Anti-Aging is something of a buzzword in today’s marketplace: the medical community, the marketing community and nearly every community in between seems to have been captured by this craze. What exactly is anti-aging? The concept is to reduce the visual signs of a person’s age to make one appear younger, more vibrant and more beautiful. While there are a range of methods and procedures available to the public to accomplish anti-aging, the patient themselves must be willing to make changes to his or her lifestyle in order to sustain the changes provided by his or her physician.
I recently attended the 5th European Congress in Aesthetic Dermatology and Surgery in Anti-Aging Medicine, hosted by the European Masters in Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine (or EMAA) in Paris, France. The conference focused on a plethora of anti-aging information and news in the field, but what I found interesting were the procedures tailored toward dental medicine. Botox, or Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein that is in fact one of the most poisonous substances known to man! Despite the dramatic definition, the use of very small amounts of this toxin to treat muscle spasms in anti-aging medicine is widespread. Botox relaxes muscle spasms in a way that can reduce wrinkles, by training specific muscle groups to relax and lower tension. Botox effects wear off between three and six months, and will need to be re-administered to maintain results.
From the dental aspect, Botox can be used to control a gummy smile. Botox relaxes the muscles in a person’s upper lip – known as hyperactive upper lip – which contributes to a gummy smile. When Botox is injected into the muscle group in a person’s lip, the toxin actually relaxes the muscles and restricts the muscle’s ability to overly contract upward thus showing excessive gum tissue . Botox can also be used to control facial muscle spasms that contribute not only to wrinkles and frown lines, but to headaches as well. By undergoing Botox therapy, the muscles in the lips and face can be trained to eventually relax on their own.
Although Botox may sound like a miracle drug for reducing the appearance of gummy smiles, fine lines and even headaches, one must remember that any anti-aging treatment plan is dual-fold: the patient must be committed to their health in order to achieve long-lasting results. Patient compliance is key in any medical treatment plan, but when it comes to anti-aging, a healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in the world. Diet is one of the most important factors in patient compliance. Everyone has heard the age-old saying “you are what you eat,” – it is absolutely true.
A patient who is concerned with his or her physical health and appearance – and is willing to go through Botox therapy to achieve anti-aging results – must realize that his or her diet is vital to achieving long-lasting results. Vegetables, lean proteins and minerals are all vital in achieving healthy skin, bones and organ function. A poor diet high in refined sugars, fat and carbohydrates with poor habits (like alcohol consumption and smoking, staying up late and no exercise) all will contribute to a faster aging process. We all wishto be young and healthy forever – it all starts with healthy choices.
It is a scary fact that 1 in every 3 American adults suffer from gum disease – this common malady is often caused by certain bacterial factors due to poor oral habits, difficult access for cleaning and weak host resistance for tissue break down. The key point is to prevent the occurrence of gum disease by instilling a healthy diet, healthy habits and regular dental check ups. However, if you already have signs of gum disease (like if your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth) there just may be some home remedies that can provide some relief, before your dental visits.
Typical signs of gum disease include bleeding gums, red or swollen gums, loose teeth or halitosis (bad breath). It all starts with inflammation of the gum tissue, which is called gingivitis: symptoms are light and include occasional bleeding, which can if left undiagnosed can progress to irreversible periodontal disease. This in turn can cause unhealthy systemic conditions such as heart attacks and hypertension! Of course, a fully implemented oral hygiene routine is your first and safest bet in preventing bacterial agents that cause gum disease. Brush and floss your teeth for two minutes minimum twice a day and after every meal. This will prevent bacteria and plaque from building up between your teeth and between your gums, which cause the beginning stages of both gingivitis and halitosis. It is also important to build up your host resistance to prevent tissue break down by maintaining a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, like Vitamin C, B and E, calcium, magnesium and silica.
