4 Steps to Promoting Good Oral Health – Dentist Sandy Springs

Good oral hygiene is important for maintaining your overall health.  If you believe this and you should, then there are 4 essential guidelines of preventative care to maintaining good oral health[1]:

1.   Floss regularly and floss first- Individuals should floss on a regular basis after meals and before brushing their teeth.  The reason you floss first is to dislodge any food particles trapped between your teeth, which are disposed of while brushing.

2.   Brushing your teeth- If you don’t have an electric toothbrush, good brushing by hand should take a minimum of 2 minutes and should involve brushing in a circular motion.[2] We recommend using soft bristle brushes and toothpaste with fluoride.  The fluoride is important, because the rise in bottled water consumption has led to the decline in fluoride intake.

3.   Mouthwash- We am not sure how effective this is, but if you’re not going to brush twice a day, using a mouthwash that contains fluoride at least twice a day is a good preventative measure that kills the bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease.  Given recent research, we recommend a non-alcohol based rinse.

4.   Your Dental visits- Maintaining your oral health requires regular dental visits at least every six months.  You need to do this for early detection of potential global health problems that could develop into more serious issues and the hygienist can clean areas you might have been missed or areas resistant to the 3 steps above.

Finally, Finding a Dentist that is Right for You

Research shows that your dental care is an important aspect of your overall general health care.[3]  So you need to make sure you find a dentist that is right for you. This can be a difficult process.  Look for someone who’s competent and you feel comfortable with, one you can have a collaborative relationship with. This is important because there are conditions and problems that were not discussed in this article that the dentist will need to pay attention to during your regular checkups. Hopefully after reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the basics for good oral health.   I you have questions or concerns feel free to contact or call.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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·    Dentist Dunwoody: Brush and Floss if you want to keep 'em. (therightsmile.wordpress.com)

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[1] All of which are endorsed by the American Dental Association

[2] The electric toothbrush does this for you.

[3] http://therightsmilecenter.blogspot.com/2014/04/global-health-windows-seen-through.html

Do Children Grind Their Teeth? Dentist Sandy Springs

The problem of teeth grinding is not limited to adults.  Approximately 15% to 33% of children grind their teeth. Children who grind their teeth tend to do so at two peak times in their lives – (1) when their baby teeth emerge and (2) when their permanent teeth come in.[1]  Some of this potential grinding is protected or goes unnoticed because of thumb sucking, which can cause a different set of problems.   However, most children who do not suck their thumbs while sleeping lose the teeth grinding habit shortly after these two sets of teeth have come in more fully.

While it is more common for children grinding their teeth to do it during sleep rather than during waking hours, it has not been determined exactly why children grind their teeth.  There are several theories which include improperly aligned teeth or irregular contact between upper and lower teeth, illnesses and other medical conditions (such as nutritional deficiencies, pinworm, allergies, endocrine disorders), and psychological factors including anxiety and stress, all of which appear to be unsubstantiated theory.

The main reason there has been very little study on children grinding their baby teeth is that it rarely results in problems.  However, teeth grinding can cause jaw pain, headaches, wear on the teeth, and TMD.[2]  Consult your dentist if your child's teeth look worn or if your child complains of tooth sensitivity or pain.

Should teeth grinding result in a real problem for your child, here are some specific tips to help stop teeth grinding:[3]

1.      Where possible, decrease your child's stress, especially just before bedtime.

2.      Try massage and stretching exercises to relax the muscles.

3.      Make sure your child's diet includes plenty of water. There is some thought that dehydration may be linked to teeth grinding.

4.      Ask your dentist to monitor your child's teeth if he or she is a grinder.  Possibly consult a pedodontist (children’s dentist) and pediatrician if it becomes apparent that damage is occurring.

No intervention is usually required with preschool-age children. However, older children may need temporary crowns or other methods, such as a night guard, to prevent the grinding in their sleep.

Dr. Scheinfeld is an Emory trained prosthodontist specializing in mandibular form and function.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] WebMD, Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) July 5, 2011

[2] http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bruxism/DS00337

[3] WebMD, Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) July 5, 2011

Patient Questions about Dental Implants?

Dentist Sandy Springs Overview:  

 

It turns out that there’s a real difference between the questions dental implant patients ask — and the questions they should be asking.

The top 5 questions dental patients ask -                              

1.      How much do dental implants cost?

2.      How long do dental implants last?

3.      Are implants painful?

4.      How long will it take to get my new teeth?

5.      Does dental insurance cover implant surgery?

Versus . . .

The top 5 questions dentists want patients to ask -

1.      Am I a good candidate for implants?

2.      What are the potential complications of dental implant therapy?

3.      How much implant experience does the doctor have?

4.      What is the healing time for my implants?

5.      Can implants improve my appearance?

Many dental implant patients seem to have the same questions about dental implant therapy. Unfortunately, these questions aren’t necessarily the ones dentists think they should be asking.

There is really a disconnect between the doctor and patient. This comes as no surprise, since patients are thinking about how they are going to pay for the implants and whether the procedure will be painful.

So doctors need to address the primary concerns of the patient first:  cost and pain of implants.

If you would like to learn more about implants, how much they cost and your candidacy please call or email your question.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

Related information from <http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/1509/survey-what-questions-do-patients-ask-about-dental-implants/>

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Nutrition - Part of Oral Health – Sandy Springs Dentist

More emphasis needs to be placed on other aspects of one’s oral health.

