Dana M. Nichols, DMD / Advanced Dental Concepts

Happy Halloween

Gum disease bacteria found to be a possible cause of Alzheimer's Disease.

https://www.uoflnews.com/releases/new-science-bacterial-pathogen/?fbclid=IwAR1mQbOky1iT_pLiqrPKMhhdHVRoDCxfPmWJG3c7vnLgrQcBg2j7tLf4q04

New science details discovery of bacterial pathogen in brains of Alzheimer's patients and possible evidence of disease causation | UofL News New science details discovery of bacterial pathogen in brains of Alzheimer’s patients and possible evidence of disease causation UofL researcher part of international team of scientists, findings published today in Science Advances By Julie Heflin - January 23, 2019 4560 Share on Facebook Tweet on...

Great to see Jon finally get the smile he wanted in less time than he thought with Invisalign! Straighter teeth for a healthier smile.

Gum Disease: No Big Deal-Right? Wrong!

While many value the benefits of having healthy teeth and do all the right things to keep their gums in shape, there are those who feel, "Hey, they're only teeth." The latter, while never volunteering to have their teeth removed, do not attribute any major importance to them. For instance, untreated periodontal disease may lower birth weights of newborns. Now studies find that periodontal (gum) infections may contribute to the development of heart disease, which is the nation's number one killer. If that weren't enough, gum infections pose a serious threat to anyone whose health is already compromised due to diabetes or respiratory disease.

Let's first talk about how the gums relate to the heart. If you have a healthy heart, this doesn't pertain to you. Getting your teeth cleaned or having a gum abscess does matter if you have a weakened heart valve, as in mitral valve prolapse or aortic stenosis. Why? Bacteria from the mouth find their way into the circulatory system. They may be introduced when your teeth are cleaned or can arise from an infection. In either case, these "circulating" bacteria are normally gobbled up by the white blood cells before they do any damage. Should they pass through the body and make it to the heart unscathed, the chance exists that they will colonize on a weakened valve and cause a severe problem (bacterial endocarditis). For this reason, patients with any of the above conditions are suggested to pre-medicate with antibiotics when receiving dental care.

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without it and that diseased gums released significantly higher levels of bacterial pro-inflammatory components, such as endotoxins, into the bloodstream in patients with severe periodontal disease compared to healthy patients. Circulating bacteria can also impact on coronary artery disease. The walls of the coronary arteries can thicken due to the build-up of fatty proteins. Often blood clots form in these narrowed coronary arteries and normal blood flow activity is obstructed. This depletes the heart of the nutrients and oxygen it needs to function properly. Scientists now believe that bacteria found in the oral cavity can attach to these fatty plaques once they enter the bloodstream. Clinging to the heart walls, these bacteria may contribute to clot formation.

When it comes to diabetes, gum disease cannot be ignored. The link between the two has been well-documented. We have always known that diabetics are prone to more infections and heal slowly. Now studies find that periodontal disease may make a pre-existing diabetic condition worse. It has been shown that diabetics require less insulin once their gum condition has been treated. Since periodontal disease is a risk factor for the progression of diabetes, physicians should consider the periodontal status of their diabetic patients who have difficulty with glycemic control.

If you are experience any pain, swelling, bleeding or recession of your gums, make an appointment for an oral examination.

Halloween fun at ADC!!!

We Feel Your Pain

Anyone who endures the misfortune of a painful toothache knows that few experiences are more miserable. You want relief and you want it now. While home remedies may temporarily ease discomfort, the only way to get lasting toothache relief is to see a dentist.

Until you get professional help, you may get some temporary relief using these toothache home remedies:

Warm water

Some toothaches are caused by trapped food particles. Use dental floss to remove anything wedged between teeth and rinse out the mouth. This can actually provide toothache relief.

Over-the-counter (OTC) and natural pain relievers

Toothache pain can often be eased with OTC pain relievers. Aspirin and, especially if you have stomach issues (e.g. ulcers), ibuprofen generally work well. Also, consider applying ice to the affected area as an additional toothache remedy.

