Latest In Dental Care

Titanium Woes on the Rise

Administrator — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:20:11 +0000

Titanium, the metal of choice for dental appliances has recently been in the spotlight mainly due to problems associated with the breaking down of the metal within the human body. More routinely used in the mending of broken bones, the metal has been found to degrade and corrode in time leaving patients with fragments and fine particles in their blood stream.

The dental community has taken the cause and are beginning to ask the same question, are they safe in dental applications. Studies are under way but for the meantime, tests that will detect and show the concentration of titanium metal in the blood is being developed as well. Toxicity is an issue that has to be determined and decided upon, which again gives ground to composites as materials of choice by dentists the world over.

Composite Fillings Gain Ground

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:56:33 +0000

Mainly because the prices of gold have skyrocketed, being one of the most favored tooth filling materials around. Gold is one of the best materials to use for dental fillings due to it’s inert qualities and it is way less toxic than dental amalgam which is loaded with mercury. Composites or materials that are combinations of several non-metallic substances(an example would be the 5-minute epoxy you use in the house) to form a strong material.
Ceramics and porcelains are considered to be the cheapest substitute to the precious metal which may have lost ground but may not totally disappear from the dental restoration scene. Gold has a better appearance(even if it’s merely a thin sliver bonded to a ceramic base) which still makes it the most preferred material. But ceramics are being prescribed more openly because of the price of gold which has increased as much as 105% these past few years.

Amalgam Separators – A Must for the Environment

Administrator — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:50:16 +0000

Dental amalgam, that silver filling they use to fill in teeth using mercury and another compound has always maintained it’s presence in the circles of debate regarding safety issues. Primarily because of mercury, the key ingredient in the tooth filling but some opponents of the use of such materials have gone a step further, the issue of mercury taken out of fillings entering the sewers and eventually into the rivers and streams contaminating food sources and other areas.
Such is the concern of dentists that some groups are making the use of mercury separators for their dental offices to remove the toxic metal from waste water eliminating it from the environment. Mercury has been found to cause not only cancer but neurological issues with fetuses. it has also been found in fish caught in far away seas making their impact widespread.

Gum disease and cancer

Administrator — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:45:37 +0000

According to a study on 48,000 males over the age of 22 that was published in the esteemed magazine Lancet Oncology, it was found that there seems to be a correlation between gum disease and an increased likelihood of getting oral cancer.
The obvious blame was first placed on smoking as a major factor for the two diseases but the study also determined that the likelihood of getting cancer because of gum disease was independent of a person’s smoking habit. Even when other factors were looked at, such as, diet and other risk factors, the gum disease factor still appeared as a separate cause for cancer.

Alzheimer’s Sufferers need more attentive Oral Care (Part 2)

Avatar — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:13:48 +0000

Dentures and mouth should be cleaned after every meal which prevents food left on them from also causing decay and sores. Monthly inspections are recommended even by a regular family member or the caregiver so as to detect an early problem which allows treatment as fast and as early as possible. After the patient is determined to be suffering from the disease, it is advised that regular visits to a dentist be carried out with more frequency that with normal patients.
With these tips and suggestions, the quality of life of your elderly loved ones can be assured and would allow them to maintain proper oral care through the rest of their remaining days with a healthy smile on their faces.

Alzheimer’s Sufferers need more attentive Oral Care (Part 1)

Avatar — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:03:52 +0000

The sufferers of the disease often overlook the need for proper oral care which leads to lesions and dry mouth syndrome which could be avoided by proper care with the help of a loved one. Elderly people who suffer from the disease often forget the need for understandable reasons which is why proper management and care should be practiced such as the following suggestions and tips. Brush teeth twice a day which should be instructed to caregivers which allows proper oral health followed by flossing of at least once a day to prevent food left in the mouth from causing decay.

Customized care – More benefits for the public

Avatar — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:17:25 +0000

The move by providers to give people what they want in terms of their dental needs has greatly improved the way people smile and it sure is something to smile about. The advent of new technology and approaches to treatment have allowed people to benefit from packages that providers agree to as they are checked and given personal dental treatments. This allows better care and it encourages more to go to the dentist with their insurance providers giving the best value for their money. These personal packages are also available in financing schemes, all of which allow dental businesses to be more flexible and approachable with the customized approach.

Bruxism – The Noisy Stress Indicator

Avatar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:59:08 +0000

Your teeth are usually associated more with physical appearance and overall general physical health to the point that many fail to realize that bruxism (the voluntary or involuntary grinding of teeth) is a sign of emotional or psychological distress. The grinding syndrome is common and natural in children who are between ages 3 to 10 but usually stops spontaneously by age 13. Any manifestation of such in adults is a sure sign of stress and that the body may be voluntarily clenching its muscles that results in the disorder. It can be so disturbing that it can disturb the normal sleep patterns of companions who sleep together much so that it brings about conflict as snoring usually does. Tooth grinding can result in a dull morning headache, chronic facial pain, damaged teeth, fractured dental fillings and even injured gums if they happen to come in contact with the teeth as they grind together. It has also been found that the consumption of caffeine and alcohol has been known to bring about the disorder where moderation usually is the key to avoidance.

Snake Venom Derivative- Speeds Up healing of Wounds

Avatar — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:36:18 +0000

Snake venom is highly toxic to all humans but a special form of it that has been incorporated into dental glue has promising results allowing faster healing. Gingival Grafts are necessary for people who may have had some trauma as a result of accidents and dentists who have tried out the new glue have been noticing faster healing times compared to traditional suture closed wounds. It has been seen to promote faster tissue repair and thus allows patients to recover faster from dental operations such as grafts, implants and other necessary dental operations. The field of periodontics is undergoing rapid developments that have patients all smiles for they get the smiles they want when they want them.

Nano-Technology for dental care

Avatar — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:22:04 +0000

New research has Nano-biomaterials being considered for coatings for use in dental implants to make them stronger as they are biointegrated into the jaw. Clinical mobility is the failure of the osseointegration process by which bone grows into the gap between the bone and the implant itself. Under the microscope, researchers have found that traditional titanium implants are not totally biointegrated and that a very small gap is left which can get filled with bacteria or food particles causing infections. The use of Nano-biomaterials can make the osseointegration process better and give the implant more grip into the jaw making it as strong as natural teeth.