Dental X-Rays May Project Bone Fractures

X-rays are not a bone density scan, but they are a useful tool for diagnosing a number of things such as tooth decay, bone loss from periodontal disease, and tooth pathology/infection in the form of an abscess. It would not be possible to predict bone fractures with dental x-rays but studies indicate we may be able to identify those at risk.

Dr. Bob

Article Written by Dentistry Today Friday, 09 December 2011 13:14

Dentistry may aid in predicting who’s at risk of fractures.

By using dental x-rays, it’s now possible to tell who may be more susceptible to fractures, according to the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology. The information was developed by researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden.

After earlier research by this group, it was determined that there’s a correlation between sparse bone structure in the trabecular bone in the lower jaw and a higher likelihood of having had some bone fracture at some point in the past.

The researchers wanted to find out even more information, however. That’s why they wanted to use this information as a method to make educated guess as to who will suffer fractures in the future. These results appeared in the journal Bone, as well the Wall Street Journal.

The study includes information from the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, which began in 1968. This study included 731 women who have been analyzed many times since 1968. Their jawbones were closely studied in 1968, 1980 and any time the suffered a fracture. There were 222 total fractures reported.

The bone structure in the jaw would be considered sparse in roughly 20 percent of the women. These women were in the age group of women from age 38 to 54. The older the person was, the sparser the bone structure was in the jaw and the more vulnerable the person was to fractures.

This information also applies to men even though they weren’t analyzed in the same way as women for this study.

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Happy Thanksgiving

We want to wish all of our patients a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend! We are thankful that you are part of our "dental family" and hope you have a great holiday.

Dr. Bob and Staff

Great American Smokeout is Nov. 17 - American Dental Association - ADA.org

Great American Smokeout is Nov. 17 - American Dental Association - ADA.org

Kids- Enjoy your Halloween candy and still protect your teeth

Your children can enjoy some treats for Halloween and still avoid sugar-related decay. A good rule of thumb regarding Halloween candy comsumption would be:

• Limit the amount you let your kids eat, or "take inventory" of their Halloween candy.
• Limit the frequency you allow your children to comsume sweets. Exposure time to the teeth, not necessarily amount, is more important.
• Brush as soon as possible after snacking

Of course sugar free snacks are less likely to cause cavities. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Dr. Bob

Enter our Duck Drawing!

Enter our raffle for a basket of Oregon Duck goodies including tickets to the game on October 29, Ducks vs. Washington State Cougars. The drawing will be on Thursday, October 27.

Who is eligible to enter:

• Patients with scheduled appointments
• Facebook Friends
• Anyone who takes a referral card for friends or family

GO DUCKS!

Smokeless Tobacco Dangers

Contrary to what people think, smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents also known as carcinogens. It is known to increase the likelyhood of oral cancer. In addition, use of smokeless tobacco is associated with tooth decay, gum disease, gum recession, and tooth discoloration. I would encourage those who use it to quit as soon as possible.

Dr. Bob


Article courtesy of the ADA, August 15, 2011

Red Sox star works with MDS to publicize smokeless tobacco dangers

Southborough, Mass.—The Massachusetts Dental Society has teamed up with the NESN-TV network and Boston Red Sox All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for a new TV campaign on the dangers of smokeless tobacco.
The six-week campaign, which launched July 25, features Mr. Gonzalez in a 30-second commercial highlighting the message that “smokeless tobacco is not harmless tobacco.”
The spot will air during Red Sox games and Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows through Labor Day weekend.
“The MDS is thrilled to be able to partner with NESN on such an important campaign,” says MDS President Dr. Charles Silvius. “And we are especially grateful to Adrian Gonzalez for his participation and support in helping us to educate the public on the dangers of smokeless tobacco.”
Mr. Gonzalez’s photo will be featured on an MDS poster highlighting the issue of smokeless tobacco. This poster will be mailed to all high schools in Massachusetts along with a letter encouraging them to display it in an area most visible to students.

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Missing Teeth

Replacing a missing tooth is important for speaking, chewing, and maintaining proper alignment. Other teeth can eventually drift into the space surrounding the area that is left from the missing tooth.

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, I find that my patients are most satisfied with dental implants. I believe the reason for this is that implants function most like your own natural teeth. They are stable, non-removable, esthetic and functional. There are however, cases that would be best suited for the other alternatives (bridges, removable partial dentures, etc.). Therefore, it is best to treat each person individually to determine which option is best for their situation.

Dr. Bob

Information courtesy of sharecare.com

By age 44, most adults have lost at least one permanent tooth. The medical term for missing teeth is endentulism. In the past decade or so, dental implants have become available as an alternative to a bridge or denture to replace the lost tooth. A bridge is a fixed replacement done by a dentist that anchors an artificial tooth to adjacent healthy teeth. A denture is a removable device that sits on the gum and clips to teeth. Bridges can sometimes cause problems with the healthy teeth, and dentures may come loose or make unwanted noises. An implant, the new procedure involves surgically setting an anchor into the jawbone; the replacement tooth is attached to it. Several anchors may be used to attach multiple teeth

 

Sealants

Sealants are an excellent preventative treatment against decay in the deep grooves of teeth. They are quick, simple and effective against tooth decay. Additionally, they are very cost effective; one filling costs about the same as four sealants. The patient doesn't need to be "numbed" to have them placed, so it is a comfortable and easy procedure for your child. Summer is a great time to have dental sealants taken care of before the school year starts.

