Chicago Dentist

Cavities (dental caries) are decayed areas in the teeth, the result of a process that gradually dissolves a tooth’s hard outer surface (enamel) and progresses toward the interior. Along with the common cold and gum disease, cavities are among the most common human afflictions. If cavities are not properly treated by a dentist, they continue to enlarge. Ultimately, an untreated cavity can lead to tooth loss. For tooth decay to develop, a tooth must be susceptible, acid-producing bacteria must be present, and food must be available for the bacteria to thrive. A susceptible tooth is one that has relatively little protective fluoride incorporated into the enamel or that has pronounced pits, grooves, or fissures that retain plaque. Poor oral hygiene that allows plaque and tartar to accumulate can accelerate this process. Although the mouth contains large numbers of bacteria, only certain types generate acid, which causes decay. The most common decay-causing bacterium is Streptococcus mutans.

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Root canal therapy refers to the process by which a dentist treats the inner aspects of a tooth, specifically that area inside a tooth that is occupied by its “pulp tissue.” Most people would probably refer to a tooth’s pulp tissue as its “nerve.” While a tooth’s pulp tissue does contain nerve fibers it is also composed of arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and connective tissue.

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A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form. “Root canal” is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal.

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Researchers have tested gummy bears made with a sugar substitute that wards off cavity-causing bacteria. A study in Washington State gathered 154 first to fifth graders from two elementary schools. The students were given four gummy bears made with either xylitol or maltitol (types of sugars used in many types of sugarless chewing gum) three times a day during school hours. All were checked for plaque and bacteria in their mouths at the start of the study and six weeks later. After six weeks, there was a “significant” reduction in the main bacteria buildup associated with cavities for the children who snacked on the xylitol and maltitol candy. Study lead author Kiet A. Ly with the University of Washington says in a news release that gummy bears may have the edge over gum. “For xylitol to be successfully used in oral health promotion programs among primary school children, an effective means of delivering xylitol must be identified,” Ly says. “Gummy bears would seem to be more ideal than chewing gum.”

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Thumb through a phone book and you’ll find plenty of ads in which dentists promise whiter, straighter teeth. Some even tout a “cosmetic dental practice.” Although they can advertise teeth bleaching, bonding and veneers, dentists can’t call themselves cosmetic specialists, says the Ohio State Dental Board, which oversees more than 6,100 practitioners. Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the state or the American Dental Association. Among specialties that are recognized: pediatric, general dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics and periodontology. State officials say advertising must be clear: They’re general dentists who provide cosmetic services. “To hold yourself out as a cosmetic dentist is to mislead the public,” said Lili C. Reitz, the board’s executive director. “There’s no standard program one would take to become a specialist in that area.”

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Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades. The calorie-dense, fatty, salty diet eaten by American children, combined with the serious lack of physical activity means that 25% of kids under 10 years of age have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or some other contributor to heart disease. A new report has issued a stark warning that children’s lives will be shorter than their parent’s if this trend continues. While extreme calorie reduction is not advisable for children, a balanced diet of whole foods and reduced dietary fat is recommended. The biggest challenge is finding a way to make what’s nutritious delicious enough to satisfy kids’ craving for sweets.

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A UB dentist specializing in prosthodontics says the best thing about providing patients with attractive and cost-effective dental restoration is the appreciation of those benefiting from his research and practice.Hyeongil Kim, who joined the dental school faculty as a clinical instructor in 2002, became an assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry last fall. He previously served as director of UB’s fixed and removable dental laboratories. “We treat many long-time denture wearers in the postgraduate and pre-doctoral clinics,” says Kim, noting that they often suffer from severe jawbone loss, which leads to loose dentures and sore oral tissues. “Just a little aesthetic and functional improvement makes a dramatic difference,” he says. “The patient’s satisfaction is the most rewarding part of being a clinician.” Buffalo is a particularly fascinating city from a prosthodontic perspective because the number of denture-wearers is well above the national average, Kim says, especially people who have worn them for many years. “Many people here have had dentures since they were young,” he says. “There was a time when dentures were given as graduation presents, and many patients are now suffering because their dentures are too loose—they’re using glue to keep them on.
UB Reporter: Kim works to lower cost of dentures

