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Halloween Candy and Your Children's Teeth

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:26:00 GMT

Now that the Halloween Candy is out there, lets eat it responsibly!!

Is thinking about Halloween candy and its effect on your children's teeth enough to give you the chills?

Don't despair - you can be mindful of your child's health and still let them enjoy the special occasion, dentists say.

The decay process in teeth works like this: The majority - about 90 percent - of all foods contain sugars or starches that enable bacteria in dental plaque to produce acids. This attack by bacterial acid, lasting 20 minutes or more, can lead to a loss of tooth mineral and, eventually, to cavities.

A child who licks a piece of hard candy every few minutes or sips a sugary drink is more susceptible to tooth decay because long-lasting snacks create an acid attack on teeth the entire time they are in the mouth. Thus, one approach would be to allow your ghosts and goblins to indulge in Halloween candy at mealtime instead of as a snack.

Or choose the right kind of snack. Research from the Forsyth Dental Center shows that some sticky foods clear from the mouth faster than less sticky foods - posing a shorter acid attack on the teeth. Caramels, for example, dissolve more quickly than crackers, breakfast cereals, potato chips, dried fruit and bread. You can also try sugar free gum, or mints.

Another option with Halloween candy is to allow snacking immediately after trick-or-treating, then throw out the remainder. But remember that depriving your child of Halloween treats will only make him or her want them more. Good dental health depends on more than just diet, if you are having trouble getting your children to brush their teeth check out the children's toothbrush section.

Snacks should not be served more than three or four times a day and should contribute to the overall nutrition and health of the child. Healthy snack choices include cheese, yogurt, vegetables, peanut butter and chocolate milk.

Most of all, practice good oral hygiene by making sure your child brushes and flosses every day, uses fluoride toothpaste and visits the dentist regularly. If you need help finding a dentist we are always more then happy to help.

SOURCE: ADA American Dental Association

When Stress Takes a Toll on Your Teeth

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:21:00 GMT

Here is an interesting article that explains how the current economy impacts your dental health.

WITH economic pressures affecting millions of Americans, dentists may have noticed a drop in patients opting for a brighter smile, but they are seeing another phenomenon: a rise in the number of teeth grinders.

"I'm seeing a lot more people that are anxious, stressed out and very concerned about their financial futures and they're taking it out on their teeth," said Dr. Steven Butensky, a dentist with a specialty in prosthodontics (aesthetic, implant and reconstructive dentistry) in Manhattan.

One of his patients lost hundreds of thousands of dollars invested with Bernard L. Madoff. Another reported that he had lost a job with a seven-figure salary. A third, a single mother with a floral design business on Long Island, said she was working twice as hard for half as much.

"All three are grinders, directly affected by what's going on out there," Dr. Butensky said, gesturing outside his Midtown office window.

Dr. Robert Rawdin, another Manhattan dentist with a specialty in prosthodontics, said he had seen 20 to 25 percent more patients with teeth grinding symptoms in the last year. And in San Diego, Dr. Gerald McCracken said that over the last 18 months his number of cases had more than doubled. They, along with other dentists interviewed for this article, chalk it up to the economy.

"We're finding in a lot of double-income families, we have the people who have lost jobs and are worried, and then we have the spouse, who still has the job, with the added pressure and uncertainty," Dr. McCracken said. "This can cause some real grinding at night."

With or without economic hardship, 10 to 15 percent of adult Americans moderately to severely grind their teeth, according to Dr. Matthew Messina, a dentist in Cleveland and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association.

Because it is a subconscious muscle activity, most grinders grind without realizing it, until a symptom such as a fragmented tooth or facial soreness occurs.

While many experts believe that genetics may play a role in bruxism (or teeth grinding), stress has long been known to set off clenching and grinding in some people, Dr. Messina said. "Recession breeds stress and our body responds to stressful events so in times like these, the incidence of bruxism goes up," he said, adding that over the last year or so he had heard from dentists around the country who had seen an uptick in patients with bruxism while also complaining about financial stress. In his own practice, he said he had treated twice as many cases in the last year than in the year before.

"Stress, whether it's real or perceived, causes flight-or-fight hormones to release in the body," he said. "Those released stress hormones mobilize energy, causing isometric activity, which is muscle movement, because that built-up energy has to be released in some way."

