How Would You Feel About a Dental Assistant Cleaning Your Teeth?

Legislation in the state of Arizona was passed (AZ Senate Bill 1124) and signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs effectively allowing dental assistants (after completing a training program) to perform subgingival scaling and polishing with a dentist or hygienist's supervision. They would be called OPA's...Oral Preventive Assistants.

This may be a game changer for the dentist as far as expense, as a dental assistant typically earns far less money than a hygienist.  Hygienists go to school for this, though, so what is this new law going to cost them?  Additionally, and most importantly, what, if any, will the risk be for the patient? 

Some dentists may opt in for this change but some may not.  Check with your dentist to see where he/she stands on the issue.  

Just some food for thought.  

Keep Smiling!!

Dry Mouth Sufferers, There is Help For You!

 Many people suffer daily from a condition known as Xeristomia or Dry Mouth. Dry mouth can be brought on by any number of medical maladies and various prescription drugs. Most sufferers have found little to no relief from this condition and find themselves constantly drinking more water in hopes of quenching it.

New studies have shown that gums, candies, rinses and sweeteners containing Xylitol offer comfort to those suffering from dry mouth. Xylitol coats the soft tissues of the mouth, sealing in moisture and stimulateing saliva flow.

A plethora of amazing over-the-counter products are endorsed by dentists for treating dry mouth. Some products to check out are Biotene, Oasis and Sensodyne for Dry Mouth.

Don't suffer in silence!  Tell your dentist if you suffer from this malady.  Chances are he'll suggest one of the products listed above.

Keep Smiling! 

Can Botox Be Beneficial for Teeth Grinding Disorders?

 Botox is most commonly known for getting the crows feet and wrinkles out of your face. At least that's how it's promoted. However, in reality, Botox is used for a number of medical conditions. If you have chronic migraines, Botox can help. Stiff muscles, a Botox injection can take care of it. It is even recommended for some with an overactive bladder!

What about teeth grinding? Yes!  Apparently it can benefit that, too. Teeth grinding (medically known as bruxism), is a serious issue that can greatly damage your teeth, cause TMJ and end up being very costly to treat. Most of the time it is treated with a mouth guard that is designed to reduce the risk to your teeth. However, even with the mouth guard you are still grinding in your sleep. Instead of grinding tooth to tooth, you are grinding on the mouth guard itself, which, in essence, still causes jaw pain and can lead to TMJ. It protects your teeth really well, but has a limited effect on protecting your jaw.

Botox, on the other hand, has been proven to greatly reduce the grinding all together. 

So, if you are a chronic teeth grinder, maybe Botox is something to consider.  Ask your dentist, and as always, keep smiling!

Antibiotics For Treatment of Oral Infections-Good or Bad?

 Usually, when you have an infected tooth, your dentist gives you antibiotics before any procedure, right?

Well, new research from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio has found that antibiotics kill the "good" bacteria which helps keep the infection and inflammation at bay and can do more harm than good.

Pushpa Panduyan stated "Of course, antibiotics are still needed for life-threating infections. No question about that. Our bodies have many natural defenses that we shouldn't meddle with," she said. However, needless overuse of antibiotics is not helpful."

"Also, we know there is a definite link between oral health and overall health," she added.

 For the research and results click here!

How Can Teledentisry be Beneficial?

Teledentistry is considered to be the dental form of telemedicine.

Teledentistry:  

• ·         Offers live streaming for face-to-face visits with a dentist or practitioner
• ·         Provides patients a secure patient portal to access data you share
• ·         Offers secure messaging so they can start clinical conversations
• ·         Offers live video consultations for visual evaluations and assessments
• ·         Ability to pre-screen for dental visits and emergencies
• ·         Check-ins
• ·         Treatment planning
• ·         Remote Triage

And many more options… 

It can also be used to transfer documents and information and consult with other providers in the industry.  It’s HIPAA compliant, mobile friendly and secure.  Who knew? 

Keep Smiling!

Can Poor Dental Appearance Affect You Professionally?

The short answer is yes. The struggle is real.  The pain is real, both physically and emotionally.

