Trends in Tooth Decay: Fluoride and can Red Wine Help?

During the second half of the 20th century, there was a steep decline in tooth decay among kids in the United States. Water fluoridation advocates have long claimed that this reduction in tooth decay was primarily the result of adding fluoride to water. It all started in the 1940’s with the belief that fluoride’s primary benefit came during the tooth-forming years. Today it is now acknowledged by the dental research community that fluoride’s primary benefit comes from contact with teeth instead of ingesting it. It is also now common knowledge that fluoride is ineffective at preventing tooth decay in pits and fissures which is where the majority of tooth decay happens.

 

As many a cosmetic dentist knows, tooth decay is basically still epidemic in poor and minority populations, but this is also the same groups that suffer a disproportionately high amount of almost all diseases including obesity and diabetes, much of which is linked to eating too much sugar. These are the folks that require an oral surgeon most often, not to mention dental crowns, teeth bleaching and dental veneers. Their diets also lack several key nutrients and are high in fat and sugar.

 

When the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) nominated water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century, it showed the reduction of cavities in children in the U.S. coupled with the increase in water systems that have been fluoridated since the 1960′s.

 

There’s another interesting report that was published last year regarding red wine, which has long been known to contain a substance, resveratrol, a heart-healthy substance. Now it appears both red wine grapes and winemaking residue, known as pomace, contain substances that may help prevent tooth decay. People may require more procedures for whitening teeth, but their teeth will be healthier!  In a study published online in November of 2007 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry we learn that it is specific polyphenols, or chemicals present in large amounts in fermented seeds and skins that are cast away after grapes are pressed —- interfere with the ability of bacteria to contribute to tooth decay. (Source: Cornell and the University of Rochester Medical Center.)

 

The study may also hold clues for new ways to reduce life-threatening, systemic infections caused by bacteria. It is Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that produces the substances most responsible for tooth decay.

 

In the future, the hope now is to isolate the key compounds within pomace that render bacteria harmless, perhaps by developing a new kind of mouthwash.

 

Until then, many a Los Angeles dentist, including myself, are recommending less sugar, better toothbrushes, and teaching parents how to help their children brush better.

Trends in Tooth Decay: Fluoride and can Red Wine Help? « Dr. Afar, Los Angeles Periodontist

Trends in Tooth Decay: Fluoride and can Red Wine Help? « Dr. Afar, Los Angeles Periodontist

The Advantages of Dental Implants

There are many advantages of doing dental, or oral implants, especially for people who are in mid-life with periodontal disease, and they are a great alternative to old fashioned dentures. Patients no longer have to put up with discolored, broken teeth, or worse, spaces from teeth that have fallen out. When both the tooth and the root are beyond repair, an implant replaces the tooth root with a small titanium peg or screw. Dental implants are basically substitutes for natural tooth roots and they rely on the bone for support.

An oral implant is a permanent replacement for a complete tooth, and it feels and functions virtually just like a natural tooth. There are no compromises about what you can eat. You can also choose the color of your new implants to match your other teeth for a beautiful smile.

There are several categories of oral implants – from endosseous to sub periosteal – as well as a number of types of implants, including internal or external hex, all of which are effective for patients, and in fact there is not really much evidence that any particular implant, surface treatment or prosthetic attachment, offers an advantage for the patient.

Lately you have probably heard about something called, “Teeth in an Hour” where you can actually get brand new dental implants immediately, rather than waiting the typical three to six months.

On the other hand, Teeth in an Hour is a method using three dimensional radiographic scans for an accurate representation of your jaw. This is then made into a mechanical template allowing the placement of implants with extreme precision. It actually enables us to make up the final restoration teeth on the model, and then transfer it exactly to your jaw.

Using the template in the patient’s mouth, the implants are precisely placed and then the new teeth are attached. Basically, you can leave within and hour or two with a complete new set of teeth.

Most people can get their new teeth right away rather than waiting, plus they will also benefit from faster healing. The implant surgery and placement is very precise. However, one drawback is that this type of oral implant treatment is much more expensive than the old fashioned way of placing implants and waiting until they are ready for the new teeth.

Patients who are healthy enough to have a tooth pulled are good candidates for implants. Our office is equipped with a computerized tomography (CT) program which is known as “SIMPLANT.” It is a program that analyzes the three dimensional images of a CT scan for dental implant patients. The analysis allows us to measure bone density, height, and width and select the most suitable dental implants.

The end result is as comfortable as natural teeth, efficient and great looking! At our Wilshire Dental Clinic offices, we do both oral implants and Teeth in an Hour, so don’t hesitate to call us for an appointment at 323.938.6137.

Consumers Enjoy Perfect Smiles via Thin Veneers

Twenty years ago, people had few choices if their teeth looked bad. They just had to live with it. Don’t forget, George Washington had false teeth rumored to be made of wood. Times are changing …as modern technology and new cosmetic dentistry techniques are transforming dentistry these days. We have gone from the concept of “no pain no gain” dentistry to a new saying — “the smile you’ve always wanted without the pain you’ve never wanted.” Now there are millions of enhanced smiles throughout the world.

The first porcelain laminates, also known as veneers, were invented by the Den-Mat Corporation. They are very thin, like a contact lens. People basically know of them today as Lumineers by Cerinate® because of successful branding. The company claims it is the most significant advancement in 9,000 years of dentistry. OK that may be a stretch.

The procedure does not require grinding down sensitive tooth structure which is common when patients get traditional crowns. And this procedure can even revitalize crowns, and bridges. It is also not necessary to give a patient anesthetic shots during this procedure. So you can close spaces, lengthen shorter teeth, provide better color to stained tooth enamel, or re-shape awkward looking or crooked teeth, in addition to chipped teeth. The veneers are like getting teeth in an hour and are clinically proven to last for 20 years.

