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An innovative device which cancels out the noise of the dental drill could spell the end of people's anxiety about trips to the dentist, according to experts at King's College London, Brunel University and London South Bank University, who pioneered the invention.

It is widely known that the sound of the dental drill is the prime cause of dental anxiety, and some patients avoid trips to the dentist because of it. This new device could help address people's fears and encourage them to seek the oral healthcare treatment they need.

The prototype device works in a similar way to noise-cancelling headphones but is designed to deal with the very high pitch of the dental drill. Patients would simply unplug their headphones, plug the device into their MP3 player or mobile phone, and then plug the headphones into the device, allowing them to listen to their own music while completely blocking out the unpleasant sound of the drill and dental suction equipment. The patient can still hear the dentist and other members of the dental team speaking to them but other unwanted sounds are filtered out by the device.

Containing a microphone and a chip that analyses the incoming sound wave, the device produces an inverted wave to cancel out unwanted noise. It also uses technology called 'adaptive filtering' where electronic filters lock onto sound waves and removes them, even if the amplitude and frequency change as the drill is being used.

The device was initially the brainchild of Professor Brian Millar at King's College London's Dental Institute who was inspired initially by car maker Lotus' efforts to develop a system that removed unpleasant road noise, while still allowing drivers to hear emergency sirens. Then with over a decade of collaboration with engineering researchers at Brunel University and London South Bank University, a prototype has been designed, built and successfully evaluated.

Although the product is not yet available to dentists, King's is calling for an investor to help bring it to market. Professor Brian Millar said: "Many people put off going to the dentist because of anxiety associated with the noise of the dentist drill. But this device has the potential to make fear of the drill a thing of the past.

"The beauty of this gadget is that it would be fairly cost-effective for dentists to buy, and any patient with an MP3 player would be able to benefit from it, at no extra cost. What we need now is an investor to develop the product further, to enable us to bring this device to as many dental surgeries as possible, and help people whose fear of visiting the dentist stops them from seeking the oral healthcare they need."

If you enjoyed this article, there is a good chance you will like these articles from my blog as well:

• “Acupuncture Helps Ease Dental Anxiety“
• “New Inventions Take The Pain Out of Dentistry“
• “Nasal Spray Could Replace The Dentists Needle“
• "Sound Waves Soothe Away Fear Of The Dentist"

Thanks for Reading !!

I came across a very interesting study the other day which has important implications for the dental profession.  Forteo, a drug marketed to grow bone in osteoporosis patients, also works to heal bone wounds in gum disease patients, a University of Michigan study suggests.  "This new approach for the treatment of periodontal disease could allow us to rebuild some of the bone that is lost due to periodontal disease, which until this point has been very difficult to achieve," said Jill Bashutski, clinical assistant professor at the U-M School of Dentistry and first author on the study. "Current treatments to re-grow bone around teeth affected with gum disease have limited success rates."  The findings are significant because gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and is associated with a host of other health problems. Periodontal disease results in loss of teeth and can be devastating because it compromises speaking as well as eating, which can in turn contribute to poor nutrition.

The generic name of the drug is teriparatide and it is marketed by Eli Lilly and Co. under the trade name Forteo. It's a type of parathyroid hormone and the only anabolic (meaning it grows bone) osteoporosis drug approved on the market in the United States. Typically, other types of osteoporosis drugs such as bisphosphonates work by preventing bone loss.  With bisphosphonates, there is a risk that long term use may lead to ONJ, osteonecrosis of the jawbone.

"There was speculation that the bone that forms in a wound like a fracture or inflammatory disease condition might be more responsive to being built back than other bone," said McCauley, who noted that this proved true in the experimental group.McCauley said the next step is for U-M researchers to test whether the treatment could be delivered locally to target site-specific bone healing. Forteo is not FDA approved for uses other than osteoporosis, but another possible application could be to help grow bone around dental implants.

