Is a Salt Water Rinse Really Effective For Oral Use?

 An ancient home remedy of dealing with a sore throat, sore gums, lost tooth or post dental procedures is rinsing with warm salt water. Since 1600 B.C. Ancient Greeks have been using salt and water as a treatment. The question is, in 2018, does this remedy still work?

The answer is YES. Believe it or not, it is still recommended by almost every dentist as well. Mainly because it kill bacteria in the mouth, but also because salt is an anti-inflammatory as well. Which means it can reduce swelling.

The use of salt also promotes healing, so it's ideal to use it 24 hours after minor dental surgery to help your mouth recover. It's an isotonic solution, which means it contains the same salts and minerals our bodies do in equal concentrations. For this reason, it doesn't irritate the mucous membranes as a medicinal mouthwash might, which is why many dentists recommend it as a gentle healing aid after a procedure.

So, although this method has been around for thousands of years, it is still used today and still just as effective as before.

So sometimes pouring salt on the wound is not a bad thing :)

Why to Avoid Dental Offices with In-House Plans

 Just a friendly FYI...

We are in a slowing economy, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Here is a problem we have  encountered many. many times in recent years.  If you are in the market for a good dental plan, this may be something you are unaware of. 

Since we are a dental plan, we spend many hours each week monitoring what's happening in the dental field. One thing that still pops up frequently is the many dental offices that offer their own dental plan.

On the surface, this may appear to be a great offer to the patient of the dental office BUT it should raise a couple of red flags, too.

1. For a small fee (usually under $100.00 per year), paid directly to the dental office, they will lower their usual fee by as much as 50%. The main question to ask yourself is, "Why are their usual fees so high to begin with". We all know that such a small membership fee doesn't offset the discount that they are offering.

2. Does the fact that they are willing to drop their fees if you purchase their dental plan cause a trust issue with that dental office? When I have the chance to explain in detail like I did in paragraph 1, the majority of the people I talk with usually develop some level of a trust issue.

3. What happens if you decide that you don't like the dental office, don't agree with the treatment plan, or move too far away making it almost impossible to continue to go to that dental office. Is another dental office going to accept the plan that you purchased? I can say with 99% accuracy the answer is NO!! You are now stuck with a dental plan that you can only use at one office or a mega office (a series of offices managed by a group) and nowhere else.

Dental plans like Savon Dental Plan do one thing. They provide their members with quality, affordable dental care at select dental offices in several states. The dental plan controls the fees, not the dental office. If you have a problem with a dentist, simply choose a new dentist. If you feel you were overcharged, the dental plan is there, ready and willing to act on your behalf to sort out the issue. Our fees do not vary, they are set and adjusted approximately every 18 months to keep up with the rising cost of materials and services. These cost adjustments are generally minimal.  They are designed to keep the prices fair for both the dental provider and the patient. 

Don't get caught in the trap of purchasing a dental plan that may be good only at the dental office or dental group that sells it to you. Investigate all of your options and find a good solid dental plan that works for you.  Do your homework first!

Original post from C.J. on August 24, 2011

Hypnosis in Place of Anesthesia in the Dental Office?

 Have you ever been hypnotized?  Was it to help reduce stress and anxiety? Gain control of past traumas? Or was it for fun during a renaissance festival act?  Whatever the reason, I hope you were able to benefit from it!

But have you ever thought that hypnosis could work as a dental anesthetic? If your answer is no, then you need to read the article "You're not dreaming: Hypnosis works as an anesthetic" By Melissa Busch, Dr. Bicuspids' associate editor.

"Hypnosis is a safe, effective, and inexpensive technique that could be used in place of anesthesia during dental procedures, according to a clinical report published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

In the small study, three women successfully underwent dental procedures under hypnosis rather than traditional sedation. At the time, the authors believed the report to be the only case series published that evaluates hypnosis as the sole anesthetic for patients in dental settings.

The technique

To determine whether oral surgery could be performed on patients under hypnosis without sedation, the researchers enrolled three women between the ages of 34 and 49. Two of the women had previous difficulties with medical anesthesia, including an anaphylactic reaction to local anesthetic and a paradoxical reaction to pharmacological sedation.

Prior to their surgeries, the patients underwent two sessions to assess their perioperative risk, level of anxiety, hypnotic susceptibility, and capacity to develop complete hypnotic analgesia.

On the days of their surgeries, the women closed their eyes, concentrated on their bodies and breath, and imagined lying on a tropical island's beach. The authors then induced hypnotic-focused analgesia using the following steps:

1. They suggested they were administering local anesthetic, while repeatedly touching and rubbing the cheek.
2. They said local anesthesia caused the sensation on the cheek.
3. They said the sensation was a sign that the cheek, teeth, and gums were going numb.
4. They suggested the women not pay attention to the operative setting, including the teeth, gum, and skin.

Within nine minutes, all three patients obtained hypnotic analgesia. The team then successfully performed several procedures on the women:

• The 34-year-old woman underwent a 15-minute third molar surgery and a 120-minute mucogingival surgery.
• The 47-year-old woman underwent a 15-minute third molar surgery.
• The 49-year-old woman underwent a 45-minute procedure to remove a first molar and place an implant, as well as a 120-minute procedure for maxillary bone augmentation plus two implants.

The authors told the patients they could take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain, if needed, after the procedures. When they called the patients that evening and the next day, the women said they felt well and did not need to take any medications.

It is not a widely used practice, but in recent years, medical professionals, including holistic dentists have begun revisiting hypnosis as an analgesic due to its lack of side effects. If the findings of this small study are any indication, hypnosis could be used cost-effectively in dental practice and also help physicians better understand and meet the subjective needs of patients, the authors wrote.

Would you try hypnosis over general anesthesia?

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!!