My Blog
Posts for: September, 2016

With all the new tooth-colored fillings for cavities, it's easy to overlook metal amalgam. While this mainstay of dental care for over a century might not be as attractive as composite resins or glass and resin ionomers, it still has the advantage of strength and durability.
Amalgam is a stable metal alloy usually made up of silver, tin, copper and mercury. The metals are proportioned and mixed precisely to guard against “free” mercury molecules, which could pose a health hazard. The mixture is pliable at first, but then sets hard once molded into the prepared area of the tooth.
Besides strength, amalgam's other advantages include low cost, high resistance to wear and biocompatibility (not toxic to the body or allergy-producing). At the same time, it can require more tooth structure removal to accommodate a filling and cause higher sensitivity to temperature for a while after installation. Its main disadvantage, however, is appearance — it's now considered unacceptable from an aesthetic point of view to use it in visible areas like the front teeth.
Because of this, materials resembling natural tooth color are coming into vogue, especially as their strength improves. Still, dental amalgam continues to play a useful role, especially in less visible back teeth with higher chewing forces.
One past concern about dental amalgam is the inclusion of mercury in the alloy. As mentioned before, mercury is hazardous in a “free” form when not knit microscopically with other metals; as such it can emit a vapor that could enter the bloodstream and damage the nervous system. But after several studies by various organizations, the American Dental Association has concluded amalgam's precise mixture prevents the mercury from taking this form: although some vapor is given off during chewing it's far too low in concentration to pose any danger.
Dental amalgam continues to be an effective choice for fillings. Whether it's the right choice for you will depend on the type and location of a tooth to be filled, and whether durability is a higher concern than appearance. If we do recommend an amalgam filling, you can be assured it's a safe and lasting choice.
If you would like more information on your choices for dental fillings, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Silver Fillings — Safe or Unsafe?”

Children’s ailments come and go, and thankfully most are relatively minor. Some children, however, have impaired health caused by a more serious, chronic disease. For them, the condition impacts not only their overall well-being, but also their dental health.
This often occurs because the specific healthcare needs of children with these chronic conditions are given greater priority over dental health. Besides the treatment focus, children with special healthcare needs may have physical, mental or behavioral limitations that can make it difficult to keep up with oral hygiene and care.
Children with autism or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a difficult time practicing (or cooperating with) oral hygiene tasks. Some may not have the physical ability to perform effective brushing and flossing without assistance. In these cases, it’s important for parents or caregivers to seek out instruction and training that will optimize their children’s hygiene and so reduce the chance of dental disease.
Certain medications for chronic conditions can increase mouth dryness, or they’re acidic or sweetened with sugar, any of which can increase the child’s risk for tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease. Parents or caregivers should consult with their physicians about these medications or if they could be administered at mealtime to minimize their effect on the mouth.
Finally, there’s the direct effect some conditions may have on a child’s teeth and gums. Children with severe gag reflexes due to their condition may not be able to tolerate toothpaste or be able to spit it out completely. Other conditions can give rise to dental defects such as enamel hypoplasia in which not enough enamel develops to adequately protect the teeth. Such defects call for special dental attention and closer monitoring of teeth and gum health.
The key is to see us and the other healthcare providers for your child’s chronic condition as part of an overall team. Sharing information and regarding both dental and general care as part of a comprehensive strategy will help to prevent dental problems from developing and improve their health.
If you would like more information on dental care for children with chronic conditions, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Managing Tooth Decay in Children with Chronic Diseases.”

We all have habits: things we do every day often without consciously thinking. Some of them are good; some not so much. And many of them took root in childhood.
That's why it's important to help your children form good habits in their formative years, especially regarding oral health. Here are 4 areas to focus on developing good dental habits — and avoiding bad ones.
Keep teeth and gums clean. The best defense against dental disease is stopping plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles, from building up on tooth surfaces. That means brushing and flossing each day, along with regular dental cleanings and checkups. You should begin cleaning your child's teeth as soon as they appear in the mouth with a clean towel or rag at first and later brushing them. Eventually, teach your children to brush and floss for themselves. Dental visits should also begin around their first birthday.
A nutritious diet equals healthy teeth. The saying, “You are what you eat,” is especially true about teeth. Help your child form a nutritious diet habit by providing meals rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, quality protein and dairy products. You should also restrict their sugar intake, a primary food for bacteria that cause tooth decay; try to limit sweets to mealtimes and avoid constant snacking.
Avoid habits with hidden dangers. Actually, this one is about you — and what you might be doing to increase your child's risk for dental disease. Avoid actions that increase the chances of transmitting oral bacteria from you to your infant, like kissing on the lips or licking a pacifier to clean it. You should also avoid giving your child night-time bottles or sippy cups filled with milk, formula or any sweetened liquid — likewise for pacifiers dipped in something sweet.
Steer them away from future bad habits. As children become teenagers, they're eager to stretch their wings. While this is normal and good, they can get into habits with dire consequences for oral health. You should by all means steer them away from tobacco use or oral piercings (tongue and lip bolts especially can wreak havoc on tooth structure) that can harm their teeth and gums.
If you would like more information on dental care for children, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Dentistry & Oral Health for Children.”

