[03/03/11] Posted by: Parsippany Dental Care

CareRally.com

There are 3 major diseases that all patients are susceptible to:

1. Cavities – infections of teeth caused by bacteria
2. Periodontal disease – otherwise known as gum disease – caused by:
   1. Bacteria
   2. Bruxism (night time grinding)
   3. Clenching (daytime habit caused by stress)
   4. Irregular bite
   5. Lack of certain oral tissues/thin bone/ tooth position
   6. Systemic diseases such as diabetes
   7. Defective fillings – all fillings made from amalgam(mercury/silver) will fail at some point
3. Bite disease
   1. This is wearing away of tooth structure
   2. Causes cracked tooth syndrome
   3. Causes root canal inflammation/infection
   4. Can cause facial pain syndromes

Preventive dentistry

Is the minimizing/avoidance of dental disease. To do so involves:

1. Limiting the amount of carbohydrates
2. Proper oral hygiene
3. Visits to the dentist at appropriate times base upon your individual needs
4. The visit consists of:

1. 1. Hygiene–in our office that is a periodontal scaling
   2. Prophylaxis
   3. Necessary radiographs
   4. Doctor exam, if needed
   5. Home care instruction, if needed
   6. Recommendations of prevention/treatment
   7. Intra-oral photographs, if needed

Fighting Plaque

By fighting plaque, you can keep your teeth for a lifetime. Today, in fact, older adults are keeping their natural teeth longer because of scientific developments and an emphasis on preventative dentistry.

Good oral hygiene requires an understanding of plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless layer of bacteria. When you eat carbohydrates (foods made of sugar or starch) you feed this plaque, which in turn produces acids that attack tooth enamel, cause cavities, and develop a hard substance called calculus (tartar). Uninterrupted, the acid attacks can result in tooth decay and gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). If left untreated, gum disease can cause loss of teeth and bone.

At any age, you can begin the fight with plaque and keep your teeth and gums healthy. It’s really quite easy. Simply:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove food particles and plaque from the tooth surfaces. While you’re at it, brush the top surface of your tongue to eliminate bad breath and bacteria buildup.
2. Clean between your teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria lingers between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
3. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. If a snack is needed, nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit should be chosen.
4. Schedule regular check-ups. Visit the doctor regularly (every six months) for professional cleanings and oral exams.
5. Ask the doctor about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.
6. Wear mouth protection such as a mouthguard when you play contact sports or extreme sports.

Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay (cavity or caries) can develop on any surface of any tooth. Because cavities grow, they are much easier and less expensive to treat when they are small. A decaying tooth may not hurt, so you may have a cavity and not realize it. The dentist checks for tooth decay at your regular check-ups and will periodically use x-rays to check for decay between teeth. The dentist treats tooth decay by cleaning out the cavity and placing a restoration (filling) in the tooth.

By following the strategies listed above, you can prevent tooth decay.

Preventing Gum Disease

Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. At each regular checkup the dentist will measure the depth of the shallow v-shaped crevice (called a sulcus) between your tooth and gums to identify whether you have gum disease.

• Some gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums.
• Certain periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket; generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket.
• Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis.
• In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.
• In the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a dentist.
• Gum recession: when more of the tooth is exposed above the gum line it looks like your tooth is long. This is a form of gum disease where there is no pocketing or bleeding. The tooth has less bone support and can start tilting over; the tooth can become sensitive to cold air/fluids, and more prone to cavities (the structure of the tooth is weaker here).

If you notice any of the following signs of gum disease, see the doctor immediately:

1. Gums that bleed easily
2. Red, swollen, tender gums
3. Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
4. Persistent bad breath or bad taste
5. Pus between your teeth and gums
6. Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
7. Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
8. Any change in the fit of partial dentures

It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs.

That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend on the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed.

What If A 5-minute Scan Could Save Your Life?

