Blog Archive
My previous blogs discussed the meaning of “Curious Tongue”, the prevalence of periodontal disease (periodontitis), a disease that affects the gums, results in bone loss and causes teeth to loosen and fall out or have to be taken out, and that having periodontitis makes an individual more prone to cardiovascular...
In a previous blog periodontal disease (periodontitis) was documented as the most common cause of tooth loss in patients over 40 years old. However, this disease doesn’t only affect the mouth. Periodontitis has also been shown to be related to a number of systemic diseases in the body. It has...
As explained in a previous blog, Curious Tongue becomes an important consideration when treating a dental patient for caries (cavities), laminates or veneers, root canal treatment, implant placement and especially periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease has two forms: gingivitis which is an inflammation of the gums (gingiva) and periodontitis where...
Curious tongue is a term I coined while I was a dental student. It describes the reflexive actions, by a patient when any dental instrument is placed in his (or her) mouth and the tongue moves to the instrument attempting to feel the foreign body. I remember as a dental...
Most General Dentists provide dental care for the entire mouth. Dentists can help you take care of your teeth and gums. However, when gum problems are beyond their expertise, they may recommend you see a periodontist. Many patients who have advanced or sever gum problems search for a periodontist on...
The main purpose of treatment of periodontal (gum) disease is that treatment has been shown to be successful in saving patient’s natural teeth and avoiding tooth loss. This is of course true. However, in the last 20 years studies have shown that periodontal disease also has a deleterious effect on...
Have you ever wondered how your dental costs in New York compare to those in, say, Milwaukee, Wisconsin? I came across dental exam prices across several cities in the U.S. and the answer may surprise you. Well, just to get what won’t surprise you out of the way, New York is...
It’s no surprise that tobacco use can lead to a host of health problems ranging from cardiovascular disease to lung cancer. While we often associate tobacco use with bodily health risks, it can be just as devastating to dental health. According to data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey, smokers...
There is some archeological evidence that dental implants may have been used in prehistoric times, and we know definitively that implants have been in use since at least 600 AD. Modern dental implants date to the 1970s, but they have only been widely used since the 1990s. As technology improves, prices fall,...
Just because you have a toothbrush and use it doesn’t mean you’re brushing effectively. Did you know that it’s possible to go through the motions of oral care and still fall short of proper tooth brushing practices? Failing to brush well can lead to cavities, gum disease or even worse—tooth...
You don’t see Jon Snow smile these days, with the White Walkers marching south toward The Wall and Cersei waiting for the opportune time to regain the initiative to the south. But, when he does, it makes the fans go crazy. How realistic are perfect, white teeth for the period,...
Dental implants are considered the optimal tooth replacement treatment to replace one or more failing teeth. A single dental implant can support an individual replacement tooth, while a handful of implants can stabilize a removable denture or support an entire arch of fixed replacement teeth. Whichever procedure you choose, the overall process...
With summer just around the corner, now is the time to clean up your diet and slim down for the warmer months. Although we often associate diet changes with weight loss and changes in our waistline, it can have a huge impact on dental health as well. The body is...
Nobody wants to experience oral cancer at any point in their life. Unfortunately, the American Cancer Society (ACS) states that about 48,330 people will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Also, 66% of Americans will discover they have oral cancer in its late stages. If patients want...
Dentists are necessary and thanks to them, and their research, health complications like edentulism — complete tooth loss — are becoming less and less common in the United States. This progress is thanks to dentists who care not only about their patients, but also about the bigger picture — the bigger cause....
Dental implants are a true game-changer for those with missing or failing teeth. They replace tooth roots, providing a stable and secure base for high-quality replacement teeth and reversing the natural jawbone loss that occurs when a tooth is lost. Yet the success of dental implants is determined by many factors,...