Are bleeding gums something you should be concerned about? Dear Doctor magazine recently posed that question to Dr. Travis Stork, an emergency room physician and host of the syndicated TV show The Doctors. He answered with two questions of his own: “If you started bleeding from your eyeball, would you seek medical attention?” Needless to say, most everyone would. “So,” he asked, “why is it that when we bleed all the time when we floss that we think it’s no big deal?” As it turns out, that’s an excellent question — and one that’s often misunderstood.
First of all, let’s clarify what we mean by “bleeding all the time.” As many as 90 percent of people occasionally experience bleeding gums when they clean their teeth — particularly if they don’t do it often, or are just starting a flossing routine. But if your gums bleed regularly when you brush or floss, it almost certainly means there’s a problem. Many think bleeding gums is a sign they are brushing too hard; this is possible, but unlikely. It’s much more probable that irritated and bleeding gums are a sign of periodontal (gum) disease.
How common is this malady? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all Americans over age 30 have mild, moderate or severe gum disease — and that number increases to 70.1 percent for those over 65! Periodontal disease can occur when a bacteria-rich biofilm in the mouth (also called plaque) is allowed to build up on tooth and gum surfaces. Plaque causes the gums to become inflamed, as the immune system responds to the bacteria. Eventually, this can cause gum tissue to pull away from the teeth, forming bacteria-filled “pockets” under the gum surface. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious infection, and even tooth loss.
What should you do if your gums bleed regularly when brushing or flossing? The first step is to come in for a thorough examination. In combination with a regular oral exam (and possibly x-rays or other diagnostic tests), a simple (and painless) instrument called a periodontal probe can be used to determine how far any periodontal disease may have progressed. Armed with this information, we can determine the most effective way to fight the battle against gum disease.
Above all, don’t wait too long to come in for an exam! As Dr. Stork notes, bleeding gums are “a sign that things aren’t quite right.” Â If you would like more information about bleeding gums, please contact us or schedule an appointment. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Bleeding Gums.” You can read the entire interview with Dr. Travis Stork in Dear Doctor magazine.

