Root Canal Therapy

We pride ourselves in spending the time to properly educate our patients on the details of proposed treatment. I have often said that the better informed the patient is, the better the overall dental experience will become. Having said this, I would like to explain one of the most misunderstood procedures in dentistry, the root canal. It is needless to say that root canal treatment has a bad reputation! Perhaps because of the pain and discomfort of a damaged nerve that necessitated the root canal procedure in the first place. However the actual treatment is relatively painless because the pain can be controlled with a local anaesthetic during the procedure and pain control medication can be used before and/or after treatment. Modern root canal treatment is completely safe and usually very predictable.                         
Due to recurrent decay and/or some form of trauma the nerve inside the tooth can become damaged and inflamed. This inflammation is of two varieties; reversible pulpitis or irreversible pulpitis. The former will pass by itself after final restoration but the latter will require further treatment. Irreversible pulpitis usually leads to necrosis or the nerve dying which in turn, if untreated, will lead to infection of the jaw bone. Root canal treatment is the actual removal of the necrotic nerve and filling of the tiny canals in the root of the tooth where the nerve runs. We always utilize a certified Endodontist when such treatment is necessary to ensue the best outcome for our valued patients.
Lastly, it is very important to properly restore the tooth that has had root canal therapy in a timely manner to ensure continued success. this will usually require a post and a crown.

Healthy alternatives in dental materials

There are numerous types of materials being used in dentistry today and some are more non-reactive in the body than others. Many people are sensitive/allergic to metallic restorative materials such as the dental amalgam. The dental amalgam contains mercury and other metals that may be toxic to the body. People who have amalgams replaced by other materials such as porcelain or composite resin actually report that they feel healthier than before. Dental amalgams are still considered safe in the US although are being used less and less. In some European countries, they are seldom or no longer placed. Personally, I have not used any amalgam for a decade or so and I find that the alternatives are not only safer but also better from a restorative point of view.

Oral Hygiene and Cardiovascular Disease

A recent study in the British Medical Journal has suggested that people who don’t brush their teeth twice daily are more susceptible to having heart disease in the future. In the past, most researches were concerned with the role of oral and gingival inflammation in building up atherosclerosis; in fact, this is the first study to examine if the number of teeth brushing has an impact on developing CV diseases, or not. The data was collected from Scottish Health Survey, which was performed on all adult participants . Results have revealed that participants who brushed their teeth less frequently had higher risks of heart disease than individuals who reported teeth brushing twice daily. Scientists believe that bad oral hygiene increases the risk for heart diseases through flaring systemic inflammation. Usually, the increased inflammation is associated with generalized homeostatic responses, besides; periodontal infection is proved to cause the disturbance of lipid metabolism, which will eventually cause most types of cardiovascular disease.
Bottom line is that there is absolutely no substitute for proper oral hygiene . Brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily has numerous benefits that extend well beyond  the mouth!

Multidisciplinary Team

Many years ago a primary dentist was a jack-of-all-trades when it came to different arenas of dentistry. A dentist would fill your cavities, pull your wisdom teeth, preform Root Canal Treatments if necessary and manage your gums. This approach worked at the time mainly because the level of sophistication in diagnosing and treating dental conditions was relatively low. However in this day and age there have been such amazing advances in all categories of dentistry, that the old one-size-fits-all approach is no longer the best option clinically for the patient. A more comprehensive approach, by today's standards, is referred to as a multidisciplinary approach where a group of providers specializing in different areas, collaborate in treating a patient. The primary dentist or in my case a Prosthodontist would initiate the treatment and make the appropriate referrals when necessary. This allows the patient to receive the best and most advanced care no matter what the necessary treatment is. We have been practicing this approach for many years at Elite Dental Studios, utilizing the very best resources available to provide the absolutely best dental care possible for our patients!    

Self Image

In my experience, how people take care of their mouths is often a reflection of how they feel about themselves. Those who feel good about themselves take good oral care and people who have a poor self image generally do not take good care of their mouth. It has also been shown that this works in reverse meaning that addressing one's dental health/aesthetics will usually lead to a better quality of life and self image! This holds especially true for cosmetic procedures. Often I am witness to a patient's general well being and attitude improving substantially after cosmetic treatments such as whitening and/or porcelain veneers. This in turn is extremely rewarding to myself and my staff and creates a deep appreciation for what we do!

Cosmetic Dentistry

Are you dissatisfied with the appearance of your smile? Does the color, shape and/or position of your teeth embarrass you? Do you ever smile with your mouth closed or cover your teeth with your hand? If you answered yes to any of these questions you are a candidate for cosmetic dentistry. In fact, anyone who is unhappy with the appearance of their smile is a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry. Today’s advanced cosmetic procedures have truly come a long way and can transform any smile into the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Cosmetic dentistry covers a multitude of safe and proven methods from smile whitening to repairing, straightening or replacing teeth. A well qualified cosmetic dentist should be able to carry out a comprehensive smile analysis in addition to periodic examinations, to come up with the plan that best suits you. Even the most unsightly smiles can be improved and usually relatively easily as well. Many procedures can be completed in one to three simple visits. Many people are simply amazed to discover the difference cosmetic dentistry can make in their appearance and self-confidence.

Botox

Most people do not associate Botox treatments under a dental setting, but this is about to change.
More and more dentists are becoming trained in Botox application and as it turns out, it is a perfect match for the profession. Very few health care professionals have as much intimate knowledge of the anatomy and function of the musculature and neural pathways of the head and neck. Also dentists as a whole are absolutely proficient in giving injections on a daily, almost hourly basis.
Botox is a purified protein derived from an organic compound, much like penicillin is and thus very safe to use. It is a temporary muscle relaxant that is injected locally into specific muscles of the head and neck. Botox injections have numerous potential purposes in a dental practice. One being treatment of TMJ type pain/migraine headaches. Another purpose is controlling the tone of muscles of mastication(jaw movement) in order to increase the success rate of other dental treatments such as implant restoration and restorative treatments in general. The last purpose is what the majority of the population associate Botox with, that is cosmetics. Botox is the perfect compliment to cosmetic dentistry and overall improvement of facial aesthetics.