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 !!

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.

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 !!

Modern dentistry has eliminated much of the "ouch!" from getting a shot of dental local anesthetic. Now a new discovery may replace the dental needle used to give local anesthetic in the dentist's chair for many procedures.Scientists are reporting evidence that a common local anesthetic, when administered to the nose as nose drops or a nasal spray, travels through the main nerve in the face and collects in high concentrations in the teeth, jaw, and structures of the mouth.

The discovery could lead to a new generation of nasal drug delivery systems for noninvasive treatment for dental pain, migraine, and other conditions, the scientists suggest in American Chemical Society's bi-monthly journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. The article is scheduled for the journal's May-June issue.

William H. Frey II, Ph.D., and colleagues note that drugs administered to the nose travel along nerves and go directly to the brain. One of those nerves is the trigeminal nerve, which brings feelings to the face, nose and mouth. Until now, however, scientistsnever checked to see whether intranasal drugs passing along that nervemight reach the teeth, gums and other areas of the face and mouth toreduce pain sensations in the face and mouth.

Neil Johnson, working in the labs of Frey and Leah R. Hanson, Ph.D., at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., found that lidocaine or Xylocaine, sprayed into the noses of laboratory rats, quickly traveled down the trigeminal nerveand collected in their teeth, jaws, and mouths at levels 20 timeshigher than in the blood or brain. The approach could provide a moreeffective and targeted method for treating dental pain and dental anxiety, trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain), migraine, and other conditions, the scientists say.

Furthermore, these scientists discovered an improved future location to administer anesthetic, the maxillary sinus. The maxillary sinus is a golfball-sized space located underneath each cheek where drug can be sprayed. Delivery into this confined space may be the next generation approach beyond a nasal spray in providing amore rapid and focused delivery of dental anesthetic.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) pose important issues relevant to tobacco harm reduction. This post will review the facts about these products, which have been the subject of exaggerated claims by e-cigarette proponents and nicotine prohibitionists alike. Aswith most complex issues, the truth about e-cigarettes lies somewherein between.

When users draw on them, battery powered cigarettes vaporize a mixture of water, propylene glycol, nicotine and flavorings. Nicotine is one of the most intensively studied drugs in history; while it is highly addictive, it is not the primary cause of virtually any of thediseases related to smoking. In fact, long-term nicotine consumptionis about as safe as that of caffeine. Propylene glycol is approved by the FDAfor use in a large number of consumer products; it, too, is sometimesvaporized, forming artificial smoke in theatrical and otherproductions.

It is almost certain that e-cigarette use (also called vaping) is vastly safer than cigarette smoking, but this is based on limited scientific evidence. Some questions remain unanswered.

The health effects of long-term exposure of the respiratory tract to propylene glycol vapor are unknown, and unknowable. As a health professional, I am more comfortable recommending a product with a defined risk profile, where a clear risk-benefit analysis can be evaluated. That is why I have beena strong supporter of smokeless tobacco products as cigarette substitutes.I recommend these products knowing that we have 50 years ofepidemiology documenting the extremely low level of health risks.E-cigarette consumers must understand that the safety of e-cigarettescan not be guaranteed, despite the likelihood that they pose but a tinyfraction of the health risks of regular cigarettes. But given thepaucity of legitimate research, specific safety claims for e-cigarettescan not be made.

There is a lot of uncertainty with respect to the reliability of e-cigarettes, essentially all of which are imported from China. One of my colleagues ordered numerous products with the intent of performing some routine tests; many of these products did not function properlyright out of the box. According to a recent clinical study of twobrands (abstract here),“…neither of the electronic cigarettes exposed users to measurablelevels of nicotine or [carbon monoxide]…” Not inhaling carbon monoxideis a good thing, but for addicted smokers, not getting nicotine may be aproblem. Many e-cigarette users know that the devices often don’tdeliver enough nicotine to satisfy them, so they re-load cartridges witheven higher doses from commercially available concentrated solutions.Concentrated nicotine is dangerous, and this kind of experimentationis bound to lead to injuries.

The same study showed that “…both [brands] suppressed nicotine/tobacco abstinence symptom ratings.” This is impressive, because it indicates that e-cigarettes simulate the behavioral aspects of smoking and therefore may be successful in ways that no othersmoking cessation product can match.

Electronic cigarette cartridges may contain hazardous contaminants. Last year, the FDA conducted laboratory tests on a few e-cigarette cartridges. Although the tests were biased and flawed (as I discussed here), they found in one cartridge traces of diethylene glycol, a poisonous impurity found previously in propylene glycol (reported here).

