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2009 H1N1 Vaccine
It appears that the Swine Flu outbreak in our country
will be a significant concern for all of us this year. The Center for Disease control has an interesting
web site link call FluView www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ which gives weekly updates of the situation.
Nineteen more infant deaths have been attributed to the swine flu this week as well as three more adult women.
This brings the death toll to more than seventy six people.
The CDC has other informative and interesting
web sites giving the latest information on the details of the Swine Flu. See www.cdc.gov/ for more detailed information than I’ll offer in this synopsis.
There is great
concern over the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine that has been developed to prevent Swine Flu. First
of all, you should know that the so called ‘seasonal flu’ is different from Swine flu. There
is already a vaccine available for the seasonal flu.
The Swine Flu vaccine is still forthcoming and will be available soon. You
will need both if you are a person who is considered at risk.
It is recommended that everyone
get the seasonal flu shot.
The CDC recommends vaccinations against Swine Flu for five groups of people:
-Pregnant women
-Anyone who lives with or care
for children under the age of 6 months of age
-Health care personnel
-Anyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age
-People from age 25 to 64 who have compromised immunity or
chronic health disorders which would make them more susceptible to the effects of the flu
The Swine Flu is made in the same way
and by the same companies that have made the seasonal flu vaccinations for years. There have been no deaths
or complications from these past vaccines including any for pregnant women or infants. In the past the
vaccines developed have been less effective in some years than in others. This is probably because the
drug companies have to somewhat guess early in the year as to which virus will be the most serious when flu season comes in
the fall of the year.
This year the drug makers have guessed completely accurately when making
the Swine flu vaccine. All cases of flu that have manifested have been responsive favorably to the vaccine
developed.
Evidence based research has shown the Swine Flu vaccine to be safe and effective for all at risk
groups that need it. This fact in light of the serious nature of this disease should weigh heavily in anyone’s decision
making in regards to taking the vaccine. Swine Flu is many times more lethal for people at risk than the
seasonal flu we see every year. This is not your usual flu.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm
Fluoride, Not Just For Kids
People are living longer today and maintaining their own natural
teeth. Studies throughout the years have proven flouride to be a measurable tool in prevention against dental caries (cavities)
in children and adolescents. Recently a study done in Indianapolis at Indiana University School of Dentistry, has investigated
the advantages of flouridated water, as well as fluoride application in all age groups, noting that the older adults benefited
the most.
The ADA
has reviewed certain factors that also increase decay rate for a person. The list includes but is not limited to: poor oral
hygiene, multisurface restorations, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse, irregular
dental care, presence of exposed root surfaces, poor dental margins, and/or side effects of medications. Looking at this list,
some or many of these factors may apply to you or someone you know.
While we are always using fluoride on children at their regular dental visits, we may not
be so diligent with our adults and older adults. An exciting new material called "Fluoride Varnish" is now availible
that is highly recommended by the American Dental Association. The fluoride varnish is applied after a dental cleaning and
exam. We are very excited about this new application of fluoride and the ADA has strongly recommended this process over the
application of gels and foams due to the long-term advantages.
Our role as dental health professionals
is to stay on top of new preventaive measures and share them with our clients to help save time, money and discomfort.
Doc, why are you
taking a picture of my tooth?
Throughout
the past year, we have incorporate digital photography into the way we practice dentistry. In todays digital age, it is often
necessary and quite easy to snap a picture of a tooth or specific areas of your mouth. Some of the reasons we do this are:
To educate you on the condition of your
mouth and understand why we are recommending treatment (cracked tooth, decay, gum disease, etc)
To document any abnormalities of the gums, tongue, palate, lips,
and cheeks for later comparison
To
communicate to our dental laboratories for more lifelike looking crowns and dentures
To communicate with your dental insurance company on recommended treatment (results
in fewer cases of declined treatment)
We
hope you view these photos as a service that will enhance dentist-patient communication and will raise the level of your
dental treatment.
Payment plans and extended financing now available
When presented with your treatment plan, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible communicating your
concerns. Many of our patients say that financing is their biggest concern. With our new financing options, we hope you feel
at ease about proceeding with your dental work.
