Silent Nite Snore Prevention

It is estimated that more than 80 million people in North America snore while sleeping. Considering the snorer's spouse and children , as many as 160 million people are negatively affected by snoring every night. However , there is now a prescription for a more restful night's sleep. Silent Nite Dentists can prescribe this affordable , custom-made device, which is flexable , thin and comfortable in the mouth , to aid in the dissolution of snoring. Not only does the Silent Nite snoring device aid in a good night's sleep , it exhibits documented clinical success for the prevention of annoying and unhealthy snoring. Ask your dentist today about Silent Nite for a more restful and healthy sleep.

Getting ready for the dentist

Parents always ask me when they should take their child for their first dental visit.Getting your child learning good dental health from an early age will greatly make them better dental patients. By teaching your child at an early age the importance of good brushing , healthy snacks vs. unhealthy snacks, and how dangerous the plaque and sugar bugs are to their teeth , you pave the way for a good experience. One of the best ways you can do this is by reading to your child and talking about what to expect at this dental visit.It's fear of the unkown and a parents own view of the dentist that can greatly impact this first visit. Always talk positive and try not to use words such as bad, hurt and pain when describing the dentist. There are also some great books available about going to the dentist. Alot of dental offices will let you bring your child in for a happy visit. At this visit your child can get familiar with the atmosphere and meet the staff before any hands on treatment is done. At age three your child should have all their baby teeth and be able to cooperate to simple instructions , this can vary from child to child though. Giving you child a great dental future all starts at home with early education. Learn more at suwaneedental.com.

Meeting the 2011 Diva's

I recently had the pleasure of meeting our 2011 SDC Diva's. I am working on all three Diva's periodontal health so that they all have a good solid foundation to build their beautiful new smiles upon. These three woman all have incredible stories to tell about their lives which makes them all quite the deserving Divas. Even though these woman are all very different, they all have great strength and have given all of themselves to help the people they love. We here at SDC are proud to give these three ladies the gift of a beautiful, pain free smile.Follow us at suwaneedental.com to see these Diva's transform their smiles.

Tooth Nerves Protected by ToothPaste

Dentists have a new treatment for patients suffering from tooth pain and sensitivity caused by excessive tooth whitening, drinking acidic sports drinks and sodas, or stress-related tooth grinding.

The treatment, which will be introduced at the Chicago Dental Society conference this month, is a new toothpaste that contains a nerve-protecting ingredient.

Tooth sensitivity is caused when the dentin layer below the enamel is exposed. Staw-like dentin tubules transmit pain to the tooth's nerve when exposed to heat or cold, acidic soft drinks or bleach in tooth whiteners.

The protective ingredient, called NovaMin, contains a" calcium phosphate molecule that in the presence of saliva, lays down a barrier" and prevents the transmission of pain to the nerve, says Linda Niessen, dentist and chief clinical officer for Dentsply International, which is partnering with GlaxoSmithKline on the NUPRO Sensodyne paste that contains NovaMin.

For now, the paste will be administered at dental offices for immediate relief of sensitivity and pain caused by exposed dentin. A high-fluoride commercial toothpaste containing the ingredient will be available this summer.

"Toothy Toys" Exhibit at the National Museum of Dentistry

A fun, new exhibit called "Open Wide! Toothy Toys that Made Us Smile" ran from November 6 to January 30, 2011 at the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore. Open Wide! featured a variety of toys, dolls, puzzles, and character toothbrushes with a dental theme from the 1940's to the 1990's. With more than 50 objects on display , the exhibit had a PlayDoh Dr. Drill-n-Fill, an Evil Knievel rocket toothbrush and a dentist Barbie. The museum also offered a hands-on area where guests could play dental-themed games such as Crocodile Dentist and Mr. Mouth.

Curated by Dr. Elaine M Miginsky, DDS, a general dentist and collector of dental toys, the show drew from from her own personal collection as well as the museum's 40,000 piece collection of dental related items. Miginsky shared the story of her dental toys collection at the opening of the exhibit on November 6, 2010.

Herpes and Oral Cancer

Onco VEX, the virus that causes cold sores (herpes simplex 1) has been used in small scale study to treat patients with mouth, neck and head cancer. Researchers injected the virus into the affected lymph node of 17 patients with mouth, neck or head cancer. The virus was injected in up to four doses. In 14 patients, tumor shrinkage was noted, and more than 75% of these patients did not show any signs of cancer in the treated lymph nodes. Two years later, more than 75% of the patients were still living. Because these cancers are typically aggressive with a high rate of recurrence, the results are promising. The researchers suggest that larger trials are warranted to further study this technique.

Tongue Piercings

People with barbell stud piercings in their tongues often have the unconscious habit of pushing the appliance against their front teeth. Researchers at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Buffalo, NY, presented a case study that showed this habit can cause a diastema between the front teeth. The 26 year-old woman, who was the subject of the study, wore a barbell stud in her pierced tongue for 7 years. During that time, she habitually pushed the barbell stud against her front teeth, eventually creating a space between her front teeth. The woman needed a fixed brace appliance to close the space. Besides creating a need for orthodontic treatment, the authors noted that tongue piercings can also create serious side effects, such as hemorrhage, chipped and cracked teeth, and injury to the gums.

Older Adults and Oral Health Care Expenses

Researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore studied, 10,582 public health records of those enrolled in Medicare who live in community-based homes to determine the effect of providing preventative oral health care services to this population. The analysis showed that Medicare beneficiaries who received regular preventative oral care visited a dental provider more often but had lower dental expenses overall than those who saw a dental professional for oral health problems only. They also had fewer visits for expensive non-preventative procedures.

Therefore if you go regularly for your preventative maintenance visits, in the long run you will spend less than those that only go when they have a problem. So, since February is Dental Health Month ~ Call and make you dental appointment today!!

Your Dentist Can Make a Difference in the Prevention and Early Detection of Oral Cancer

It is estimated that 36,540 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the US in 2010 and approximately 7,880 people will die from this disease. Oral cancer amounts for approximately 3 percent of cancers in men and 2 percent of cancers in women, and occur most frequently in black males. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer kills roughly one person per hour, 24 hours per day and the survival rate has not significantly improved in over five decades. Although detection and treatment are possible at the early stages, most oral cancers are moderately advanced at the time of diagnosis, influencing treatment and prognosis. The cost of treating head and neck cancers each year amounts to approximately $3.2 billion.

There are multiple risk factors for oral cancer, including age, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV infection, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. Although most cases of oral cancer occur in people older that 45, data on the incidence of oral cancer has shown a substantial increase in those younger than 40 . While most oral cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors, it is noteworthy that approximately 25 percent of oral cancer occurs in those with no risk fctors. The American Cancer Society recommends the primary care physicians and dentists examine the mouth and throat as part of a routine cancer-related exam. Also, people at high risk for oral cancer should perform monthly self-examinations using a mirror to check for signs and symptoms of cancer in the mouth and throat.

We at Suwanee Dental Care will work together to reduce the incidence of oral cancer, to improve early detection practices, and to create an environment that supports saving lives as a practice priority.