Dr. Bob

Information courtesy of the American Dental Association website, www.ada.org

Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. The sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often.

How does a sealant help prevent decay?

A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth—premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Is sealant application a complicated procedure?

Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. The teeth that will be sealed are cleaned. Then the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then 'painted' onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary.

Sealants are just for kids, right?

The likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers are obvious candidates. But adults can benefit from sealants as well.

Key ingredients in preventing tooth decay and maintaining a healthy mouth are twice-daily brushing with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste; cleaning between the teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners; eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks; and visiting your dentist regularly. Ask your dentist about whether sealants can put extra power behind your prevention program.

Healthy Mouth and Healthy Body

Recent studies suggest that there is a link between the bacteria and inflammation from periodontal disease and some systemic diseases. Most infections, however small, have an effect on our entire body. Our immune system reacts to fight these infections and these responses are not localized to one place on or in our body. Periodontal (gum) disease is no exception. Some might think gum disease is localized only to the mouth, but as research is finding it often affects our entire body and the organs within. Keeping your mouth healthy is one piece of our overall health that is often overlooked. This is why it is very important to complete any recommended treatment for gum disease and to make sure you come in for regular cleanings.

Dr. Bob

Gum Disease Causes Other Health Problems

Written by Dentistry Today Wednesday, 13 July 2011 14:32

Gum disease could lead to several other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, complications during pregnancy, erectile dysfunction and reduced fertility.

In Germany, a research team discovered that patients with rheumatoid arthritis were eight times more likely to have gum disease. Researchers in Australia found a relationship between poor oral health and reduced fertility. Poor oral health during pregnancy could lead to higher rates of miscarriages or premature birth, according to the University of Pennsylvania.

Gum disease produces swollen gums, bleeding, and other problems. If the problem is specifically gingivitis, it can be treated without any issues but it can become a major problem if left untreated.

Gum disease may impact anybody, but research shows that older people and pregnant women are most at risk.

Following a basic routine of maintaining good oral health can prevent gum disease. This information sheds more light on how poor oral health can lead to many other health problems.

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ADA News on kids and energy drinks

Many people are not aware of the potentially harmful effects of energy drinks for children. Keeping well hydrated, especially during these summer months, is important. The best choice is always water, but if you insist on energy drinks try to select the ones with lower sugar and caffeine content. Please read the recent article from the American Dental Association regarding their research on this important topic.


Dr. Bob

American Dental Association

ADA News

June 20, 2011

AAP: Kids should not consume energy drinks

Water should be the source of hydration for children and adolescents

By Karen Fox, ADA News staff

Dr. Brett Dorney

Dentists routinely caution patients about the over-consumption of soda pop, juice and sports drinks that pack little if any nutritional value and take a toll on teeth.
Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is taking aim at energy and sports drinks, saying that in most cases, kids don’t need them and some products contain substances that can be harmful to children.
In the June issue of Pediatrics, the report’s co-authors point out the differences between sports drinks and energy drinks.
Sports drinks—which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring—are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary on the sports field or in the school lunchroom.
“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” said Holly J. Benjamin, M.D., co-author. “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay. It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”
Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine.
Caffeine—by far the most popular stimulant—has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Benjamin and co-author Marcie Beth Schneider, M.D. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.
“In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.”
Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted, AAP recommends, because they can increase the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as dental erosion. Water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.
“There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks, and adolescents are often unaware of the differences in these products,” said Dr. Schneider. “Some kids are drinking energy drinks—containing large amounts of caffeine—when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.”
Frequent drinking of soft drinks may be linked to obesity, diabetes and dental erosion, said Dr. Brett Dorney, a dentist and past president of the Academy of Sports Dentistry. The consumption of these drinks has increased 300 percent in the last 20 years, and serving sizes have ballooned from 185 grams in the 1950s to 500 grams in the 1990s.
“Sports drinks have erosive potential,” Dr. Dorney said, adding that the degree of damage will be influenced by the pattern of consumption, salivary flow rates, saliva buffering capacity, pellicle formation and the tooth surface’s chemical composition.
“Athletes will most often consume sports drinks after exercise when the volume and protective effects of saliva will be reduced,” said Dr. Dorney. “The erosive acids in sports drinks have the ability to dissolve even fluoride-rich enamel, which normally inhibits dissolution by the weaker acids, causing caries.”
Dr. Dorney encourages his colleagues in dentistry to caution patients—and parents of young patients—about the negative properties of sports drinks.
“To minimize dental problems, advise parents and athletes to hydrate with water before, during and after sports,” he said.
If sports drinks are consumed:

• reduce the frequency and contact time;
• swallow immediately and do not swish them around the mouth;
• rinse mouthguards only in water;
• seek out dentally friendly sports drinks;
• discuss training and hydration protocol with a dentist.