August 13, 2010

Dental Technology

I was recently interviewed by Angie’s List about technology in the dental office.  Please take a minute to listen to the podcast and then feel free to contact me about the dental technology I use in my practice at StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, Ohio.
August 12, 2010

Back to School

It is that time of year again – back to school preparations are underway.  Kindergarten to college age, families are busy shopping for school supplies, new school clothes and desperately searching for the perfect backpack.  Many students are also undergoing back-to-school physicals because of participation in school sports. Don’t forget to schedule the dental check-up as well.  For college age […]
August 11, 2010

Common Myths About Your Tooth Decay

A faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine recently wrote an article outlining common dental myths – here are a few dental myths debunked: Losing baby teeth to tooth decay is OK. Myth – Some people believe this since baby teeth fall out anyway but decay in baby teeth can damage the developing adult teeth under the gums.  […]
August 6, 2010

Reasons to Smile

Some days it feels like there isn’t a whole lot to smile about but those are the days when smiling will help you the most!  The human face contains 44 muscles that allow us to make thousands of facial expressions, including many types of smiles. It has been proven that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your […]
August 5, 2010

Alzheimers Linked to Periodontal Disease

New York University College of Dentistry researchers have found long-term evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of brain inflammation, neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.  The research team looked at 20 years of data and what they found supports the idea of a possible link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Dr. Angela Kamer, lead researcher “The research […]
August 2, 2010

What is Sleep?

Most animals sleep.  All mammals (including human beings), birds, even fish and reptiles spend periods asleep.  According to the medical dictionary:  sleep is a physiologic state of relative unconsciousness and inaction of the voluntary muscles, the need for which recurs periodically.  This means that every day our bodies need to sleep, it is during this time and our bodies are […]
July 23, 2010

Twice-A-Day Brushing Good For Your Heart

A new study reported in the British Medical Journal, 2010 reports that regular twice-a-day tooth-brushing is associated with lower risks of heart disease.  The study also showed decreased levels of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, which are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, when study participants brushed with higher frequency. The study was designed to discover whether […]
July 23, 2010

Natural Fluoride Levels In Tea

Black tea is the most popular beverage in the world.  Tea drinkers gain several health benefits including protecting their teeth because of the naturally occurring fluoride contained in brewed black tea.  While we have known about the natural fluoride in tea for some time, new research from the Medical College of Georgia suggests that the levels are higher than previously […]
July 22, 2010

Sleep Apnea Can Depress Your Partner

A new study reported in the journal Sleep and Breathing shows that sharing a bed with a loud snorer can cause depression.  Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) responsible for the nocturnal noise allows your partner to feel better as well. The study involved 36  couples wherein one partner suffered from mild to moderate sleep apnea.  Each patient with […]
July 16, 2010

Basic Self-Help for TMJ Pain

There are many causes for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and, treatment for the disorder will vary for each individual.  Until you can visit your neuromuscular dentist for diagnosis and treatment here are some ideas to help relieve your discomfort. Do NOT chew gum. Apply cold packs. Apply an ice pack to the side of your face for 10 minutes (wrap in […]
July 14, 2010

Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is your jaw joint.  It is the hinge that connects your lower jaw to the upper part ofour skull.  The joint is extremely complex and flexible allowing movement both up and down and side to side.  This allows us to talk, chew, yawn with a wide range of motion.  The muscles surrounding the joint control the […]
July 9, 2010

A Dental Treatment Revolution?

In the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano researchers reported on the development of a technique that could bring diseased teeth back to full health.  Root canal therapy is a procedure that is used to prevent tooth loss by removing the diseased soft tissue inside a tooth leaving a non-vital tooth in the mouth. Dr. Nadia Benkirane-Jessel and her team […]
July 8, 2010

Are Dental Implants Right For You?

A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth that replaces a tooth that has been lost.  Implants are perfect for replacing just one tooth or many instead of using bridges or partial dentures.  Implants can even be used to anchor dentures. The implant itself is a small titanium device that is placed in your jaw to act as an artificial […]
June 30, 2010

Options for a Whiter Smile

Tooth bleaching is the most common cosmetic dental treatment performed. There are several options for whitening your teeth including those available only from your dentist and a variety of over-the-counter options. Before beginning any bleaching procedure it is important to understand why the teeth have become discolored. Tooth enamel is discolored by aging, staining from coffee, wine and food. Cigarette […]
June 29, 2010

Sleep Apnea and the NFL

When we think about professional athletes we usually picture them as perfect physical specimens with no health issues.  This doesn’t seem to be the case with football players and sleep-related breathing disorders.  A study in the journal SLEEP found that NFL players have a higher risk of these disorders than the regular guys who watch the games from the couch. […]
June 24, 2010

Dental Checkups – More Important Than You Think

Opening your mouth during a dental checkup reveals a great deal about your general health and well-being.  Your teeth and gums can tell the story of your overall health to a trained eye.  Loose teeth, for example,  may point to osteoporosis; cavities and gum disease may signal underlying heart disease or diabetes; a scalloped tongue may point to obstructive sleep […]
June 23, 2010

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Worse for Middle Aged Sufferers

Obstructive sleep apnea affects all age groups – from children to the elderly.  A study recently published in the journal CHEST found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have more of an effect on the health of those who develop the condition during middle age as opposed to those who develop the problem when they are older. The study looked […]
June 18, 2010

What is a Neuromuscular Dentist?

A Neuromuscular Dentist is specially trained in the branch of Dentistry that diagnoses and treats the proper alignment of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and how it affects the surrounding muscles and nerves.  The relationship between the teeth, jaw joint and surrounding tissues is among the most complex in the human body.  General dentists are usually trained to focus on […]
June 16, 2010

Gum Disease – The Top Ten List

When patients are informed  they have developed periodontal disease they usually ask why.  The reasons vary for each person but here is a list of risk factors: You smoke cigarettes or chewing tobacco.  The use of tobacco is one of the biggest risks for periodontal disease because it decreases your ability to fight infection.  Tobacco use  also interferes with healing […]
June 11, 2010

Food and Drug Administration Will Review Dental Amalgam

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a dental advisory panel to review “scientific issues that may affect the regulation of dental amalgam.  The panel meeting will focus particularly on the potential risk to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, fetuses and young children”. In 2009 the FDA concluded that dental amalgam was a safe and effective restorative treatment […]