Although Children’s Dental Health Month is nearly over, there are still many ways you can attract children and their families to your practice throughout the year. To start send children their own pediatric themed postcard orlaser card. These are a great way to encourage kids to look forward to their next office visit, they even help reminder mom and dad! Parents should also get dental recall cards of their own reminding them or instructing them of the benefits of proper care.
Once families begin coming to your practice make the process as easy as possible with easy to read sign-in and history forms, as well as staying organized. The reception waiting area is a particularly uneventful area. traditional magazines are great, but patient brochures and patient education materials, help to increase case acceptance and make the patient feel like the appointment is half over by the time they get taken back.
Once kids have completed their appointment be sure and reward them with toys and games, candy, or even a supply bag of their own. Be sure patients also take home additional cosmetic procedure information and patient education materials to help them in evaluating the benefits of effective cosmetic procedures.
Creating a seamless, fun, fast and informative office visit makes patients feel more comfortable with your office, value proper dental care, and loyal patients for life.
For more information on effective dental marketing strategies visit SmartPractice.com
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A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a study in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Its identification will allow scientists to work out how it causes disease and evaluate the risk that it poses.
The bacterium was identified by researchers at the Institute of Medical Microbiology of the University of Zurich and has been named Streptococcus tigurinus after the region of Zurich where it was first recognised. S. tigurinus was isolated from blood of patients suffering from endocarditis, meningitis and spondylodiscitis (inflammation of the spine). It bears a close resemblance to other Streptococcus strains that colonise the mouth. Bleeding gums represent a possible route of entry for oral bacteria into the bloodstream.
The similarity of S. tigurinus to other related bacteria has meant that it has existed up until now without being identified. Its recent identification is clinically important, explained Dr Andrea Zbinden who led the study. "Accurate identification of this bacterium is essential to be able to track its spread. Further research must now be done to understand the strategies S. tigurinus uses to successfully cause disease. This will allow infected patients to be treated quickly and with the right drug."
Dr Zbinden said that while the discovery of the bacterium is no cause for alarm, it is important that it is recognised and the risk is quantified. "This bacterium seems to have a natural potential to cause severe disease and so it's important that clinicians and microbiologists are aware of it," she said. "The next step is to work out exactly how common this bacterium is in the oral cavity and what risk it poses. Immunosuppression, abnormal heart valves, dental surgeries or chronic diseases are common predisposing factors for blood infections by this group of bacteria. However, the specific risk factors for S. tigurinus remain to be determined."
Source: Science Daily
Journal Reference:
- A. Zbinden, N. J. Mueller, P. E. Tarr, C. Sproer, P. M. Keller, G. V. Bloemberg. Streptococcus tigurinus sp. nov., isolated from blood of patients with endocarditis, meningitis and spondylodiscitis. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2012; DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.038299-0
The possible advantage of improved appearance and function offered by partial dentures should be balanced against their long-term potential to cause harm to the remaining teeth and supporting soft tissues suggest by dentists in China dental lab. In broad terms this harm can be described as a risk of local damage to the remaining teeth resulting from an increased incidence of caries and periodontal disease and the continued resorption of those parts of the alveolar process supporting the partial denture.
In next serval texts I will introduce some long-term effects of using partial dentures patients. Main as following aspects:
1. Caries and periodontal disease.
2. Plaque and partial dentures.
3. Changes to the alveolar process.
Changes to the alveolar process
Resorption of the supporting alveolar process is a frequent clinical finding. Common consequences are reduced retention, instability, loss of occlusal contacts and fracture of denture components. Further, Trauma from the resulting ill-fitting dentures may well cause inflammation of the denture bearing mucosa. Such trauma and an overgrowth of the fugus Candida albicans are thought to be the most common causes of denture-induced stomatitis not infrequently seen under ill-fitting upper dentures.
The question as to whether there is a cause-effect relationship between this resorptive process and denture use has not been clearly answered. Although several studies strongly suggest this relationship, the small study populations and the large individual variations seen have case doubt on the validity of the results. There is no evidence for the concept of disuse atrophy in non-denture wearers.
