Red vs. White Wine and Staining of Teeth

Click here to read a recent article about drinks and their effect on the staining of teeth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34331725/ns/health-behavior/

Dr. Green

Digital X-Rays

We recently installed digital x-rays in our office. With this system we have the ability to take x-rays using a sensor as opposed to film. These x-rays are then instantly shown on a computer screen at many times larger than a typical film making it easier to find problems with your teeth while they are small and also easier to show you what we do find. As an added benefit these sensors require much less radiation than does film, thus, you will receive a much lower dose than the already low dose you received with film.

This system not only is good for you, but better for the environment. Going digital allows us to eliminate the use of chemicals from our film processing. This transition is the next step in our long-term goal of becoming a paperless office. With these new upgrades we are going to be able to continue to provide you with the best care, today and into the future.

FDA says Dental Amalgam is SAFE

A scientific review has found that "The amount of mercury measured in the bodies of people with dental amalgam fillings is well below levels associated with adverse health effects. Even in adults and children ages 6 and above who have fifteen or more amalgam surfaces, mercury exposure due to dental amalgam fillings has been found to be far below the lowest levels associated with harm. Clinical studies in adults and children ages 6 and above have also found no link between dental amalgam fillings and health problems."

To read more go to http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/default.htm

Open Letter to Retired GM Employees and Family

Dear GM Employee,

We have read with great concern the news about the changes in
benefits for you, as a retired GM employee.

As you well know, one of the best ways to continue to enjoy
your retirement is to take good care of yourself.  An
important part of taking care of yourself is to continue to
take care of your oral health.  Good dental health is
essential to your overall general health.  A regular dental
exam allows you to keep your mouth in first-class shape and
watch for any changes in your oral health that may signal
problems elsewhere in the body.  Signs such as oral cancer,
diabetes, and heart disease may be detected during an oral
exam.

So, a decision to maintain your oral health is also a
decision to support your general health.  I hope you will
agree that regular, preventive dental care is worth the small
investment.  Regular check-ups will allow us to take care of
any problems before they become more severe and more costly
to treat.

Please know that I am willing to work with you to make
arrangements so that you can continue to maintain good oral
health.  Our office is pleased to offer CareCredit, which is
a convenient payment plan.  We will be happy to discuss how
we can best help you meet your dental needs at the lowest
possible cost.  We are honored to have you as a patient in
our practice, and look forward to continuing to serve your
dental needs in the future.  If you have any questions about
your dental care, please feel free to call me any time.

Sincerely,

Andrew Z. Green, D.D.S.

Tooth Erosion and Decay Caused by Everyday Substances

These 4 Drinks Can Erode Your Teeth

They're sweet and tasty so soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices and teas are beverages we drink morning, noon and night. Uh oh! They all contain a high amount of acid--enough to seriously erode teeth.

HealthDay News reports that our teeth are wearing away at a faster rate than ever before, and the culprit is all that acid we're consuming. Dental erosion is the loss of the protective enamel on teeth and occurs when the enamel is worn away from acids in the mouth. When this happens, our teeth become sensitive, cracked and even discolored.
"Erosion is a chemical process of tooth destruction, not to be confused with abrasion, which is a mechanical process of tooth destruction," Dr. Melvin Pierson, a spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry and a dentist in private practice in Sicklerville, New Jersey, explained to HealthDay News.

And it's not just adults who are suffering. In one study published in 2008 in the Dental Tribune, dental erosion was found in nearly one-third of middle school students. Dentists are pointing an accusing finger at our favorite soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices and teas.
"When we're talking about erosion, it's clearly the acid content that's causing it. In soft drinks, especially in cola soft drinks, one of the main flavoring agents is phosphoric acid. That's the acid we use in dentistry to roughen tooth enamel before applying a bonding agent. We use it like sandpaper," Dr. Edmond R. Hewlett, consumer adviser for the American Dental Association and an associate professor of restorative dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, told HealthDay News.

It's not just the acid in those drinks; it's also the sugar. When you drink a sweetened beverage or eat sweetened food, bacterial plaque on your teeth absorbs the sugar and then excretes an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. "If you are eating sugary foods, the acidity of the plaque on your teeth increases precipitously," Hewlett told HealthDay News.

In addition to sugar and acid, the following contribute to dental erosion:

Savoring a drink by holding it in your mouth to enjoy the fizz and flavor
Aspirin
Acid reflux disease
Eating disorders associated with chronic vomiting

What can you do to protect and strengthen the enamel on your teeth?
Make sure you get enough fluoride. The best way to do that is by drinking tap water from public water sources instead of bottled water. Also, use a fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated mouth rinse.

After you drink soda or juice, don't brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes. When you brush immediately, it scrubs at the enamel that is already softened by the acid attack and actually removes a microscopic layer of enamel that could have been replenished by the minerals in your saliva.