Do you take special care of your gums and teeth? Do you follow your dentist’s suggestions and dental care reminders? Do you follow the recommended annual visits to the dentist? Are you keen in keeping your dental health at its best? Providing proper teeth and gum care are important. Here are some tips to follow in order to keep your oral health at its optimum level.1. Your dentist and dental hygienist can provide you the best education on how to properly take care of you teeth and gums. Follow the tooth brushing techniques and proper oral care advices given by your dental health professionals. Avoid rushing when brushing your teeth. Provide at least 3 minutes of your time to thoroughly clean your teeth. Take enough time to reach all the dental surfaces including those hard to reach areas and the back teeth.2. Your brush should be held at a 45-degree angle to your gums. This will enable the tips of the bristles to point to the gumline. Gently move your brush in very short strokes in a back and forth motion.3. You should not take for granted the inner surfaces of your teeth even if these are not readily visible when you smile or open your mouth. Brush thoroughly both the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth as well as the grinding and incising surfaces.4. It is also advisable to brush your tongue gently. Our tongue usually harbors bacteria and minute food debris left during mastication, which can cause bad breath.5. It is also important to floss your teeth at least twice a day or after every meal as much as possible to remove trapped food particles in between the teeth that may cause bad breath and may become a bacterial breading ground.Today there are a lot of types of dental floss coming out in the market. Choose the product that you feel most comfortable with and that doesn’t cut or hurt your gums.Here are some useful steps to follow on how to floss correctly:a. Use at least 18 inches of dental floss and wind it around the middle finger of each hand. Hold it between your thumb and forefingers and leave about an inch of dental floss. Gently slip it in between your teeth in a sawing motion. Be careful not to snap or jerk the floss into the gums.b. Curve the dental floss into a C shape when it reaches the gumline then slide it gently up the gum. Be careful not to press too hard, you don’t want to cut your gum in the process.c. The floss should be held against the tooth and perform a scraping motion along the side of the tooth. This should be done gently and moving the dental floss away from the gums. Follow this procedure until you reach the backside of the last tooth.d. Bleeding gums may occur during the first 5 or 6 days after you start flossing. If beyond this period bleeding still occurs, you need to call and inform your dentist about it. You may not be doing the right thing and in the process hurting your gums.Properly taking care of your oral health will provide you a good and healthy oral environment, which will give you a healthy, beautiful smile and increase your self confidence.Michael Russell Your Independent Dental guide
forresstanford » Blog Archive » How To Take Care Of Your Teeth For A Healthy Smile

Choosing a new toothbrush is nothing like it used to be. At one time you simply had the choice of differently shaped heads. Now you can choose everything from inexpensive standard toothbrushes to expensive models that are rechargeable. Which choice is best? Are electric toothbrushes really any better than standard models? Standard toothbrushes are very affordable. In fact, your dentist probably gives you a new one at every checkup. Are these toothbrushes as effective as electric models? The effectiveness of standard toothbrushes depends on several factors. First of all, the bristles need to be stiff, but not too stiff. Toothbrushes with soft bristles aren’t as effective. On the other hand, toothbrushes with bristles that are too stiff may cause damage to your gums. Of course, toothbrushes are only as effective as their user. You must learn to properly brush your teeth. This means not bearing done too hard, brushing in the correct motion, and brushing for the proper amount of time.
Dental Care Tips: Shelf Life of a Toothbrush

Neuromuscular dentistry works with the jaw joints and their related soft tissue to create optimal alignment of your bite. Many people in the United States suffer from the effects of TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) and are never aware of it. Often the disease, which is a misaligned jaw joint, goes unnoticed and untreated, resulting in needless suffering for many years.