Consumer products should be free of contaminants. Cartridges, as well as the hardware, should be subjected to independent quality control testing. The FDA tests underscored the need for regulatory oversight. This could be accomplished if the FDA regulatede-cigarettes as recreational tobacco products under authority from theTobacco Act. Instead, the FDA is attempting, inappropriately accordingto one federal judge, to regulate them as drug-delivery devices(discussed here).That would effectively remove them from the American market, leavinghundreds of thousands of e-cigarette users with no satisfactoryalternative to tobacco combustion.

There is no justification or scientific rationale to ban e-cigarettes. Still, anti-tobacco extremists are campaigning against them, claiming, entirely without proof, that they are a starter tobacco product for children. As with all tobacco products, they should notbe available to minors.

Another battle rages over whether e-cigarettes can be used safely indoors. Some militant users object to any indoor restrictions, while prohibitionists claim that second-hand vapor is annoying and/or toxic. The latter claim is preposterous, but e-cigarette users who arecourteous and respectful toward bystanders are likely to lead longer,healthier and less stressful lives.

Actor Michael Douglas' recent revelation that he has stage IV oral cancer has highlighted the growing incidence of oral cancer, and experts say dentists can help stem the alarming increase of the disease by checking for it during routine examinations.

The actor's cancer includes a walnut-sized tumor at the base of his
tongue, and he will require radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and
surgery. Douglas says his doctors told him he has an 80% survival rate
if it hasn't spread to his lymph nodes.

While tobacco was the prime cause of oral cancer in the past, recent studies have attributed the steady increase of the disease to
the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV are common viruses that cause
warts. There are approximately 130 versions of HPV but only nine cause
cancers, and the HPV16 version causes almost half of the oral cancers in the U.S., said Brian Hill, executive director of the Oral Cancer Foundation.

"Tobacco is no longer the only bad guy," he told DrBicuspid.com. “HPV16 is increasing in incidence as the causative etiology, and if it
continues on this trend line, it will replace tobacco as the primary
cause of oral cancers."

Dentists can play a key role in catching the disease in its early stages if they check for it during examinations. Most Americans have
never even heard of oral cancer, but it's not as rare or
uncommon as people would like to think it is. This is why an
opportunistic screening by the dental community is so important.

Hill, a nonsmoker, got the same diagnosis as Douglas in 1998 and underwent radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Since Hill's
oral cancer had metastasized to both sides of his neck by the time it
was discovered, surgeons removed the right side of his neck to remove
the lymph nodes there. He has been cancer-free for 10 years and said
there are a lot of stage IV survivors out there.

Changing demographics

In the last decade, the demographics of oral cancer have changed dramatically, according to Hill and other experts, pointing to the sexual revolution and accompanying increase in the prevalence of oral
sex. Today almost half of those diagnosed with the disease are younger
than 50 years old -- with some as young as 20, according to Hill -- and
they are usually nonsmokers. According to the American Cancer Society,
oral cancer occurs almost as frequently as leukemia and claims more
lives than melanoma or cervical cancer. The incidence in oral cancer
patients younger than age 40 has increased nearly fivefold, with many
patients with no known risk factors, according to the ADA.

"Social and sexual behaviors have changed," Hill said. "Oral sex is more common. The virus is spreading, especially among young people because sexual contact is more common, and this virus is not only ubiquitous in our society, but the mechanism of transfer is very simple."

Until 2000, scientists were unsure if HPV caused oral cancer, Hill said, but definitive research in 2000 revealed it as a distinct etiology for the disease, and more recent studies have supported this finding.

The disease is dangerous because often there are no symptoms in the early stages that a person might notice. "It's a very insidious disease," Hill explained. He recalled that it was not until a lymph node became swollen that Hill realized something was wrong. Even then, it was not painful, he said. Typically there are no physical signs of oral cancer. But an alert dentist will notice subtle signs and symptoms of oral cancer in a simple three to five minute visual and tactile exam, Hill noted.
"There will be things he'll pick up on, and that's why we're urging that the dental community to become more involved in oral cancer screening," he said. Approximately 36,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each yearin the U.S., according to the ADA, and some 25% of those people will die of the disease. Only 57% of all diagnosed oral cancer patients will be alive five years after their diagnosis, Hill said. Approximately 100 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with oral cancer every day, he added, and one person will die every hour from it.

And unfortunately, celebrities with cancer helps bring about much needed public awareness about the disease, said Hill, noting that, in addition to Michael Douglas, such luminaries as Sigmund Freud and Ulysses S. Grant have been among its victims.

"When somebody famous gets the disease, it finally gets the world's attention," he noted.

You may have heard that the mouth is the dirtiest place in the body; this is because saliva contains numerous microorganisms. Human bites are said to be more dangerous than a dog bites as it contains more bacteria says the CDC. Worldwide there are billions of kisses exchanged by people each year. The air kiss, casual peck on the cheek or the cultured kiss on the hand aren’t much of a threat but a kiss that exchanges saliva from one another is a different matter.