Dr Vijayan Ravi Kumar, Director, Academy of Fixed Orthodontics has been conferred the “National Awards for Commercializable Patents” by TIFAC, an autonomous organization set up in 1988 under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The Award was conferred on the 25th founding day of TIFAC, 10th February 2012 in New Delhi at Manekshaw Center by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Hon’ble former President of India. The Award function was presided over by Hon’ble Minister of State for S & T, Dr.Ashwini Kumar. Hon’ble Chairman TIFAC, Dr Anil Kakodkar was the guest of honor.
Immediate placement of a dental implant right after a tooth is extracted, along with attachment of the temporary tooth, is a predictable treatment option for patients who must lose a tooth. My partner and I have been placing dental implants in our private periodontal practice in Newton and Framingham, MA for over 25 years. We have personally witnessed the evolution of implant dentistry to this point. Patients are thrilled with the results of "same day" dental implants and restoration. And, the esthetic results are typically outstanding; usually better than the outcomes that are achieved in delayed, staged-out treatment protocols.
Critical factors for success include using an implant that provides superior stability in the bone of the extraction socket, right after the damaged tooth has been removed. We also prefer using an implant that has a "platform shift" design to avoid loss of crestal bone during healing. An internal connection is also desirable to provide maximum stability for the abutment which supports the crown (tooth). The NobelBiocare NobelActive implant fixture has been the perfect solution for us.
Comments are welcome.
Gum disease affects millions of people around the work. And, gum recession ( the loss of gum tissue and supporting bone around a natural tooth) makes up a big part of the problem. Unfortunately, loss of gum and bone can eventually lead to tooth loss.
But there is a cure! Dentists and periodontists (dentists who specialize in the treatment of gum disease) can repair the damage caused by gum recession. With a traditional treatment approach, a small amount of gum can be removed from another part of the mouth and used to repair the tooth that has lost gum. The exposed root can oftentimes be covered to improve the cosmetic appearance of the tooth. This is generally considered to be the "gold standard" of treatment because the patient's own gum is used. The downside is that the area that the gum is borrowed from (it grows back) can be sore during the healing phase after treatment.
Over the years, various materials have been developed to be used as a substitute for using the patient's own gum as the donor. These include donor grafts from cadavers......Yes, it sounds unappealing, but it is perfectly acceptable and has been used for decades. Newer materials are now available that are made from collagen (the building block of all skin)! The general benefits include avoiding a second surgical site to borrow the gum, so there is less soreness. And the results appear to be quite promising.
We, at Periodontal Associates, have been using Mucograft collagen matrix for awhile now with much success in treating gum recession (and, no, we do not have any affiliation with the company). Our patients are very happy with the outcomes which include improved cosmetic appearance, improved gum health, and their improved quality of life.
Comments are appreciated!
My partner, Giovanni Castellucci, and I have been placing dental implants in our periodontal practice for over 27 years. Every day, we see an ever increasing amount of requests from our restorative colleagues and patients from Boston, Newton, Framingham, and the surrounding metrowest communities for extraction of a compromised tooth, followed by immediate dental implant placement and restoration (Teeth in a Day). Years ago, this was a very challenging proposition for a variety of reasons, and we oftentimes had to decline these requests and follow a more traditional treatment protocol. However, with the current advances in dental implant design (including surface technology, thread pattern, and restorative connection), we can confidently and predictably deliver immediate dental restorations in one dental appointment. One of our favorite dental implants for "teeth in one day" is the NobelActive fixture from NobelBiocare. We have been impressed by the tremendous stability at insertion (70 Ncm), platform switch - bone preservation design, surface technology to maximize bone-implant contact and osseointegration, and ease of restoration.
Case selection is paramount to assure a successful outcome, and not every patient is truly a candidate for these procedures. Every case has to be thoroughly evaluated on its own merits. And, there is no substitute for clinical experience and surgical expertise. In the end, our mission is to have a happy and healthy patient with normal function and a beautiful smile.
Have any of you had similar experiences? Please share them with the community.
Cary Feuerman, DMD
PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES
photo credits:
Dental Implant #9 - Cary Feuerman, DMD
NobelActive Graphic:
Taking a five-year-old to the dentist can be tricky – even for a SmartPractice employee.
When the time came for my daughter’s last checkup, I wasn’t sure how things would go. It’s hard to get her to sit still in any situation, let alone a dental office waiting room. But when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see it was filled with plenty of happy kids enjoying kid friendly activities and books. We were off to a great start.