If you do have signs of gum disease, try these remedies to reduce your symptoms. Salt water: this old home remedy can help you not only relieve the symptom of a sore throat, but can also reduce the swelling and bleeding of gum tissues. It can also reduce halitosis in minor cases. Eating right, as mentioned by foods rich in vitamin C (or take supplements) will also help. Tea tree oil can aid in reducing gingivitis conditions. Add a few drops of a tea tree oil supplement to your toothbrush after brushing to add a protective layer to the oral tissues. Finally, massaging your gums with your fingertips can stimulate blood circulation within your gums, and often times provide pain relief!
Try these home remedies if you can not get to your dentist right away and believe you may be suffering from gum disease. No home solution is a substute for professional service. Schedule a visit to your dental professional if you have experienced bleeding gums, loose teeth or bad breath. Listen to your body and take care your dental problems as soon as possible – bringing your oral health back to a healthy condition is always your wisest move!
It’s no surprise that people are hurting financially, given the sheer amount of job losses in America. The stress many of us are under becomes evident even in our oral health! When people become overly stressed, they tend to lapse into bad eating and drinking habits, may start smoking, and often do not take proper care of their oral environment (brushing and flossing twice daily, and after meals). This does not mean, however, that visits to the dentist for serious tooth-related problems should be avoided!
The economy has driven some people to extreme measures regarding dental work, even inducing people to use superglue to fix broken teeth instead of visiting the dentist. Not only is this practice ineffective in properly restoring damaged teeth, the chemical compounds found in adhesives like superglue – which are not designed or manufactured for use or placement within the body – can be dangerous and cause adverse health problems depending on the type of glue. The mouth is a core functioner within the human body, and many problems that originate in the mouth are systemic and eventually affect other aspects of your health. The same is true when it comes to abusing or not properly caring for your mouth.
Applying toxic substances like superglue to the inside of the mouth could have long-lasting systemic side effects far graver than the price of visiting your dental professional and receiving the proper dental care your mouth needs. Of course, prevention is always the best medicine for dental problems, but if they do arise, be sure to at least make a call to your dental professional and speak with someone. The problem could be more serious than you think, and fixing something early on is a healthier, less expensive treatment path than waiting until it is a bigger problem!
“No more drill?” was an exciting news headliner in May of 1997, implying that with Er:YAG dental lasers, drills were no longer necessary for treating cavities! A decade later, we can re-evaluate or validate the pros and cons of cavity treatment with dental lasers.
In recent years, lasers have been utilized for providing precise, less-painful, clean and miraculous medical and dental procedures. In dentistry, various treatments on soft tissues (like aesthetic gum contouring, gum treatment for gingivitis and periodontal disease, apthous ulcers, frenectomies, biopsies and more) are precisely performed and heal faster with less discomfort than traditional treatments. Surgeries can be done in a very clean and fairly bloodless field. Lasers have also been used to aid in faster and more efficient tooth whitening procedures. Later exploration into how lasers can be utilized in the dental field have revealed hard tissue applications, including tooth and bone.
How does laser energy work with our body? The laser-tissue interaction can be looked at by identifying the laser’s characteristics. The laser wavelength (which has a very specific peak absorption curve) is attracted to certain tissues or elements. Our body, as a recipient site receiving the laser energy, is composed of different structures and elements. The best and most efficient results occur when the perfect match is found between the laser’s energy and the target tissue.
Since erbium energy (Er:YAG) is attracted to water and hydroxylapatite (tooth and bone elements), and decayed tooth structures are full of moisture, the laser energy reacts to your decayed tooth structure much quicker than your healthy tooth structure. This means the decayed tooth structure can be ablated away efficiently. The process happens precisely at the target tissue (the cavity), energy does not travel beyond this site – this means the tooth will not react to the process, resulting in less irritation than a traditional dental drill (which carries mechanical vibration and heat, causing irritation to the teeth)!
In comparison, when it comes to restorative dentistry, rotary instruments (like a traditional drill) are still easier, faster and more predictable in creating specific tooth shapes to receive dental restorations, and rotary instruments have been improved, combining elements of both air and electricity, giving better torque energy, less vibration and less noise.