Saliva protects your teeth by returning the pH balance in the mouth to normal and restoring minerals eaten away by food acids.--From the Editors at Netscape

Implant Dentistry

I am pleased announce that we are now providing full dental implant treatment IN our practice. With the tremendous success of dental implants, as seen in my patients, I have begun to provide the full treatment, beginning to end, for most implant cases. Using Zimmer brand dental implants, we now provide all services for a patient that would like to replace a missing tooth or stabilize a loose denture. If you would like more information on whether or not you are a candidate, please call our office to setup an evaluation.

Tongue Rings and Gum Disease

A new study published in the March Journal of Periodontology found that extended wear of tongue jewelry (barbell-type) could increase your chance of gum recession and tooth chipping.

Researchers from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and Ohio State University College of Dentistry examined and surveyed 52 young adults with pierced tongues. They found gum recession in 35 percent of subjects with pierced tongues for four or more years, and in 50 percent wearing long-stemmed barbells for two or more years.

"During tongue movement, long-stem barbells are more likely to reach and damage the gums than short barbells," said Dr. Dimitris Tatakis, professor of periodontology at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and coauthor of the study. "Over time, this damage may cause the gums to recede, which can lead to more serious dental/oral complications."

Additionally, 47 percent of young adults wearing either type of barbell for four or more years had chipped teeth. The prevalence of tooth chipping was significantly greater in those wearing short-stemmed barbells (1/4 inch - 5/8 inch) for four or more years.

Researchers believe tooth chipping is a result of habitual biting of the barbell. "A short barbell is possibly easier to position between teeth, which could be one reason why we are seeing more chipped teeth in this group," said Tatakis. "Another factor that was not investigated could be the size or material type of the screw caps attached to the barbell."

Dr. Timothy Roberts from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York presented study results on 4,500 adolescents aged 12 to 21 and found that teens with body piercings are more likely to smoke cigarettes, use drugs and exhibit other types of unhealthy behavior. Study findings were presented at the Society of Adolescent Medicine's annual meeting in Boston.

"Mouth piercings and smoking combined could cause a mouthful of trouble," said Dr. Kenneth Bueltmann, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "As a smoker, you are more likely than nonsmokers to have calculus on your teeth, deep pockets between your teeth and gums and loss of the bone and tissue that support your teeth. Combine these problems with gum recession from tongue piercing and you are on your way to having a serious infection called periodontal disease and not to mention a not so cool looking mouth."

"Given this new information, I strongly recommend discussing potential risk factors with your dentist before mouth piercing," said Bueltmann. "Additionally, anyone with a pierced mouth should receive a thorough oral examination of their gums and teeth to identify problem areas. Taking precautions now will increase your chance of keeping your teeth for a lifetime instead of needing dentures like many of your grandparents."

In addition to periodontal diseases (serious bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth) tongue piercing may cause other complications such as t ongue swelling, difficulties with chewing, swallowing and speech, increase of saliva flow, localized tissue overgrowth and metal hypersensitivity.

Article from the American Acadamey of Periodontology

Brush your teeth, it could save your life

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON - People with the germiest mouths are the most likely to have heart attacks, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

A study that compared heart attack victims to healthy volunteers found the heart patients had higher numbers of bacteria in their mouths, the researchers said. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence linking oral hygiene with overall health. Oelisoa Andriankaja and colleagues at the University at Buffalo in New York were trying to find if any particular species of bacteria might be causing heart attacks. Their tests on 386 men and women who had suffered heart attacks and 840 people free of heart trouble showed two types — Tannerella forsynthesis and Prevotella intermedia — were more common among the heart attack patients.

But more striking, the people who had the most bacteria of all types in their mouths were the most likely to have had heart attacks, they told a meeting of the International Association of Dental Research in Miami. "The message here is that even though some specific periodontal pathogens have been found to be associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, the total bacterial pathogenic burden is more important than the type of bacteria," Andriankaja, now at the University of Puerto Rico, said in a statement. "In other words, the total number of 'bugs' is more important than one single organism."

Doctors are not sure how bacteria may be linked with heart attacks but several studies have shown associations between gum disease and heart disease. Bacteria may set off general inflammation that in turn causes blood to clot.

Copyright 2009 Reuters.

February is Dental Health Month

This month is dental health month. To do out part in spreading the word about the connection of total body health and of common diseases, such as, heart and diabetes, to oral disease we are giving presentations to many area school 1st graders. These presentation, given by my oral health team, give children the knowledge and excitement to be active in brushing, flossing, rinsing, and caring about their oral health. The response of the children to our presentations has been VERY positive and we look forward to doing more presentations throughout the next few months in order to help out community become more educated as to the importance of oral health.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. But, if simple self-care techniques don't solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist to be sure a more serious condition isn't causing your bad breath.

At our practice we use a system called CloSYS as a treatment for bad breath. It consists of a toothpaste, mouthwash, oral spray, and, most importantly, a tongue scraper. Accumulation of bacteria on the tongue, between the small buds (papilla) on your tongue is usually the main cause of odor. Physically removing a majority of these bacteria with a tongue scraper can greatly increase the effectiveness of the rinse.

Please contact our office at (989)686-9600 to set up an appointment to discuss your problem and to purchase the necessary products to make your breath smell fresh.