Hot and cold foods

Toothaches lead to tooth sensitivity, so treat your teeth gently. Avoid very hot and cold foods when suffering from a toothache.

Of course, toothache remedies depend on the source of the problem. An X-ray will usually be used to check for decay or other dental problems. Then we can perform the appropriate dental treatment, such as a tooth filling, tooth extraction or root canal.

Remember, toothaches don’t cure themselves. If they stop hurting, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. If you ever do suffer from a toothache, always seek professional help.

Ultimately, the best way to avoid toothaches is to practice good oral hygiene, including regular flossing and brushing. Another great toothache remedy is to take your dental visits seriously.

Call us today to make your appointment before you suffer from a toothache. An ounce of prevention is worth a root canal of cure.

Smile Safety for Active Kids

Active kids call for active safety. And while helmets, goggles and knee pads protect your kids’ bodies, it's also important to protect their teeth. A mouthguard is an easy, reliable way to safeguard your child’s teeth during sports and play.

Mouthguards are especially crucial during contact sports such as football, hockey or boxing, where blows to the body and face are regular occurrences. But even non-contact sports, such as gymnastics, and recreational pastimes, such as skating or biking, pose a risk to the teeth.

In addition to cushioning your child’s teeth, using a mouthguard can prevent injury to the tongue, lips, face and jaw. Kids who wear dental braces should be especially careful to protect their mouths during physical activity. Custom mouthguards have even been show to reduce the risk and incidence of concussions.

A trip to the dentist can help you choose a mouthguard that’s right for your child. In general, there are three types of mouthguards to choose from:

- Stock Mouthguards. These pre-made protectors can usually be bought wherever sporting equipment is sold. Most dentists do not recommend their use because they cannot be adjusted to your mouth and provide only limited protection.

- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards. Boil-and-Bite guards are softened with hot water and then molded over your child’s teeth. This somewhat custom fit leads to better protection and greater ease in talking and breathing. These are also available at most sporting goods stores.

- Custom Mouthguards. Your dentist can create a custom mouthguard designed specifically for your child’s teeth. These offer the best fit, comfort and protection, but may be more costly than store-bought varieties.

Sweet letter from an even sweeter young patient. Glad to be a part of her service to our community.

Extra Cavity Protection for Kids

You might think that cavities are inevitable for kids, but in truth, they’re not. A healthy diet mixed with good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) plus regular dental visits can prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants can reduce the risk even more. In fact, studies show that dental sealants can reduce decay in school children by 70%.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves of back teeth, where tooth decay is usually a problem for kids and teens. Sealants act as a barrier between the chewing surfaces by blocking pieces of food and germs.

Sealants work best on permanent molars, which usually erupt at age 12. It’s best to have sealants applied soon after the permanent molars erupt so that decay doesn’t have a chance to develop.

Because they’re so thin, dental sealants won’t have an effect on your child’s speech or make chewing difficult. Sealants can be clear or slightly tinted; either way, they’re virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Though they don’t take much time to apply, sealants can last 5-10 years. Dental sealants are some of the most comfortable, cost- and tooth-saving solutions around!

THE GREAT AMALGAM DEBATE

For over a century, dentists have been using mercury/amalgam alloys as fillings for cavities. Amalgam restorations (silver fillings) consist of a combination of the metals silver, tin, copper, and zinc. They also contain mercury (and some of the older amalgam restorations contain considerable amounts of mercury). The fact that amalgam is inexpensive, durable, and easy for the dentist to work with in your mouth makes it the most widely-used restorative material in the world today. However, the mercury content of amalgam has been the subject of debate within the dental community for more than 150 years. It's a debate that's getting a lot of attention these days.