When discussing the removal of decayed tooth structure , the erbium laser is still a wonderful tool to create a sterile, clean site. Obtaining a laser solely for removing tooth decay, however, is not feasible.So there is few dentists offer such service. Erbium lasers are very useful for bone and soft tissue procedures (water component), dental implant recovery surgeries, and aesthetic crown lengthening (eliminating a gummy smile).Hopefully when you need such services can receive the benefits what laser dentistry can offer.
Dentistry is continuously evolving. New technology, new techniques, new prospects – it’s exciting! Get excited about your opportunity to get better dental service, ask your dental professional “what’s new!” Get the whole team excited about what benefits we can all receive from all the new and advanced technology available to us today.
Many patients look forward to coming into their dentist’s office to take care of their dental work, but some dental practices take into account the patient’s entire well-being. Yes, we are talking about providing a spa-like environment in the dental office.
The concept behind Spa Dentistry is to build a relaxing, cleansing and recharging dental environment in which a patient can feel safe and comfortable, leaving the office feeling recharged, not drained of energy. Providing a spa-like environment for a patient means not only catering to the mouth, but treating the whole person both physically and psychologically. Apart from attitude, how can this be achieved? Personal services and thoughtful touches to a patient’s treatment environment complimented by a caring, educated and well-trained staff. Services such as reflexology (zone therapy), aromatherapy, movie glasses and noise-canceling headphones (with a full iPod music library), food and drink menu service (including teas and smoothies) and concierge services work together to create a harmonious, energizing environment for the body and mind.
At my practice for example, our famous strawberry smoothies serve several purposes! The cool taste and smooth texture helps alleviate possible discomfort and soreness from work through which we have just put the oral cavity. Its delicious taste will neutralize any lingering taste of dental products used in the oral environment. Also, the immediate energizer (and mood elevator) in a smoothie is really great for those whose mouth has been numbed. When combined with a caring dentist with the right service attitude, little touches like this in spa dentistry combine to create a healthy, comfortable and enriching experience.
I am grateful to work with a wonderful team that has the same caring and “full of life” attitude that embodies this concept of spa dentistry. Relaxing smells, music and laughter make coming to work like going to the spa – even though we are the care takers! Love is in the air, which really makes all the difference.
I looked at Jenny, as I have with many similar pretty young ladies, and really felt for her.
“Jenny, you will be fine – you are here to make sure you can have a healthy and beautiful smile. It is challenging, but work with me – together we can get your mouth back in shape.” And we did.
Jenny is not alone. Among the susceptible figure-conscious young female group, eating disorders are quite common, and teeth erosion is a side effect of the acidic oral environment resulting from either purging or a poor diet.
Eating disorders, including bulimia (binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting), anorexia and poor dieting habits carry side effects which are detrimental to your bodily and mental well being – they can also rot your teeth. Studies have shown that up to 2.1% of males and 7.3% of females purge (self-induced vomiting) at least once a week, and the numbers are even higher for adolescents.
Tooth surface loss from erosion caused by chemicals such as dietary, gastric or environmental acids typically wear away tooth enamel, which leads to sensitive teeth, caries or gum disease. If untreated, these effects can exacerbate leading to teeth grinding and gastric reflux disease. Soft tissue lesions, malnutrition, a suppressed immune system, low self-esteem, an addictive personality (smoking, drinking or drugs), peptic ulcers and esophagitis are common among people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia. Oral damage from such disorders can include a severe breakdown of the teeth or their supporting structures which can affect the facial muscular system, negatively affecting your daily quality of life; the effort to restore a damaged mouth can become extremely challenging and costly.
Treatment of the problem, besides education and being supportive to the person suffering from the disorder, involves precise dental management; controlling the oral environment, drinking water or healthier juice instead of diet soda, eating healthier (as opposed to binge eating and purging) are all part of the solution. Getting prescription strength fluoride from your dentist to harden and desensitize your teeth and maintaining your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing at least twice a day is also crucial. if you regurgitate or vomit, rinse your mouth out right away. Adding baking soda to your brushing can also neutralize the acidic environment.