Over a lifetime, teeth can endure temperatures ranging from freezing to near boiling, biting forces of as much as 150 pounds per square inch and a hostile environment teeming with bacteria. Yet they can still remain healthy for decades.
But while they’re rugged, they’re not indestructible — they can incur serious damage from tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease, two of the most prevalent oral infections. If that happens, you could be faced with the choice of removing the tooth or trying to save it.
Because today’s restorations like dental implants are quite durable and amazingly life-like, it might seem the decision is a no-brainer — just rid your mouth of the troubled tooth and replace it. But from a long-term health perspective, it’s usually better for your gums, other teeth and mouth structures to try to save it.
How we do that depends on the disease and degree of damage. Tooth decay, for example, starts when high levels of acid soften the minerals in the outer enamel. This creates a hole, or cavity, that we typically treat first by filling with metal amalgam or, increasingly, composite resins color-matched to the tooth.
If decay has invaded the pulp (the innermost layer of the tooth), you’ll need a root canal treatment. This procedure removes infected material from the pulp and replaces the empty chamber and the root canals with a special filling to guard against another infection. We then cap the tooth with a life-like crown for added protection.
Gum disease, on the other hand, is caused by dental plaque (a thin film of bacteria and food particles on tooth surfaces), and requires a different approach. Here, the strategy is to remove all of the plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits) we can find with special hand instruments or ultrasonic equipment, and often over several sessions. If the infection extends deeper or has created deep pockets of disease between the teeth and gums, surgery or more advanced techniques may be necessary.
Though effective, some of these treatments can be costly and time-consuming; the tooth itself may be beyond repair. Your best move is to first undergo a complete dental examination. From there, we can give you your best options for dealing with a problem tooth.
If you would like more information on the best treatment approach for your teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Save a Tooth or Get an Implant?”
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- Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
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- December (6)
- Porcelain Veneers Might not be the Best Option for Teenagers
- Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
- Dental Care is Difficult but not Impossible for a Special Needs Child
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- NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
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- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- Replacing a Missing Tooth isn't Just About Improving Your Smile
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- Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
- (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
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- Avoid Bone Loss around Tooth Roots through Regular Dental Care
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
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- Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
- Research Confirms: Dental Sealants Really Work!
- 4 Big Benefits for Beginning Early Dental Visits for Your Child
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
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- How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- June Is Men's Health Month
- Good Reasons for Choosing Clear Aligners for Orthodontic Treatment
- Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
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- Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
- Why the Bottled Variety Might not be Your Best Choice for Clean Drinking Water
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child as Early as Possible
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
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- September (6)
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- FAQs About Pediatric Dentistry
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Practice Proactive Prevention to Enhance Your Child's Dental Development
- Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
- Stop Gum Disease Before it Threatens Your Dental Implant
- May (5)
- Clean Your Implants Just Like you Clean Your Natural Teeth
- Instill in Your Child the Daily Habit of Brushing and Flossing
- Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
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- Protect Your Child's Long-Term Dental Health with Regular Office Visits
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- Gum Disease Could Affect More than Your Teeth and Gums
- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- Don't Let Sleep Apnea Ruin Your Sleep - or Your Health
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
- 2016
- March (9)
- Good Oral Hygiene Just as Important for Implants as for Natural Teeth
- Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
- Get Relief from Cracked Corners of the Mouth
- Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
- Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
- Although a Global Problem, Tooth Decay can be Prevented
- 3 Things to do to Prepare for Dental Emergencies While Traveling Abroad
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
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- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
- Is There a Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Health?
- Four Tips for Preventing Premature Loss of Baby Teeth From Tooth Decay
- The Time Interval to Replant a Knocked Out Tooth Can Affect its Longevity
- The Major Benefits of Early Childhood Dental Visits
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- 2015
- December (5)
- Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- A Smile Makeover is a Transforming Experience
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- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Your Dentist's Intervention
- Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
- Life-like Dental Porcelain Helps Restore Smiles Marred by Unattractive Teeth
- 'Prepless' Veneers can Transform Your Smile Without Altering Your Teeth
- What you can Expect if You're Undergoing Implant Surgery
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- Take Positive Action with Your Child's Thumb-Sucking Habit
- America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
- Dental Implants and Smoking - Cause for Concern?
- Take Steps to Reduce Mouth Acid and Avoid Dental Erosion
- Although Rare, Allergic Reactions to the Metal in Implants Could be a Concern
- While Usually Benign, Lichen Planus Lesions Should Still be Examined
- A Toothless Tiger?
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- Tooth Bleaching: Test Your Knowledge
- Mouthguards Reduce Risk of Concussion as well as Dental Injuries
- An Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea may be the Right Option for You
- TV's Nate Berkus Discusses Dental Sealants, Fluoride Treatments and Flossing
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- Turn Back the Clock with Whiter Teeth
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- A Future So Bright — Teeth Whitening Facts
- Follow in Vanna White's Footsteps and Replace That Missing Back Tooth
- Things you Should Know about Oral Cancer
- Chronic Biting Habits Can Lead to Loose Teeth
- Managing Gum Disease Could Benefit Other Conditions You May Have
- George Washington's False Teeth
- Dental Offices Uphold the Highest Standards for Infection Control
- Eating Disorders Can Cause Problems With the Teeth and Mouth
- February (8)
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- Spice Up Your Teeth
- Bonding with Composite Resins Ideal for Restoring Chipped Teeth
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- Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer With a Healthy Whole Food Diet
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- 2014
- September (5)
- Saving a Baby Tooth is the Best Option for Permanent Tooth Development
- Removing Bacterial Plaque is Critical to Halting Advancing Gum Disease
- Be Extra Vigilant for Signs of Gum Disease During Pregnancy
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- April (5)
- Advances in Clear Aligners Make Them a Viable Choice for More Teens
- Oral Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention
- Considering Bone and Gums Critical to Achieving a Better Smile With Implants
- FAQs About Calming Your Fears With Oral Sedation Dentistry
- Implant Overdentures: a Marriage of Options for Lower Jaw Tooth Replacement
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