The study appeared online in the New England Journal of Medicine Oct. 16 and in the print edition Oct. 28. The study was presented Oct. 16 in Toronto at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

In our periodontal practice, we have used Forteo, prescribed and supervised by the patient's medical doctor, with great success to aid in bone regeneration in severely osteoporotic patients prior to dental implant surgery. Although anecdotal, the outcomes are quite remarkable.  Has anyone else had similar experiences?  Your comments are appreciated.

Source:  Science Daily

Journal Reference:

Jill D. Bashutski, Robert M. Eber, Janet S. Kinney, Erika Benavides, Samopriyo Maitra, Thomas M. Braun, William V. Giannobile, Laurie K. McCauley. Teriparatide and Osseous Regeneration in the Oral Cavity. New England Journal of Medicine, 2010; 101016083039040 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1005361

We know how and why implants successfully fuse to bone, but making the crowns (the parts of the teeth that attach to them) look real is another matter. That is where art really meets science. What drives the result is how the tooth or crown shape actually emerges through the gums, and the ability to identically match the color to the adjacent teeth. What follows are some of the predictive factors and criteria for success that dentists involved in implant dentistry have learned through evidence based research, clinical practice and experience over the years.

The Bone Sets The Tone

The first factor is that there needs to be an adequate volume of bone and gum, in the right position to anchor or support a tooth implant. This means that when a tooth is lost, the remaining bone of the tooth socket has to be managed delicately so as to retain as much bone as possible, avoiding the natural tendency of the socket to collapse and resorb (melt away). This can be done by:

* Minimizing trauma during tooth removal, especially important if an immediate implant is to be placed the same day with a temporary crown;
* Using “bone grafting” materials and techniques to minimize resorption;
* Rebuilding bone where lost with regenerative surgical techniques.

These techniques allow an implant to be optimally positioned in order to place a crown in perfect position.

Good Neighbors

Believe it or not the second factor is the amount of bone on the adjacent tooth/teeth. Maintaining a normal volume and height of bone attached to the adjacent teeth actually controls the height of the “papillae,” the little pink triangles of tissue that fill the spaces in the areas beneath where the teeth contact each other. If bone is lost on either side of an implant against a natural tooth, there is no guarantee that the papillae (those small, pink triangle of gum tissue between teeth) will regenerate fully, leading to what we dentists refer to as “black hole disease.”

Tissue Is The Issue

The third factor to consider is the genetic tissue type you are born with. It is a lot more difficult to achieve a great result with genetically thin tissue than it is with thicker tissue types. Think of the gingival tissues like a curtain, the thicker the curtain, the more wear and shrink resistant it will be. Thin tissues are more delicate to work with surgically, tending to recede, and are more see-through, making it difficult to hide the metal of an underlying implant or other implant crown materials. Thicker gum tissues are more robust and resilient, easier to work with surgically, and hide more.

“Emergence Profile” — From Bud Into Flower

The seamless transition from implant into exact tooth replica is almost akin to the transformation of a bud into a flower — it involves the way the crown, which attaches to the implant seemingly emerges through the gum tissue, exactly like a natural tooth. This “emergence profile” involves both the implant shape and how far it is placed below the bone and gum tissues relative to the adjacent teeth. This is dependent upon good planning, surgical experience and skill during dental implant placement, allowing space for the “emergence profile” to be developed.

Work Out The Final — In The Temporary

Where aesthetics is of paramount importance as in the front of the mouth, a customized temporary crown acts as a template or blueprint for a final crown. This allows several of the criteria for success to be worked out ahead of time, including: color, shape and regeneration of papillae. This includes compatibility with the gum tissues and smile line, speech, and biting function. Choice of crown materials, color matching, even the dental laboratory technician — are all mechanical and artistic ingredients that go into the mix before baking this particular pie, and lead to good matching of the implant supported crown to adjacent natural teeth. These factors in and of themselves demand their own skill sets, expertise and experience to achieve optimal success.

Implant to Tooth Versus Implant to Implant

The picture changes when it comes to placing implants next to implants, in addition to adjacent teeth. The distance between the implants and the shape and size of the implants then become even more critical, and in fact it may not be possible to completely regenerate natural looking papillae between the implants relative to the natural teeth.