Regarding dental treatment, additive compositebonding to cover exposed dentin or to replace lost tooth surface is a possibility. Getting a custom-fitted night guard to prevent further loss of tooth structure from bruxism and maybe veneers or crowns to restore your mouth to ideal health are other possibilities. Of course, a professional assessment would be the first step of the process. The earlier you start treating the problem the better. A healthy mouth is essential for a healthy life.
It is exciting when you are loosing your baby teeth and welcoming in your permanent adult teeth, but that should be the end of a person’s teeth loss! For the majority of us, we need 28 teeth to support our facialmuscular system. If one tooth is missing, it could lead to a physiological domino effect, in which a simple problem becomes exacerbated. A missing front tooth is unthinkable to live with – it must be restored ASAP. A missing back tooth, however, is sometimes ignored. This can lead to surrounding teeth shifting and tilting, during which the dentition can later cause gum, tooth and bite problems. At that point, restoring the mouth is not only a one-tooth job, but concerns multiple teeth, gum and bone. It is much easier to handle one missing tooth and not deal with such tremendous consequences.
What are the causes of missing teeth? Congenital missing teeth (teeth which never formed), severely broken down and non-restorable teeth due to dental diseases, lack of supporting bone for teeth due to advanced gum disease and physical trauma from a serious mouth injury are all common reasons. Once you do loose a tooth, your oral environment is severely affected! Besides smile-phobia, speech impairment for missing front teeth, diet complications (in which you can’t properly bite and chew food – especially with foods rich in fiber which require a good set of teeth to digest), and bite force can all be severely affected. Shift and tilt on existing teeth when the jaw exerts pressure lead to uneven loading creates jaw tension and possible accelerated wear and tear of the teeth. Additionally, tilted and shifted teeth make it more difficult to clean , which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Thankfully, dentistry has greatly advanced in recent times, and you do have multiple treatment options for a missing tooth! If just one tooth is missing, dental implants are a great option which can replace the missing tooth without affecting the adjacent teeth, and preserve the bone as well. Dental implants are made of bio-compatible titanium, which are surgically placed into the jaw to preplace the missing root structure. Then, a post and crown is built on top of the implant. Other options include a dental bridge, which needs capping (a crown) of neighboring teeth to help support the artificial tooth replacing the missing one. It is stationary and feels natural (if made properly), but connected teeth need a special tool for flossing. Full or partial dentures are generally the least expensive treatment option, especially if many or all of a person’s teeth are missing. This option involves false teeth being set into a plastic base, which fits over your gums.
What will be the best treatment option for you? Please consult with your dental professional, the sooner the better!
Do you suspect you have a cavity because you have a sensitive tooth? Do you stay away from ice cream, even though your teeth are not your waist line?
Tooth sensitivity is a common problem. It can be brought on from temperature change, applied pressure or touch; each sign and symptom tells a different story. There are two types of tooth sensitivity :
Dentinal sensitivity is quite common and is caused when the dentin, the layer of the tooth beneath the enamel, is exposed to your oral environment. As your teeth are used and abused, the outer enamel layer of the teeth becomes worn. Night grinding (bruxism), tooth decay, gum recession and damaged dental work (such as fillings) will all eventually cause the dentin to become exposed. Because of dentin’s porous nature, when the protective enamel layer of your tooth is compromised, any food or temperature stimulation will affect the nerve endings within the tooth’s core, causing varying levels of pain.
Pulpal sensitivity is an inflammatory reaction of the pulpal tissues, including blood vessels and nerves in the center of the tooth. The causes of this type of sensitivity include tooth decay or infection, recent dental work, night grinding or injured and broken teeth.
To have your dental professional assess your dental condition, you must have a proper diagnosis! Afterwards, your dentist will provide you with proper treatment options, which could include a proper oral hygiene program, cleaning the mouth after every meal using a soft tooth brush and appropriate toothpaste (containing fluoride or potassium), and brushing and flossing twice a day. Home fluoride rinse or gel can be used to desensitize and remineralize your teeth. A night guard can be custom fitted to your mouth to protect your oral structure (worn while you sleep). A proper diet (eliminating sweets and/or acidic foods and beverages) will help prevent sensitivity. Your dental professional can work with you to harmonize and balance your bite so all teeth receive proper loading force as well – a proper fit and selection of dental restorations will assure integrity of pulpal health.And there is possibility for root canal therapy or Gum treatments if the problems are more advanced.
