Sure, us Humans may only have two sets of natural teeth that are produced over the course of our entire life, but dinosaurs, particularly the Tyrannosaurus Rex, had many. A fascinating fact: the T-Rex actually produced a new set of teeth every year! 60 Minutes recently featured a headline story entitled “B-Rex” which contained information about the teeth of dinosaurs, specifically the T-Rex.
The new teeth in the dino would grow directly beneath the existing teeth, similar to how our permanent teeth develop beneath our baby teeth. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a replacement tooth grow automatically whenever we have a problem?!
Earlier this year, researcher and long-famed paleontologist Jack Horner had uncovered “B. Rex,” a 68-million year old T-Rex that is giving the academic community a lot to think about, both relating to dinosaurs and to the use of tooth material (and other mineral matter) in fossils. Through a special process of acid dissolution of ancient dino bones, organic material – blood vessels – were extracted and found in near-fresh condition!
“[We] dissolved away pieces of an even older dinosaur – a well-preserved 80-million-year-old duckbill – in acid, and again, found what appear to be blood vessels.” With this matter, new creatures could be genetically grown that had fallen extinct millions of years ago – a dino zoo even! What is interesting about dinosaur teeth however is that they illustrate how versatile teeth are in Earth’s many different life forms.
Humans obviously use their teeth for tearing, chewing and start the process of digesting food; speech and aesthetic purposes are also served by our teeth. Although we only have two sets of natural teeth, we can artificially create new teeth with implant dentistry. Other creatures have no teeth, like ducks and geese, which simply use their bill to seek out food and begin the digestion process.
The systematic replacement of old or broken teeth in dinosaurs is what’s driving research that will hopefully, in the future, result in human teeth being grown for human tooth replacement. Imagine being able to have a real, natural and healthy tooth installed in your mouth!
A new tooth is ready to replace the existing T-Rex tooth!
Current technology, like existing biocompatible metals (such as titanium) are used to replace human parts like hip bones. Biocompatible titanium is used for dental implant fixture, replacing a tooth’s root being implanted in the jaw bone. Porcelain restorations are then attached to the artificial titanium root after proper healing of the jaw bone.
It is also important to remember that not all dental implant restorations are made due to improper oral care or an irresponsible lifestyle! More and more people are being born with congenitally missing teeth, which can cause surrounding teeth to become misaligned, a possible evolutionary trend. Early diagnosis always makes the restoration process easier.
Though technology is constantly evolving, and may at one point completely replace the need for artificial dental restorations, it is of the utmost importance to try and take care of what you have! A person’s original, natural teeth are always the healthiest and most desirable option.
” Doc – My tongue hurts! It hurts to eat, drink , even talking hurts!” These are unfortunate symptoms of glossitis.
It’s not a canker sore or a new piercing – a tender feeling tongue with a burning sensation and a red color, swollen with a smooth appearance indicates glossitis – inflammation of the tongue. The causes of an inflamed tongue may stem from local factors like contact with irritants – tobacco, alcohol, spices, hot food and liquids. Dental conditions can also contribute to an inflamed tongue, such as chipped or rough tooth surfaces. Viral infections like herpes simplex, canker sores and even allergic reactions – food, toothpaste, mouthwash – can all contribute to glossitis as well!
An inflammation of the tongue (glossitis) typically leads to a change in the appearance of the tongue surface. Protrusion projections on the tongue’s surface layer (called papillae) may be lost, losing the classic bumped appearance, making the tongue appear completely smooth. Red or irregular patches of pale skin is called geographic tongue, and usually has no symptom but is a chronic condition that does not go away. An overly sensitive tongue might lead to difficulty speaking or swallowing. In some cases, glossitis may result in severe tongue swelling which can impede the throat, making it very difficult to breathe, a medical emergency that would require immediate attention.
Though not widely known, the tongue is a great indicator of our body’s general health. Experienced practitioners in alternative medicine can often diagnose an individual’s physical condition by just looking at a patient’s tongue! An inflamed tongue can be associated with a disease, disorder or condition like anxiety, depression, hypothyroidism, hormonal changes, immune system alterations, drugs reactions, leukemia,a vitamin deficiency in folic acid, B12 and iron, or even cancer.
So what are the treatments of glossitis? We do need to differentiate the cause of the inflammation of the tongue first.As previously mentioned, a vitamin deficiency such as iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia and other B-vitamin deficiencies are the most common reasons for a painful tongue. Oral lichen planus, erythema multiforme, aphthous ulcer, pemphigus vulgaris, syphilis, and others can also be culprits of causing glossitis. Irritants such as alcohol, tobacco and spicy foods and even certain medication may also cause temporary glossitis.
The important thing to remember with an inflamed or burning tongue is that reversing the inflammation is the primary treatment goal – if the inflammation is treated, other side effects (like burning sensations, redness etc) will almost always dissipate. Take both vitamin C and vitamin B complex every day, as these are the most common vitamin deficiencies associated with a painful tongue.
