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Gum Disease Contributes to Heart Disease
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What Our Saliva Tells Us…
Testing our saliva in dentistry continues to show its importance more and more! Nobody walks into their dental office expecting to get their saliva tested, right?? And afterall… what does it tell us and why is it important?!
Consider this… You go to the dentist and they tell you your gums are bleeding and you have gum disease. More than 75% of Americans have some form of gum disease. What if you could find out the exact type of infection that’s occuring in your mouth and by that, how to single it out and treat it correctly?! Or if thats not your case, you could find out if you are at risk for it in the future by testing for the gene of periodontal disease. Thats right… There is a gene 30% of us carry that make us susceptible to that wonderful, non-painful disease called periodontal disease!!
Periodontal disease is a serious infection that deserves the same degree of urgency as any other human disease that you can think of… fill in the blank! And if each periodontal disease was the same, the treatment for all infections would make sense. However, since they are NOT and are all based off of genetic factors, different bacterial environments, and additional risk factors, the use of saliva testing adds significant value to both your personal diagnosis and the therapy needed.
So next time you are sitting in the dental chair… keep this in mind. Like I mentioned above, 75% of us all have some form of periodontal disease yet, 60% do not even know about it. Scary!! So get in and get tested! It’s as easy as drink, swish, and spit 
Joint Failures Potentially Linked to Oral Bacteria
Researchers from Case Medical Reserve University School of Dental Medicine suspected that oral bacteria were causing problems in patients who had joint issues. Tracking the DNA from the bacteria present in the joints of these patients showed a direct DNA link to the bacteria in the fluid and plaque from the mouth. Strong evidence would support that treating periodontal disease will reduce the number of bactria present which can in turn reduce the number of future joint replacements in certain patients.
Probiotics and their impact on oral health
As oral health care providers we have the daily challenge of managing more than 700 different bacterial species that are found in dental biofilm. Biofilm is impossible to prevent; however, there is a way to influence the content of the biofilm through oral probiotics.
Streptococcus oralis, streptococcuss uberis and streptococcus rattus are naturally occurring oral bacteria that can act as antagonists and may be welcome adjuncts in the efforts to reduce or replace harmful oral bacteria.
Studies have indicated that the type of bacteria that colonizes first in the base of the clean pocket after scaling and root planning predicts the future oral health of the periodontal pocket. The disease condition will quickly return if the harmful bacteria are the first to colonize resulting in further periodontal disease. If the beneficial bacteria are the first to colonize then good oral health can be established.
So stop by your local health food store and pick up a bottle of live probiotics to help support your immune system and fight the bad guys!
Dr. Oz, X-rays, Cancer – And The Truth
Just the facts, ma’am
Dr. Oz is a very popular and charismatic television presence – and no doubt he delivers many points of view about medical matters that are valuable to his viewers.
But I can assure you that his recent show on dental x-rays and cancer isn’t one of them.
The first problem is that the program based its information on the amount of radiation produced by the old fashioned traditional x-rays, not modern day advanced digital x-rays. In addition, the “study” was a very small sampling of people in Kuwait and the report of this study itself says their study “should be treated with caution because data was based on self-reporting by the participants. Comprehensive historical dental x-ray records were not available from the clinics.” This means that a small number of people with no dental knowledge were asked to remember the number and types of x-rays and when they had them taken in their past. They knew nothing about the actual number of x-rays taken, the dose of radiation per x-ray, the speed of film, the quality of the machines used or if any protective barriers were used, among other important details. On top of all of that, Kuwait has an abnormally high incidence of thyroid cancer compared to other areas of the world as it is. All of this equates to a very ill-devised study (already mentioned in the study itself!) with conclusions that are very misleading.
Major advances in dental x-rays have occurred and if you go to an office that employs this advanced technology of computerized x-rays, you will see based on this next information that you are in good hands.
In our practice we employ digital x-ray technology exclusively, which produces 90 percent less radiation than the traditional method. Because your long-term dental and overall health is our primary concern, we still use the protective aprons to minimize even the tiniest amounts of radiation that digital x-rays produce. And here are some more facts: every year we absorb, from the earth’s atmosphere, 63 times the amount of radiation that our annual regular checkup x-rays produce. That is just being on earth!
Some more facts: one typical digital dental x-ray produces about two or three mrems (a scientific unit used to measure radiation.) Flying from New York to LA gives you 5 mrems, each way (that’s 333 times the amount of radiation of an x-ray for a round trip!). You also get an additional 2 mrems per year if you sleep next to your partner (because our bodies produce tiny amounts of radiation constantly because we all have naturally occurring radioactive materials!) Cooking with natural gas produces another 10 mrems.
So you can see just how amazingly safe our new dental technologies and techniques truly are. And we’ll continue in our practice to use every possible precaution to protect our patients.
Bottom line: We’ll always err on the side of caution when it comes to our patients’ health. And we’ll make certain you have all the facts surrounding any dental procedure you may need. Just the facts, not idle speculation.
Craniosacral Therapy Los Angeles | Testimonial for Westlake Dental Arts
Craniosacral Therapy balances the flow of cranial fluid and is great in assisting with TMJ/TMD, upper neck pain, headaches, earaches, insomnia and many other types of pain. Here is a testimonial from a recent patient.
I have had off and on swelling and tenderness in the temporalis muscle area of my head for the last 6 months. After one Craniosacral treatment with Lyn Fairly I have had no swelling or tenderness for over a week…
Thank you!
-Tom Marshall
Finding My Smile: Bev’s Story
Bev came to our Westlake Village Cosmetic Dentistry Office wanting a nicer smile. She had some jaw dysfunction issues along with cosmetic challenges, and had seen many different dentists over the years seeking their opinions.