Medical and dental science has known for centuries that mercury is highly toxic. It's been proven that even just the smallest amount of mercury in a human body can damage cells. While some experts still say that there is no cause for concern over the health-related effects of mercury, a growing group of medical and dental professionals believe that mercury introduced into the human body does, in fact, produce a long list of negative health effects. These negative health effects include neurotoxicity, renal (kidney) dysfunction, birth defects, reduced ability to fight illness and disease, and compromised general health.

What's more, even low-level exposure to mercury has been shown to produce such symptoms as anxiety, fatigue, stress intolerance, headache, and depression. In 1984, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology was formed to research the safety of amalgam restorations. Today, despite the fact that the US Public Health Service still says that there is no link between amalgams and health problems, a growing number of scientific studies indicate that amalgam mercury indeed can and does pose a health threat to patients.

Your comfort and safety is always our priority. As a result of the ongoing health controversy surrounding the use of mercury in amalgam fillings, our office policy will be to use only ceramic, porcelain or composite restorations that are stronger, better looking and environmentally friendly, when your restorations are being replaced due to decay, fracture or ill fitting restorations.

This office has taken steps to minimize your exposure to mercury v***r during removal of old amalgam fillings, to remove 99.5% of the total mercury from the dental office wastewater and to protect the environment of the local community with safe packaging and recycling of silver amalgams that have been replaced with mercury-free restorations.

A Closer Look at Bonding


It's not unusual to feel shy about smiling if your teeth aren't everything you would like them to be. Stained teeth might inhibit you from smiling as often or as big as you normally would. Chipped teeth and gapped teeth can have a similar effect. But with a little dental bonding, you can start smiling again with confidence.

Dental bonding is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make cosmetic improvements to your teeth.

During a bonding procedure, a tooth-colored resin, or plastic, is bonded to your tooth with an ultraviolet "curing" light. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are sometimes used to make similar improvements, a bonding procedure usually takes just 30-60 minutes per tooth and is often complete in just one dental visit. Another advantage of dental bonding: It requires less prep work than veneers or crowns, so more of your tooth enamel remains intact.

Bonding can even be used to replace existing amalgam (silver) fillings with natural-looking composites. It’s also ideal for treating cavities in the front teeth, where aesthetics are especially important.

Keep in mind that dental bonding isn’t the cure-all for every tooth defect. Bonding doesn’t work well on back teeth or larger cavities. But for the smaller changes, bonding can have a huge impact on the way you feel about your smile.

Getting To The Heart Of Gum Disease

While many people value the benefits of healthy teeth, and do all the right things to keep their gums in shape, there are those who feel, "Hey, they're only teeth." Of course, if the latter group understood how gum disease contributes to other serious health issues, we bet they would whistle a different tune (provided they still have the teeth to do so).

Here’s an alarming medical fact: new studies reveal that periodontal (gum) infections may contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's number one killer. Researchers found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without it and that diseased gums released significantly higher levels of bacterial pro-inflammatory components, such as endotoxins, into the bloodstream.

As the walls of the coronary arteries thicken, due to the build-up of fatty proteins, blood clots often form in these narrowed channels where normal blood flow activity becomes obstructed. This depletes the heart of the nutrients and oxygen it needs to function properly. Furthermore, scientists now believe that bacteria found in the oral cavity can attach to these fatty plaques once they enter the bloodstream. Clinging to the heart walls, these bacteria may further contribute to clot formation.

And if you have an existing heart condition, you must pay particular attention. While circulating bacteria are often gobbled up by the white blood cells before they do any damage, they can pass through the body and make it to the heart unscathed. In these situations, the bacteria then colonize on a weakened valve and cause a severe problem (bacterial endocarditis). For this reason, patients with any heart conditions are suggested to pre-medicate with antibiotics when receiving dental care.

Incidentally, gum infections also pose a serious threat to anyone whose health is already compromised due to diabetes or respiratory disease. When it comes to diabetes, gum disease cannot be ignored; the link between the two has been well-documented.

