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Dental Care

Straight Teeth Without Braces?

Many adults yearn for straight teeth but are reluctant to undergo orthodontic treatment because of the look and feel that traditional braces are far too well-known for. The Invisalign orthodontic system was introduced to dentists and orthodontists as a means for people to achieve straight teeth without the use of traditional braces. If you have written off orthodontics because you are not thrilled by the thought of wearing traditional braces, it might be time for you to learn about Invisalign.

Is Invisalign Right for Me? Question and Answer with a Dentist About Invisalign Hear From My Readers: Personal Stories From Readers that Have Completed Invisalign Treatment How to Care for Invisalign Retainers

Straight Teeth Without Braces? originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 at 11:10:45.

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It's that time of year, folks. Sinus colds, flu, sore throats, all terrible and completely unwanted. I woke up this morning with a sinus cold and besides the constant sneezing, my upper teeth also hurt.

When you have a sinus cold, are your teeth affected? Have you gone to see your dentist because you thought that you had a toothache only to find the pain and/ or tenderness was caused by your sinuses? below!

Do Your Teeth Hurt When You Have a Sinus Cold? originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 11:17:02.

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The British Dental Health Foundation released a rather shocking report this month that may cause many women to step up their oral hygiene routine. The report, released on February 11, 2011, states that women with gum disease and or missing teeth may be up to 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer.

Sweden's Karolinska Institute studied over three thousand patients, ending with 41 women developing cancer. The women with gum disease and tooth loss were found to be 11 times more likely to develop cancer. This study is said to be the first to examine the relationship between gum disease, tooth loss and cancer. More studies will be necessary in order to fully explain the link, if any, between gum disease, tooth loss, and cancer.

Gum disease is continually popping up in the news as a link or result of serious health concerns. Diabetes, preterm birth, and heart disease are only a few conditions related to this preventable disease.

Have you been to see your dentist lately?

Gum Disease and Missing Teeth Could Raise Women's Risk for Breast Cancer originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Monday, February 14th, 2011 at 20:28:56.

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Steven, a member of the Dentistry Forum, recently had full ceramic crowns completed on some of his front teeth, but he was confused by the instructions his dentist gave him after the procedure. Steven writes, "I just had a restoration with Procera zirconia on upper front teeth. The doctor said I should avoid biting with them." I did my best to answer his question, but I would like to hear your experiences after having a posterior or anterior crown placed. Are you able to enjoy foods the same way as you did before you had your crowns done? Are there certain foods that you now avoid because of your crowns? We all know that obvious food such as candy should be avoided when you have crowns, but are there other foods that you have no choice but to decline because of your crowns? Head over to Steven's post in the Dentistry Forum, and share your experiences with him.

From the Dentistry Forum: Lifespan of a Crown-Restored Tooth originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 11:59:32.

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I'm not sure about the rest of you, but where I live it's a whopping -17 degrees farenheit today! One of the first things that happens to me in the cold is shivering, followed by the chattering of my pearly whites. Have you ever wondered why your teeth chatter when you're cold? Have a look at this video to find out why!

Brrrrr... Are Your Teeth Chattering Today? originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 11:03:58.

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US Marshals, acting under a court order issued by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seized $208,910 worth of dental products manufactured by Rite-Dent on January 5th and January 6, 2011. The company, located in Florida, received a warning letter from the FDA back in 2005 citing numerous infractions in the manufacturing facility and was investigated as recently as November 2010. According to the press release issued by the FDA, seized products include Alginate Impression material, Ultra Impression Material, Enamel Bonding System, Pit and Fissure Chemical Curing Sealant, Tooth Shade Resin Material, Cavity Varnish, Polycarboxylate (PCA) Cement, and Zinc Phosphate Cement. The FDA also stated that the manufacturer neglected to obtain FDA marketing approval or clearance for a device called the Ultra Impression System.

What does this mean for you? If you are dentist, the FDA asks that you stop using any of the material listed above that is manufactured by Rite-Dent immediately. If you are a dental patient, your dentist uses products such as the one's listed above on a very regular basis. If you have concerns about the products your dentist uses, and more specifically whether or not the products used during your dental procedure are in fact manufactured by Ride-Dent, call your dental office and ask if they are aware of the recall. If you don't have the opportunity to call before an appointment, don't be afraid to ask your dentist before any work takes place in your mouth. FDA recalls and, in this case the seizure of products, happen for very good reason. It is in your best interest to stay informed.