Dr. John Robinson: According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the U.S., and those numbers are increasing every year. Late diagnosis is often the culprit because oral cancer may not be noticeable or painful, and tobacco use is not the only cause. When diagnosed in the early stages of development, oral cancer victims have an 80% to 90% survival rate! With recent publicity surrounding actor Michael Douglas’s diagnosis of stage 4 oral cancer, public awareness of the need for earlier detection of this deadly disease has increased considerably.

If you are a fan of The Dr. OZ Show, last fall you may have seen a segment of the show titled, “A Trip to the Dentist Could Save Your Life.” During the episode, the advantages of a revolutionary new oral cancer screening device known as the VELscope was featured.

Always at the forefront of new technology, Robison Dental Group has been providing our community with the benefit of the VELscope screening system. It’s the only innovative dental device recently recognized by the World Health Organization as addressing global health concerns. In less than five minutes, a non-evasive and painless VELscope examination can be completed to identify precancerous lesions which are not visible to the naked eye.

At Robison Dental Group, we feel strongly about the advantages this technology offers and want to encourage you to get examined during Oral Cancer Awareness Month. That’s why during the months of April and May we are offering this potentially lifesaving scan for only $10!

Call us today to schedule a screening at 734.453.6320 or 888.66.SMILE!!

Do you have the smile you truly want?  Have you always wanted to change your smile?  Make the moment now!

LUMINEERS porcelain veneers can transform your smile with little or no preparation (meaning minimal to no removal of tooth structure).  LUMINEERS can whiten stained teeth, reshape misaligned/awkward/crooked teeth, even out uneven teeth, lengthen short teeth, close unwanted gaps between teeth or fix chipped teeth.

New technology makes LUMINEERS extremely strong and much thinner than traditional veneers.  If tooth reduction is required, only minimal contouring is done, eliminating the need for anesthetic and the possibility of sensitivity afterwards.  The results are outstanding!

LUMINEERS can only be done by LUMINEERS Certified Dentists.  At Shwedel Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, both Dr. Shwedel and Dr. Okonkowski are LUMINEERS Certified Dentists.  It is our goal to make and keep your smile beautiful.  Should you have any questions about LUMINEERS or any other dental related topic, including the latest ways to keep your mouth healthy, please contact us at 313-292-5590 or visit our website www.shwedeldental.com.  We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Dental Veneers, Find a Cosmetic Dentist, Improve Your Smile, Painless Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

Now that warm weather has arrived and children are spending more time outdoors, it’s a good time to warn them about accidents that could result in fractured teeth.

Share the following safety rules with your child.

• Remain seated on a swing.  Don’t jump from or walk under a moving swing.  Children often lose teeth from being hit in the mouth by a swing.
• Don’t run or push on the pool deck.  Always use a ladder to climb out of a swimming pool.  Each year many children hit their mouth on the concrete or tile edge of swimming pools, often damaging teeth.
• Leave the person drinking from a fountain alone until he or she is finished.  Hitting, pushing or throwing things could cause the person to hit their teeth on the metal faucet or edge of the fountain, possibly injuring them.
• Never trip or push anyone during outdoor games.  The person could lose their balance, fall and hit their mouth or teeth.
• If you have to ride your bicycle in the rain, be very careful.  Wet pavement is slippery and dangerous.  And always remember to wear a helmet.

Hopefully, your summer will be safe and healthy.  But should an accident occur, Shwedel Family and Cosmetic Dentistry will be there for you.  Just call us at 313-292-5590.  Even on weekends, one of our highly trained office staff is available to take your call and get you the dental care you need.  It is our goal to keep your smile beautiful and your mouth healthy.  For more dental health information visit our website www.shwedeldental.com. Enjoy your summer!

