You Really Can Live Better Through Dentistry

Did you know that a healthy mouth means a healthy body...a healthy heart...even a healthy sex life? It's true! And just by changing certain habits related to oral hygiene you can improve the health of your mouth and teeth and lessen your risk for a whole host of illnesses.

"You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot," says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a former clinical instructor at the Boston University Dental School.

He's absolutely right.

Researchers at the ADA have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of periodontal disease that can cause tooth loss) is linked with health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries. Gingivitis (oral inflammation due to bacteria) may also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Love Life

There's nothing like bad breath to turn off the opposite sex. 22-year-old UK superstar Joss Stone famously remarked, "There's nothing worse than bad breath. I've snogged people with bad breath who smelt of (cigarettes) and beer and it made me feel sick.

Joss isn't alone. A report from a US mouthwash company revealed that nearly three quarters of the people polled said they wouldn't let a person they found attractive kiss them if they had bad breath. Plus, simply worrying about your partner smelling and/or kissing your malodorous mouth can take the joy and spontaneity out of your sex life. Good oral health literally 'takes the worry out of being close' as they used to say in the Ban deodorant ads. So improving your sex life means doing things that improve your blood flow, and that means taking care of your teeth and gums.

Attention Mothers-to-Be

Pregnant women with periodontitis may be at increased risk of delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight infants. The theory is that oral bacteria release toxins, which interfere with the growth and development of the baby. At the same time, oral infection can cause a mother to produce labor-triggering substances too quickly, potentially triggering premature labor and birth.

And some studies suggest that periodontitis can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar!

Yikes!

Your Dentist is Also Your Doctor

Your mouth is a window into what's going on in the rest of your body, detecting the early signs and symptoms of systemic disease -- a disease that affects or pertains to your entire body, not just one of its parts. Many diseases, including diabetes, often first become apparent as oral problems. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% percent of all systemic diseases produce oral signs and symptoms.

So what does the health of your mouth have to do with your overall health? In a word, plenty. It's just one more reason that regular dental check-ups are so important.

Question: How are cavities detected by a dentist?

Answer: There are multiple ways a dentist can screen for and detect cavities or tooth decay:

1. Visual- The dentist looks for unusual discolorations, stains and dark spots found along different surfaces of the tooth. The most obvious occur along the biting surfaces of the teeth and are found more commonly on the molars.

2. Feel- The dentist uses an instrument called an "explorer" trying to feel for "stickiness" or catches along the surface of the tooth. The stickiness is often found along the grooves and fissures of the tooth and represents an area where the enamel coating of the tooth has been compromised.

3. Xrays- Digital xrays allow a dentist to see cavities not only along the biting surfaces but the flossing surfaces between the teeth. Not only do xrays provide insight to the presence or absence of a cavity, but it can convey the extent or depth of the cavity. A dentist can use xrays to determine how deep the cavity is and if there is nerve involvement.

4. Laser- Using a device called a "Diagnodent", a dentist can use a special laser that measure the damage that is left behind as a result of cavity or tooth decay. While this is not a primary means of detection, it will typically reinforce the presence of absence of a cavity if there is suspicion.

So the next question is, if there are multiple ways a cavity can be detected, what is the best way?

While there are many ways to detect tooth decay, one way is not more advantageous than the other. Simply put, the dentist should use as many ways as possible to help assess. All four ways can give the dentist tremendous insight into cavity assessment and provide the patient confidence that nothing was missed during an exam!

Question: My child needs extensive dental work done and is quite nervous. What options are available to my child for sedation?

Anwer: That can really depend on certain factors such as age, weight, medical history, previous dental experiences, etc. The majority of the time, nitrous oxide(laughing gas) is sufficient to help calm the child down and eliminate anxiety. Nitrous is great because the onset of effect takes ~ 2-3 minutes and laughing gas is completely removed from the body following several minutes of administrating oxygen. If a child is unresponsive to laughing gas and will not cooperate, I would then recommending the patient be referred to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have more extensive training in sedation techniques for children such as oral sedation or even general anesthesia.

Question: Hi there, I am a 51 year old woman in pretty good health. In 2004 I had my 4 front teeth removed and porcelain crowns put in. It has become apparent that they were not sealed well enough, so over time decay has set in behind the crowns. They must now be removed and new ones inserted. My financial situation has changed considerably since then and the insurance I have now only covers porcelain infused over metal crowns. It would cost me another $600 per tooth if I want porcelain. I had never heard of these other ones so I would like your input on the aesthetics and longevity of the porcelain infused over metal.Thank you for your time and opinion

Answer: The porcelain fused to metal(PFM) crowns have been around much longer than all porcelain crowns. They are known for strength and I typically do these on back teeth. They do work well on front teeth but can be more challenging to make them look esthetic. I would talk with your dentist about doing the PFM crowns but it will be much more difficult to match the esthetics that you had with all porcelain crowns. I like the all porcelain better but if done correctly the PFM crown can be acceptable as well. My biggest concern is that if they are designed corrected or even if your gums even slightly recede, you can possibly see dark line or metal hue around where the gum has receded. If you have ever seen someone smile and you see a dark color or gray hue around the gum, it is likely it is PFM crown. With an all porcelain crown, even with recession it is not as visible. All porcelain is typically my choice, if and only if your bite will allow it.

Dr.G

Question:

Hello.I have cerebral palsy.I have a few metal crowns.over time my bite has become off and I ground at night.I didn't take care off this right away like I should have and now my teeth are severely worn.Do you think if I got posts and metal crowns they would last in my mouth?the few crowns I have seem to have done well over time.would the new zirconia crowns be as durable as the metal? Thank you for your time and consideration. Kurt

Answer:

Hi Kurt,

This unfortunately is a very loaded question that I cannot give you a good answer for the following reasons:

1. Posts do not make teeth stronger...they more less help hold in the foundations that the crowns sit on so they are more for retention, not strength.

2. There are crowns with different properties for different situations, so it is hard to say what is best for you as there many things that need to be evaluated such as:
1. Cavities present?
2. What kind of bite do you have?
3. Condition of existing crowns?
4. How heavy you grind?

These are several questions that would need to be answered before telling you what kind of crowns you need. Having said that, zirconia crowns are showing promise in strength and certainly have esthetic advantages over metal crowns but they are not indicated in all situations. I would recommend getting evaluated to further determine this.

Good luck!
Dr.Glasmeier