Filed under: Dental Technology, Oral Health | Tags: Beth Snyder DMD, Doylestown, hygiene
Statistics show that our female patients are usually much better than the guys about making and keeping preventive care appointments. But according to the Centers for Disease control only 71.4 percent of women over the age of 18 had their teeth cleaned during 2008. This means that almost 30% of women didn’t get their dental hygiene visit and the health check that came along with it that year. I imagine that the numbers are pretty similar from year to year so here’s what those ladies (and men) are missing.
Regular dental hygiene visits can do more for your health than keep your smile in shape. Non-dental related health issues can also be spotted and or prevented during your checkup. Here are 4 of the most common:
- Heart disease – Women who get dental care may reduce their risk of heart disease by 1/3 according to researchers at Berkely. While recent research has shown that gum disease doesn’t seem to cause heart disease there is a link that science is still figuring out.
- Oral cancer – Each visit to the dental hygienist includes a visual and manual screening for oral cancers. DNA testing for HPV exposure (which greatly increases the risk for oral cancers) is available. Knowing your risk is important – early detection of oral cancer is important for effective treatment.
- Nutritional deficiencies – Your gums and tongue can tell a lot about your nutritional status. For example, a pale tongue can indicate an iron deficiency.
- Diabetes – The health of your gums and teeth can tell us a lot about your blood sugar problems. The link between oral health and diabetes goes both ways – diabetes increases the risk you will have gum disease and having gum disease makes it harder to control your diabetes. Diabetic patients usually need dental cleanings more often than every six months.
People who avoid making dental hygiene appointments usually have two reasons: anxiety or finances. Neither of these should be a reason for avoiding the dental office. Over the long run, patients who maintain regularly scheduled care typically have lower dental expenses because problems are discovered when they are small and easily (more cheaply) resolved. Our office utilizes high tech devices to seek out dental decay in its earliest stages so you can avoid large fillings.
Anxiety or fear issues are a legitimate problem for some patients, please let us know if you experience dental anxiety and we will be glad to work with you to make your visit pleasant and relaxing.
Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder in Doylestown, PA today at 215-348-9922 to schedule your dental hygiene visit. The health of your smile, and your overall health, are important and closely linked – please schedule your visit soon.
Filed under: Dental Technology, Oral Health | Tags: bacteria, Beth Snyder DMD, gums, oral health, periodontal
Dementia and dental health? Could there be a connection? A study from Japan completed recently suggests that there could be. The study of more than 4000 elderly adults in Japan showed that those who didn’t visit the dentist on a regular or had lost several teeth and didn’t use dentures had a higher risk for dementia than those who were in better dental health.
Japan is concerned about the increasing number of patients with dementia because of a rapidly aging population. Lead researcher Dr. Yukio Hirata said “The number of dementia patients is increasing, but there are no effective treatment and prevention methods. Therefore, finding risk factors contributes to solving the problem from the viewpoint of prevention.” She also reported that some earlier studies had suggested that periodontal disease and tooth loss might be risk factors for dementia. Tooth loss has a serious effect on diet and nutrition as well as overall quality of life for senior citizens no matter what country they are from.
Avoid potential tooth loss by brushing and flossing every day and visiting your dentist every six months (or more often if you have gum disease or risk factors for gum disease). Bacterial testing for periodontal disease is available enabling us to pinpoint treatment.
Protect your oral health and your overall health by scheduling your dental hygiene appointment today. Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922 to make your appointment.
Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Technology | Tags: Beth Snyder DMD, facelift dentures
How would you like to have the most comfortable dentures you’ve ever worn and look several years younger without undergoing plastic surgery? It might seem too good to be true but FaceLift Dentures can take years off of your appearance while allowing you to eat, smile and laugh with confidence.
The reason there are so many denture adhesive commercials on television is because most people are wearing dentures that don’t fit. Making dentures correctly has become somewhat of a lost art. Many patients shop for the lowest price when they need dentures. This usually leads to a new set of dentures after a short period of time because the “bargain” denture is uncomfortable or loose.
Bargain dentures also tend to leave your face with a “sunken” or shortened appearance which makes you look older than you are. Using neuromuscular dentistry techniques we can now create a denture that places your bite in the optimal position for comfort and, because the muscles in your face are relaxed and stable, your face looks years younger.