We
have added the services of Care Credit and Citi Health Card at our office in order for our patients to have more financial options that can accommodate any budget.
Citi Health Card is great for those that are looking for
flexible financing that will allow the treatment to start immediately.
Care Credit offers extended
payment options with the versatility to be used at other dental specialists, health care providers and even veterinarian offices.
Immediate Placement of Dental Implants
Dental implants are one of the most exciting treatments offered in the world of dentistry today. However, the traditional
healing protocols following a tooth extraction often delayed the surgical placement and restoration of
an implant for up to 1 year. New research has now concluded that it is very possible to extract a tooth and immediately place
a dental implant into the tooth socket without sacrificing the success rate of the implant. This allows the dentist to do
only one surgical procedure instead of two or three seperate surgeries to get the implant into place. It also allows treatment
time to be shortened by up to 8 months. Todays dental implants have improved designs and are coated with advanced
surfaces that promote faster healing of the bone onto the implant surface.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements
that are used to counter tooth loss. Although you have a number of restorative options for the treatment of missing teeth,
none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as implants. In may cases, dental implants may be the only logical
choice for the restoration of all necessary functionality of teeth and supporting structures. 
Teeth are lost because of:
Tooth decay
Root
canal failure
Periodontitis
Trauma to the mouth
Exessive wear and tear
People who have lost teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile or talk. Additionally, biting
irregularities caused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits and this can lead to secondary health problems
like malnutrition. Regardless of the nature of problems related to tooth loss, dental implants may provide a simple remedy
with proven results.
Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative
counterparts (bridges and dentures). Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. Additionally, implants may be used
in conjunction with other restorative procedures for maximum effectiveness. For example, a single implant can serve to support
a crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple
missing teeth, and can be used with dentures to increase stability and reduce gum tissue irritation.
Reversing
Decay
Wouldn't it be great
if we could prevent and reverse tooth decay instead of continually placing fillings? This is the modern goal of preventative
dentistry. Well, believe it or not we now have several products that can reverse the progression of decay (at early
stages) and strengthen teeth to make them more resistant to tooth decay.
Let's first review how a cavity starts. There needs to be three things present to form a cavity:
1) a tooth, 2) bacteria, and 3) sugar. Dental Plaque is a sticky film that forms on our teeth after we eat, it consists of
large quantities of harmful bacteria and broken down food products. A specific type of bacteria in dental plaque (named Streptococcus
mutans) and is the primary cause of cavities. This bacteria gets energy from sugars and releases acid on the tooth as
a by-product of its metabolism. The more sugar to energize the bacteria, the greater the acid attack is on the teeth. this
is a big reason why dentists and hygienists will stress diet changes and plaque removal by good brushing and flosing. The
acid released from the bacteria over time will cause serious tooth decay.
There are three products we now use to counteract the harmful effects of the acid attack on the
tooth.
1). Xylitol, a natural sweetner
which helps prevent cavities. It works because the harmful bacteria responsible for acid attacks on teeth cannot use Xylitol
for energy, thus cannot metabolize it, and therefore cannot multiply in number or release acid. In addition to reducing cavities,
it also reduces plaque build-up and bacteria, stimulates saliva flow, buffers the mouth, and allows for re-mineralization
of the tooth to take place. Xylitol is now found in many types of chewing gum and mints.
2). Fluoride, is a naturally occuring element found in vegetation,
rock, soil, and air. In most parts of the country is in incorporated into the water supply and is also applied topically to
teeth in dental offices. Fluoride works by creating an acid resistant 'shield' on the outside surface of teeth. Fluoride
is also toxic to the acid producing bacteria (S. mutans) found in dental plaque, thus reducing the overall acid attack
on the teeth. It makes tooth enamel less soluble to these acids, and will remineralize (repair) soft areas of the tooth before
a full cavity develops. Fluoride also has profound desensitizing properties when it is topically applied to cold sensitive
teeth. Many types of toothpaste contain small amounts of fluoride but it is also dispensed in many forms of oral rinses, foams,
varnishes and gels. Research continues to show that fluoride is both effective at reducing tooth decay and is safe.