We have always known that diabetics are prone to more infections and heal slowly. New studies now find that periodontal disease may make a pre-existing diabetic condition worse. It has been shown that diabetics require less insulin once their gum condition has been treated.
Since periodontal disease is a risk factor for the progression of diabetes, physicians should consider the periodontal status of their diabetic patients who have difficulty with glycemic control.

If you experience any pain, swelling, bleeding or recession of your gums, make an appointment for an oral examination immediately. We’re here to ensure you don’t develop or worsen existing health conditions.

Good Oral Health Elevates Overall Health

In the last decade, scientists and researchers discovered that the mouth and its health (or lack of) weigh heavily on overall health. Any type of infection, such as periodontal (gum) disease or dental abscesses, can affect many areas of the body and impact negatively upon our general health. In fact, periodontal disease is connected with coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pre-term, low birth weight babies.

Periodontal disease affects about 75% of the adult population in the U.S. and is most common among smokers, the obese and diabetics. Consider these different conditions and how oral health affects them.

Coronary Artery Disease

Researchers found that people with periodontal infections are almost twice as likely to suffer coronary artery disease (such as clogged arteries). Periodontal infections also aggravate existing heart conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis or endocarditis (a serious infection of the heart from bacteria), causing serious complications, even death.

Stroke

Periodontitis increases the risk of stroke. Periodontal bacteria enter the bloodstream, invade the blood vessel walls and ultimately cause atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). Periodontal infection raises plasma levels of fibrinogen (which creates clots), c-reactive proteins and several cytokines. These all increase inflammation in the blood vessels, causing clots to form, which then get caught in the clogged arteries, causing a stroke.

Diabetes

People with diabetes are more prone to developing periodontal infections as well as cavities since – when diabetes is not well controlled – excess sugar gets released around the necks of their teeth. This excess sugar is a food supply for the oral bacteria and they grow rapidly. Periodontal infection also makes it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels.

Chronic Lung Conditions

People with lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis face even greater health risks with periodontitis. By inhaling periodontal infection bacteria, they may develop aspiration pneumonia and other associated health problems.

Pre-term low birth weight babies

Pregnant women with periodontitis often give birth to pre-term, low birth weight babies due to the infection. The rates of preeclampsia also increase in pregnant women who have gum infections. Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and infant illness and death.
Take control over your heath and call our office today to make an appointment. We are here to help.

Considering Dental Implants?

Important Facts to Help Make Your Decision

Many people are unaware of the consequences of losing their teeth or the effects of wearing partial or full dentures upon their jaws and bones. When teeth are lost, the surrounding bone immediately begins to shrink [atrophy]. Implant treatment, for tooth replacement therapy, can be the optimal treatment plan. Here are some important facts to take into consideration.

• Wearing dentures [plates] accelerates bone loss, and old dentures become loose because of this bone loss. It is possible to watch and wait for bone to disappear to the point where treatment success of any kind is in doubt.

• At the end of a five-year period, only 40% are still wearing the original partial denture made for them. This is not a great testimonial for value and utility. Those lucky enough to have a functioning partial denture after 5 years are still losing valuable supporting bone.

• Of those patients who wear a partial denture, 50% chew better without it.

• One study showed that after 8 years, 40% of the supporting teeth [abutments] that the partial hooks onto were lost through tooth decay or fracture.

• Patients with natural teeth can bite with about 200 pounds of force. Denture wearers can bite with approxiametly 50 pounds of force. Those wearing dentures for 15 years or more can bite with only about 6 pounds of force, and their diet and eating habits have had to been modified accordingly.

• The average lower full denture shifts from side to side during chewing and is a significant problem that new denture wearers must get use to and accept.

• Denture wearers have decreased nutritional intake, a ten year shorter life span, and 30% of denture wearers can only eat soft foods.

• The single tooth implant success rate is above 98%, and unlike a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if no teeth were missing.

• Implant-supported bridges or dentures have 95% success rates over 10 years without the severe loss of supporting bone.