I was really proud of how well my daughter behaved. She waited quietly while alternating playing with toys and cutting pictures out of a stack of old health magazines. When I wasn’t checking on her, I caught bits of the TV show playing in the background. TV in the waiting room is a great distraction for anxious parents (who probably don’t get to watch much at home).
After about 30 minutes the hygienist came out and called her name, which made her feel very grown up. She jumped up eagerly but I wasn’t sure if I should go with her and stay in the room during her checkup. Or maybe walk her back and then return to the waiting room? Or just let her go on her own? I finally decided to walk back with her and see what happened once we got to the exam room. I think I was more nervous than she was!
We reached the brightly decorated treatment room and the pediatric hygienist was so friendly and dressed in some really cool printed scrubs. I could see my daughter’s face light up as she took in the surroundings, so I decided to stay in the hallway where I could hear her, but she couldn’t see me.
The hygienist talked to my daughter and explained what she was going to do and showed her the tools she was going to use. I recognized the fun packaging and bright colors of the Sqwiggly Prophy Angles and heard my daughter giggle when she saw the colorful exam gloves.
She made it through the appointment with flying colors and no cavities. The hygienist let her choose her own sticker – she was torn between a classic smiley face or a fun cartoon whale (the whale won). But that was just the beginning of the goodies. When we reached the front desk the receptionist 
congratulated her on a job well done and handed her a supply bag containing a dental activity book, crayons and a personalized Sqwiggly toothbrush.
We both left the appointment feeling great! I could tell she was very proud of her perfect checkup and the way everyone treated her like a big girl. Thanks to the kid-friendly environment, products and staff, she’s not afraid of the dentist and will look forward to future checkups.
Rachel
Online Marketing,
SmartPractice
Scientists are reporting identification of two substances in licorice -- used extensively in Chinese traditional medicine -- that kill the major bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, the leading causes of tooth loss in children and adults. In a study in ACS' Journal of Natural Products, they say that these substances could have a role in treating and preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
Stefan Gafner and colleagues explain that the dried root of the licorice plant is a common treatment in Chinese traditional medicine, especially as a way to enhance the activity of other herbal ingredients or as a flavoring. Despite the popularity of licorice candy in the U.S., licorice root has been replaced in domestic candy with anise oil, which has a similar flavor. Traditional medical practitioners use dried licorice root to treat various ailments, such as respiratory and digestive problems, but few modern scientific studies address whether licorice really works. (Consumers should check with their health care provider before taking licorice root because it can have undesirable effects and interactions with prescription drugs.) To test whether the sweet root could combat the bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities, the researchers took a closer look at various substances in licorice.
They found that two of the licorice compounds, licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, were the most effective antibacterial substances. These substances killed two of the major bacteria responsible for dental cavities and two of the bacteria that promote gum disease. One of the compounds -- licoricidin -- also killed a third gum disease bacterium. The researchers say that these substances could treat or even prevent oral infections.
Source: Science Daily
Journal Reference:
- Stefan Gafner, Chantal Bergeron, Jacquelyn R. Villinski, Markus Godejohann, Pavel Kessler, John H. Cardellina, Daneel Ferreira, Karine Feghali, Daniel Grenier. Isoflavonoids and Coumarins fromGlycyrrhiza uralensis: Antibacterial Activity against Oral Pathogens and Conversion of Isoflavans into Isoflavan-Quinones during Purification. Journal of Natural Products, 2011; 74 (12): 2514 DOI: 10.1021/np2004775
Dr. Andreas Kurbad, Germany
Keynote Speaker
An extensive treatment planning is the key for success in esthetic reconstructions. The planning should start with diagnostics. An evaluation of the esthetics is necessary. It can be based on the direct investigation of the patient, but more important is the work with photos and in the last time also videos are used. A lot of analysis can be done with simple methods, for instance using common PC programs like PowerPoint.
An excellent design and, in the second place, the predictability of results are very important when restoring teeth in the esthetic zone. In most esthetic dentistry cases, a re-design of the shape and contour of the respective teeth is required. In conventional treatment procedures, this is accomplished by means of a wax up. This also can be done digitally today. Once approved by the patient, the wax-up represents the basis for all the working steps that are carried out in the course of the treatment.