The most expensive option for rebuilding teeth damaged by grinding is with veneers, but this year, dentists say that many of their bruxism patients are requesting one of the least costly treatments: a night guard, also known as an occlusal splint. Manufacturers said sales of these devices had gone up. "Our night guard sales have increased 15 percent over the prior year," said Greg Pelissier, a manager at Glidewell Laboratories, a maker of custom restorative, reconstructive and cosmetic dental products based in Newport Beach, Calif.

vNew drugstore products have also come to market, including a disposable night guard, Grind-No-More (about $30 for 14 guards). Its makers hope it will appeal to on-again-off-again grinders.

Stan Goff, executive editor of Dental Products Report, a monthly publication, wrote in an e-mail message that all this teeth grinding "may be playing a role in the introduction of several new products designed to not only prevent bruxism, but to help fight against tooth sensitivity" and other conditions that are aggravated by grinding.

While experts believe bruxism is not a dental disorder per se, but rather originates in the central nervous system, the condition can greatly affect the teeth and the entire craniofacial structure.

"Normally, we exert about 20 to 30 pounds per square inch on our back molars when we chew," Dr. Rawdin said. "But teeth grinders, especially at night without restraint, can exert up to as much as 200 pounds per square inch on their teeth."

Some nocturnal grinders will grind up to 40 minutes of every hour of sleep. The relentless wear and tear can quickly erode enamel (10 times faster than that of nongrinders), fracture teeth, affect bite and damage the temporomandibular joint at the hinge of the jaw, and the masseter muscle, which controls the jaws. Jaw and face pain, as well as earaches and headaches, may also occur.

"I kind of thought I was going crazy," said Adrienne Lee Kornstein, 48, a patient of Dr. Butensky, whose floral design business in Jericho, N.Y., has suffered because of the economy. "A tooth broke for what seemed like no reason, and by the time I got to Dr. Butensky, I'd been to my physician, other dentists, even a dermatologist to try to get relief from migraines and facial pain I was taking painkillers for. I had no idea I was grinding or that grinding your teeth could even lead to all that."

The most common treatment for the disorder is to wear a night guard, which may not only alleviate grinding but, in some cases, train someone to stop grinding altogether.

Fitted in the dentist's office, a custom guard is usually a clear, hard plastic device that runs over the top or lower teeth from front to back and prevents the top and bottom molars from making contact. Although not cheap (the price can range from $350 to $1,000), most dentists prefer a custom guard to over-the-counter guards, which are usually made of softer material and can encourage chewing and exacerbate masseter muscle activity.

There are also smaller prefabricated splints that a dentist can customize. These are generally cheaper than the fitted full arch guards and require fewer adjustments. But some dentists argue they are not as effective as the full arch guards.

Many teeth grinders interviewed said they would not go to bed without their night guards.

"Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and having my guard in makes me more aware if I'm tensing my body or gripping my jaw, and I can just take a moment to relax," said Alisa Fastenberg, 50, a graphic designer in Manhattan.

Other treatments for teeth grinding include acupuncture, medical massage, hypnosis and Botox injections into the masseter muscle to relax the muscle enough to stop it from going into spasms without changing one's chewing function.

"Grinding is like body building," said Dr. Alexander Rivkin, a head and neck surgeon at Westside Aesthetics in Los Angeles, who has also seen an increase in grinding-related cases this past year. "The constant workout of the masseter muscle, the largest in the head, builds up that muscle and that can cause a lot of pain, not to mention make the face appear more square."

He added, "For, I'd say, 85 percent of the people who come to me complaining about headaches, jaw soreness and pain, Botox injections into the masseter muscle on both sides of the face is the answer."

But even something as simple as taking time before bed to de-stress has been known to help.

"Good sleep hygiene goes a long way to keeping the mind relaxed and the jaws from starting to smack together," said Dr. McCracken, who has studied the relation of sleep to teeth grinding. "We know that the stress center of the brain is directly next to the part of the brain that controls teeth grinding. We're not sure how it relates to the disorder, but it's intriguing. Lately, I even tell my patients, before they go to bed, not to watch the news."

By: CAMILLE SWEENEY

Brush Your Teeth!!

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Here are some ADA brushing guidelines.