Although there are many different techniques and procedures behind cosmetic dentistry for replacing, repairing or reshaping our teeth, such as dental implants or crowns, or Invisalign braces whether you can benefit from veneers depends on several things including how healthy your teeth are in the first place. In case you didn’t know, your teeth are made from enamel that is the hardest substance in your body. But even with that said, we still need to be careful not to chip them by doing stupid things like cracking nuts or opening a bottle cap with our teeth. Teeth cannot repair themselves.

But if you have accidentally, for example, fallen while doing sports and you now have a cracked tooth, here’s how the procedure works. Veneers instantly attach to the front of the existing tooth to improve the shape and color. They are permanently bonded to your teeth in place so they need minimal preparation. And don’t worry, there is an extensive range of shapes and colors that will be hand selected to match and enhance your existing teeth. The result looks real.

In fact, the results for this procedure are exceptional for makeovers on worn, misshapen teeth, which are transformed so people can smile with confidence. Many of our patients thank us for helping to change their lives.

Our Los Angeles dentist and Wilshire Dental Care office charges $1,000 per veneer, plus we can provide financing plans for patients who can’t afford to pay for Lumineers in cash, or for those who do not have dental insurance. Just go to our website at www.wilshiredentalcare.com

 

Smoking and Periodontal Disease

Did you know that is you smoke you will probably get periodontal gum disease? People who use tobacco products often have bad breath, oral cancer, stained teeth, tooth loss, loss of taste, bone loss, gum recession, mouth soars and facial wrinkling. Research also states that people who use tobacco are less successful when they get periodontal treatments.

In my practice as a Los Angeles dentist and oral surgeon I have also seen many people who have lost their teeth because of years of smoking and neglect. Plus there are other medical problems associated with smoking including lung disease, cancer, heart disease and low-birth-weight infants.

If you are still a smoker and are worried about the effects that tobacco can have on your health, gums, and teeth in particular, maybe I can help to convince you to quit smoking by the end of thisblog post!The American Academy of Periodontology released recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the progression of periodontal disease. And if I do perform oral implant surgery on a patient who smokes, often the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process, so it makes it more difficult for me to predict the results of the treatment.

I specialize in periodontal gum disease and oral implants and know that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have what is called “calculus” or plaque . You know – it’s that hard stuff that yellows the teeth next to your gums. When calculus is not removed it often remains below your gum line, and that’s when bacteria in the calculus can destroy your gum tissue. The worse scenario is that it can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, and it also creates pockets where more bacteria can hide and collect.

Most smokers are apt to get deep pockets between their teeth and gums, which leads to loss of the supporting bone and tissue. Periodontal disease gets worse when the pockets between the teeth and gums grow deeper, resulting in your gums shrinking away from your teeth. If this condition is not treated by a periodontist, your teeth may become loose and fall out, not to mention hurt.

It is a known fact that smokers lose more teeth than nonsmokers, and in fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that only about 41.3 percent of daily smokers over age 65 are toothless, while only about 20 percent of people over age 65 who have never smoked have lost their teeth.

As I said before, smokers don’t heal as well after periodontal treatments, even though this IS reversible if the smokers quit smoking before beginning the dental work.

This includes all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco or nicotine gum products.

Are you ready to quit yet? If so, do it right. Don’t use these cigarette replacement products because they may also cause periodontal disease down the road. But whatever you do, your overall health will benefit if you quit smoking.

Los Angeles Dentist Gives Ten Dental Hygiene Tips

We all remember our parents hounding us to brush our teeth twice a day or more when we were kids, right? So why IS it so important to brush our teeth and go to the dentist? Because for one thing, our teeth allow us to have proper speech, and second, to eat and chew a variety of foods. Third it’s a plus to have a nice smile!  Yet why then are so many people reluctant to brush their teeth?  

It is estimated that about 90 percent of adults will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives, and it does not discriminate by age. Gum disease is caused in part by plaque, which is a film that builds up along the upper and lower gum lines. This is where food and germs get trapped, often causing bleeding and tenderness. If plaque is left on the gums for a long time, tartar, a much harder substance, will form underneath the gum line, and cause tooth decay. This is the first stage of gum disease, and it is known as gingivitis – when the plaque builds up enough to cause gums to bleed.

A second and even more serious stage of gum disease is called periodontitis – something that occurs if gingivitis is left untreated, and it is when pockets that collect food become infected. Your teeth may begin to loosen, and you could lose them. Preventing gum disease is as easy as following a daily home dental hygiene program. And you should also make sure to visit your dentist regularly. If you think maybe you have gum disease, call a dentist right away.  

Good dental hygiene habits need to begin when your first set of teeth come in as a child. Following are the top ten dental care tips: 

1. Choose the right toothbrush – with bristles that are soft and have a round end.
2. Floss and brush your teeth two times a day.
3. A  toothbrush should be placed at a 45 degrees angle to the gums; brush in small circles.
4. Back and forth brushing should be done on all the teeth – inside and outside.
5. Back teeth and chewing areas are key; brush all gum areas and the tongue too.
6. At least three minutes on brushing your teeth every time is important.
7. To protect against germs, put your toothbrush in the dishwasher often.
8. Replace your toothbrush every four months or less.
9. Visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning and an exam.
10. Use a floss strand 18 inches long, placing it in between your teeth and gently use a sawing motion until you reach the gum line. Scrape the side of each tooth in an up-and-down motion. This is repeated around each and every tooth.

In my practice, at Wilshire Dental Care we see many patients who could have avoided the costs associated with not taking care of their teeth. But if you brush your teeth on a daily basis, and visit a Los Angeles dentist often, you should have a nice smile for many years.