I was recently interviewed by Angie’s List about technology in the dental office. Please take a minute to listen to the podcast and then feel free to contact me about the dental technology I use in my practice at StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, Ohio.
Some days it feels like there isn’t a whole lot to smile about but those are the days when smiling will help you the most! The human face contains 44 muscles that allow us to make thousands of facial expressions, including many types of smiles.
It has been proven that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you are happy. This chemical message makes it to the brain even if the emotion isn’t real. In a 1984 article in Science a study showed that when participants mimicked different emotional expressions, their bodies produced physiological changes that reflected that emotion. A German study discovered that people felt happy just by holding a small pen clenched between their teeth, which imitated a smile.
Smiling is also contagious – when you are around someone who is happy and smiling it is almost impossible not to join in. In fact, studies have found that simply seeing a friend smile will stimulate your facial muscles to do the same!
If you are afraid to smile in company, or hide your smile behind your hand you are depriving yourself and your loved ones of happiness. There are many choices in cosmetic dentistry today that can give you a dazzling smile that you will want to share with the world.
Something as simple as dental bleaching can easily brighten up an otherwise nice, but dingy smile. Dental bonding techniques and materials can repair many chipped teeth. Dental veneers are a wonderful option for creating brand new smiles while retaining most of your own tooth structure. Lifelike and long-lasting, dental veneers can correct the appearance misshapen, chipped or crowded teeth.
Start smiling again – in the Columbus area contact my office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation.
In the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano researchers reported on the development of a technique that could bring diseased teeth back to full health. Root canal therapy is a procedure that is used to prevent tooth loss by removing the diseased soft tissue inside a tooth leaving a non-vital tooth in the mouth.
Dr. Nadia Benkirane-Jessel and her team developed a film containing a substance that could regenerate the dental pulp and bring root canal treated teeth back to life. The substance called alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone was placed in a nano-sized film (only 1/50,000 the thickness of a human hair). Scientists in the laboratory found that the nano-films increased the number of dental pulp fibroblasts, the main type of cell found in dental pulp. The researchers suggest that one day this approach could help revitalize damaged teeth.
While this new research is intriguing, any use of this type of treatment on actual dental patients is many years away. In the meantime we all need to be diligent with good home care (brushing and flossing) and regular cleanings with your dental hygienist. It is important to let your dentist take x-rays (using digital radiography to reduce exposure to radiation) of your teeth on a regular basis to discover small problems before they become larger and maybe lead to a root canal. A regular, thorough examination by your dentist can save your teeth and your pocketbook.
Please contact our Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-476-6696 to arrange your consultation and start your journey toward a healthier smile.
A Neuromuscular Dentist is specially trained in the branch of Dentistry that diagnoses and treats the proper alignment of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and how it affects the surrounding muscles and nerves. The relationship between the teeth, jaw joint and surrounding tissues is among the most complex in the human body. General dentists are usually trained to focus on the health of the teeth and gums alone.
You should seek a qualified neuromuscular dentist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:
Your neuromuscular dentist has a special focus on the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ (or TMD). TMJ disorders produce the symptoms listed above and can be caused by many factors such as accidents, misaligned teeth or even stress. Diagnosis and treatment of TMJ problems are highly effective, often relieving pain that has haunted patients for years.
Dr. Mark Levy use state-of-the-art technology to discover the correct alignment for your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – one in which the surrounding muscles are relaxed and nerves quiet. With this correct alignment comes relief from pain. If you are suffering from recurring headaches or facial pain in the Columbus, Ohio area please contact your neuromuscular dentist at 614-476-6696 today.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a dental advisory panel to review “scientific issues that may affect the regulation of dental amalgam. The panel meeting will focus particularly on the potential risk to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, fetuses and young children”.
In 2009 the FDA concluded that dental amalgam was a safe and effective restorative treatment and issued a final rule that reclassified dental mercury and amalgam components for regulatory purposes. Since that ruling the FDA has received several petitions raising issues relating to the final rule.
This additional review is long overdue. Amalgam fillings, which are half mercury, were created about 200 years ago as a cheap alternative to gold and before the scientific knowledge of the dangers of mercury. The World Health Organization believes there is no safe level of mercury and acknowledges that its vapors can cause neurological damage. Mercury exposure causes kidney damage, fetal damage and developmental disorders in children.
Several nations worldwide have banned the use of dental amalgam because of safety issues and the environmental risks associated with the mercury. Perhaps the United States will join these nations in protecting its environment and its citizens.
There are many safer and more attractive alternatives for dental fillings today. Composite resins are tooth colored fillings that take longer to place than dental amalgam but are far superior type of restoration. Composite restorations look better from a cosmetic standpoint and, because they don’t react to temperature changes the way amalgam does, they last much longer without breaking down or cracking.
If the thought of mercury in your dental fillings is bothering you please contact our Gahanna, Ohio office at 614-454-3488 to discuss your options for becoming mercury free!
Accidents happen. Teeth are typically knocked out because of an accident – whether it be a fall or an accidental elbow when playing a sport. How you handle the tooth and how long it takes to get to your dentist can make a big difference in how this injury is treated.
Many times teeth are knocked out completely whole, including the tooth roots. If this happens put the tooth or teeth in a container of cold milk and get to the dentist within 30 minutes. “There is a short window of opportunity in which the remaining living tissue on the root surface can be kept alive” according to Dr. Joseph Orrico of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr Orrico feels that because milk has a neutral pH balance and is vitamin fortified it is excellent for helping to preserve the living tissue that is needed to re-implant the tooth.
Often the teeth are broken above the gum line. In this case your dentist may suggest a root canal followed by a crown. These procedures will save the existing tooth structure below the gum line which is very important.