All Things Considered

There are in fact many more factors to consider in this special situation, but this consultation gives you a flavor for the variety. Good surgical manipulation (in the best sense of the word), experience and skill are all pre-requisites for great implant aesthetics in the most critical places, in the smile line or “aesthetic zone.” As with most of the endeavors discussed, pre-surgical assessment, diagnosis, and team planning (surgeon placing the implant, restorative dentist and laboratory technician making the crown), all go into both the planning and realization of success.

If you enjoyed this article, there is a good chance you will like these articles from my blog as well:

• “What Are Dental Implants“
• “Dental Implant Success Rates”
• “Metal Free Ceramic Dental Implants“

Thanks for Reading !!

Last year, if you walked into your dentist's office saying, "Hey, Doc, can you make my teeth look like Jessica Alba or Brad Pitt's?" the answer would have been, "Yeah, sure - with a lot of anesthetic, drilling and permanent reconstruction." But things have changed.

Meet the Snap-On Smile - a thin, flexible, resin shell of perfect teeth that snaps over your actual teeth like a retainer. No adhesive, no drilling. Its inventor, Marc Liechtung, is a dentist at Manhattan Dental Arts, where you can walk in on a Monday, make a painless plaster mold of your teeth and then pick up your new smile by Friday. All for $1,200 to $1,600. Patients can work with a "smile guide" to chose one of 17 colors ("yellow-white," "yellow-gray," even "Extreme White Buyer Beware") and 18 shapes ("squared," "square-round," "pointy"). But many patients just hand Liechtung a celebrity photo and say, "Make my teeth look like this." So he does.

But he wants to make one thing clear: "I did not come up with the Snap-On Smile so people could mimic celebrity smiles." His goal was an affordable, minimally invasive dental tool. "I had patients with almost no teeth who didn't have $20,000 for reconstruction," he says. So this year, after months in the lab, he unveiled Snap-On Smiles. People don't ask Liechtung whether the Snap-On causes permanent damage (it doesn't) or whether you can eat with it (you can - even corn on the cob). "No," Liechtung says, "they just want to know: 'Which is the most popular celebrity?' 'What kind of girls get Halle Berry?' 'Who do guys ask for?' "In the beginning, it made me sick. I thought I invented some serious medical device, but all people wanted to do was use it to make themselves look like celebrities!" Eventually he thought, Well, why not? "A person comes in, I say I can give them any teeth they want, who are they going to want to look like? Me? No!" Liechtung wears a Snap-On every day.

But whose smile is it? "I just made an enhanced version of my own," he says. But people rarely believe him. "I hate to admit it," he says, "but when they persist, I tell them my teeth are Brad Pitt's, because really, who wouldn't want his teeth?"

How Does Snap on Smile Work:

No shots. No dental drilling. No adhesives. You can even eat while wearing the Snap-On Smile  appliance. Patients looking for a non-invasive, reversible, affordable approach to restorative and cosmetic dentistry are excellent candidates for Snap-On Smile. It's an easy, quick and affordable solution for patients who want to feel better, look better, and function better. Patients using Snap-On Smile report an immediate boost to confidence and self esteem. Most are impressed with the natural look and feel of Snap-On Smile and are grateful for the brief time investment - about two weeks - to achieve such life changing results. This revolutionary appliance is the ideal solution for solving a wide variety of short- and long-term clinical challenges, as it serves as both a non-invasive restorative option as well as a diagnostic appliance. Applications include using Snap-On Smile as aesthetic provisionals for implant restorations, as a vehicle for increasing facial height (vertical dimension), as cosmetic removable partial dentures, and even as a long-term smile enhancement. Snap-On Smile can last for years and yet is affordable enough to be temporary. It has also proven to be a terrific incentive for patients who are in need of but are hesitant to commit to more involved restorative treatment. In fact, our research has shown that 40 percent of patients who started treatment with the Snap-On Smile transitioned into more extensive restorative dentistry. Think of Snap on Smile as a professionally made (can only be fabricated by a dentist), highly esthetic, cost effective dental grill. I use Snap on Smiles all the time in my practice as temporary replacements of front teeth while my patients dental implants are healing. I love the appliance and highly recommend it for a variety of uses described above. If you enjoyed this article, there is a good chance you will like these articles from my blog as well:

• “Dr. Welch’s Take on Kanye West’s Diamond Teeth“
• “Jessica Alba: Female Celebrity Smile of the Year“
• “Mario Lopez: Male Celebrity Smile of the Year“

Thanks for Reading !!