Very frequently, the wax-up is used to fabricate splints for so-called mock-ups or provisional restorations. Those temporary restorations play a more and more important role within the treatment concepts. Moreover, silicone matrices are made to ensure control of the amount of tooth structure removed during preparation. These matrices enable the mandatory minimum layer thickness to be observed and the shape and contour of the final restoration previously defined by means of the wax-up to be reproduced. To provide patients with a restoration whose appearance is very close to that originally defined in the treatment plan is crucial to treatment success.
Following tooth preparation, the new situation will be scanned again and matched with the data of the case already stored in the computer. The digital wax-up can then be used for the design of the final restoration. The modern, highly esthetic all-ceramic materials available today even allow full-contour restorations to be milled, which only need to be stained and glazed. In challenging cases, a slight cut-back can be performed to optimize the result.
Cementation is the last and a very important part of this complex. The thinner the ceramic thickness, the more important is to pay attention to the underground color and the type of cement. All in all, this is a completely new way of achieving highly esthetic outcomes in the management of restoration cases. It allows the predictability of results to be increased in a very cost-effective way.
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Dear Colleagues,
It is with great honor and pleasure we welcome you to the 2nd Iraqi Dental Reunion/IDA Annual Conference March 30th – 31st, 2012 Saad Palace, Erbil Iraq.
The 1st Iraqi Dental Reunion 2011 was a great success, achieving record attendance and further establishing a reputation as the dental industry's leading regional event. The event welcomed more than 1200 and 400 visitors including dentists and dental technicians from the government and private sector and students coming from all provinces of Iraq. Participants accumulate the latest opinions, trends and insights from industry thought leaders, shared experiences with colleagues, made new contacts and bound exciting relationships and exchange their ideas and knowledge.
Exhibitors & Sponsorship
Please contact:
Dr. D. Mollova at info@cappmea.com
Mob.: +971 50 4243072
For more information:
The saliva of people with pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis varies from that of healthy people, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Gut.
Researchers at University of California Los Angeles—led by James J. Farrell, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Digestive Diseases at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA—conducted a three-phase study to measure the variations in salivary microbiota and evaluate their potential associations with pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
They found that the levels of 31 types of bacterial species were increased in the saliva of patients with pancreatic cancer, compared with that of healthy control participants, and that the levels of 25 types of bacteria were reduced. For example, the levels of Granulicatella adiacens, which is associated with systemic inflammation, were elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer. The levels of Streptococcus mitis, which may play a protective role against inflammation, were lower in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Researchers say their findings add to growing evidence that saliva may be a credible biomarker source to track and diagnose nonoral diseases. They add that the results of their study also offer new research directions for focusing on inflammation as a contributor to pancreatic diseases.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
Source: JADA
Reference: http://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2011/09/23/gutjnl-2011-300784.abstract
Thank you for taking time to read this letter. As the problem of food safety has been becoming worse and worse nowadays, I am obliged to write to you.
Several days ago, one of my classmates came back from supermarket with a large bag of food. Because of having found a new style of tinned?ish in the food store, she was very glad. Several other roommates were invited to enjoy the “mouth?atering chicken”. Unfortunately, after finishing the food, all of my three friends had stomachaches and vomited, their faces having become paler and paler. Due to sensitivity to that kind of tinned food, I escaped that suffer. At that time, my mind went blank. I dialed the emergency number with my trembling hand, therefore they were quickly sent to hospital. The doctor said they were lucky to be out of danger because they did not eat too much of that rotten fish and were hospitalized on time.
This is the matter that happened around me which made me realize the seriousness of the food safety problem. I sincerely hope that the whole society could attach much importance to this issue
We hope you all have a great and prosperous New Year! My most sincere thanks to you for an exceptional 2011 and I look forward to our continued partnership of success for 2012.
Nearly 20 million Americans annually visit a dentist but not a general healthcare provider, according to an NYU study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
The study, conducted by a nursing-dental research team at NYU, is the first of its kind to determine the proportion of Americans who are seen annually by a dentist but not by a general healthcare provider.
This finding suggests dentists can play a crucial role as health care practitioners in the front-line defense of identifying systemic disease which would otherwise go undetected in a significant portion of the population, say the researchers.
"For these and other individuals, dental professionals are in a key position to assess and detect oral signs and symptoms of systemic health disorders that may otherwise go unnoticed, and to refer patients for follow-up care," said Dr. Shiela Strauss, an associate professor of nursing at the NYU College of Nursing and co-director of the statistics and data management core for NYU's Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry.