The ADA recommends the following for good oral hygiene:

Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis, an early, reversible form of periodontal (gum) disease. ADA-Accepted antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes have substantiated these claims by demonstrating significant reductions in plaque and gingivitis. Fluoride mouth rinses help reduce and prevent tooth decay. Clinical studies have demonstrated that use of a fluoride mouth rinse and fluoride toothpaste can provide extra protection against tooth decay over that provided by fluoride toothpaste alone. Fluoride mouth rinse is not recommended for children age six or younger because they may swallow the rinse. Consumers should always check the manufacturer’s label for precautions and age recommendations and talk with their dentist about the use of fluoride mouth rinse.

Talk to your dentist about what types of oral care products will be most effective for you. The ADA Seal on a product is your assurance that it has met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. Look for the ADA Seal on fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators, mouth rinses and other oral hygiene products.

See animations that show brushing and flossing.

ANTIBIOTICS AND YOUR HEART

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:26:00 GMT

For decades, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended that patients with certain heart conditions take antibiotics shortly before dental treatment. This was done with the belief that antibiotics would prevent infective endocarditis (IE), previously referred to as bacterial endocarditis. IE is an infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves, which results when bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. Bacteria normally are found in various sites of the body including on the skin and in the mouth.

The AHA’s latest guidelines were published in its scientific journal, Circulation, in April 2007 and there is good news: the AHA recommends that most of these patients no longer need short-term antibiotics as a preventive measure before their dental treatment.

The American Dental Association participated in the development of the new guidelines and has approved those portions relevant to dentistry. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society endorsed the guidelines.

The guidelines are based on a growing body of scientific evidence that shows the risks of taking preventive antibiotics outweigh the benefits for most patients. The risks include adverse reactions to antibiotics that range from mild to potentially severe cases. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can also lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Scientists also found no compelling evidence that taking antibiotics prior to a dental procedure prevents IE in patients who are at risk of developing a heart infection. Their hearts already are often exposed to bacteria from the mouth, which can enter their bloodstream during basic daily activities such as brushing or flossing. The new guidelines are based on a comprehensive review of published studies that suggests IE is more likely to occur as a result of these everyday activities than from a dental procedure.

The guidelines say patients who have taken prophylactic antibiotics routinely in the past but no longer need them include people with:

mitral valve prolapse
rheumatic heart disease
bicuspid valve disease
calcified aortic stenosis
congenital heart conditions such as ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The new guidelines are aimed at patients who would have the greatest danger of a bad outcome if they developed a heart infection.

Preventive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

artificial heart valves
a history of infective endocarditis
certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including
- unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
- a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, during the first six months after the procedure
- any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device
a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve.

The new recommendations apply to many dental procedures, including teeth cleaning and extractions. Patients with congenital heart disease can have complicated circumstances. They should check with their cardiologist if there is any question at all as to the category that best fits their needs.

Patients and their families should also ask their health care providers careful questions anytime antibiotics are suggested before a medical or dental procedure.

The AHA guidelines emphasize that maintaining optimal oral health and practicing daily oral hygiene are more important in reducing the risk of IE than taking preventive antibiotics before a dental visit.

From ADA

10 Reasons YOU Should Not Miss Your Next Appointment!

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:39:00 GMT

It Prevents Oral Cancer. You may or may not realize that you’re screened for oral cancer during your regular dental cleaning. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, an American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day. It’s a sad proposition, especially when you consider that it is highly curable with early diagnosis.
It Wards off Gum Disease. Gum disease (an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place) is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. It can be treated and reversed if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, not receiving treatment will lead to a more serious and advanced state of gum disease. Regular cleanings and check-ups and daily brushing and flossing are key weapons in the fight against these conditions.
It’s about More than Your Mouth. Sure, not getting regular check-ups may make you less kissable, but did you know that studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease associated with poor oral hygiene? A trip to our office every six months could reduce your risk of serious health problems.
You Want to Preserve Your Smile. As mentioned, gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. To keep your pearly whites intact, stick with your cleaning schedule.
It’s Best to Detect Dental Problems Early. We’ve already touched upon early detection of gum disease and oral cancer, but don’t overlook more basic dental problems. Cavities and broken fillings are easy to treat. Without regular trips to the dentist, these problems can lead to root canals, gum surgery and tooth extraction. Which sounds worse: a 30-minute cleaning or an hour under the knife?
You Want to Know You’re Doing It Right. Maybe you bought a fancy new electric toothbrush, or aren’t keeping up with what current research has to say about caring for your teeth. Either way, check-ups allow us to examine your mouth and keep you on the right path.
You Have Dental Insurance. Consider how much money you put into your insurance plan. Take advantage of it and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly procedures that result from poor dental habits.
You Want to Upgrade Your Smile. If you’re already suffering from tooth decay or gum problems, regular appointments will allow our office to create a personalized treatment plan that will give you the best smile possible.
You Want to Dazzle. Regular cleanings remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains, polishing your teeth to a beautiful shine!
You Need Some Time Alone. Okay, maybe not completely alone, but the time you spend in our waiting room and in our chair is really your time. You can forget about the office or the stresses of family life. Read a magazine or work through a crossword if you want. Take advantage of the time you’re given, rather than worrying about how to fit it in your tight schedule. Your health and well-being should never take a back seat to your daily planner.