We are creating radiographic templates and design proposals for guided implant surgeries with Straumann's coDiagnostiX software and gonyX table.  Have any of you used this system with Straumann or other systems.  It is compatible with 30+ implant systems.  We are starting to set implants in the casts and make immediate temporaries as well for our surgical counterparts.

http://http://www.procuste.com/aide/procuste/index.htm

it's a french software but you can use translate google to use it

The other day, the New York Times featured an article entitled "Radiation Worries for Children in Dentist's Chairs". The article mainly centers around the increasing use of Cone Beam CT Scans by dentists, including oral surgeons and orthodontists, to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of common dental problems in children such as malocclusion and impacted teeth. The main issue is that these children are being exposed to much higher doses of radiation as compared to those children who are being evaluated with more traditional diagnostic tools such as conventional panoramic and periapical dental Xrays (both digital and film), photographs, and study casts of the dentition.

The article states that many experts in dental radiation have raised alarms about what they see as their indiscriminate use. They worry that with few guidelines or regulations, well-meaning orthodontists and other specialists are turning to a new technology they do not fully understand, putting patients at risk, particularly younger ones. Some orthodontists now use Cone Beam CT scans to screen all patients, even though a number of dental groups in this country and in Europe have questioned whether the benefit of routine use justifies the added risk. The ADA has already responded and advises that dentists follow the ALARA principle (As Low As is Reasonably Achievable) to determine which diagnostic tools are best for each particular case.

There is no question that Cone Beam CT scans can help dentists and surgeons deal with complex cases involving dental implants, TMJ disorders, jawbone pathology, and other serious dental and medical problems. As a periodontist who has been placing dental implants for over 23 years, we have been using CT scans since the early 1990s to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning for complicated cases. The technology is an extremely valuable tool which helps us to provide our patients with a safe, predictable surgical outcome. But the vast majority of our smaller cases do not require the use of this technology, especially when we have extracted the teeth and repaired the bone with bone graft and guided bone regeneration procedures. These cases may be evaluated by more conventional means outlined above.

With the increasing prevalence of in-office CBCT scanners, usually at a cost of around $140,000, I sometimes wonder if they are being overused by some clinicians just to help pay for the cost of the machines. I would like to believe that this technology would only be used when absolutely necessary to justify the extra radiation exposure, but I have seen instances with patients referred for second opinions where conventional dental Xrays would have been adequate for proper diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, I completely understand the concept that dentists and surgeons would like to have the best and most complete information available to them prior to treating their patients. In this litigious society, implant surgeons have oftentimes been told that utilizing CT scans in the diagnostic phase is actually the standard of care. So, therein lies a "Catch 22". In the end, we must rely on the judgment, skill and expertise of the treating dentist and surgeon to determine how best to evaluate cases. But, patients do need to be informed of the risks and benefits, especially when concerning children.

Do you think the NY Times article is valid? What are your experiences? Your comments are appreciated.

Cary Feuerman, DMD

Periodontal Associates

In the past I have written about the dangers of misinterpreting information from research articles or news sources, with even the Discovery Channels’ own author blowing things out of proportion. A recent example is from Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician turned internet health guru.

In Dr. Mercola's opening paragraph he says this: “A new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association finds once again that, contrary to what most people have been told, fluoride is actually bad for teeth.”

Fortunately there is a link to the article listed in PubMed, which says something completely different: “Results suggest that prevalence of mild dental fluorosis could be reduced by avoiding ingestion of large quantities of fluoride from reconstituted powdered concentrate infant formula and fluoridated dentifrice.”

What that article is actually saying is that if you are using too much fluoridated water for your infants formula, or if your toddler is squeezing the tube of toothpaste down their throat like its cupcake icing, it will cause fluorosis.

