Often times I hear a patient refer to being “knocked out” for procedures such as extracting wisdom teeth or placement of implants. Truth is, to “knock out” a patient we would have to perform General Anesthesia. This is when a patient is intubated, and is done because he or she no longer has reflexes to breath on their own. 
We rarely do this for routine dental procedures. In fact, when a patient refers to being “knocked out”, they may be describing “twilight” or conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is a form of sedation in which patients still have their reflexes during the procedure. What this means is they breathe and move on their own while being sedated. In our office we use an intravenously delivered sedative, 90% of the time our patients do not remember the procedure performed. The level of sedation used allows our patients to remain comfortable through out the procedure, without anxiety, while remaining aware enough to respond to stimuli and questions if need be. This allows us to provide a variety of services with relative ease and comfort to the patient.]]>
1. Gum recession:
When the gum tissue around a tooth recedes, the root becomes exposed. The root is a very sensitive part of the tooth that when exposed to cold, hot, or sweets it can create sensitivity. Solution: An immediate answer to this problem is the use of desensitizing products such as toothpaste (Sensodyne) and mouth rinse (ACT) which can help take the edge off the sharpness felt in the tooth. These products take a few weeks to work. A long term solution may be bonding or gingival graft (surgically placing gum tissue) over the exposed root. These are procedures in which we simply cover the exposed root causing sensitivity.2. Teeth Whitening Products:
These days teeth whitening products are in virtually every type of product we use to keep our teeth healthy. They are in mouth rinses, toothpaste, gum, etc. The active ingredients that whiten our teeth can leave us with sensitivity after use of these products. Solution: Very simple, use products without the whitening additive or at least cut back.3. Grinding/Clenching:
Grinding and clenching your teeth can lead to gum recession which can lead to sensitivity. Grinding and clenching also causes trauma to the tooth and can make it hypersensitive to hot, cold, sweets, etc. This is because the nerve inside the tooth becomes inflamed from the trauma. Solution: Wear a night guard when you sleep and be conscious of keeping your teeth apart during the day.4. Rough Teeth Cleaning:
Some times a hygienist or dentist can be a little overzealous when cleaning a patients teeth. If a protective layer (cementum) is scrapped off of the roots of your teeth, you may experience sensitivity for a few weeks until that protective layer is reformed. Solution: Wait it out, it could take a few weeks to improve. Also, mention to the provider who cleaned your teeth what your experience was like afterwards. We hope these offered solutions help with that annoying tooth sensitivity that just will not go away. But always remember to keep up with your regular dental check ups and if sensitivity persists for longer than 2 weeks let your dental provider know!]]> 
The Academy of General Dentistry just released a free interactive game: Toothsavers, available online as an app for Android and iOS devices. The game is for ages 3-6 and was designed to get kids in the routine of brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. As many of you know well, it is a very daunting task at times to motivate children to take care of their own teeth. Any feedback on the use of this app and how it is working with your kids would be greatly appreciated, just post your comments on our Facebook page.]]>
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The promise is perfectly clean teeth in all areas of your mouth in 6 seconds. This new toothbrush 
created by Blizzident touts that by creating a custom made tray with bristles specifically fit to your dentition, you can have a clean healthy smile. By using technology, similar to Invisalign, custom made trays are fabricated with bristles positioned to clean your whole mouth at the same time. In order to create the action needed to brush your teeth all you have to do is simply…. chew. By chewing on this specialized appliance you are allowing the bristles to massage the teeth and gums and remove plaque. Its definitely an interesting idea and I am eager to see the studies on this new technology. My main concern is efficiency of this toothbrush, as well as possibility of damaging the gum tissue. And lastly, how cost effective is this brush? Is it easy to replace the bristles or the appliance in its entirety?
There is no greater tool to a dentist than an easy to use and incredibly efficient toothbrush! Follow this link to learn more about this interesting invention. ]]>
It’s Halloween time again, If you are a parent or simply a health conscious adult, you may be 
wondering how can you get through this holiday season without overloading on sugary treats. So in the spirit of the season here are our dental friendly Halloween treat suggestions!
- If you are looking for treats to give out this Halloween season there are many dental friendly treat options such as: almonds packs, pretzels, or popcorn.
- Also, there are plenty of non candy treats available to give out such as stickers and other Halloween themed toys.
- And finally, if you choose to indulge here are some tips on how to lower your chance of getting a cavity this Halloween season:
- Give yourself or your child a set number of pieces of candy you can eat per day as to limit the sugar intake each day.
- Try and limit the number of times you expose your teeth to candy in a day. It is better to eat multiple pieces at once, rather than one piece at time, multiple times during the day.
- Try to brush and floss an hour after snacking on candy.
- If you’re unable to brush and floss, try and drink water. Although it won’t clean all of the sugar away from your teeth and is not a guarantee that you won’t get cavities, it will help cleanse your mouth, helping to reduce the possibility of cavities. Sugar-free gum is also another good trick. Like water, it helps to remove residual sugar from your mouth, while also stimulating saliva flow. Saliva is a natural protector against cavities.
From time to time I like to read articles from my Alma Mater, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, recently I came across an interesting article. Dr. Sebastian Ciancio, DDS has recently published an article about the use of a nasal spray to anesthetize upper teeth as opposed to dental injections.
