Is Your Dentist Keeping Secrets From You?
Posted on December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry
I don’t think so. But I did like much of the information contained in an article of this title from Dr. Mercola’s website. Here’s a few followed by my comments:
Secret #1: Your dentist may not have the latest technology.
Digital x-ray: Dentists who do not have digital x-ray equipment are practicing in
the dark ages. Digital x-rays use less radiation than film. They are easier to read
and make diagnosis more accurate.
Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic instruments vibrate plaque and calculus off your
teeth, even in areas below your gums. It is much more comfortable than oldfashioned
hand scraping.
Doc comment: I agree. Thats’ why our office has had this technology for years.
Secret #2: Your dentist may be using mercury.
Mercury is toxic. Norway and Sweden have banned the use of mercury fillings..
But mercury fillings are less expensive and easier for the dentist to use. If your
dentist does not use composite fillings, don’t go to that dentist any more. In the
US, the FDA is way behind the ball and not actively warning patients about this
like they have been mandated by the courts to do.
Doc’s comment: Very accurate. I haven’t used mercury in my office for years.
Secret #3: The lab may be more important than your dentist.
Dental labs create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and other
dental restorations like implant crowns. There is a huge difference in the quality
of these labs. You should be particularly wary if your dentist is using a lab in
China or Mexico. Some of the top labs in the U.S. are Aurum Ceramics,
MicroDental Laboratories, da Vinci Dental Studio, and Williams Dental Lab.
Doc’s comment: True. Aurum Ceramics is one of the labs we use a Artistic Dentistry.
Secret #4: There’s more to good dentistry than filling cavities.
A competent dentist screens for more than tooth decay. He or she should be
concerned about sleep apnea, jaw-related pain known as TMJ, oral cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.
Doc’s comment: All good points. I cover some of this in my free downloadable
electronic ebook found at http://stlouisdentistdrpete.com
Can Tattoos Slow Recovery Time From Dental Procedures?
Posted on March 2, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry
I recently removed the wisdom teeth from a 25 year old female patient with multiple bright colored tattoos. Her recovery time, compared with similar impacted wisdom tooth cases, age, health, etc. was slower. I’d seen a similar slow pace of recovery in another patient who also has tattoos.
Considering that tattoo ink contains many heavy metals like lead, arsenic, beryllium, chromium and others, and that metal toxicity is a factor in immune function, I suspected my two tattooed patients’ slower recovery could be connected to their tattoos.
In October, the FDA decided to launch a study to determine the connection between tattoo dyes and health risks. We’ll look out for those results.
Meanwhile, if you or any of your children are considering tattoos, I urge you to research any health risks not only of the needles used, but the permanent affect of putting toxic metals into your system and how that could affect your immunity.
Look Ma’ No Cavities!
Posted on August 25, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry, General, Health, St. Louis, Teeth Tips
For Boomers who grew up with this famous toothpaste commercial, I have a news flash: At your age, it’s no longer just about cavities!
If you’ve passed the age of forty, you really should have a mid-life diagnosis to evaluate the overall state of your oral health AND to plan a proper course of treatment that will enable you to keep your teeth for the remainder of your lifetime.
Patients over forty have often shortchanged their dental health or just barely maintained their teeth and gums. With the expense of family taking precedence through the previous two decades, Boomer-aged patients coming to me for the first time are often prepared to play catch-up with their own dental health.
Today you can plan a course of treatment that will ensure you’ve got your own teeth to chew with well into your senior years. In addition, nothing is more youthful than a natural-looking white smile. Unlike your parents, if you take care now you can have both.
Tags: aging, allergies, appearance, breath, brushing, cavities, cavity, dental care, dental health, dental treatment, dental work, Dentistry, dentists, dentures, extraction, fillings, gums, implants, insurance, oral health, overall health, pain, root canal, smile, teeth, tooth
Can Your Smile Make You Rich?
Posted on July 19, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
A survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 74 percent of American adults believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s chances of career success. Julia Roberts was at one time the highest paid actress in Hollywood. She also was voted as having the best smile in the business. Think there’s a connection?
As you age, your facial skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Much of this is actually caused by what’s happening inside your mouth! For starters, your teeth get shorter as you get older. You don’t always notice it because it happens gradually. At the same time, your teeth are shifting incrementally each year.
By the time you surpass the age of fifty, your teeth will most likely be in a different position than when you were twenty years old.
The good news is that strategic dental work can soften folds and wrinkles and perk up sagging. You can erase five to ten years off your face with dental minilift procedures.
Interested? Call for a free consultation with Doc.