For bone maintenance, the health of adjacent teeth, the longevity of the restoration and patient comfort, implant therapy is the treatment of choice. Implants can restore chewing function to the equivalent of someone with natural teeth. If you have questions or want to know if you are a good candidate for implant tooth replacement therapy, please call our office.
(949) 497-3397
www.adclaguna.com

Are Baby Teeth Important?

Baby teeth are very important to your child's development for several reasons. Not only do they encourage the development of the jaw bone – and reserve space required for the permanent teeth to follow – baby teeth also enable your child to chew solid food and assist in speech development. Moreover, they contribute to your child's positive feelings about his or her appearance and help build confidence.

Therefore, it is important to begin a daily oral care routine for your child before the first tooth appears. After each feeding, wipe your child's gums with a warm, wet cloth or a small gauze pad to remove excess food and bacteria. As soon as the first teeth appear, brush them with a small, soft-bristled brush moistened with warm water. When teeth begin to touch each other, add daily flossing to the routine.

With adult supervision, most children are able to brush and floss their own teeth by about age four. However, we recommend assisting your child at least once a day to ensure a thorough job. You should continue to monitor your child’s oral care throughout childhood. Remember, with your own healthy oral care habits, you serve as an important role model for your child.

Don’t Let Sores Make You Cantankerous: New technology like dental lasers can help them heal faster and even prevent their outbreak.

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are often confused with fever blisters (cold sores). However, they are quite different.

Canker Sores

Canker sores only form inside the mouth on the gums, cheeks, tongue or floor of the mouth and cannot be transmitted from one individual to another. They begin as small red circular swellings that usually ulcerate [rupture] within a day, after which they become white, surrounded by reddish inflammation and last for 8-10 days.

As open sores, they can be very painful to the touch. Canker sores afflict about 20% of the population. Their cause has yet to be discovered, although they appear to breakout more in stressful situations, from getting a small "nick" in the skin [mucous membrane] or from foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.

While they can occur in very young children, canker sores usually manifest themselves in people between the ages of 10-20. It's not uncommon for them to erupt three to four times a year, but they occur less frequently, or stop all together, in adulthood.

If you have canker sores, avoid rough textured or spicy foods, which irritate them. Try not to touch them with eating utensils or your toothbrush. Apply ointment that contains a topical anesthetic or some other active ingredient that will relieve the irritation.

Cold Sores

Cold sores form outside the mouth, usually on the lips, but they may appear on the chin, outside of the cheek or the nostrils. They begin as a red blister, burst and crust over and last for 7-14 days.

Cold sores – caused by the herpes simplex virus (type 1) – are contagious; they transmit by skin-to-skin contact. The virus, carried by almost everyone, is dormant most of the time. Fever blisters occur most often in young adults and adolescents and decline in people over 35 years of age. Certain factors activate its outbreak, particularly stress, colds, fevers and/or sunburn.

To reduce occurrences, avoid kissing when the blisters are visible. Also, don't squeeze or scrape the blister. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching someone else and use UV sunscreen on your lips before spending time in the sun.

Treatment of cold sores includes avoiding spicy and hot foods that will irritate them, application of phenol-containing over-the-counter ointments and administration of some anti-viral antibiotics that will shorten their duration (but not prevent their outbreak).

If you’re worried about canker or cold sores, call our office. We’re here to help you deal with these common afflictions and will offer additional treatment recommendations, as necessary.

Braces Built for Busy Adults

If you needed braces as a child but didn’t get them, you can still benefit from an improved smile and better oral health by wearing dental braces in your adult years. However, because traditional braces can take longer the older you are, more and more adults are turning to speed braces. Unlike conventional metal braces – which take an average of 12-20 months – speed braces typically take just 6-9 months to straighten your teeth.

One of the best features of speed dental braces is the slide mechanism of the self-ligating brackets: The wire slides through the brackets as the teeth move, allowing your teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably. This slide technology also helps reduce the friction between the brackets and wire, which means that you'll need fewer adjustments.