During the course of a routine dental examination, dentists and dental hygienists, as trained healthcare providers, can take a patient's health history, check blood pressure, and use direct clinical observation and X-rays to detect risk for systemic conditions, such as diabetes,hypertension, and heart disease.
The NYU research team examined the most recent available data, which came from a nationally representative subsample of 31,262 adults and children who participated in the Department of Health & Human Services 2008 annual National Health Interview Survey, a health status study of the U.S. population, which at that time consisted of 304,375,942 individuals. Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants were among those categorized as general health care providers for the purposes of the survey.
When extrapolated to the U.S. population, 26 percent of children did not see a general health care provider. Yet over one-third of this group, representing nearly seven million children, did visit a dentist at least once during that year, according to survey results.
Among the adults, one quarter did not visit a general healthcare provider, yet almost a quarter -- nearly 13 million Americans -- did have at least one dental visit. When combined, adults and children who had contact only with dentists represent nearly 20 million people.
Ninety-three percent of the children and 85 percent of the adults had some form of health insurance, suggesting that while many of those who did not interact with a general healthcare provider may have had access to general health care, they opted not to seek it.
From: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a study from Taiwan presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.
Among more than 100,000 people, those who had their teeth scraped and cleaned (tooth scaling) by a dentist or dental hygienist had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never had a dental cleaning. The participants were followed for an average of seven years.
Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years; occasional tooth scaling was once or less in two years.
The study included more than 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling and a similar number of people matched with gender and health conditions who had no tooth scaling. None of the participants had a history of heart attack or stroke at the beginning of the study.
The study didn't adjust for heart attack and stroke risk factors -- such as weight, smoking and race -- that weren't included in the Taiwan National Health insurance data base, the source of the information used in the analysis.
"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year," said Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen, M.D., cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.
Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke, she said.
Hsin-Bang Leu M.D., is the study co-author. Author disclosures and funding are on the abstract.
Type of periodontal disease predicts degree of risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart failure
In a separate study, researchers found that the value of markers for gum disease predict heart attack, congestive heart failure and stroke in different ways and to different degrees.
Anders Holmlund, D.D.S., Ph.D. Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gävleborg, Sweden, and senior consultant; Specialized Dentistry, studied 7,999 participants with periodontal disease and found people with:
- Fewer than 21 teeth had a 69 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the most teeth.
- A higher number of deepened periodontal pockets (infection of the gum around the base of the tooth) had a 53 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the fewest pockets.
- The least amount of teeth had a 2.5 increased risk of congestive heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.
- The highest incidence of gum bleeding had a 2.1 increased risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest incidence.
Source: Science Daily
Invisalign is a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of plastic trays called aligners. Invisalign treatment has grown in popularity over the past few years and has been used to treat over a million patients. Many potential patients are drawn to the treatment for esthetic reasons; however, Invisalign offers several other great benefits that make it a more practical and comfortable option than traditional braces. If you have wanted to straighten your teeth for a while, consider the following advantages that Invisalign provides over traditional braces.
5 great reasons to straighten teeth with Invisalign treatment:
- Same results as traditional braces. Since its inception in 1997, Invisalign’s ability to move teeth has improved dramatically. Today’s Invisalign is able to accomplish many of the treatment goals that traditional braces are able to do via a much more comfortable and attractive system.
- Easy to eat. Invisalign retainers are removable. Patients simply remove the retainers when they eat, making it possible to eat all their favorite foods, including apples and corn-on-the-cob, while teeth are being straightened.
- Less expensive. The overall cost of Invisalign treatment may be up to several thousand dollars less than that of traditional braces.
- Low maintenance. Traditional braces may be difficult to care for and maintain. Patients have to use special floss and other cleaning instruments. With traditional braces it may be more challenging to maintain a healthy mouth and fresh breath, and the process is oftentimes very time consuming. On the contrary, it’s easy to brush with Invisalign since the retainers are removable. You simply brush and floss as you normally would.
- Can’t see them. Invisalign retainers are clear, making them much less awkward looking than traditional braces. This system works really well for anyone in the working sector, who would like to straighten teeth, but need to maintain a professional appearance.
Straightening teeth with Invisalign has many advantages. In addition to the more obvious esthetic advantage, they are more comfortable, easy to care for and more affordable than metal braces. Orthodontists and family dentists who have been properly trained can provide Invisalign treatment.