Contact Dr. Beth Snyder in Doylestown, PA today at 215+348-9922 to find out more about FaceLift Dentures and neuromuscular dentistry. Your appearance and comfort are important — call us today to schedule your consultation appointment.
Filed under: Dental Technology, Oral Health | Tags: Beth Snyder DMD, dental x-rays, Doylestown
Dental x-rays are used for more than finding hidden cavities. Dentists already use the films to check on the health of the jaw bone and to look for oral cancers so they are an important part of your dental examination. Digital x-rays (radiographs) are used by most up-to-date dental offices making radiation worries a thing of the past.
A New Reason Dental X-Rays Are Important
A study from Sweden says that it is possible to use dental X-rays to predict which patients may be at risk of bone fracture. The research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Endocinology and showed that sparse bone structure in the lower jaw is an indicator that the individual is at greater risk for bone fractures in the future.
The study used data from the Gothenburg study of women that has been running for over 40 years.
The researchers believe that although the study data was about women, the same link will apply to men. The study also showed that the older the person, the stronger the link between the sparse bone structure in the jaw and bone fractures.
Hopefully this research will translate into guidelines that can be used in dental offices since more people get regular dental x-rays than seek out bone density testing or other types of x-rays. A dentist could share x-ray data with physicians to help monitor those most at risk of fracture.
Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder, your Doylestown, PA cosmetic dentist at 215-348-9922 today to schedule your next appointment.
Filed under: Dental Procedures, Dental Technology | Tags: mercury fillings, metal fillings
Mercury based dental amalgam or silver metal fillings have been used for over 150 years. They were initially created as a low cost alternative to gold fillings. The original recipe contained silver shavings, zinc, copper, tin and mercury. We now understand that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin but amalgam fillings are still in use in some dental offices today because it is cheap for the dentist to buy and easy for them to work with.
In addition to the toxic mix that makes up dental amalgam, there are other risks to these old fashioned metal fillings. The amalgam material is very sensitive to temperature changes – it expands and contracts in the presence of heat and cold. This often causes small cracks and fractures in the filling which can cause tooth sensitivity or even weakening of the tooth. The tiny cracks can also allow bacteria to enter through the filling leading to additional decay and creating a bigger problem in the future. The dark fillings are also very unattractive and can lead to a loss of self-esteem when smiling.
Dentistry today offers many different types of composite filling materials that are bonded to your tooth structure. These composites protect against future decay and help strengthen the tooth as well. Once bonded in place, a composite filling won’t change shape or be affected by what you eat or drink. Best of all, because these fillings are matched to your natural tooth color, they are virtually invisible when you smile.
Mercury fillings have long been controversial and, as time goes on, more and more dentists are following the lead of dentists like and getting the mercury out of their offices and out of the mouths of their patients. Better health and a more beautiful smile can be achieved with the replacement of old fillings. If you are concerned about your old metal fillings contact our Doylestown, PA office at 215-348-9922 to arrange a consultation.
Filed under: Dental Procedures, Dental Technology | Tags: crowns, Invisalign, veneers
A study out of Sweden has shown that the size of our jaws decrease with age causing crowded teeth in older adults. The study began in 1949 with plaster molds of the jaws of dental students. Molds were again created forty years after the first round and “We found that over these forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw” said Lars Bondemark.
The crowded teeth come from the shrinking of the jaw, mainly the lower jaw, and although it is a small amount it is enough to crowd the front teeth. Why the jaw changes throughout life is not known but the amount of change may be related to heredity and the health of the patients bite.
These finding reflect what I hear from my patients every day. From middle age onward patients complain about their teeth looking crowded. Fortunately the crowded appearance can be corrected and you don’t have to visit an orthodontist for a full set of metal braces. Invisalign allows you to straighten a crooked smile using a series of trays that are almost invisible when worn. No one will know you are in braces!
Another alternative for those seeking instant gratification and a beautiful smile is cosmetic dentistry. Using dental veneers and/or crowns the crowded appearance of your teeth can be changed. Dental veneers can also give you a brighter, whiter smile and change the appearance of misshapen teeth.
For more information about your options for changing a crowded smile please contact Beth Snyder DMD in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922.
Filed under: All General, Dental Procedures, Dental Technology | Tags: braces, crooked teeth, Doylestown, Invisalign
Has your smile changed over the years? As we age our teeth tend to shift and become more crowded. Many patients who had beautiful smiles throughout their lives find that the smile they are looking at in the mirror is not the one they remember — nor is it the one they want.