Dentists Urged to Stop Using Product Manufactured by Rite-Dent originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 at 00:29:12.

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In what appears to be a giant step aimed to reduce the amount of fluoride added to public drinking water in the United States, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement January 7, 2011, proposing the level of fluoride added to public water to be set at 0.7 mg/L of water, which is considered to be the lowest concentration of fluoride necessary to prevent tooth decay. The current range sits between 0.7 mg/L and 1.2 milligrams, but most communities set their level of fluoride at 1.0 mg/L. Water fluoridation has been around since 1945 in the United States. The current guidelines for water fluoridation have been in place since 1962... That would be 49 years, to be exact. Here is an excerpt from the press release as to why the levels are changing: "HHS and EPA reached an understanding of the latest science on fluoride and its effect on tooth decay prevention and the development of dental fluorosis that may occur with excess fluoride consumption during the tooth forming years, age 8 and younger. Dental fluorosis in the United States appears mostly in the very mild or mild form - as barely visible lacy white markings or spots on the enamel. The severe form of dental fluorosis, with staining and pitting of the tooth surface, is rare in the United States.

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.

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. This updated recommendation is based on recent EPA and HHS scientific assessments to balance the benefits of preventing tooth decay while limiting any unwanted health effects. These scientific assessments will also guide EPA in making a determination of whether to lower the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water, which is set to prevent adverse health effects.

The new EPA assessments of fluoride were undertaken in response to findings of the National Academies of Science (NAS). At EPA's request, in 2006 NAS reviewed new data on fluoride and issued a report recommending that EPA update its health and exposure assessments to take into account bone and dental effects and to consider all sources of fluoride. In addition to EPA's new assessments and the NAS report, HHS also considered current levels of tooth decay and dental fluorosis and fluid consumption across the United States."

The idea of water fluoridation being "One of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century" sounds wonderful, but is it really?

Do you think fluoride should be added to public drinking water?

Fluoride Level in Fluoridated Public Water Set to Reduce originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Monday, January 10th, 2011 at 12:14:17.

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You are bound to run into a plethora of "Top Ten of 2010" lists, but I can assure you, these top dental stories of 2010 are worth the read.

10. Brooke Mueller Rushed to the ICU After Her Oral Infection Spreads
Aside from being in the headlines for her well publicized divorce from Charlie Sheen, Brook Mueller's hospitalization after her wisdom teeth extractions made my blog headline on January 27, 2010... Read More

9. Oral Bacteria Linked to Stillbirth
When the press release for this story hit my in-box, I rushed to get the information out to expectant mothers and women considering having a child. There has been a lot of discussion about how a woman's oral health affects her pregnancy, but this story in particular really hit home for many readers... Read more

8. Consumer Advisory Issued Regarding the Safety Of Super Poligrip 'Original', 'Ultra Fresh' and 'Extra Care'
Denture wearers were shocked to learn that a popular brand of denture adhesive may contribute to the development of anemia, neuropathy, and other neurological symptoms that may cause numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms and legs and difficulties with walking and balance... Read more

7. FDA Recalls Teething Product
A popular teething product was recalled by the FDA in 2010 after it was found to cause cause a fast heart rate, increased body temperature, dry skin and dry mouth, skin flushing, constipation, decreased urination, agitation, disorientation, hallucinations, and dilated pupils; not exactly what parents are looking for in a product meant to ease the pain and discomfort associated with teething... Read more

6. Warning to Parents: Do Not Use Fluoridated Water When Mixing Infant Formula
Parents that choose to use formula to feed their infants were strongly advised to stop using fluoridated water when mixing their infant formula... Read more

5. Should You Be Concerned About BPA in Your Dental Fillings?
After throwing away all our plastic containers and switching to stainless steel and BPA free products, consumers were shocked to learn that certain dental materials may or do contain BPA... Read more
Related: BPA in Dental Material: A Growing Concern?

