervous Patients: Sedation Dentistry

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Are you afraid of going to the dentist? If so, you are not alone. An estimated one-third of Americans do not go to the dentist because they are afraid of the potential pain and discomfort. This can lead to many problems because cavities, gum disease, and more go undetected and untreated. This can lead to root canals and tooth loss down the road once the pain becomes more than they can bear.

While many dentists claim to “cater to cowards,” even the nicest of dentists can still leave their patients nervous wrecks. Sedation dentistry is a completely different approach to treating patients and their teeth.

Sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and calming experience for the patient. This is achieved by using varying levels of treatment depending on the patient and the procedure. The most common form is nitrous oxide which is administered throughout the procedure through a nasal mask or hood. The patient still knows what is going on around him, but is much calmer and more relaxed. It also serves to numb the gums, which can make injections easier.

Another option is IV sedation, which delivers the medication intravenously for an immediate result. Unlike nitrous oxide, it induces more of a sleep-like consciousness. It is best used when patients are extremely anxious or scared.

For those who do not like needles, a third option is oral conscious sedation. One benefit of this treatment is that patients do not remember the experience, although they are able to move and respond to the dentist throughout.

Because of the serious nature of the medication, people who use any of these treatments during their dental procedure will need to be driven home. The medication does not wear off quickly enough for the patient to have recovered sufficiently to drive.

If you are afraid of the dentist, that is not reason to put off the treatment that you desperately need for proper dental health. Talk to your dentist about whether he or she performs sedation dentistry. If not, you should look into finding someone else in your area that does.

Source: Sedation Dentistry: Solving Dental Care Concerns For Anxious Patients

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