Viruses That Can Be Transmitted by Kissing

• Colds: many viruses cause the common cold. It can spread by direct contact with the virus, from airborne droplets, or from
  direct contact with secretions from the infected person’s nose and
  throat.

• Infectious Mononucleosis: also known as kissing disease is caused by Epstein Barr virus. The virus is spread through saliva and infection occurs through contact.

• Herpes Infection: includes varicella zoster (causes chicken pox) and herpes simplex (cold sores in mouth). Herpes is easily spread to others when others when cold sore blisters are forming or have erupted. The virus is shed to others from the site of blisters even when they have healed. So, can you get herpes from kissing: yes.

Fever Blisters

• Hepatitis-B: kissing may also transmit this virus even though it may be contained in higher levels in blood. Infection can
  occur when infected blood and saliva come into direct contact with
  someone else’s bloodstream or mucous membrane. A person may be easily
  infected if they have sores in and around the mouth.

• Warts: these can spread through kissing especially if in case of recent trauma.

• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: this is caused by Coxsackie virus and is spread through open sores in the mouth. This
  infection is common in kids especially those in day care. It is spread
  via the fecal oral route (maybe while changing diapers)

Bacteria That Can Be Transmitted by Kissing

Microscopic View of Bacteria

• Meningococcal Disease: this is a life threatening condition which includes meningitis, (inflammation of the membranes that
  surround the brain and spinal cord) and septicemia. Studies show that
  deep kissing seems to be one of the risk factors.

• Tooth Decay: numerous studies indicate that Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria implicated with caries is
  transmissible. Direct contact occurs most commonly via kissing. Indirect
  contact occurs though shared contaminated objects such as eating
  utensils, toothbrushes, cups and even toys.

There appears to be a strong link between mother and child and transmission usually occurs after the teeth have erupted in babies as S.
mutans has difficulty colonizing other oral surfaces. We love our
babies and it is natural to show them this love and affection, however, kissing babies on the mouth is harmful to their dental health.

Gum Disease

Gum Disease

The American academy of Periodontology says more than 75% of adults over 35 have some form of gum disease.
Since gum diseases are considered the equivalent of open wounds kissing
or having oral sex when you or your partner had bleeding gums is an invitation for the transmission of unwanted organisms.

There is no need to give up kissing; while disease causing bugs can be transferred during a kiss, most won’t cause the disease and the risk
of serious disease is small BUT it may happen. And it’s not all bad.
Research into passionate kissing has uncovered many valuable health benefits. For those who are calorie conscious a 60 second kiss burns 26 calories.

High levels of financial stress and poor coping abilities increase twofold the likelihood of developing periodontal (gum) disease, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology. After accounting for other risk factors – such as age, gender, smoking, poor dental care and diabetes – those who reported high levels of financial strain and poor coping behaviors had higher levels of attachment loss and dental bone loss (signs of periodontal disease) than those with low levels of financial strain.

"Financial strain is a long-term, constant pressure," said Dr. Robert Genco, chair of the Oral Biology Department at The State University of New York at Buffalo, who carried out the studies with the periodontal
research group at Buffalo and behavioral scientist Dr. Lisa Tedesco of
the University of Michigan. "Our studies indicate that this
ever-present stress and a lack of adequate coping skills could lead to
altered habits, such as reduced oral hygiene or teeth grinding, as well as salivary changes and a weakening of the body's ability to fight infection."

However, people who dealt with their financial strain in an active and practical way (problem-focused) rather than with avoidance techniques (emotion-focused) had no more risk of severe periodontal
disease than those without money problems.

The good news is that many of the risk factors for periodontal disease, such as poor oral hygiene and infrequent professional care, can be controlled with minimal personal time and financial resources. Eliminating periodontal disease also eliminates a risk factor for heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes complications, it is especially important for people to do what they can to protect their oral health.

Genco and his colleagues are following more than 1,400 people between the ages of 25 and 74 in the ongoing study, which is one of the first to examine the relationship of periodontal disease to stress, distress
and coping in a large population.

Psychological tests were given to identify and weigh the causes of stress (children, spouse, financial strain, single life and work stress) in participants' daily lives and to measure the ability to cope
with stress. To measure financial strain, study participants answered
nine questions, including:

• At the present time, are you able to afford a home that is large enough?
• Do you have difficulty in meeting monthly payments of your family bills?
• How often is it that you don't have enough money to afford the kind of food, clothing, medical care, or leisure activities you and your family need or want?

Further studies are needed to help establish the time course of stress in respect to the onset and progression of periodontal disease and the mechanisms that explain the association. Intervention studies also are needed to determine the extent to which controlling stress
will influence periodontal disease and its treatment.

Reversing cavities

Uses in dentistry