PatientFYI: When the days are long, the weather gets hot, and the kids are out of school, families tend to raid the refrigerator more often – for snacks and cold drinks.  In fact, studies have shown that people develop more tooth decay during the summer months than at any other time of the year.  So it’s even more important to have lots of sugar-free, nutritious foods and beverages on hand, because they’re better for your family’s teeth, as well as being low in calories and easy on the budget. read more…

Tags: Dental Health, Improve Your Smile

PatientFYI: Recent studies continue to suggest a relationship between gum disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Given the considerable health burden associated with CVD, involvement of gum disease in the development of cardiovascular pathologies could have various implications. read more…

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Dentist, Find a Dentist, Gum Disease, heart disease, Teeth Whitening, Veneers

Dr. Guy Mangia

At Home Smile Analysis: There are a number of ways to  analyze your smile, there is the Emotional Smile Evaluation and the Objective Evaluation.  Below is  simple list of questions using each approach you can do in your own home.  Take a few minutes, stand in front of a mirror and answer a few questions.

The Emotional Smile Evaluation: is based on an individual’s subjective perceptions of their own smile.  Below are some questions that may help you reveal how you really feel about your smile; how it might affect  your self image;  how it impacts interactions with others; and how it influences the quality of relationships. read more…

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Find a Dentist

PatientFYI: A kiss is not JUST a kiss!!!  Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry had dental students kiss bacterial culture plates to tell how much bacteria is transferred in a kiss. read more…

Tags: dental, Dental Health, Find a Dentist, Gum Disease, Improve Your Smile, Patient Reviews

PatientFYI: Recent research has shown that most Americans are not doing a simple activity that will keep their smiles looking beautiful, reduce cavities, prevent tooth loss and as many dentist and physicians now believe – significantly reduce the chance of heart disease and strokes.

Even though most of our patients swear they do this activity, according to the American Dental Association, more than 90% of Americans don’t!  That simple activity?  You guessed it – it’s flossing your teeth.  And a quick and strenuous attempt to floss right before your dental visit doesn’t fool us!  But please read on, because there is hope for everyone!!

Flossing is the best way to clean bacteria and debris from the spaces in between your teeth and underneath your gums.  Left in place, that harmful film can cause cavities and gum disease, eating away at the bone that actually holds your teeth in place and causing your teeth to loosen and eventually be lost.  Scarier yet – recent research has linked gum disease to heart disease and strokes.   So don’t throw in the towel (or floss!) yet.

Any activity requires practice.  You couldn’t drive without lessons and a few thousand miles on the road.  You couldn’t type the first time you sat down at a keyboard.  And though flossing is much easier than either of those activities, many people try it a few times and then frustratingly proclaim “I can’t floss!”  Well with a little patience and practice you can!  And some of the better flosses on the market (such as “Glide”) make it much easier than it was in the past.

At Shwedel Family and Cosmetic Dentistry we really want you to keep your teeth the rest of your life and be as healthy as you possibly can.  That definitely involves flossing every single day – and we know you can do it!  Feel free to give us a call at 313-292-5590 and we will arrange for one of our fantastic hygienists, Gaye, Cheryl or Marissa, to give you a free flossing lesson.  Or just ask during your regular cleaning appointments.  No one is a “natural born flosser,” it takes practice.  So there is nothing to be embarrassed about, and your beautiful smile will last a lifetime!

Tags: dental, Dental Health, Diabetes, Gum Disease, heart disease, Improve Your Smile, Patient Reviews

Dr. Guy Mangia: Comprehensive Dental Examination is a service we provide for all new patients and for our adult patients of record every 2 years. Similar to a complete medical examination with your physician, this examination  process is considered the current Standard of Care with the American Dental Association.  During this examination we are able to document and compare the findings that are significant to your oral health.  Being able to compare these findings at a two year interval allows us to detect changes in your dental health that may be subtle to the human eye, resulting in early detection and correction of oral problems.  Of course, we will continue to provide updated examinations at the time of your  periodontal maintenance visit in between your comprehensive dental evaluations.

The Comprehensive Examination and Evaluation consists of six areas of your oral health: read more…

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, dental, Dental Health, Dental Implants, Dentist Reviews, Find a Cosmetic Dentist, Gum Disease, Improve Your Smile, Teeth Whitening, Veneers, Whiter Teeth