4. One in Four Children in California Have Never Visited the Dentist
I couldn't believe that 25% of the children in California have never visited the dentist especially due to the fact that California is one of the few States that required children to have a dental examination before entering kindergarten... Read more

3. Jessica Simpson's Toothbrush of Choice? Her Sweater...
Oh Jessica Simpson, there is never a dull moment when you are in the media. Learning that Jessica Simpson prefers to scrape the plaque off her teeth with her sweater, rather than a good old toothbrush was rather disgusting... Read more
Related:
Dear Jessica Simpson: Please Brush Your Teeth...
Jessica Simpson's Dentist Is "Shocked"

2. FDA Recall - Propoxyphene (Darvon and Darvocet) Taken Off the Market
I couldn't make this post number one, because it isn't entirely related to dentistry, but with 86 comments and counting, the FDA's decision to pull propoxyphene off the market has obviously caused quite a stir with those that were taking the medication. Often used for chronic pain management, drugs that contain propoxyphene were also prescribed after dental surgery... Read more

1. FDA Panel Reviewing the Safety of Amalgam Fillings
I was kinda confused when I learned that the FDA was going to meet in December to reevaluate the safety of dentistry's most controversial filling material, especially because they had made a final ruling in the same year... Read more

I hope every one of you has a safe new year's eve, and I wish you all a prosperous 2011. I am very excited to see where dentistry takes us, as we enter a new decade.

About.com's Top 10 Dental Stories of 2010 originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Friday, December 31st, 2010 at 13:59:44.

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An advisory panel consisting of experts in the fields of toxicology, risk assessment, epidemiology, and pediatric medical and dental specialties began a two day meeting in Washington, D.C. on December 14, 2010, to determine whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should reclassify dental amalgam, based on risk assessment and clinical data that demonstrated dental amalgam as a dangerous filling material; carrying a class III medical device classification. A class III medical device is classified as such, because there is insufficient information available regarding the effectiveness and safety of the device solely through the general or special controls sufficient for Class I or Class II devices. Simply put, class III medical devices pose the greatest risk to patients.

Why the sudden change in the heart FDA? Back in July, 2009 the FDA issued their final ruling on amalgam safety; granting amalgam class II medical device status. But on the contrary, it seems the FDA could quite possibly be changing their mind about amalgam. The meeting to reevaluate dental amalgam safety was, in part, done so because the agency had received several petitions raising various issues relating to the final rule and special controls. According to a press release dated June 2009 announcing the meeting, the FDA notes "The concerns raised include the adequacy of the risk assessment method used by the FDA in classifying dental amalgam, the bioaccumulative effect of mercury, the exposure of pediatric populations to mercury vapor, and the adequacy of the clinical studies on dental amalgam. In addition, a recent report on risk assessments issued by the National Academy of Sciences, titled "Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment, NAP 2009," proposes new approaches to conducting risk assessments. These may be some of the issues the agency asks the advisory committee to review."

I've said it once, and now I will say it again: Will we ever know the truth about amalgam?

FDA Panel Reviewing the Safety of Amalgam Fillings originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Sunday, December 19th, 2010 at 23:59:16.

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Shocking. One word that sums up the latest study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. According to their research, chronic periodontal disease indicated, strangely, by missing molars, appears to be associated statistically with breast cancer.

The study involved 3273 randomly selected subjects aged 30-40 years. Of those selected, 1676 (group A) received an oral examination. Group B, consisting of the remaining 1597 did not receive an examination. 26 subjects in group A and 15 subjects in group B had breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer was 1.75% in subjects who had periodontal disease and/or any missing molars, and 0 in subjects who had periodontal disease but had no missing molars. For periodontally healthy subjects with no missing teeth the breast cancer incidence was 1%. For group B the respective incidence was 0.94%. Female gender (odds ratio (OR) 13.08) and missing any molar in the mandible (OR 2.36) were explanatory variables for breast cancer. Of the subjects with periodontal disease and any missing molars in the mandible 5.5% had breast cancer in comparison to 0.5% of the subjects who had periodontal disease but no missing molars in the mandible (P

Periodontal disease begins innocently enough as gingivitis, but unfortunately, the disease progresses very quickly if it's not treated properly, and promptly. Once periodontal disease becomes irreversible, your risk for losing teeth increases substantially. Taking the above information into consideration, missing teeth, especially molars, appears to be the somewhat strange connection between periodontal disease and breast cancer.

I really strongly advise everyone to take any signs of "pink in the sink" very seriously. The first sign of gum disease is red, bleeding gums. Believe it or not, bleeding gums is not a normal occurrence when you are brushing your teeth. If you are consistently finding your gums bleed while you are brushing your teeth, speak with your dentist about how to halt the progression of gum disease; before it's too late.

Breast Cancer May Be Linked to Periodontal Disease -- with a Strange Twist originally appeared on About.com Dental Care on Sunday, December 5th, 2010 at 22:14:11.

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