So what is fluorosis? It’s a condition of the teeth which is caused by an increased amount of fluorapetite. This fluorapetite comes from ingested fluoride (not rinsing), and can cause white or brown stains on teeth. The condition is esthetic only, with these teeth having a greater ability to resist decay. While these stains are undesirable, saying something is “bad for teeth” implies that the teeth are being damaged insome way, as in the case with soda drinks or sucking on lemons. In thedental field, it is important to balance the difference betweenesthetics and health. I would never tell a patient with coffee stains onhis teeth that coffee is “bad” for him.

The problem is that the language Dr. Mercola uses is inflammatory, inciting fear commensurate with the rest of the article.

So what about his other claims, such as “Fluoride (no amount noted) causes bone fractures”? On a brief search of the PubMed database, I found an article saying that there is no conclusive evidence for the long term effects of water fluoridation on the human skeleton.It’s hard to tell what is true and what is speculation… or what issensationalism.

Fluoride seems to be one of the most controversial topics in America, and I’m sure that my thoughts here will prompt a few comments. But remember, just because it is on the internet doesn’t always mean it is true. It’s important to keep in mind the source. PubMed is agreat start with thousands of peer-reviewed articles. The point is todig in, figure this out, do the homework, and formulate a solidconclusion that will benefit my patients and my family. I welcome anyevidence you the reader might have to get to the real bottom of thistopic.

RC Health Services LLC, based out of Houston, Texas, has now expanded to offer classes throughout the United States. RC Health Services is in high demand nation wide due to its large network of AHA instructors is every city in America. Our courses are conducted in a comfortable, no stress classroom or private setting. Covering the United States and the Caribbean, we are an American Heart Association training site that provides courses to large organizations such as: Nursing Agencies, Outpatient Surgical Centers, Physician Groups, Private Practices, Endoscopy centers, Conferences, Corporations, and Private Facilities.
Courses offered for the medical professional includes Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). There are also courses such as Airway Management, Acute Stroke, Learn Rhythm Adult, Learn Rhythm Pediatric, and Learn STEMI. As a leading provider of both online and traditional courses RC Health Services strives to meets all our clients needs.

Nationwide Corporate CPR/AED and First Aid Training. High profile clients such as Shell Oil, Air Liquide, and ATI Enterprises illustrate the experience and professionalism that has been the hallmark of this AHA training site. Maintaining OSHA compliance is made easy with RC Health Services with our corporate data base management system. We assure our clients that their employees are kept compliant on all their American Heart Association course requirements. Classes include Heart Saver CPR and AED, Heart Saver First Aid, and Blood B Pathogens. All of our courses are offered in both online and traditional settings.

Dental implants traditionally have a very high success rate. The majority of studies that have been done indicate long-term success rates well over 95%. However, there are many factors that can compromise the success rates of dental implants. These can be divided into three categories: general health concerns, local factors and maintenance issues. It is important to consult with your dentist or dental professional prior to having implants placed to determine whether you are a goodcandidate. Most implant failures can be eliminated through proper caseselection.

1. General health concerns that may impact an implant’s success include such factors as smoking, certain drugs, osteoporosis, history of radiation treatment, or a compromised immune system.
2. Local factors that could impact implants include bone quality, bone quantity, and initial stability of the implant at the time of placement. Bite-related concerns depend upon the amount of stress that the patient will be placing on the implants. When evaluating a dental implant patient, your dentist has to evaluate whether you clench or grind your teeth.This will impact both the potential short and long-term success ofimplants.
3. Finally there are maintenance issues, while implants are wonderful high-technology replacements for teeth, they need routine maintenance. This includes daily cleaning and continued professional management. Without ongoing professional care,implants just like any other technically sophisticated device aresusceptible to breakdown.

I believe that one should have confidence that dental implants are an excellent choice to replace missing teeth, but feel free to consult with your dental professional about your unique case requirements — how many implants you need, your medications, your medical history, and local findings such as bonequality and quantity. If you are properly evaluated by a qualifieddental professional and determined to be a good candidate, there is noreason why you cannot have extremely high success rates as do mostpatients.

