Dental health and oral cancer

When you talk about practicing good oral hygiene, that discussion includes two visits to the dentist each year. While usually those visits are maintenance-oriented, it can help with regard to early detection of oral cancer--something that would go undetected for longer if you did not see the dentist every six months.

Here are some staggering statistics related to oral cancer:

• 36,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year
• Only half the people diagnosed with oral cancer are alive in five years
• One person dies every hour from oral cancer

The good news for those of you who do go to the dentist twice a year is that when discovered in its earliest stages, the oral cancer survival rate leaps to 80 to 90 percent. But prevention/early detection starts with regular visits to the dentists, at least twice a year.

Startling facts about oral hygiene and heart disease

We all know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Did you know that forgetting to brush your teeth at least twice a day increases your risk of heart disease by 70 percent?

How about this: men and women with periodontical disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without? Or that a periodontical disease can greatly exacerbate an existing heart condition?

Perhaps that's why it's no surprise that nearly 20 million Americans who do visit their dentist each year do NOT have to see their doctor.

Smiles by the Toothboss switches to paperless records, renovates office space.

Some people just don’t like to go to the dentist’s office. As a dentist, that’s a fact you have to accept. Still, we’re doing everything n our power to make the visit to the dentist a more comfortable experience by undergoing a number of cosmetic and operational improvements.

The renovations began with a conversion to digital radiography so that all X-rays and records are now stored electronically. This makes treatments easier to diagnose and record-keeping more efficient. Also, removing large filing cabinets from the work area enabled the construction of a more spacious, ergonomically sound space for our staff, which has grown in numbers over the years.

Dentists realize the apprehensions people have about coming to the dentist are based on their own fears. Still, how an office appears and how work flows can affect how patients perceive the experience and exacerbate those feelings. These improvements have made us more efficient and ergonomically sound as we now have reception desk that can comfortably seat two staff members who aren’t reaching over each other while serving patients and that puts everyone at ease.

Being paperless is another huge benefit. Beyond the storage issues, just not having a paper record makes for a much more hygienic environment, as well as being more private.
We anticipate the renovations being completed over the next month. Thank you for your patience while we undergo these improvements.

Are you a candidate for dental implants?

During the last 20 years dental implants have become a great alternative to other methods of replacing missing teeth. Excellent success rates and a variety of available options give dentists many new ways to treat and replace lost teeth.

Your dentist will be able to evaluate your case and tell you if you are a candidate for dental implants. Basically, a dental implant is a Titanium based cylinder that replaces the missing tooth root. After a period of time and when the implant is taken other parts will be placed on the implant that enables your dentist to eventually place a crown (cap) on the implant.

Implants also can be used to support full or partial dentures. They dramatically improve the denture retention and stability.

Most patients with enough amount of bone can have implants, although individual decisions are made between you and your dentist. Usually an x-ray and a CT-scan is done to determine if you have enough bone to place the implant and also to determine the size and kind of the implant that should be placed.

If you would like to know if you're a candidate for dental implants, please give our office a call at 781-335-0604.

Dental Insurance 101. What you don’t know could you hurt you and your wallet

Most dental plans cover basic examinations and cleanings, but some plans may not cover things you might assume to be routine. Most misunderstandings occur when patients believe their insurance will or should pay for more than it will.

Most dental insurance companies classify dental procedures in three categories:

• Preventative – This typically includes routine cleanings and examinations as preventative dental care, however, X-rays, sealants and fluoride can be deemed as preventative or basic, depending upon the specific insurance carrier. 
• Basic or Restorative – This usually consists of fillings and simple extractions. Root canals can be considered basic or major depending on the plan (the majority of dental plans list root canals as basic).
• Major – Usually includes crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, surgical extractions and dental implants. But not always.

When it comes to dental insurance, most people want it and are glad to have it. When it’s time to actually use the insurance on something other than a routine cleaning--like an unexpected filling, a chipped tooth there or worse, a root canal or crown—it’s a little too late. Doing a little research into your insurance benefit before you really need it is a wise move and can help minimize out-of-pocket costs from unexpected dental treatments.

Don’t forget to use all your dental healthcare benefits for 2011

As the clock is running out on 2011, we have much to be grateful for, like family, friends and your health. If you’re fortunate enough to have dental benefits, the upcoming new year means one more thing: your plan’s benefits for the year are running out.

Most dental plans allow for a certain dollar amount of dental coverage per year once you reach your deductible. Unfortunately, many people often delay dental work until after the holidays. Not only does that mean you have to meet a brand new deductible but you can use up a lot of your covered care dollars very early in the year. That can leave you vulnerable later on in the year if you need additional dental work.

So, if you know you need more dental work and you want to leave yourself adequate coverage for the new year, call 781-335-0604 for an appointment today and we’ll try to get you in before the end of the year. For your convenience, we offer early morning appointment times on Wednesdays and Friday (7 am) and evening appointments on Mondays (open until 7:30 pm).

Brushing up on your holiday eating. How to brush to keep holiday sweets from leading to a trip to the dentist

When it comes to holiday sweets, most people worry about what it will do to their waist line. Not much thought is given about what an increase in sweets can do to their teeth. While you might assume a few extra trips to the gym after the holidays will take care of the sweets, the potential damage to your teeth from an increase in sweets can be more troublesome.

If you are continually eating sweets all day long because candy or other sugary treats are available, it raises the acid levels in your mouth to a higher than normal level and that can lead to an increase in demineralization of the enamel and cavity formation.

Also, the sticky nature of most candy provides the bacteria with more opportunity to create the acid that causes all the problems. And, it goes without saying that sticky candies and sweets are not the best thing to be eating if you have crowns, bridges or other prosthetic appliances in your mouth that can be ‘pulled’ out.”

Does that mean you shouldn’t have any sweets during the holidays? No, sweets in moderation are fine. The real issue stems back to people’s brushing habits in general.

The simple fact is most people do not know how to properly brush their teeth, both from a technique standpoint, length of time and frequency.

After selecting a good toothbrush and toothpaste (Dr. Wolfert recommends a soft brush and any toothpaste with fluoride), a good brushing should take at least two minutes and as many four. While there are many different techniques for brushing, here is one of the more popular ways:

• Hold the brush on two to three teeth with a 45 degree angle on the teeth and under the gum. Gently press against the gum so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth. 
• Apply lateral pressure, making the motion of little circles with the final stroke away from under the gums in order to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. 
• Repeat this motion six to 10 times and move on to the next area of two to three teeth. If your mouth is full of foam, rinse out with water and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth; the front, backs and tops of all teeth.

As far as frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally you want to brush your teeth after each meal. This isn’t always easy to do if you’re out at a party or gathering during the holidays. If you can’t brush right after you eat, you should, at the very least, brush thoroughly twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed.

The holidays are not a good time to get a toothache, with many dentists spending time with THEIR families. Often times you will have to be treated by a covering dentist who doesn’t know your dental issues as well as your primary dentist. Therefore, a checkup prior to the holidays is a very good idea. That way if there are any existing problems, you can address them before you start eating those rich desserts and sweets at the holidays that can aggravate an existing condition.

We have more information and diagrams illustrating proper brushing technique on our website.