The study is centered around how safe and effective using a nasal spray to numb the upper teeth rather than an injection to the area. This study is now in the second phase of research by the Food and Drug Administration. So what does this mean for your dental future? Well, there is a possibility that in the future you may be able to forgo the need for injections with some procedures. This is a great option for dentists and needle phobic patients alike and may help patients seek dental care more frequently. Things that remain to be seen is duration of numbness, localization of numbness as well as possible side effects, and long term effects. But in general there are many great things on the horizon for dentistry and I, along with many others, am eager to see what is in store!
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As dentists, we already know and talk about the importance of periodontal or gum health.
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Recently studies have been released linking the bacteria that causes gum disease to various systemic health problems. Most recently, a study was completed that found a link between the bacteria present gum disease and Alzheimer’s. This study has found the bacteria commonly present in periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, was present in four of ten Alzheimer’s patients and, zero of ten patients with out Alzheimer’s. This study is just a jumping off point for more research on the association of this bacteria and its link to this debilitating illness.
In general, oral health does play a key role in your overall comprehensive health. Studies continue to show that maintaining healthy teeth and gums can give you more than fresh breath. By maintaining a good home care regimen and regular hygiene appointments with your dentist you can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
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DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF PERIODONTOPATHIC VIRULENCE FACTORS IN SHORT-TERM POSTMORTEM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BRAIN TISSUE. POOLE S, SINGHRAO SK, KESAVALU L, CURTIS MA, CREAN SJ. Bacteria in Brains Suggest Alzheimer’s-Gum Disease Link, Kristen Hallam
]]> There is a lot of anxiety surrounding the dental injection process. Whether it be from the expectation of pain from the needle or the anxiety around being numb for an extended period of time, there are a lot of things that can cause distress prior to receiving an injection. So here are some frequently asked questions about what to expect from a dental injection as well as what you should expect to experience afterwards.
What are you injection me with?
The days of novacaine are long gone, now most dentists will use anesthetics such as lidocaine, mepivicaine or prilocaine. These anesthetics are available with or without a small amount of epinephrine.Why do you need to use Epinephrine? Epinephrine is used in local anesthetics to aid in increasing the duration and depth of anesthesia attainable.
Can I have an allergic reaction?
An allergic reaction to modern local anesthetics is very uncommon. In the past some had allergic reactions to some of the components, such as esters, in novacaine. However, the formulations that are marketed in the United States are made with amides as opposed to esters,and are less likely to cause allergic reactions. Some patients may be more sensitive to epinephrine in the anesthetic which can cause some feelings of increased heart rate and a slight tremor to the hands. If this happens let your doctor know.How long will I be numb for?
Most patients will be numb for about 1-2 hours after the procedure has been completed, with the average procedure length being about 45 minutes. That being each individual is different and recovery time from anesthesia can be different for each individual.What should I tell my Doctor before treatment with local anesthetics?
Let your doctor know any medications you may be taking as any adverse reactions you may have had with anesthesia in the past. This will help your health care provider choose the appropriate anesthetic for your particular needs.
Injectable local anesthetics; PREPARED BY THE ADA DIVISION OF SCIENCE ON BEHALF OF THE ADA COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS Epinephrine and local anesthesia revisited; Ronald S. Brown, DDS, MS, and NelsonL.Rhodus,DDS,MPH
]]> Occasionally I run into a patient who happens to be newly pregnant. During this time most 
patients have yet to be given the laundry list of do and do not’s for their day to day lives from their obstetricians and health care providers. So to help anyone who is pregnant, may be pregnant or is planning on being pregnant I’ve compiled a list of what to do for your mouth while you are pregnant.
Do tell your dentist or hygienist you are pregnant
even if it is only a slight possibility or you are in the early days of pregnancy. During pregnancy there are certain restrictions to treatment, such as epinephrine in some of the anesthetics, dental radiographs (unless necessary during an emergency situation) and nitrous oxide. Let your health care provider know prior to your appointment about your pregnancy so that they can modify treatment accordingly.Do continue to have your exam & cleaning appointments every 6 months
. During pregnancy we recommend that you continue with hygiene appointments. There are many changes occurring in your body and often times an expectant mother can develop something called pregnancy gingivitis. Your body can become more reactive to plaque and calculus during pregnancy which can cause more inflammation and bleeding between cleanings than you may be used to. By maintaining a good hygiene schedule this can help with inflammation as well as avoid periodontal issues during your pregnancy.Do Not plan on having elective dental work during your pregnancy
. We recommend that elective dental work should be completed after the pregnancy (with the exception of dental cleanings). Emergency dental treatment can be completed at any point, and dental treatment that should not wait until after pregnancy is best completed after the first trimester. In each situation it is important to consult your obstetrician prior to having dental treatment.Do Not discontinue topical fluoride use during pregnancy.
During pregnancy studies show it is safe to use topical fluoride rinses and toothpastes. This will help keep enamel healthy during pregnancy, which is especially useful if you are prone to morning sickness. Studies have shown that using topical fluoride is helpful, however taking a fluoride supplement is not necessary as it does not give any added benefit to mother or fetus.Do Speak to your dentist and obstetrician about nutrition during pregnancy.
Between morning sickness and pregnancy cravings be sure to speak to your health care providers about nutritious meals as well as what to avoid during pregnancy. From a dental standpoint I recommend that my patients continue using the natural sweetener xylitol. Xylitol is safe and may help with prevention of cavities as well. Also, another tip, if you are prone to morning sickness try rinsing with water and baking soda afterwards to help neutralize the acidity in your mouth prior to brushing your teeth. This will decrease your risk of enamel erosion.
