| Newsletter (August 2007) |
| Tuesday, 14 August 2007 | |
|
Periodically we like to send out a newsletter with information that folks may find helpful when considering improved dental health. Below are a few nuggets of information we hope you will find enlightening. Remember that we are always here to assist you in attaining your dental goals.
Sincerely, David Sperow, DMD | A. Dean Sperow, DMD
Considerations For Using Dental ImplantsThere are several reasons one would select dental implants to restore health, function, and esthetics to the mouth. Dental implants provide a host of advantages over other types of restorative options. Most of these are visible to the naked eye, but not all. Bone preservation is one of the unsung advantages to dental implant therapy. Whenever a tooth is lost, the bone that once surrounded the tooth begins to slowly dissolve. Without anything to support, the bone has no need to exist. Dental implants create stimulation in the bone and, as a result, it provides a reason for the body to maintain a healthy bone level. By preserving the bone, we increase the options we have for restoration as the "foundation" has greater strength and stability. Without placement of dental implants, the bone in an extraction site can lose up to sixty percent of its width within five years and sixty percent of its height in another five years. Although the process is active in anyone who loses a tooth, this impacts denture wearers the most. With continual loss of bone, dentures eventually lose their seal and no longer fit well. By placing dental implants, both the bone is preserved and a solid attachment for a denture is incorporated into treatment that has much more predictable results than no implants at all.
Soda Pop SyndromeSoft drinks and sport drinks have most certainly become a staple in the American diet. Carbonated soft drinks account for more than 27% of beverages consumed in America today. These beverages have very high sugar content and, unfortunately, this is overridden by effective marketing campaigns. We are seeing more and more major decay in people who consume soft drinks on a regular basis. Understanding the mechanism by which these drinks cause tooth damage can help in preventing major problems. It is important to realize that frequency of contact is much more significant than quantity of sugar consumed. When a sugar containing food or drink is consumed, the bacteria in the mouth can produce damaging acid for up to ninety minutes. If one sips on a sugar-containing soft drink over an extended period of time, the sugar is keeping the decay process active for the entire time that the beverage is being consumed PLUS an hour and a half after it is finished. Signs and symptoms of Soda Pop Syndrome include chalky appearance to the teeth, loss of surface definition, extensive cavities. Risks are increased by sipping soda and sport drinks all day long, drinking soft drinks and sport drinks while wearing braces, swishing drinks in the mouth before swallowing them. Many people who have had radiation therapy, or who take certain medications have a condition known as Xerostomia. Xerostomia means "dry mouth" and the rate of decay is significantly increased without the natural flow of saliva. What can you do? Limit the amount of soft and sport drink consumption. Rinse with water after drinking sugar containing beverages. Come in for regular check-ups and maintenance (sometimes utilizing fluoride therapy).
New Antibiotic ProtocolRecently new guidelines were adopted by the American Heart Association and the American Dental Association in regard to antibiotic prophylaxis people at risk of developing infective endocarditis. We recently mailed a notification that most people who have had to take antibiotics, prior to dental appointments in the past, may no longer need to do so. If you need more information, please feel free to contact us at the office for more information.
Free Smile WhiteningAs most of you know, take home bleaching kits are complimentary for all of our patients who want them. If you would like to whiten your teeth, just remember to ask at your next check-up and we will be happy to make the appliances for you.
CONTACT: |