It’s a stigma that no one wants to bear…a crooked smile, broken or missing teeth, visible decay and it can lead to poverty and discrimination.  People (including potential employers) will judge a person by how they look.  It happens, and it’s unfortunate.
A mind-blowing fact is that a potential employer may look past things such as excessive tattoos, piercings or even rainbow colored hair when it comes to hiring, but will pass over a person with broken or missing teeth.  The partial reason for this is clearly due to a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem in the interviewee.  People who have bad teeth will typically try to hide them by covering their mouth, not making eye contact or not smiling, lending to the perception of low self-worth.
On the flip side, in social situations, friends or acquaintances or even a potential employer may be reluctant to include someone due to poor dental appearance. In a shallow sort of way, it embarrasses them.  

Adding to the overall misery is the fact that dentistry is expensive and although there are financing options available almost everywhere, those without a job cannot usually qualify. Medicaid programs are of little help.  Most pay little to nothing for adult dental care, and nothing for restorative treatment.  All of this combined creates a vicious cycle of personal struggle and can actually lead to poverty.
It is a sad fact that many people living in poverty consider dentistry a luxury that is reserved for the rich.
The emphasis that is placed on physical appearance nowadays is unbelievable.  But then they say first impressions are everything.  It appears they really are.

If you feel that your dental problems are hindering your success, please know that help is available.  There are resources in every state.  Find an advocate who can help you to locate a provider that fits your specific needs. Ask a trusted friend for a recommendation.  Also, charitable dentistry does exist if you are in need.  Never lose hope!

Are Digital Dental X-rays Safer?

 More and more dental centers are moving to the digital x-ray system in their office. In fact, more times than not a dental center that we visit has moved to this technology. There are major advantages to the dental office making the switch, but what about the patient?

Are digital x-rays safer? Is there less exposure to radiation?

The answers to these questions are YES and YES. Unlike older film-based x-rays, digital x-rays have a better range of coverage. This means that it takes fewer x-rays to get what the dental center needs. Also, the x-ray is completed faster. Unlike the film x-rays, the amount of time needed to obtain the picture is reduced.

"Re-shots" can be corrected faster as well. With the film x-ray, if the x-ray tech was a little off or if something with wrong in development, then they had to come back a re-take the x-ray. Knowing that they needed to do that could take 15-20 minutes. With the digital x-rays, the actual x-ray appears instantly and the tech is able to see if everything came out okay and adjust if it didn't.

Lastly, with the advancement in digital x-ray technology, you are exposed to 90% less radiation than with a film x-ray. Which makes them safer for you.

Original post from November 24, 2017

Random, Fun Dental Facts, Redux

 These dental trivia facts never get old.  

Enjoy this repost from 2022.  

• In the year 1900, the tooth fairy would leave approximately 12 cents. In the year 1998, one dollar. Imagine, at the current rate of inflation....this year, the year 2022...NICE! $$$$$
• You cannot conceal your smoking habit with mouthwash or brushing before a visit! That's right, your dentist knows :)...Apparently, the smoke residue seeps into the tissue surrounding your gums....
• You would need to have more than 300 amalgam fillings to even come close to the amount of mercury that is considered dangerous.
• 100 years ago, 50% of adults in North America were toothless!
• The first electric toothbrush was introduced in 1939.
• The antibacterial properties in Black and Green Tea CAN help prevent cavities.
• Chewing gum that contains Xylitol can help prevent cavities by reducing the bad bacteria in your mouth.
• Mouthwashes containing alcohol are only temporarily effective, and the alcohol dries out your mouth.
• Snails have teeth! Thousands of them...and yet, turtles are toothless!
• You will get more radiation from an hour in the sun than from a dental x-ray.

One more....this one is great!

• A survey once done by Time Magazine concluded that 59% of Americans would prefer to sit in a dentist's chair than to sit next to someone on a cell phone!

Enjoy, and Keep Smiling!

Flu Season Challenges - Prevention is Key!

 It's that time of year again! Flu season is upon us and this year is proving to be a nasty one. We are constantly washing our hands and doing everything we can to avoid it, but have you considered cleaning and disinfecting your toothbrush as a way to prevent the spread? 

Here are some helpful tips that could help prevent you from catching that nasty flu.

• Replace your toothbrush about every 2-3 months. If you already have a cold replace the brush once you feel better.  
• Sterilize the toothbrush, this should be done about once a week. If someone in the household is sick you may want to do this twice a week. The best way to sterilize the toothbrush is by running it through the dishwasher when you do a load of dishes. If you don't have a dishwasher, place your toothbrush in a microwave-safe dish, fill it up with about 2-3 inches of water, and bring it to a boil for 3-4 minutes.
• Store your toothbrush away from others, use a toothbrush cover if possible, and always store it upright. Also try to use your own toothpaste, because if the bristles touch the toothbrush of others you are spreading germs from one person to another.