Press Release - What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a backflow of acid from the stomach into the throat, or esophagus. Most people suffer heartburn every once in a while, usually after a big meal. But if that uncomfortable burning sensation occurs more than once a twice a week, you could have GERD. It can cause tooth erosion from the digestive acids entering the mouth. Often the ailments can be addressed by lifestyle changes, including smaller meals. Often it requires medication, and sometimes even surgery.
Ten Medical Ailments You Never Knew Your Dentist Could Diagnose…and Possibly Cure!

How can I “snack smart” to protect myself from tooth decay?

Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself what’s in the food you’ve chosen. Is it loaded with sugar? If it is, think again. Another choicewould be better for your teeth. And keep in mind that certain kinds of sweets can do more damage than others. Gooey or chewy sweets spend more time sticking to the surface of your teeth. Because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they give your teeth a longer sugar bath.

You should also think about when and how often you eat snacks. Do you nibble on sugary snacks many times throughout the day, or do you usually just havedessert after dinner? Damaging acids form in your mouth every time you eat a sugary snack. The acids continue to affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized and can’t do any more harm. So, the more times you eat sugary snacks during the day, the more often you feed bacteria the fuel they need to cause tooth decay.

If you eat sweets, it’s best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals. Whenever you eat sweets — in anymeal or snack — brush your teeth well with a fluoride toothpaste afterward.

When you’re deciding about snacks, think about:

• the number of times a day you eat sugary snacks
• how long the sugary food stays in your mouth
• the texture of the sugary food (chewy? sticky?)

If you snack after school, before bedtime, or other times during the day, choose something without a lot of sugar or fat. There are lots of tasty, filling snacks that are less harmful to your teeth — and the rest of your body — than foods loaded with sugars and low in nutritional value. Snack smart!

Low-fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices. Eating the right foods can help protect you from tooth decay and other diseases. Next time you reach for a snack, pick a food from the list inside or make up your own menu of non-sugary, low-fat snack foods from the basic food groups.

Snack Smart for Healthy Teeth

Contrary to popular belief, flossing isn’t just a way to dislodge food wedged between your teeth. Regular flossing reduces cavities, gum disease and bad breath by helping to remove the bacterial film called plaque that forms along the gum line.

How To Floss Your Teeth | eHow.com

What Is the Right Way to Brush?
Proper brushing takes at least two minutes — that’s right, 120 seconds! Most adults do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth

Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
Clean the chewing surfaces
For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue, too

Brushing Teeth - Proper Techniques for Brushing Your Teeth

Over 1,000 Oral Health America supporters gathered on Thursday, February 21 at Chicago’s Navy Pier Grand Ballroom for the largest charitable event in dentistry, raising funds to improve access to care for the 108 million Americans without dental insurance.  Oral Health America, the nation’s premier, independent oral health advocacy organization, conducts educational and service programs designed to improve oral health — and raise public awareness of oral health’s importance to overall health.
Sell out Crowd Honors Oral Health America

Bad breath doesn’t have to keep you from getting close. If you’ve got bad breath that just won’t go away, there’s help available. Bad breath may be embarrassing, but the good news is that there are several treatment options that can eliminate bad breath for good.  Treatment for bad breath may be available at your local cosmetic dentistry practice.

The Origins of Bad Breath
Bad breath is caused by bacteria that hide under the tongue and in the grooves and rough edges of teeth. As bacteria come in contact with food particles they can turn these food particles into volatile sulfur compounds, or VSCs. Sometimes, lack of regular brushing and flossing can encourage the reaction that leads to bad breath. And, of course, eating foods like garlic and onions can contribute to foul-smelling breath. For many people, however, bad breath may occur regardless of how healthy your teeth and gums are. When the bad breath sticks around, it is most likely a problem that requires attention. The important thing is to never assume that a condition like bad breath is just a fact of life. It may actually be a medical problem that can be fixed with proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s up to you to seek help.

Press Release - Bad Breath