This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Parsippany, New Jersey, to further my knowledge
about dental implants and advanced prostheses to restore dental implants.  New Jersey, described
as the Garden State, really was a nice place.  I did not encounter Snooky, but the weather was nice compared to Texas right now. 

I have had multiple courses on implants and implant supported restorations.  Each one is helpful,
and this one was especially educational because I was able to take knowledge from lectures and then
do a hands-on participation.

Some of the topics we covered were making custom temporaries and advanced implant supported dentures.  Custom temporaries are important, especially with the front teeth, because it allows us to better predict
the final outcome of the soft tissue.  Making the implant restoration look and feel as natural as possible
is our goal. 

Implants add increased retention and function to traditional dentures.  The most basic implant denture is also tissue supported toward the back.  So there is still some movement with the implant denture (locator overdenture).  A more advanced solution is a screw-retained implant denture.  This option has more stability and retention; it is not removed except by me.  Another option would be crown and bridge-work supported by implants.  This option most closely resembles natural teeth.

I would encourage you to contact me or our friendly dental team if you have any questions about dental implant solutions.  We look forward to hearing from you.

June 27, 2011

Xylitol is the new-found defense against cavity-causing bacteria.  Like fluoride, xylitol helps to prevent tooth decay.  Xylitol has been approved for use in the US since 1963 and is a cost-effective preventive measure.  Using 1-2grams of xylitol 5 times per day can reduce acid-producing bacteria by 95% after six months. 

Like regular white sugar, xylitol is naturally occurring, white, and is used to sweeten candies, gum, toothpastes, and food.  However, unlike common sugar, xylitol prevents the bad bacteria from adhering to tooth surfaces, causes the bacteria to actually starve and die-off, and helps promote remineralization of teeth.  And xylitol actually has 40% fewer calories than regular sugar!!

Studies are showing that 5 exposures of 1.1gram of xylitol per day for 2 weeks can have a lasting decay-fighting effect for up to 4-6 months.  Recently, Trident and Orbit gum have been incorporating xylitol into a mixture of other sweeteners in their gum products.  Their level of xylitol is only 0.17gram per stick of gum for Trident and 0.03gram per stick of gum for Orbit.  These levels are far below a therapeutic dose.  Below are a list of companies that offer a variety of mints, gums, lollipops, and toothpastes – all products containing 1.1grams or more of xylitol.  We have ordered a number of these xylitol products for you to sample when you come by and visit us.

Remember:  5mints/gum  x  1.1gram xylitol  x  2weeks

www.zellies.com
www.xlear.com– XyloSweet – sold at Whole Health, Vitamins Plus, and Purebody Nutrition
www.drjohns.com– Herbal Lollipops
Epic Dental – mints and gum

Make xylitol a part of your daily routine today!

Warning:  Xylitol is very toxic to dogs.  Keep your xylitol stored in a safe place.

May 12, 2011 

Grinding teeth, or bruxism, is a sleep disorder affecting roughly 20% of adults and up to 30% of children.   Bruxism usually occurs during the night as a result of our minds thinking about particular stressors in our lives.  It generally occurs in the early stages of sleep, prior to deep sleep.

Bruxism is damaging to any dental work done and can also severely chip or shorten our natural teeth.  Bruxism can also cause bite problems, cause jaw dysfunction (TMD), and cause headaches or unexplained facial pain.  In addition to stress, other factors that can increase the occurrence of bruxism are:  1) consuming caffeine or nicotine prior to sleep, 2) certain antidepressant medications like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, and 3) specific sleeping positions.  A sleep study would be necessary to monitor bruxism associated with a specific sleep position. 

Children who grind their teeth often will grow out of the habit with no permanent damage by age 13.  However, it is important for a dentist to evaluate whether a temporary protective appliance is appropriate for children with a severe grinding habit.  Because children’s teeth and bones are constantly growing and changing, I usually recommend a more temporary “boil and bite” type of protective appliance like a sports mouthguard.  These can be purchased at sporting goods stores.

Bruxism, like most sleep disorders, has no true cure.  Some people are more intense grinders than others, and preventing damage to your teeth is very important.  For adults, I typically recommend a custom fitted night guard made by taking a mold of your teeth.  In addition to a custom fit, these appliances are nice because of their durability and effectiveness.  A more generic and less expensive option that some people try is an over-the-counter night guard.  The Doctor’s night guard can be found at most drug stores like CVS.  Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, and listening to gentle music should be used prior to sleeping. 

 

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote dental awareness as a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including dental news, advancements in dental technology and treatment, practical dental health advice and updates from Dr. O'Neal and his staff.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure your best dental health. As always, feel free to contact us with any dental questions or concerns.

Questions About A BiteWing X-Ray Study
A study recently published in Cancer magazine is being called into question.  The study reports that individuals who received certain types of dental x-rays were more likely to develop certain types of brain cancers – like benign meningiomas. 

The study is being questioned for its validity because the data collection involved interviews and questionnaires that relied on patients’ memory-recall of details related to dental care over their lifetime.  In addition, the study does not decipher whether the x-rays were traditional or modern digital x-rays.  With digital x-rays, modern techniques such as collimation and patient shielding, x-rays absorbed by the body have decreased by 60% (versus traditional x-rays taken decades ago).  The study attempts to show that one bitewing has 50-100 percent greater risk than a full-mouth series (which has multiple bitewings and multiple views of the root-ends).  Radiology experts have deemed the study as “radiologically impossible”.

Bitewings and other forms of x-rays are necessary to diagnose dental caries, pathology, and other dental problems.  Guidelines are used to regulate necessity, frequency, and safety.  I hate to see the public alarmed and misguided due to a poorly conducted study.  Contact your family dentist or visit ADA.org for further information about the benefits of regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene.