David J. Martin, DDS Blog

I have gotten started on an exciting new addition to the practice. I recently trained to be able to deliver botox and dermal fillers to our patients. It has been a goal of mine to be able to deliver the most up to date procedures, especially related to the aesthetics. The trend has been moving to the oral – systemic connection. We have been working here in the office toward integrating your physical health and oral health, I decided to carry that concept into the aesthetic arena. Once the teeth look good what about the areas around the mouth? If we ignore the rest of the face, then we have really limited what we have done in esthetic dentistry.
It is time to give serious consideration to extending the oral-systemic connection to the esthetic realms of the face, which we as dentist are more familiar than any other health-care practitioner.
Botox is used for smoothing facial wrinkles by eliminating dynamic wrinkles caused by muscles in motion. Dermal fillers are commonly used to add volume to the face in the nasiolabial folds, lip augmentations and other areas of volume deficiency.
If this something that interests you please give us a call and come in for a consultation.

Oral sex can get most men’s attention. The topic becomes considerably more relevant, however, when coupled with a new study linking the human papillomavirus (HPV) to an increased risk of a kind of oral cancer more often seen in men.

The study, which appears in the 2007 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), shows that men and women who reported having six or more oral-sex partners during their lifetime had a nearly nine fold increased risk of developing cancer of the tonsils or at the base of the tongue. Of the 300 study participants, those infected with HPV were also 32 times more likely to develop this type of oral cancer than those who did not have the virus. These findings dwarf the increased risk of developing this so-called oropharyngeal cancer associated with the two major risk factors: smoking (3 times greater) or drinking (2.5 times greater). HPV infection drives cancerous growth, as it is widely understood to do in the cervix. But unlike cervical cancer, this type of oral cancer is more prevalent in men.

HPV stands for human papillomavirus, but there are actually more than 100 related viruses in this group. Each HPV virus is given a number or type. The term “papilloma” refers to a kind of wart that results from some HPV types.

The Importance of Early Detection

Your dentist has recent good news about progress against cancer. It is now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a cure is great. Only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years.

We have the skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. You and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer. Know the early signs and see our office regularly.

You Should Know

* Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.
* It can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
* Other signs include:
o A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
o A color change of the oral tissues
o A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
o Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
o Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.
o A change in the way the teeth fit together
* Oral Cancer most often occurs in those who use tobacco in any form.
* Alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk.
* Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.
* Oral cancers can occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors.
* Oral Cancer is more likely to strike after age 40.
* Studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may prevent the development of potentially cancerous lesions.

Regular Dental Check-ups Important

Oral cancer screening is a routine part of a dental examination. Regular check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.

We will carefully examine the inside of your mouth and tongue and in some patients may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. Harmful oral spots or sores often look identical to those that are harmless, but testing can tell them apart. If you have a sore with a likely cause, your dentist may treat it and ask you to return for re-examination.

In the future we will talk about the various testing methods available to help in early detection.

Welcome to the new decade. We all here are looking forward to a very promising 2010. I hope all had a wonderful holiday period and the new year is beginning with a positive spin. I have great plans for the practice next year. Over the next couple of weeks I will release the new services and changes we are making to the office. They all are designed to improve your dental and physical health. Our goals for the next decade are to optimize your health. We want to know how important your dental and general health is to us. Just stayed tune and I will continue to update you all. This is an exciting time to be practicing and I am thankful for all of you who are a part of our family. Happy New Year.

When you’re learning about teeth whitening bleach, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This cosmetic teeth whitening article should help you focus on the central points of Teeth Whitening.

There are many teeth whitening products available to consumers both from your dentist, grocery stores, drug stores, online Websites. Educating yourself about teeth whiteners before buying is a very smart decision. There are two ways to whiten your teeth: over – the – counter and with a dentist. There are benefits and disadvantages to both ways.

Over – The – Counter

There are two ingredients used in whiteners. Some whiteners use 10 % Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide is also used to bleach hair. Other whiteners use Carbamide Peroxide. This breaks up in your mouth into both carbamide peroxide besides urea. It is to your benefit to retain your teeth professionally cleaned and any cavities filled before starting to use teeth whitener. Most over- the – counter whiteners use either trays or strips. The cost of these products can perform anywhere from under $10 to $35 per container.

Problems with over – the – counter whiteners

Without a professional administering the whitener, there will be no help for you to adjust the amount and strength. If you encounter sensitivity of your gum, there is no way to adjust the strength for your needs. It can also be difficult to cover all the tooth surfaces with strips and trays.

Remedies

If you experience irritation, you can try to cut back on usage. Instead of daily, use the whitening every other day. You can also apply a product such as Orajel, to your irritated gum.

FDA

One thing you should know is that the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration does not categorize teeth whitening products as drugs and therefore does not regulate them. Because of this, the ADA ( American Dental Association ) has set guidelines for these dental products. These guidelines are standards for safety and effectiveness. They state that whiteners should not cause any harm to either the teeth or the soft tissues of the gum.

If your dental health facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your teeth whitening decisions? Make certain you don’t let important dental health information slip by you.

They state that the product should be effective in whitening teeth. As of January 2006, no teeth whitening products have met the ADA guidelines for safety or effectiveness.

At The Dentists

Your dentist clean your teeth, fill any cavities also check your gums to be sure they are healthy. The dentist will use between 15 to 35 % of either Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide. Your dentist will adjust the amount based on how your gums adjust to the application process. Before applying the whitener, the dentist will clean your teeth with a pumice and then put a protective barrier on your gums.

The entire treatment generally takes about 40 minutes. The dentist apply a paste, take it off, and then reapply the paste. The dentist will repeat the process several times during the visit. Each application will result in your teeth being a shade lighter each time. Having your teeth whitened this way is faster than the over – the – counter products.

You can also opt for your dentist to make you a tray to take home that you wear over your teeth. The dentist will take a mold ( dogma of your teeth / gums ) so that the tray will fit properly. You will receive a gel to put into the tray. You then wear the tray for 2 hours during the day for 2 weeks and perhaps up to 6 weeks.

Using the professional services of your dentist to whiten your teeth can run anywhere from $300 to $1,000. You may also have to wait for an appointment, then go through the process of the examination. If the dentist finds cavities you will need to wait while the fillings are placed.

That’s the latest on teeth whitening methods. Now that you’re familiar with teeth whitening, you can make an informed decision, on how-to whiten your teeth.

Continuing with this important discussion in this blog I will try to give an overview of possible treatment options. I have broken it into early and later phases. The very important diagnosis that needs to be made is related to airway issues in the developing child. If these issues are not resolved, treatment becomes more difficult and overall results compromised. All children in the practice are evaluated visually and recommendations made.

Phase 1
Mixed Dentition (Orthopedic Phase)
Thumb sucking, digital habits, anterior and lateral tongue thrusts, airway problems including mouth breathing and snoring and jaw joint (TMJ) problems must be corrected early with functional appliances. Skeletal problems such as constricted maxillary or mandibular arches and prognathic or retrognathic mandibles are best treated as early as possible with functional appliances in the mixed dentition period of growth.

Phase 2
Permanent Dentition (Orthodontic Phase)
Dental problems are solved with straight wire appliances (fixed) braces in permanent dentition.

One of the main advantages of early treatment is the majority of malocclusions can be corrected without extraction of permanent teeth and non-surgically. Parents favor the use of functional appliances to correct under-developed mandibles in the mixed dentition stage rather than delay treatment until all the permanent teeth erupt. Dentists who are trained to use jaw repositioning appliances such as the Twin Block, Rick-A-Nator, and Schwartz appliances, find it ludicrous to wait when children can be treated in 7 to 12 months non-surgically using functional appliances.

The Benefits of Early Treatment
For those patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment presents the opportunity to:

- Influence jaw growth in a positive manner - Simplify and/ or shorten treatment time
- Harmonize width of the dental arches for later corrective orthodontics
- Improve eruption patterns - Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
- Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors - Improve some speech problems
- Correct harmful oral habits - Preserve/ gain space for erupting permanent teeth
- Improve aesthetics and self-esteem - Improved breathing / airway problems

Enter to win a $20,000 smile makeover! Simply visit our office and learn how you can win the LVI Smile® you’ve always dreamed about – whiter, straighter, healthier teeth. We are a participating office in the opportunity to win the smile you have always wanted. Both Dr Debbie and I are LVI trained and can deliver the smile that fits you. We would love everyone to fill out an entry form and allow us to enter for you. Call the office and arrange for your complimentary consultation and opportunity to partake in this great chance. We all are so excited to be able to offer this anyone who like to visit us. See you soon.

Just returned from a weekend update in Neuromuscular Techniques and education. As a member of The International Congress of Cranio Mandibular Orthopedics, we gather yearly to exchange ideas, review new literature all allowing for the improved care of our patients. There were 12 lectures over the 2 1/2 day program, covering topics from diagnosis, treatment, orthodontics and physiology reviews. This is a very exciting time in dentistry. Correlating the jaw position to neck and back structures give us the opportunity to help headache and chronic suffering patients. It has been so rewarding to us here to be able to change people’s life’s with the use of orthopedic appliances. Already looking forward to next years program.

Mothers and fathers are approaching us daily about their children’s crowded teeth, protruding teeth and spaces between teeth. Today’s parents do not accept the answers given by some dentists and orthodontists when observing that their son or daughter has a problem. “No treatment is indicated at this time, the patient is too young, the malocclusion will be observed and treated when the permanent teeth erupt in.” For practitioners, trained with a preventive philosophy, this approach seems completely illogical when statistics have proven that malocclusions when left untreated worsen over time. The term “supervised neglect” seems very appropriate.

One of the main reasons why we should treat children during the mixed dentition stage of development is that there is such a high incidence of malocclusion in children. This was quite evident from the Burlington Growth Study, Toronto, Canada, where it was revealed that 75% of children, age 12, have some form of malocclusion.

Since 90% of the face is developed by age 12, practitioners must treat early if they want to guide and, in fact, modify the growth of younger patients. In our office we emphasize a functional-orthopedic philosophy and favor a two-phase orthodontic treatment. We recommend seeing children for an initial evaluation between age 6 and 10.

The next post will discuss the various stages of treatment and the rational for treating at an early age. I am really excited by the ability to intervene earlier allowing for the reduced chance of problems later in life. Our goal is better function and a better smile.

We have had several expectant mothers in recently. It is nice that these are women that I have cared for since they were small. To follow our patients from childhood to their impending motherhood is a really rewarding aspect of being in practice for over 30 years.I want to have the ability to avail them of the best that is out there for their children’s teeth. So I have put together a small primer on dental concerns that can arise during your pregnancy.

It’s a myth that calcium is lost from a mother’s teeth and “one tooth is lost with every pregnancy.” But you may experience some changes in your oral health during pregnancy. The primary changes are due to a surge in hormones – particularly an increase in estrogen and progesterone –- can exaggerate the way gum tissues react to plaque.

If the plaque isn’t removed, it can cause gingivitis – red, swollen, tender gums that are more likely to bleed. So-called “pregnancy gingivitis” affects most pregnant women to some degree, and generally begins to surface as early as the second month. If you already have gingivitis, the condition is likely to worsen during pregnancy. If untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease.

You can prevent gingivitis by keeping your teeth clean, especially near the gumline. You should brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and after each meal when possible. You should also floss thoroughly each day. If brushing causes morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water or with antiplaque and fluoride mouthwashes. Good nutrition – particularly plenty of vitamin C and B12 – help keep the oral cavity healthy and strong. More frequent cleanings from the dentist will help control plaque and prevent gingivitis. Controlling plaque also will reduce gum irritation and decrease the likelihood of pregnancy tumors.

Could gingivitis affect my baby’s health?
Research suggests a link between preterm, low-birthweight babies and gingivitis. Excessive bacteria can enter the bloodstream through your gums. If this happens, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of chemicals called prostaglandins, which are suspected to induce premature labor.

When should I see my dentist?
If you’re planning to become pregnant or suspect you’re pregnant, you should see a dentist right away. Otherwise, you should schedule a checkup in your first trimester for a cleaning. Your dentist will assess your oral condition and map out a dental plan for the rest of your pregnancy. A visit to the dentist also is recommended in the second trimester for a cleaning, to monitor changes and to gauge the effectiveness of your oral hygiene. Depending on the patient, another appointment may be scheduled early in the third trimester, but these appointments should be kept as brief as possible.

Are there any dental procedures I should avoid?
Non-emergency procedures generally can be performed throughout pregnancy, but the best time for any dental treatment is the fourth through six month. Women with dental emergencies that create severe pain can be treated during any trimester, but your obstetrician should be consulted during emergencies that require anesthesia or when medication is being prescribed. Only X-rays that are needed for emergencies should be taken during pregnancy. Lastly, elective procedures that can be postponed should be delayed until after the baby’s birth.

With many different applications, the diode laser is one of the most exciting tools available to laser dentistry practices. WE have had the laser in the office for over 5 years but just recently we have expanded it”s usage into many areas of treatment. This revolutionary technology allows us to treat patients with great precision, meaning less pain and quicker healing. Diode lasers can be used in several cosmetic dentistry procedures. If one has a “gummy” smile the diode laser becomes a easy, painless treatment modality to remove that appearance.

In the diode laser, energy is focused at the site of a semiconductor embedded inside a crystal. This energy is then transmitted via a flexible optical fiber to a handheld unit used by the dentist during treatment. The laser’s power can be finely adjusted to perform a wide variety of procedures more safely and comfortably than ever before.

The diode laser is flexible enough to be used in many different procedures. It is most commonly used to perform soft-tissue surgery, including removing tumors and lesions from the soft tissues of the mouth. Because the diode laser’s high-energy beam kills bacteria, it is often used to sterilize areas of the mouth before or during root canals, cavity treatment, canker sores and other such procedures.

We use the laser as an adjunct to periodontal therapies. Just today we had a patient in whom had periodontal scaling 4 months ago and we used the laser as a sterilizing procedure to conclude the treatment. He was in today for his recare appointment and 90% of the periodontal pockets had reduced with severa of them resolving over 70%. No medications were used. Almost no bleeding at any sites that were cleaned. In this era of trying to reduce inflammation in the mouth this addition to out procedures is helping all out patients achieve healthy mouths.