A Perfect Smile is excited to announce the arrival of a new great toothpaste!

Clinpro 5000 contains 4 x more flouride than over the counter toothpastes -which means greater flouride uptake for you!  This toothpaste also contains tri-calcium phosphate which has been shown to reduce “white spots” on teeth. Clinpro also helps to reverse and prevent decay on the roots of your teeth.

We strive to offer you the most innovative products to help you achive your optimal dental health. If you would like more information on Clinpro 5000 – call our office at 781-2448.

Make it a phenomenal week!

Sarah

            WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Just as there can be problems with your teeth that have to be addressed by a dentist, there can also be problems with those tissues that hold the teeth in the mouth.  These include the gums and the bone that the tooth is anchored to.  One of the most common of these conditions is called periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is an infectious disease of the gums and bone caused by the bacteria which is found in dental plaque.  Plaque is composed of colonies of bacteria that grow continuously in your mouth and is found along the gumline and in between your teeth.  Our body’s natural defenses (our immune system) tries to fight off these bacteria with a process called inflammation.  As a result of the presence of this plaque and the inflammation that our body produces to fight it off, our gums can turn red, become swollen and bleed easily.  If left untreated, the gums can separate from the teeth and the bone that holds the teeth in place can dissolve away leading to infection, loosening of the teeth and eventually, tooth loss.

We now know that periodontal disease can affect more than just our teeth.  The same inflammation that affects our gums has far reaching affects on other parts of our body.  Studies have indicated that periodontal disease can increase the risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease, respiratory disease (diseases of the lungs) osteoporosis, and can accelerate the progression of diabetes.  This is especially true of Type II or “non insulin dependent diabetes.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, Periodontal, or gum disease, can be managed to allow you to keep your teeth for a lifetime.

At this point I thought you could finish it any way you’d like.  Something along the lines of “if Dr. Nelson recognizes this he can treat it or refer to a periodontist” or however you’d like. 

We get a lot of questions about how to keep a tooth brush clean between uses. To disinfect your tooth brush naturally, we like to keep it in a cup with one ounce of water and 4 drops of bark oil. Rinse it off before brushing. We like Aura Cacia Cassia Bark Essential Oil – it tastes like cinnamon!

Happy Brushing!

Want to get healthier by eating a snack?

2 oz of yogurt a day may protect you from gum disease, a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology shows. The “good bacteria” in yogurt helps fight germs in your mouth.

Enjoy!

Ask us about hosting your bridal shower at A Perfect Smile! Let us pamper you and your friends with our spa services throughout your bridal shower. We’ll get your celebration started right!

A trip to the dentist means cleaner, healthier teeth, not a higher cancer risk – yet some x-ray machines emit more than 4 times the radiation now deemed safe, says a new study from the UCLA.

At A Perfect Smile, we have been using F-speed (instead of D-speed) film to keep our patients safe while we capture digital images to monitor your health. Our xray machines emit 90% less radiation than older technology!

Have a great day!

Sarah

Dr. Nelson and Jill Taylor from the JP Institute

Heidi and Nichole test the new oral cancer detector Trimera

A Perfect Smile staff had a wonderful opportunity last week to work with the JP Institute on our hygiene philosophy and office systems.

Staff members developed their clinical techniques and tried a new oral cancer detection product – Trimera.The JP protocol is the most comprehensive and exciting way to help our patients achieve optimal dental health and we are very excited to share our learning with you!

Please let us know if you have any questions!

When I was asked to write a piece for Dr. Nelson’s blog about endodontics, I thought I might talk about the many recent changes that have taken place in my specialty over the last few years. I also thought about presenting some of the more interesting cases that we have seen in our office. However, it occurred to me that most people might not even know what an endodontist is. So I decided to start with the basics and answer the questions I hear every day from my patients. My hope is to not only educate, but also to ease some of the fears and apprehension that surround root canal therapy. For more information please visit our website at http://www.endoassoc.com/

Endodontic FAQ

1. What is a root canal?

   The actual procedure is called root canal therapy. All teeth have a canal system (the tooth is hollow) that contains blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues that were important when the tooth was developing. This collection of various tissues is called the dental pulp. In an adult, the dental pulp serves as a warning system when a cavity develops, sensitivity to sweets for example. The pulp is not necessary for the tooth to function. Root canal therapy is performed when the pulp is diseased or infected. During the procedure the canals are accessed, debrided, sterilized, and sealed with a root filling.