In the event that the tooth has broken below the gum line, the best course of treatment may be to remove the remaining fragments of the tooth. To replace the missing tooth a dental implant or bridge may be suggested. Which option is best depends upon each patient. Age and overall dental health are taken into consideration. For younger patients an implant is the best option. Bone loss in the jaw because of a missing tooth can be significant for younger patients and may cause serious oral health and cosmetic problems over the years. Dental implants prevent bone loss because they are placed in the jaw bone and naturally fuse to the jaw, acting like a natural tooth root.
In case of an accident that affects your teeth in the Columbus, Ohio area contact Dr. Mark Levy immediately at 614-454-3488.
Almost 70% of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. At age 74 more than a quarter of the people have lost ALL of their teeth. Reasons for the loss vary – tooth decay, accidents, gum disease, excessive wear (bruxism or tooth grinding), or periodontal disease. Whatever the reason for the loss it is important to replace missing teeth.
When a tooth is removed it affects more than the appearance of your smile. Other teeth will begin to shift in your mouth making brushing and flossing more difficult. The jaw bone that once anchored the tooth is no longer needed in that area and begins to recede. Chewing food may become more difficult causing nutrition problems, especially for older patients.
There are several ways to replace a lost tooth or teeth. Dental Bridges, Removable Appliances and Dental Implants are all common choices. Your dentist will recommend the best procedure based upon your oral health and the number or placement of the missing teeth. For most people, the strongest, most durable replacement option is the dental implant.
Dental implants are small titanium screws that act as an artificial tooth root. The implant is placed in your jaw bone and the bone and surrounding tissue grow around the implant and hold it in place. A special dental crown is attached to the implant for a natural looking and feeling tooth replacement. Implants are used to replace just one missing tooth or can be used to replace many.
Contact our Gahanna, Ohio office at 614-454-3488 for more information about tooth replacement using dental implants, bridges or removable appliances.
Geographic Tongue sounds like the name of an alternative rock band. Actually it simply means a tongue that has lots of grooves and fissures in it. This “geography” gives lots of hiding places for anaerobic bacteria to live and breed. These bacteria cause bad breath. A geographic tongue does not mean something is wrong with your tongue, it simply means your body is shaped that way.
People who have a geographic tongue may notice that their tongue is sometimes a different color – white, yellow or even black. The way around the problem of bad breath and a funny colored tongue is simple – keep your tongue as clean as possible.
Most patients brush their teeth, floss and they are done. But tongue scraping or cleaning is a process that the majority of people in the United States don’t do on a daily basis but it is vital to keeping your breath fresh. You don’t need an expensive piece of plastic or special mouth rinses, all you really need is a simple tongue scraper (inexpensively purchased at your neighborhood drug store) .
Starting at the base of your tongue scrape in slow, sweeping strokes from back to front. You don’t have to press hard, but use several strokes to cover your whole tongue. Following this you can also spread a small dot of toothpaste on your tongue. Hold it there while you brush your teeth and then spit – don’t swallow the toothpaste.
Make tongue cleaning a regular part of your daily dental cleaning routine and enjoy fresher breath and a healthier mouth. For more information on geographic tongue and halitosis in the Columbus, Ohio area please contact Dr. Levy at 614-454-3488 today to schedule a consultation to discuss your dental concerns.
Case Western Reserve University researchers have suggested that inflammation from periodontal or gum disease and prostate problems may be linked. In the Journal of Periodontology the researchers discuss their initial study results. In this study the researchers compared two common markers – the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) which measures inflammation levels in the prostate and the CAL (clinical attachment level) of the gums and teeth which is an indicator for periodontitis. Both conditions produce high inflammation levels in the human body.
According to Dr. Nabil Bissada “Subjects with both high CAL levels and moderate to severe prostatitis have higher levels of PSA or inflammation”. He added that this might explain why PSA levels can be very high in prostatitis but sometimes the levels can’t be explained by what is happening in the prostate glands. Dr. Bissada feels that something outside the prostate gland is causing an inflammatory reaction and sees a link to gum inflammation.
Gum disease has already been linked to heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus researchers felt a link to prostate disease might also exist. The results of the initial study appear to conform this link. Men with the most severe form of prostatitis also showed signs of periodontal disease.
Keep your entire body healthy with regular dental hygiene appointments. Remember, depending on your periodontal health you may need more frequent dental cleanings. If it has been a while since your last visit contact our Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-454-3488 to schedule an appointment.
A study completed at Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands has found that previously healthy patients who had just one night of reduced sleep time can show signs of insulin resistance. This is important because insulin resistance is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
The lead researcher, Dr. Esther Donga said that over the last 10 years the average night’s sleep has shortened in Western societies. This reduced amount of sleep coincides with an increase in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes. Dr. Donga states “a short night of sleep has more profound effects on metabolic regulation than previously appreciated.”
Previous studies had shown that several nights of shortened sleep could lead to reduced glucose tolerance, but this study from The Netherlands is the first to show how the sensitivity to insulin could change so quickly – after only one night.
There are many reasons why people have reduced sleep but a common reason is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a serious condition wherein the tissue surrounding the upper airway relaxes and collapses during sleep. This causes the sleeper to temporarily stop breathing. This can last for several seconds and may happen frequently during sleep – up to several hundred times a night.
If you have OSA night after night your sleep is disrupted placing stress on your brain and heart. Many people who have been diagnosed with OSA are not compliant with the most common method of treatment which is the CPAP machine. There is an alternative to CPAP – oral appliance therapy is approved by the FDA for the treatment of OSA. Your Dental Sleep Medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy can discuss treatment options and discover whether you are a candidate for treatment with oral appliance therapy.
In the Columbus, Ohio area contact our office at 614-476-6696 to arrange a consultation and discuss treatment for sleep apnea. Get a good nights’ sleep at last and protect your health without the use of masks and machines.