Cutting back on bad daily habits (like drinking and smoking),watching your diet for possible allergic reactions and better managing your daily stress will also aid in healing your tongue back to a healthy and normally functioning condition. If the symptoms of a painful tongue persist after two to three weeks of home self management, visit your health care professional to rule out any other possible medical conditions.
Dental CSI – it may sound funny, but it’s a very real science! Teeth are not only for eating, speaking and looking beautiful, but can be used in crime scene investigations with bite marks and extracted DNA. Dental ID, similar to fingerprint ID, is the most common form of dental forensics, a definitive meansof identification of unknown human remains in forensic investigations.It is routinely acceptable as evidence in court. Because of the resistant nature of dental tissues to environmental assaults, such as incineration, immersion, trauma, mutilation and decomposition, teeth represent an excellent source of DNA material as scientific identification!
Dental DNA can be used in anthropology as well! Earlier this month, doctors from the Massachusetts General Hospital threaded a scope up the neck and into the skull of a disembodied, 4,000-year-old mummified skull, in an effort to extract a molar. The tooth DNA was collected from the pulp of a well-preserved tooth and used to solve an “ancient art mystery,” which could identify his or her gender and age from material lying deep within the pulp of the tooth.
My experience with forensic dentistry was sad and shockingly personal – I had to send dental x-ray records to police department officials for identification of a friend killed in a plane crash.
Even criminals are aware of dental identification. Just this past summer, reality show star Ryan Jenkins had been suspected of killing his ex-wife Fiore; the perpetrator removed her teeth and fingers to destroy her forensic ID. What he didn’t realize was that the breast implants in Fiore’s chest carried a serial number that was later used to identify the body, and subsequently issue a warrant for Jenkins’ arrest. He committed suicide.
Dental identifications have always played a key role in natural and manmade disaster situations, in particular the mass casualties normally associated with aviation disasters. In the attacks on the World Trade Canter on September 11, 2001, only an estimated half of the 2,749 victims were identified – through a mixture of DNA, jewelry, and dental records. The deceased individual’s teeth are photographed and charted with impression materials that can be compared to the dentist’s patient chart, to make a positive identification.
Forensic dentistry has also been used to identify several infamous figures from the Nazi era, including Adolf Hitler, Martin Bormann, Eva Braun, and Joseph Mengele. The assassin responsible for the murder of John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, was also confirmed through dental records. Even the remains of Czar Nicholas II and his family, who were shot during the 1917 Russian Revolution, were initially identified through dental identification.
Forensic evidence in dentistry is a widely-applicable science in the identification of those individuals who cannot be identified visually or by other means or used as evidence utilized in law enforcement, but in scientific discovery as well! Teeth speak the truth!
On Halloween (October 31st) weekend, Autism Awareness Walks took place from San Francisco to New York and everywhere in between. Michelle Parris, a walker in Washington, D.C. came out to the Washington Mall ready to walk 2.5 miles for her son Miles. “I just want other people to not have to deal with the same difficulties that my son has dealt with,” she said. “If there’s a way that we can end it that would be great.” The annual Autism Awareness Walk is to raise funds and awareness to help fight autism, a disorder of neural development that hampers certain skills associated with social interaction and communication. Idiosyncratic use of language is also consistent. People suffering from autism also often suffer from restricted and repetitive behavior. The condition begins to show itself in children as young as two years old. Because much of the condition is still fairly mysterious, raising awareness and funds to fight autism is vital.
Often times, children suffering from autism are very difficult to treat by a physician – especially in dentistry. Autistic children often have a very hard time trusting physicians (especially if he or she is unfamiliar with said physician). In regards to dentistry, autistic children can have difficulty sitting still. This can make orthodontic treatment very difficult, especially if the child does not like braces or feels they are causing him or her pain. An autistic child can be treated just as successfully as any child if he or she is treated with patience and care.
Regarding dental home care, brushing and flossing will require a family member’s daily help and guidance. Nutritional needs for Autistic children are extremely important, not just for dental hygiene, but for the brain. There are researches showing how certain foods seem to affect the developing brain of certain children, causing autistic behavior. This is not because of allergies, but because many of these children are unable to properly break down certain proteins. Researchers in England, Norway, and at the University of Florida had previously found peptides (a breakdown product of proteins) with opiate activity in the urine of a high percentage of autistic children. Opiates are drugs, like morphine, which affect brain function. These findings have recently been confirmed by researchers at Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. Gluten-free diets (a protein fraction found in wheat, rye, barley and most oat products) and Casein-free diets (a protein in dairy) are suggested. A professional nutrition consultation is really a must.
I was luckily blessed to have the opportunity to treat some special people who needed special care. Of course, every patient is special in my dictionary, but when dealing with someone who cannot communicate (or resists treatment), the challenge is greater to make that person better. You can also feel the love in between the family members – the special person actually plays the “glue” role to get the family together! When you see them together, it is such a beautiful scene.
Treating Autistic or any other special people can be an extremely rewarding experience. Everything is possible if we determine how to make things better; with patience, love and knowledge, we can experience miracles!
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fixture, replacing a tooth’s root being implanted in the jaw bone. Porcelain restorations are then attached to the artificial titanium root after proper healing of the jaw bone.