Good dental habits are very important to a healthy body.

 Take care during this flu season!

The Future of Stem-Cell Tooth Implants

Could traditional implants and dentures be a thing of the past?

Imagine going to the dentist, having a tooth extracted and finding out that you can simply grow another in it's place; with a little help from science, that is.  It may be the way of the near future....it may even be cheaper than implants (and we all know that the full process for an implant can take up to 6 months, right?)  Apparently this new process of growing a new tooth can be done in only 9 weeks.  Unbelievable!

Here is a link to an article and a very informative video that explains the science behind it, and the process.  Amazing.

The beauty of this process is that it may even be able to restore or save a tooth before it's too late.  

Now if they could only come up with a way to do an extraction that is non-invasive...well, one can dream, right?

Keep Smiling!  

The Reality of Dental Insurance vs Dental Plans

 

Last week, I was checking out health insurance on the marketplace for my spouse and I. As we were choosing our coverage we decided to take a look at the dental insurance being offered. I was astonished at what I saw. Now, I remember the days of updating our comparison zone on our website, and having to gather all of the data from dental insurance companies to make sure it is accurate, however this was different than that. When I was gathering data, was more of a routine thing and I was not really comprehending the full data that I was gathering. However, when I was looking at dental insurance from the perspective of a consumer, it was a whole different view. As a businessman, I am a numbers guy. Numbers is the language that gets my attention. So I decided to run the numbers and what I found, I put in the video above.

As we perused through multiple policies offered, the cost, the waiting periods, covered procedures, and exclusions, the numbers just did not make sense. My spouse asked "why would anyone sign up for this". I responded, "because it's insurance, and people automatically assume it's better. Most people do not read the whole policy. They see the $45 dollars a month, and the 2 free cleaning a year, and run with it." Little do they know that if they need a root canal, it's either not covered, or you have to wait 12 months before it is. Even then, most of them that I saw only cover 30%-40% after the deductible. If you need a filling, you have wait 6 months.

When it comes right down to it, dental insurance companies will always put profits over the patients. They will collect as much as they can, get the patient to pay as much as they can, and cover as little as possible. Even if it means denying coverage on medically necessary dental procedures, which as I did not see one policy that even covered it. Most of the money that you pay for dental insurance, stays with that insurance company. You pay a lot more that what they are paying out. As my dad says "They are in the business of collecting premiums, not paying claims". That statement hold true, and if you look at the policy disclosures, you will see it.

We hear it all the time that "discount plans" are sub-par coverage. However when you break down the numbers, you get more benefit from a dental plan, then you do from dental insurance. We also hear that "discount plans" cost you more at the dental office, because you have to pay out of pocket. It does appear that way, however if you look at what you are paying to the insurance company each month, during the waiting period, the deductible, the maximum out of pocket, the full price on non-covered procedures, and take into consideration that after you exhaust the "$1,000" coverage cap, you have to pay full price; then it evens out. It basically comes down to do you want to pay on the front end for your dental work, or do you want to pay on the back end of it and have most of what you pay go to an insurance company who at any time can deny your claim and make you pay more.

Needless to say, my spouse and I hit decline on the dental insurance as we had intention of signing up for it to begin with, especially because we have our plan. I would however, invite everyone of you to run the numbers and see what you are actually getting for your hard earned dollars when it comes to dental insurance!

Vitamin D - An Essential Vitamin For Oral Health

  Vitamin D controls almost every cell in the human body, and is a very potent stimulator of the immune system as a whole. It is the only vitamin that is also a hormone! Vitamin D is essential to the absorption of Calcium, as well as many other nutrients. When the body cannot absorb these nutrients, it can impact your overall health and, just as importantly, the health of your teeth and gums. Many people are not aware that they have a deficiency...Vitamin D deficiency is easily detected, but rarely tested for on a routine basis.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency can include bone loss, (which can lead to periodontal disease), also fatigue, depression, stroke, heart disease (which has also been linked to periodontal disease) and even weight loss!

Good sources of Vitamin D are: Fish (Salmon and Tuna) Milk (fortified) Eggs, (yolk contains the vitamin) and Sunlight! 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight per day is recommended.

If you are over the age of 50, discuss the possibility of routine testing for Vitamin D deficiency with your doctor. It is estimated that 10,000,000 Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.

Keep Smiling!