Dental Solutions New Promotions - 6 Month Smiles

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:09:00 GMT

We are currently promoting the benefits of 6 Month Smiles and came out with a radio spot. Check it out!!

Dental Soltuions - 6 month smiles promotion

Preventative Care for your Childeren

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:37:00 GMT

A very important part of dentisry is preventative care. Last month was National Youth Sports Safety Month which was filled with information on how to keep your children and you safe. I found some interesting articles dedicated to dental care for your children and you during the upcoming summer months. Here are a few different articles from the Academy of General Dentistry.

To Keep Mouths Safe, Don’t Just Wear a Mouthguard; Keep it Clean!

"Fractured teeth, neck injuries and abrasions in the mouth, also known as sports-related dental injuries, are ever present among athletes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, sports-related dental injuries account for more than 600,000 emergency room visits each year...." Full Article

Mouthguard maintenance:

• Brush teeth before wearing a mouthguard.

• Never share a mouthguard with teammates.

• During sporting events, have a backup mouthguard.

• Purchase disposable mouthguards.

• Clean mouthguards before storing them.

Swimmers Risk Stained Smiles, Chipped Teeth

"Competitive swimmers may be at risk for developing yellowish-brown or dark-brown stains on their teeth, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education..."

Full Article

Avoid Diver's Mouth Syndrome When Scuba Diving

"Before you go scuba diving, see your dentist because this sport can lead to jaw joint pain, gum tissue problems or tooth pain.

All of these symptoms add up to "diver's mouth syndrome," a condition that is caused by the mouthpiece and by the air pressure change involved in scuba diving – a sport that is enjoyed by about 4 million enthusiasts in the United States...."

Full Article

I hope this information is benefical and please leave your comments if you would like to add anything.

Cerec Technology

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:30:00 GMT

We at Dental Solutions want to make clear our intent to provide you with convenient and expert dentistry. We recently acquired the Sirona CEREC Acquisition Center (AC) powered by Bluecam and Sirona CERAC MC XL. The combination of this cutting edge technology allow for a few visits at a regular dentist to be combined in one quick visit at Dental Solutions. We can now perform any single-tooth or quadrant restorations directly at the chair side, which means we will not need to send anything off to a laboratory and call you in for another visit. We will create the replacements in our office and even invite you to view the process if you would like. Below are some video links to further explain this new service ---

http://www.cereconline.com/cerec/demo.html

Welcome

Dr. Dipesh Sitaram — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:24:00 GMT

I would like to welcome everyone to the Dental Solutions weekly blog. My main goal in this blog is to educate people on various dental topics and also introduce them to me, to give you a comfortable experience when you visit Dental Solutions on your next appointment.

Dentistry has entered a new generation; there is new information and technology everywhere you turn. I want to make your decisions easy for you. So, every week I will explain some of these new choices and include the pros and cons.

In the past, dentist visits were mundane or often a scary experience to some. At Dental Solutions we look at trying to make you comfortable first. We have contrived a soothing atmosphere and accompanied that with other activities, such as movies or surfing the internet, to take your mind off the actual work being done. This is another aspect I will discuss in the future; we have spent many hours fine tuning the details at Dental Solutions and I want to tell you the history behind those decisions.

So, thanks for reading the first entry and I hope I gave you a good guide on what to expect in the future. I definitely invite you to visit us next week where I will be discussing our brand new Cerec technology.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to enter them in the area below and I will try to get to all of them.