2. Why do I need a root canal?There are three main reasons why root canal therapy is performed:
   1. The “nerve” is dying: The dental pulp can experience a loss of blood supply, which leads to the death of the pulp. This occurs when a tooth has a large cavity for example and it can be extremely painful. Antibiotics and pain medications are generally not helpful in this circumstance. Only root canal therapy or extraction of the tooth will resolve the discomfort.
   2. Dental Abscess: If the pulp tissue dies and the root canal has not been performed, the tooth is prone to infection. Once infected, only root canal therapy or extraction will resolve the problem. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, ranging from no symptoms at all (your dentist tells you that infection was noted on a routine dental x-ray) to severe swelling and extreme pain requiring immediate treatment and possible surgical intervention.
   3. The tooth is badly broken down and the dentist needs to place a post inside the tooth to help retain a filling or crown.
3. Can I take an antibiotic to make the problem go away?Antibiotics will resolve the pain and swelling associated with an acute dental infection. The symptoms will return at some point because the source of the infection has not been treated. To do this, the antibiotic must be carried to the source (the infected root canal system) of the problem by blood circulation. Unfortunately, once a tooth is infected it has lost its blood supply and therefore antibiotics cannot get inside the tooth’s root canal system to eliminate the infection. The only means of doing so is through the cleaning and sterilizing process of root canal therapy or removal of the tooth.
4. What is an Endodontist?An endodontist is a dental specialist who performs procedures related to the root canals of teeth, from the routine to the very complex. In order to become an endodontist, a dentist must complete an additional 2-3 year residency program after dental school. Endodontists are thoroughly trained in dental anatomy, diagnosis of orofacial pain, and in the use of the surgical operating microscope (see photo). Microscopes are used almost exclusively by endodontists for visualization of intricate root canal anatomy at up to 21X. The additional training and instrumentation ensures that root canal related treatments are performed to the highest level of care.
5. Is the root canal procedure painful?Root canal therapy does not have to be unpleasant. The key to a painless procedure is ensuring the patient is adequately anesthetized (numb). Those patients who have had unpleasant experiences in the past, most likely, were just not numb enough. When a tooth is painful to begin with, it can make for a very uncomfortable procedure. Because endodontists deal with patients who come in with existing toothaches everyday, we are proficient at getting patients anesthetized. The vast majority of our patients find that the procedure is not painful. In fact, it is not uncommon to have patients fall asleep during treatment.
6. How long does a root canal take to perform?It depends on what tooth is being treated and if there are any complicating factors, but in general it takes a little more then an hour for a molar tooth once the patient is numb. Under some circumstances, it can take multiple appointments.
7. Will I be able to go to work after the procedure?Some soreness is expected for 2-3 days following root canal therapy, but this should not prevent a patient for going about their daily activities. Typically, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen are very effective at managing post-operative discomfort. Please follow any post-operative instructions given to you by your treating dentist.
8. Will my tooth be different after a root canal?In order to perform root canal therapy a hole has to be drilled into the tooth. This results in a tooth that is more prone to fracture because of the loss of the additional tooth structure. That is why crowns are recommended on molar and premolar teeth after root canal therapy. The tooth will no longer feel hot or cold. The tooth maintains proprioception which is the ability to sense when something is between your teeth or when your teeth touch.
9. How long do root canals last?The long-term success of root canal therapy depends on different factors. The first is how well the root canal system was cleaned. The microscope and other specialized instruments play a major role in this, as does the clinician’s knowledge of dental anatomy (i.e. how many canals to expect to find inside a specific tooth). The second factor affecting the success rate is the timely restoration of the tooth following root canal therapy with a permanent filling and a crown. And lastly, the patient should maintain adequate oral hygiene to prevent future cavities that can lead to a recontamination of the root canal system. Today’s root canal treated tooth will last as long as any of the patient’s other teeth.
10. Do root canal treated teeth cause other diseases?Simply put, no literature exists that implicates root canal treated teeth as a cause of systemic disease. This idea comes from the 1920-30’s, when there was a prevalent theory that implicated not only root canal treated teeth but dentistry in general as the cause of many systemic diseases such as arthritis, intestinal disorders, and anemias. This led to a destructive form of dentistry in which extraction was considered the only treatment option in order to prevent or cure these systemic diseases. The theory was later disproved and rejected. Studies over the years have demonstrated that people with root canal treated teeth are no more likely to be ill then those without them. Unfortunately, some patients, physicians, and dentists still believe this theory is true. Recent attempts to reproduce the results of these early studies have failed to show a connection to systemic diseases. In re-evaluating the original studies, it is believed that the poor sanitary conditions and imprecise research methodology led to the flawed results. It is sad to think of the millions of unnecessary extractions that still occur because of this research.

Let us know what you think at http://twitpic.com/2a2ne

In our last issue of Share a Smile (you can find the link on our homepage) we shared with you the new found link between drinking coffee  and oral cancer prevention. Coffee has many other health benefits like reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Coffee is rich with antioxidants – in fact, Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than from any other food or beverage. Try this Three- Bean Coffee Chili recipe to help boost your health during the final stretch of winter.

Makes 8 entree sized servings

1/4 cup olive oil

3 lg onions chopped

6 large garlic cloves

1/4 cup chili powder

1/4 cup ground cumin

2 tbsp dried oregano leaves

2 28-oz cans crushed tomatoes

2 tbs honey

1 cup strong coffee

2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 15 oz cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 1 oz garbanzo beans, rinsed, and drained

1 roasted red pepper, seeded and chopped

1 cup chicken stock (can substitute tomato juice)

1 tsp. each: salt, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon

1. Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until tender (about 8 mins) Add garlic and cook for another minute.

2. Mix chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook 1 minute.

3. Mix in tomatoes, honey, and coffee. Add drained beans, red pepper, chicken stock, and remaining spices. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium – low and simmer 60 minutes uncovered or until mixture thickens.

4. In mixture consistency is too thin, use a potato masher or immersion blender to smash a portion of beans to theicken the chili.

5. Optional: Top with nonfat sour cream, chopped avocado, grated low fat cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, or jalepeno peppers.