About.com

Straight Teeth Without Braces?

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:10:45 +0000

Many adults yearn for straight teeth but are reluctant to undergo orthodontic treatment because of the look and feel that traditional braces are far too well-known for. The Invisalign orthodontic system was introduced to dentists and orthodontists as a means for people to achieve straight teeth without the use of traditional braces. If you have written off orthodontics because you are not thrilled by the thought of wearing traditional braces, it might be time for you to learn about Invisalign.

...

Read Full Post

Do Your Teeth Hurt When You Have a Sinus Cold?

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:17:02 +0000

It's that time of year, folks. Sinus colds, flu, sore throats, all terrible and completely unwanted. I woke up this morning with a sinus cold and besides the constant sneezing, my upper teeth also hurt.

...

Read Full Post

Gum Disease and Missing Teeth Could Raise Women's Risk for Breast Cancer

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:28:56 +0000

The British Dental Health Foundation released a rather shocking report this month that may cause many women to step up their oral hygiene routine. The report, released on February 11, 2011, states that women with gum disease and or missing teeth may be up to 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer.

...

Read Full Post

From the Dentistry Forum: Lifespan of a Crown-Restored Tooth

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:59:32 +0000

Steven, a member of the Dentistry Forum, recently had full ceramic crowns completed on some of his front teeth, but he was confused by the instructions his dentist gave him after the procedure. Steven writes,

"I just had a restoration with Procera zirconia on upper front teeth. The doctor said I should avoid biting with them."

I did my best to answer his question, but I would like to hear your experiences after having a posterior or anterior crown placed. Are you able to enjoy foods the same way as you did before you had your crowns done? Are there certain foods that you now avoid because of your crowns? We all know that obvious food such as candy should be avoided...

Read Full Post

Brrrrr... Are Your Teeth Chattering Today?

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:03:58 +0000

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but where I live it's a whopping -17 degrees farenheit today! One of the first things that happens to me in the cold is shivering, followed by the chattering of my pearly whites. Have you ever wondered why your teeth chatter when you're cold? Have a look at this video to find out why!

Dentists Urged to Stop Using Product Manufactured by Rite-Dent

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:29:12 +0000

US Marshals, acting under a court order issued by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seized $208,910 worth of dental products manufactured by Rite-Dent on January 5th and January 6, 2011. The company, located in Florida, received a warning letter from the FDA back in 2005 citing numerous infractions in the manufacturing facility and was investigated as recently as November 2010. According to the press release issued by the FDA, seized products include Alginate Impression material, Ultra Impression Material, Enamel Bonding System, Pit and Fissure Chemical Curing Sealant, Tooth Shade Resin Material, Cavity Varnish, Polycarboxylate (PCA) Cement, and Zinc Phosphate Cement. The FDA also stated that the manufacturer neglected to obtain FDA marketing approval or clearance for a device called the Ultra Impression System.

...

Read Full Post

Fluoride Level in Fluoridated Public Water Set to Reduce

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:14:17 +0000

In what appears to be a giant step aimed to reduce the amount of fluoride added to public drinking water in the United States, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement January 7, 2011, proposing the level of fluoride added to public water to be set at 0.7 mg/L of water, which is considered to be the lowest concentration of fluoride necessary to prevent tooth decay. The current range sits between 0.7 mg/L and 1.2 milligrams, but most communities set their level of fluoride at 1.0 mg/L. Water fluoridation has been around since 1945 in the United States. The current guidelines for water fluoridation have been in place since 1962... That would be 49 years, to be exact. Here is an excerpt from the press release as to why the levels are changing:

"HHS and EPA reached an understanding of the latest science on fluoride and its effect on tooth decay prevention and the development of dental fluorosis that may occur with excess fluoride consumption during the tooth forming years, age 8 and younger. Dental fluorosis in the United States appears mostly in the very mild or mild form - as barely visible lacy white markings or spots on the enamel. The severe form of dental fluorosis, with staining and pitting of the tooth surface, is rare in the United States.

There are several reasons for the changes seen over time, including that Americans have access to more sources of fluoride than they did when water fluoridation was first introduced in the United States in the 1940s. Water is now one of several sources of fluoride. Other common sources include dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, and fluoride applied by dental professionals. Water fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste are largely responsible for the significant decline in tooth decay in the U.S. over the past several decades.

HHS' proposed recommendation of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water replaces the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. This updated recommendation is based on recent EPA and HHS scientific assessments to balance the benefits of preventing tooth decay while limiting any unwanted health effects. These scientific assessments will also guide EPA in making a determination of whether to lower the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water, which is set to prevent adverse health effects.

The new EPA assessments of fluoride were undertaken in response to findings of the National Academies of Science (NAS). At EPA's request, in 2006 NAS reviewed new data on fluoride and issued a report recommending that EPA update its health and exposure assessments to take into account bone and dental effects and to consider all sources of fluoride. In addition to EPA's new assessments and the NAS report, HHS also considered current levels of tooth decay and dental fluorosis and fluid consumption across the United States."

...

Read Full Post

About.com's Top 10 Dental Stories of 2010

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:59:44 +0000

You are bound to run into a plethora of "Top Ten of 2010" lists, but I can assure you, these top dental stories of 2010 are worth the read.

...

Read Full Post

FDA Panel Reviewing the Safety of Amalgam Fillings

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:59:16 +0000

An advisory panel consisting of experts in the fields of toxicology, risk assessment, epidemiology, and pediatric medical and dental specialties began a two day meeting in Washington, D.C. on December 14, 2010, to determine whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should reclassify dental amalgam, based on risk assessment and clinical data that demonstrated dental amalgam as a dangerous filling material; carrying a class III medical device classification. A class III medical device is classified as such, because there is insufficient information available regarding the effectiveness and safety of the device solely through the general or special controls sufficient for Class I or Class II devices. Simply put, class III medical devices pose the greatest risk to patients.

...

Read Full Post

Breast Cancer May Be Linked to Periodontal Disease -- with a Strange Twist

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:14:11 +0000

Shocking. One word that sums up the latest study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. According to their research, chronic periodontal disease indicated, strangely, by missing molars, appears ...

Read Full Post