3). Recaldent, derived from natural milk protein,
and is essentially vitamins for your teeth. It contains bio-availible calcium and phosphate that will bind to areas of a tooth
that have been damaged by acids. Recaldent allows for an increased effect of fluoride when used in comination. It also stimulates
saliva production, buffers plaque acids, and has fantastic desensitizing properties for cold sensitive teeth.
To review the basics of tooth decay...acid is the
enemy! Depending on how susceptible you are to cavities, dry mouth, sensitivity or acid attack, Dr. Reid and Dr. Perrett will
recommend a customized approach (using one or more of the above products) to protect your teeth.
Lab Work from
China
The recent news stories reporting of lead content
in dental crowns has been all the buzz in recent dental publications. These stories are about crowns and bridgework that have
been outsourced to Chinese dental labs from American dentists. With international shipping these days, this is actually
seen as an option by some dentists. Apparently the lab bill for crowns made in China can be as cheap as $10 per crown
compared to the American lab costs of several hundred dollars per crown.
The American Dental Association has asked the nation's leading health agencies to address
saftey concerns raised by these reports.
The Centers For Disease Control have responded by saying that the amount of lead present in these crowns is so small
as to be inconsequential and "unlikely to cause adverse effects in adults."
The FDA has assured the ADA that they are working on the concern but
as of yet, they will not be issuing a Consumer Update.
The ADA noted in letters to the various government agencies that they would be conducting their own studies on contaminants
in dental prosthetics from both overseas and domestic laboratories.
I called the local dental laboratories and was assured that there are no contaminants such as
lead in any of the materials they use. Their response was the same as mine. Why would you use some overseas lab!? Of course
it's all abou the money.
I
have worked with some of the same lab technicians for over twenty five years. Our office works with two laboratories. We have
settled on these two labs after scrutinizing several other labs over the years. We know that we can count on the quality of
work they deliver. This, of course, is best for the patient but also makes our job easier. We can't imagine compromising
the quality of our care and increasing the stress it would take to deliver the work for the sake of price.
Which Toothpaste To Choose?
The good news is that Americans have a wide variety
of toothpastes from which to choose. The bad news is that this vast array can be very confusing. In choosing any toothpaste,
be sure that it contains fluoride and has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Here are some tips to help you
select the best toothpaste for you. Also, talk with your dentist about which toothpaste would best meet your needs.
Tartar-Control Toothpaste
Tartar-control toothpaste prevents tartar, a hardened plaque,
from forming above the gum line, possibly by as much as 36 percent. These toothpastes do not remove tartar that has already
formed, which can only be done by a professional cleaning.
Abrasives
Abrasives help remove stains and plaque and polish
the teeth. All ADA-accepted toothpastes contain a mild abrasive that, along with your toothbrush, helps remove plaque. There
is no need to be concerned about abrasives wearing away enamel.
Desensitizing
Toothpaste
Many people
with receding gums have teeth that are especially sensitive to temperature extremes, making it uncomfortable to ingest hot
or cold drinks or foods. Desensitizing toothpastes can help block this pain, though it may take four to six weeks before improvement
is noticeable.
Baking Soda
Baking soda toothpastes have become popular
in recent years. While this ingredient can act as a mild abrasive, there is no scientific evidence that baking soda helps
fight gum disease. An advantage of baking soda as an ingredient is that if you like the taste or feel of these toothpastes,
you are likely to brush more often and thoroughly.
Hydrogen
Peroxide
When
hydrogen peroxide is found in toothpaste, it is usually found in conjunction with baking soda. The concentrations of peroxide
are not sufficient to bleach teeth, but the bubbling action may improve the feel of the toothpaste in the mouth. Peroxide
has not been shown to have a therapeutic effect on gum disease.
teeth and soft teeth are prone to cavities and excessive wear. Many of our favorite candies and beverages have very strong
acidity; in fact many are closer to battery acid than water! 