The self-ligating brackets on speed dental braces can also help promote better oral health than those of braces past: Because the brackets are smaller in size, it's easier to brush and floss your teeth. And since speed dental braces are left on your teeth for a shorter period of time, you're teeth are less likely to develop the yellow or brown spots that traditional metal braces can cause.

Invest in speed braces, and you'll reap both tangible and intangible rewards. If smiling was never easy for you, it will be. Many patients say they felt a boost in self-esteem after treatment, which made it easier to smile and interact with others. Braces can also make it easier to digest food! If your teeth and jaws are misaligned, you may have problems chewing food properly, which can overtax your digestive system and cause stomachaches. With straight teeth, smiling and eating can be a pleasure again.

Eric had been hiding his smile for decades due to chronic wear, chipping and unhealthy gums. Minor gum surgery with a laser and conservative veneers have improved the health of his tissues and his smile. Cheers!

Embarrassed It Has Been So Long? We are here to help!


If you’re nervous about having to sit through a lecture on the importance of dental health, you can stop worrying. We’re not here to cause you anxiety or point fingers. Trust us, we of all people know that dental health is affected by a number of factors that could be environmental, hereditary or habitual. Our goal is to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.

This might surprise you, but there’s almost nothing that can surprise us when it comes to teeth. If you think your teeth are bad, we’ve probably seen worse. A large part of our training and professional work involves being exposed to just about every dental problem you can imagine. Without that kind of experience, how could we properly evaluate your teeth and treat them? We couldn’t.

One of the most important things you can do is to be up front with us. If you have dental anxiety, don’t silently suffer in the chair – tell us! The same goes for anything specific that might scare you – whether it’s needles or anesthesia or just sitting in the chair. And please tell us what we can do to make your visit more comfortable. Many people find that a blanket and pillow makes their visits much more relaxing. Others like us to explain what we’re doing before we do it. And some people find that taking frequent breaks is helpful.

Let’s talk about what you need before you talk yourself out of scheduling another visit. We’ll do whatever we can to ensure that you have a positive experience getting the dental care you need. We can help! (949) 497-3397

Happy Veteran's Day

CONSIDERING DENTAL IMPLANTS ?

Important Facts to Help Make Your Decision

Many people are unaware of the consequences of losing their teeth or the effects of wearing partial or full dentures upon their jaws and bones. When teeth are lost, the surrounding bone immediately begins to shrink [atrophy]. Implant treatment, for tooth replacement therapy, can be the optimal treatment plan. Here are some important facts to take into consideration.

• Wearing dentures [plates] accelerates bone loss, and old dentures become loose because of this bone loss. It is possible to watch and wait for bone to disappear to the point where treatment success of any kind is in doubt.

• At the end of a five-year period, only 40% are still wearing the original partial denture made for them. This is not a great testimonial for value and utility. Those lucky enough to have a functioning partial denture after 5 years are still losing valuable supporting bone.

• Of those patients who wear a partial denture, 50% chew better without it.

• One study showed that after 8 years, 40% of the supporting teeth [abutments] that the partial hooks onto were lost through tooth decay or fracture.

• Patients with natural teeth can bite with about 200 pounds of force. Denture wearers can bite with approxiametly 50 pounds of force. Those wearing dentures for 15 years or more can bite with only about 6 pounds of force, and their diet and eating habits have had to been modified accordingly.

• The average lower full denture shifts from side to side during chewing and is a significant problem that new denture wearers must get use to and accept.

• Denture wearers have decreased nutritional intake, a ten year shorter life span, and 30% of denture wearers can only eat soft foods.

• The single tooth implant success rate is above 98%, and unlike a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if no teeth were missing.

• Implant-supported bridges or dentures have 95% success rates over 10 years without the severe loss of supporting bone.



For bone maintenance, the health of adjacent teeth, the longevity of the restoration and patient comfort, implant therapy is the treatment of choice. Implants can restore chewing function to the equivalent of someone with natural teeth. If you have questions or want to know if you are a good candidate for implant tooth replacement therapy, please call our office: (949) 497-3397