When it comes to straightening teeth in adults there are a few choices. Traditional braces with brackets and wires can be used but a better choice for many is the Invisalign system. Invisalign is a series of clear trays that fit over your teeth. Just as the name implies they are essentially invisible when being worn. Over time as the patient works through the series of trays their teeth are being straightened — and no one knows you are essentially wearing braces! The trays are easily easily removed for eating or cleaning your teeth. In less time that you think you’ll have that beautiful, straight smile back once more.
To schedule your consultation or to find out more about Invisalign please contact our Doylestown office at 215-348-9922 today.
Filed under: Dental Technology, Oral Health | Tags: bacteria, disease, health, hygiene, periodontal, treatment
Many studies have shown the ability of oral bacteria to move throughout the body. The bacterium called S. mutans typically lives in the mouth and is responsible for causing cavities. The bacteria live in the dental plaque which builds up in the mouth when teeth are not cleaned as often or as thoroughly as they should be. S. mutans thrives in this environment where it secretes acids which erode the teeth. Normally, it stays put.
Sometimes the bacteria can enter the bloodstream following a dental procedure or some type of cut in the oral cavity. Within just a few seconds the bacteria can reach the heart and set up housekeeping. Fortunately, our immune systems usually destroy the bacteria when it enters the bloodstream but sometimes when S. mutans reaches the heart it can cause an inflammation of the heart valves called endocarditis.
The researchers were curious how this oral bacteria could survive in such a different environment like the heart. It turns out that a certain protein in the bacteria allows S. mutans to move into the heart. When the scientists removed the gene for this protein in the bacteria they were unable to invade the heart. This research may help doctors decide which patients are vulnerable to heart infections caused by S. mutans.
“No matter what types of bacteria a person has in his or her mouth, they should do the same things to maintain good oral health. They should brush and floss their teeth regularly – the smaller the number of S. mutans in your mouth, the healthier you’ll be” said study author Dr. Jacqueline Abranches.
For more information about oral bacteria and how it affects your health please contact our office at 215-348-9922 and ask about bacterial testing for periodontal disease.
Filed under: Dental Procedures, Dental Technology, Oral Health | Tags: bacteria, Beth Snyder DMD, disease, gums, hygiene, periodontal, treatment
The connection between gum disease and overall health keeps repeating in one scientific study after another. Not so long ago everyone thought that bleeding, infected gums were part of growing older and the worst that could happen was you would lose some teeth (this also used to be an accepted part of growing older).
Fast forward to today – we now understand that the bacteria that causes gum disease travels throughout the body, wreaking havoc along the way. Some of the health issues linked to gum disease include:
- breathing problems and asthma
- strokes
- heart disease
- diabetes
- premature birth
- certain cancers
The good news is that gum disease is preventable. Brushing, flossing and visiting your dental hygienist on a regular basis can keep you safe. If you already have gum disease there are new forms of treatment and we can even perform bacterial testing to discover how best to treat the condition.
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while – it’s time to make the call. Your overall health and well-being may be at risk. Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder in Doylestown today at 215-348-9922 to schedule your visit.
Filed under: Dental Technology, TMJ Disorder | Tags: gums, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, TMJ
Grinding your teeth while you sleep is called bruxism. Most people who grind their teeth don’t know they are doing it unless a bed partner hears the noise during the night or until the damage to their teeth is pointed out by their dentist.
Signs that bruxism might be a problem for you include:
- Waking up with a headache most mornings
- Jaw pain or ache
- Popping or clicking in your jaw
- A broken tooth or broken dental work
Bruxism has been linked to stress but it is also linked to sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. It can also be caused by dental problems such as missing or broken teeth or a misaligned bite.
Treating your bruxism is a complicated matter. A trained neuromuscular dentist will find the optimal position for your jaw and, depending upon your individual needs, give treatment options ranging from custom orthotics to creating a proper bite (occlusion) using advanced dental techniques.
Left untreated bruxism can lead to grinding down of the teeth, broken teeth, gum disease and painful inflammation and damage to the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint).
Please don’t delay – if you are experiencing the symptoms of bruxism or have been told that you grind your teeth please contact us today at 215-348-9922 to discuss your treatment options.