A research paper “Oral Health and Nutrition” has been published on the Academy of Nutrition’s Web site, which backs up the Academy’s paper that appeared in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics last year.

Based on the information from the paper, nutrition assessment is one of the keys to pinpointing dietary intake and other nutritional factors that could impact a patient’s oral health.  It is also important to stress the value of food choices to ensure that a person can maintain optimal oral health.[1]

There are certain foods and nutrition guidelines that can be followed to optimize one’s oral health.  Eating fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy food like milk, cheese and yogurt helps to reduce cavities because there few sugars in those products.

For additional help in these areas, a person should look for guidance from a registered dietitian.  If you  need one, we know a good one.  Give us a call.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

Related Articles:

http://therightsmile.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/dentist-sandy-springs-energy-drinks-good-or-bad/

http://therightsmile.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/dentist-sandy-springs-cutting-sugar-intake/

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[1] http://dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/10617-nutrition-is-vital-part-of-oral-health

Dental Pulp Stem Cells – Sandy Springs

-        -  may lead to heat stroke treatment.

Scientists in Taiwan have found that intravenous injections of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous tooth pulp (SHED) have a protective effect against brain damage from heat stroke in mice. Their finding was safe and effective and so may be a candidate for successfully treating human patients by preventing the neurological damage caused by heat stroke.[1]

According to the research team, these cells have "significantly higher proliferation rates" than stem cells from bone marrow and have the added advantages of being easy to harvest and express several growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and they can promote the migration and differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs).[2]

It may not be too long before stem cells are harvested at your local dental office.  If we can answer any of your questions, please contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] Tseng, L-S.; Chen, S-H.; Lin, M-T.; Lin, Y-C. Transplantation of human dental pulp-derived stem cells protects against heat stroke in mice. Cell Transplant. Appeared or available online: March 7, 2014

[2] Ibid.

Dental Insurance – Dentist Sandy Springs

Whether you need emergency service, or just a routine exam, X-rays and a cleaning, you will find that dental costs have remained relatively flat over the past 30 years.  About 108 million people in the U.S. have no dental insurance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You need to question the value of the investment and be skeptical of what it will provide when they need it.

In many instances paying for dental care when you can afford it is better than paying for dental insurance every month because the plans you could afford as both a small business owner and employed with a part-time job cost more than routine checkups and close to one-third of the annual benefits you’d receive.  Some plans require you to wait a year or more before insurers would pay for major procedures and that it’s highly probable the insurance companies’ networks don’t include your preferred dentist.

Dental insurance premiums vary depending on the number of people the plan covers, the type of plan and the geographic market served, according to Darci Shaw, spokeswoman for Delta Dental Plans Association, which provides dental benefit programs to more than 60 million Americans.[1]  Premiums can be as low as $10 a month for an individual enrolled in an HMO-style insurance plan that restricts patients to a specific dentist in a smaller network, or as much as $50 monthly for a preferred provider organization (PPO)-style plan that allows patients to use their choice of dentists in multiple states. Regardless of the plan type, annual benefits are usually capped at $1,500 a year and cosmetic procedures such as veneers aren't covered.

Dental plans are designed to encourage preventative care and waiting periods and caps on benefits provided help keep premiums low by preventing people from obtaining coverage only when they need major work, then dropping it after the care is completed.   A typical employer-sponsored or consumer plan covers 100 percent of the cost of diagnostic exams, teeth cleanings, X-rays and sealants.  Group plans often pay most of the cost for fillings, root canals, treatment for gum disease and emergency tooth removals upon enrollment.

People who have insurance for dental care go and seek care more often than those who don’t or [who] save the money to cover the cost because oral health problems seldom get better without treatment and dental health problems may be a sign and a cause of disease elsewhere in the body.  Our advice is to make it a priority to know what your plan covers so you can prepare for emergencies and other treatment.  When you’re in real pain, you have to do something.  You need to have that predictability of knowing that if something happens you wouldn’t have to pay twice as much.

If we can be of service, do not hesitate to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] http://www.angieslist.com/articles/dental-insurance-right-you.htm

Tooth Root Exposed? Not good… Dentist Sandy Springs

Are you the patient coming in with severe gum recession where the root was exposed in front of your tooth?  You don’t have symptoms, yet, it just looked strange and you want to know if there is a problem.  We’re a multi-specialty practice with an in-house periodontist.  And in a healthy mouth, the tooth roots are not exposed.  If they are exposed, it’s usually a sign of one of these problems:

• ·     Gingivitis or Periodontitis.  Gum disease can cause the gum tissue to pull away from the tooth, and expose the root.
• 
  
• ·     Brushing too hard.  Aggressive tooth brushing can cause the gums to recede.  We recommend soft tooth brushes to prevent this from happening.  Soft tooth brushes used properly minimize the trauma to the tissue and bone.
• 
  
• ·        And on rare occasions tooth developed outside of the jaw bone.  In this case, we highly recommend seeing a periodontist to determine the best form of treatment.

If you have an exposed tooth root, you need to see a dentist.  The dentist, in our case the periodontist will determine the quality and quantity of the gum tissue that remains.  If the gum recession is caught early, the tissue can be treated until healthy.

We offer complimentary consultations.  Please allow us to help you if your gums are receding.  Call now for your free consult.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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