It’s time to start taking care of yourself – get the proper treatment for your tooth sensitivity and be worry free!
Recently, two guys from completely different backgrounds came into my office asking for the same laser frenectomy, to alleviate their tongue ties, for completely different reasons!
Biker David complained about his tongue-tie condition, noting “it hurts when I kiss.” Yogi Mark wanted to be able to position his tongue to the back part of his palate to reach a certain state of enlightenment. Both men suffered from the restriction of the tongue-tie condition, but it affected their lives in different ways. A happy ending came as both were smart in finding the most comfortable and effective way to rid themselves of their tongue-tie problems.
Tongue ties can affect children and adults of all ages; it is estimated that up to 4.8% of the American population suffers from a tongue tie. What happens is the frenum (the excessive fibrous attachment connecting your tongue to the floor of your mouth) is thicker than it should be, resulting in your tongue’s inability to move about freely. Not only is this physically uncomfortable, but your speech, eating habits and even oral health can be adversely affected! Spacing between the two front teeth can occur due to improper tongue movement, and gum recession can also occur.
Treatment of a tongue tie is a relatively simple procedure, however great advances have been made from the days of scalpel cutting. A laser frenectomy, the most effective treatment for a tongue tie, is the surgical release of tension of the frenum with laser energy. This procedure will enhance the stability of a corrected diastema, gum recession or alleviate a tongue tie. Because the treatment is done with a laser, the laser energy produces a precise, blood-free cut (the energy actually seals the blood vessels and nerve endings), so the procedure is painless, heals quickly and is complication free. Most people will immediately enjoy the benefit of normal free tongue movement; people who suffer from a speech impairment due to the tongue-tie may need training to speak properly.
You can contact the Academy of Laser Dentistry to find a qualified laser dentist to help you if you have a tongue-tie. My two patients were smart in finding a comfortable and effective way to ridthemselves of their tongue-tie problems.
“Dr. Sun, I’ve had braces twice and I still have all of these spaces in my teeth!” Disparaged new patient Lisa was at her wits end for the answer to her dental dilemma.
Lisa did wear her retainer for a year after the braces, bur once stop wearing the retainer, but her condition had relapsed. Two thoughts went through my mind – either bruxism (night grinding) or tongue thrusting. Checking the wear pattern of Lisa’s teeth as well as performing muscle palpitations for clues of bruxism and observing whether Lisa’s tongue could be seen between teeth during swallowing to evaluate her tongue thrust.
Bruxism has gained awareness in recent years, but tongue thrusting is still a mostly unfamiliar word. Let’s have a discussion about this interesting phenomenon!
Although nearly all children experience tongue thrusting, it is usually self-corrected at age six, and some continue tongue thrusting into adulthood. Because we swallow up to 2,000 times a day, pressure exerted on the teeth from a protruding tongue at each swallow can create force on the teeth, leading to mis-aligned dentition or a lisp-orientated speech impediment or reversed orthodontic work.
Generally, there are several contributing factors which can lead to tongue thrusting. Certain types of pacifiers in childhood can set bad oral habits in young children. Allergies or nasal congestion causing the tongue to lie low in the mouth due to breathing obstruction (as opposed to the normal position behind the upper front teeth against the palate), genetics or ankyloglossia (a tongue tie requiring a frenectomy to remedy) can also cause tongue thrusting. A laser frenectomy is the most advanced treatment for alleviating a tongue tie.
Possible treatment includes a training appliance from your dentist. Myofunctional therapy, a proactive strategy which trains the tongue to swallow properly. With proper myofuntional training and exercise , we can swallow without tongue thrust. To improve airway, check with your ENT doctor, retraining of proper body postures are all important for oralfacial health.
Wow, isn’t this interesting? The tongue is an essential part of our body. It is influenced by and can influence our physiology in many ways! Look at the mirror and swallow – are you tongue thrusting?
Be the First to Comment 