Here is Bev’s Cosmetic Dentistry experience, in her own words:
My childhood experience of seeing the dentist was very negative – filled with anxiety and pain. I distinctly remember the smell and sounds in Dr. Golden’s office and the fear I felt as I read Highlights Magazine while waiting to be called in. Looking back, I know the dentist had to realize I was in pain, but he did nothing to make me more comfortable. I didn’t have orthodontic attention or good professional hygiene as a child, and my adult experiences seemed to continue that trend. It became a downhill journey to find a dentist that gave me any sense of optimism or concern dealing with my many dental issues.
When I began to search for a dentist who could help me improve my smile. I did everything from going to Dr. Dorfman from the TV show “Extreme Makeover” for cosmetic work to visiting my younger son’s orthodontist to consider braces. At the same time, I was still trying to find a good local dentist to handle the basic care of my mouth.
One day, while waiting in a doctor’s office, I was reading a local magazine called Westlake (named after the community we live in). I spotted an attractive full page advertisement for Westlake Dental Arts and noticed a very qualified female dentist with strong credentials in cosmetic dentistry. I went ahead and scheduled a consultation with Dr. Carson.
Dr. Carson and her staff immediately set out to get my mouth healthy. The process took months including time for Dr. Carson to have her baby. It was a gradual unveiling of my new smile. Yet even my temporaries looked fabulous. Seeing the progress with each session was so exciting, and seeing my finished new smile was amazing. I couldn’t believe what an incredible job she had done. My teeth were straight and white. My mouth has never looked as healthy and beautiful as it does today.
Today, I am enjoying a new confidence in my smile that I never had. I enjoy being in pictures — my mouth looks healthy and beautiful. My only regret with this whole process is that I didn’t find Dr. Carson and her amazing staff sooner. I’m intensely grateful to Dr. Carson for the beautiful work she did and her dedicated philosophy.
Now That’s Progress!
We have recently changed our cosmetic dentistry office, and we’d like you to understand why. The first thing you’ve probably noticed is that our team has shrunk – we are now a team of five. The reason for this may be different than you think.
Over the past few years our practice surged in size. I was forced to face the decision of either hiring another doctor to handle volume quantity or to really focus on my professional goals and hone in on providing that quality.
It is becoming evident that there is a huge mouth-body connection. Disease and health in other areas of your body actually manifest themselves in your mouth and vice versa. My professional goals are to help open the eyes of practitioners of different medical disciplines as well as patients, and form a coordinated effort to grow in ways healthcare never has before.
Here are some examples of why this could be important to you:
- Bacterial transmission from your mouth to your body can affect diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy complications, and respiratory disease, just to name a few.
- Just as your posture and body structure can affect your jaw joint balance and functions, the muscles of your head and neck can affect other body muscles and joints.
- Another important medical-dental overlap involves your airway. Without the right amount of oxygen there can be irreversible damage in both kids and adults.
Since it is your body and your quality (and very likely quantity) of life we are talking about, shouldn’t you take an active role and insist on the best comprehensive, coordinated care you can get?
That is the direction of our focus. Yet we are still a general dental office and will be able to provide our patients with their general dental needs. It is our job to let you know all that we can about your dental health care and how it affects the rest of your body and life.
Stop Snoring and Improve Your Life!
Sleep is interwoven with every facet of our health and well-being, our moods and behavior, energy and emotions, marriages, jobs, our very sanity and happiness. Snoring can be a symptom of a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea that can be Life Threatening. Think of snoring as thunder (just noise) and sleep apnea as lightening (potentially very lethal).
We are all familiar with snoring. Snoring is the sound made when the tissues of the soft palate, tongue and throat partially block the airway and vibrate against the back of the throat during sleep. Snoring affects 40% of adults by age 40 and it is estimated that 45 million people snore every night affecting themselves and their bedpartners. Before you seek treatment for snoring, it is very important that you have ruled out Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects more than 20 million Americans and can lead to hypertension, heart attack, stroke, depression, muscle pain, excessive daytime sleepiness and other destructive problems. OSA is a condition where the tissues of the throat and tongue completely block the airway causing brief periods of suffocation, which can dangerously reduce the body’s oxygen levels. The brain alerts the muscles of the airway to open the blocked airway which disrupts the quality of our much needed sleep and we wake up tired and unrested.
The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep are:
- Loud Snoring
- Intermittent Breathing Stoppages During Sleep
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Restless sleep
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Poor Memory
- Irritability or Moodiness
- Impotence
It is very important to address OSA during an FMR. Today, with dentistry’s new knowledge and diagnostic skills, many times we can provide assistance for the snoring or sleep apnea patient. Teeth and jaws can be optimally aligned and a simple, night time appliance can protect your investment and give you one more thing to smile about. A great night’s sleep.
We’ve Made More Changes!
We here at Westlake Dental Arts truly believe that a healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy body and that a healthy smile contributes to the quality of your life. It is because of this that we redesigned our website to provide you with the information you need in order to take better care of your oral hygiene.
Recently, we’ve made even changes, adding more information on how you can take advantage of the options around you and get the dental work you deserve.
- Are dental rates in your area out of your price range, or is it more cost effective to get dental work done in another state or country? Discover Travel Dentistry and have your dental work done at an affordable price.
- Are you a denture wearer suffering from dentures that just don’t fit? With Facelift Dentures not only do you get the most comfortable fitting dentures, but also you will look younger and feel better.
- With Craniosacral therapy, you can improve the balance and flow of spinal fluids to help relieve ailments like TMJ/TMJ, headaches, earaches, upper neck pain and sinus pain.
We think it’s your right to have clear information about the options you have so you may make a more informed decision about your oral health care. To learn more about Travel Dentistry, Facelift Dentures, and Craniosacral Therapy, visit the new Westlake Dental Arts.