For more information contact Dr. Todd Welch with West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at www.wtnperio.com or you can leave a comment in the section below. You can also view my blog post “What are Dental Implants?”. Thanks for reading !!

Halloween can present a very scary time of year for any parent concerned about their child's oral health, since your kids will probably come home with that big haul of candy from trick or treating. But should you let them immediately gorge themselves on the candy and get it out of their system? Temple University pediatric dentist Mark Helpin thinks that might not be such a bad idea. "The frequency of eating candy, and other refined carbohydrates, and their stickiness, are big factors in creating the risk of caries (cavities)," he said.

Eating carbohydrates can change the pH balance of the mouth, making it more acidic, which can increase the risk of cavities. Each time candy is eaten, the acid environment in the mouth can take up to an hour to dissipate.

"If I eat a piece of candy now, the pH in my mouth will become acidic, and it will take 30-60 minutes for it to become normal," said Helpin. "If I eat 2 or 3 pieces of candy when I eat that first one, my mouth stays acid the same length of time that it would if I ate just that single piece. It's still 30-60 minutes. If I keep eating candy throughout the day, there is acid in my mouth for a much longer period of time. The longer teeth are in an acid environment, the greater the risk they will become decayed."

Helpin, the acting chair of pediatric dentistry at Temple's Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, says that there are a number of ways parents can minimize this risk while still letting their children enjoy the holiday. "Parents can let kids eat a bunch [of candy] now and a bunch later. But don't let them have one piece now, then an hour later let them have another piece," he said, adding that candy can also be dispensed as a dessert or snack.

Meals are a good time at which to have treats as dessert because the production of saliva increases, which helps to wash away acidity in the mouth. Helpin also recommends that parents have their children brush their teeth after eating candy, or if that's not possible, tell their children to rinse their mouth with water three or four times after eating, which will help reduce acidity in the mouth.

Helpin warns that substituting small bags of chips or pretzels for candy doesn't solve the cavity problem, either. "Chips and pretzels are also carbohydrates and they also will create an acid environment that can create cavities," he says. "These treats and snacks get stuck on your teeth, and that's the stickiness factor," he said.

When trick-or-treaters come to his door, Helpin likes to give out sugar-free candies, and avoids the sticky, gummy candies, which stick to the teeth promote cavities because they allow bacteria "to feed" for a longer time. Ultimately, "it's not realistic to think you can tell your child you can't have candy, cookies, cakes, or other treats," says Helpin. "Those are the things most people enjoy -- and we want our kids to enjoy life."

Source: Science Daily

Conscious Sedation Consulting has announced the launch of a comprehensive online dental sedation course.

This online continuing education course is for the non-anesthesiologists and non-anesthetist dental providers who are involved in or are considering the administration of sedation or the monitoring and or recovery of sedated patients.

The company is offering a free online 1 hour sedation module entitled "A Culture of Safety" for anyone who wishes to participate. Seven other modules are available for subscribers. A subscription allows access to the database for a period of 2 years. This course is comprised of lectures, video and power point combinations and examinations. It allows users to participate in the online learning experience from anywhere at any time and at their own pace. Course has been developed and is presented by John Hexem MD PhD a board certified anesthesiologists with over 25 years of clinical experience.

The course is a total of more than 9 hours of continuing education, each module is about 1 hour in length and after each module has been viewed, a 10 question examination will be available, at the completion of all modules and examinations, participants will be able to print a verification form, stating they have received 9 hours of CE on the administration of sedation.

Course topics include; A Culture of Safety, Assessment, Sedation, Pain & Phobia, Monitoring & Management, Adverse Events, Pharmacology, Recovery & Discharge.
Courses will also be available for institutional licensing as a mechanism to credential staff on sedation administration.

Courses are available on the company's website at www.SedationConsulting.com

Conscious Sedation Consulting LLC is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

For more information on this or other services this company provides, inquires can be directed to:

Conscious Sedation Consulting
5988 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Saint Charles, MO 63304
888-581-4448