Dentist Anchorage Archives - Page 6 of 7

How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?

March 31, 2016/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage, Family Dentist Anchorage

How often do you brush your teeth?

The standard that many people grew up hearing from their dentist is “Brush twice a day.” But when should you brush? What if you can only brush one time – when should you do it to be most effective? If twice is good then would four times be better? Is there a bad time to brush?

Our basic advice – Brush twice a day for two minutes each time.

To make things a little more clear we have some additional tidbits for you to keep in mind.

The Culprits –

Sugary foods, especially sticky or liquid varieties that coat your teeth, is food for bacteria. As the bacteria metabolize the sugar they produce acids that lead to gum disease and cavities.
Acidic foods are just as detrimental to teeth for the same reasons as sugary foods. Except they’re acidic from the very beginning.
Did you know that the pH of a diet soda is about the same as household vinegar?

The Problem –

Eating or drinking something acidic lowers the pH of a mouth and it can take a long time for it to return to normal. Acid demineralizes your teeth and weakens the tooth surface, leaving it vulnerable to decay.

The Exacerbation –

Brushing your teeth while your mouth’s pH level is too low can actually cause more damage. Your toothbrush and toothpaste are abrasive and will etch your weakened tooth surface even more. Waiting at least thirty minutes will allow your saliva to stabilize your pH.

Your toothbrush can cause more damage just by how it’s made. Nylon threads are sliced to make an even row of bristles, but the cut leaves a very jagged edge on the bristles. Most high quality toothbrushes will undergo another step that softens the edges into domes. The rounded edges are far less abrasive on your teeth but just as effective at removing debris. Even if your toothbrush had rounded edges when you took it out of the package, regular use will cause them to get worn back, jagged, and split – making them more abrasive. When you start noticing your toothbrush getting worn go ahead and replace it. If you wait until the bristles are splayed then it’s too late.

The Alternatives –

Rinse your mouth with water. This will help restore your mouth’s pH to a normal level. R
Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash will help to prevent plaque from producing more acids which is a big step in keeping your pH levels balanced as well.
Chew some cheese. Chewy things will make you salivate, and the proteins in your saliva help to block the acids. And the chemicals that naturally occur in cheese help to re-mineralize teeth.
Having a little cheese with your wine is good for your health!
Sugarless gum is another great option. Again, the chewing action stimulates your saliva production which, in turn, helps to balance your mouth’s pH. Some studies have also shown that Xylitol, a sweetening agent, has properties that prevent cavities.

The Timing –

Bedtime is the most critical time to brush your teeth. You salivate less at bedtime which allows bacteria and acids to spend more time weakening your tooth surface. If you brush before bed then you’ll be reducing the number of culprits that can damage your teeth.

So to answer our earlier questions – You should brush before bedtime and thirty minutes after eating a sugary or acidic mea. If you can only brush once, brush before bed. Brushing more often is not necessarily better because you could potentially be weakening your teeth. The worst time to brush is after eating or drinking something acidic – rinse with water instead.

We want to see you every six months for your regular visits, but we’d prefer not to tell you that you need fillings or worse. Call us to schedule an appointment!

Here’s a little cheat sheet –

Brush 2x a day.
Brush for at least 2 minutes each time.
If you can only brush once, brush at bedtime.
Rinse with water after sugary or acidic foods.
Use new, good quality brushes.

3D Is Revolutionizing Impressions

January 21, 2016/in Dentist Anchorage

We have a new toy and we’re excited to share it with you!

We are now using the TRIOS 3 for taking impressions. This award winning scanner will give us a 3D color image of your mouth. There aren’t any giant machines, no messy impression trays, and no waiting for results. The Trios 3 is smaller than previous models to comfortably fit in the mouth, quickly scans what it sees, and sends the images directly to a screen.

The TRIOS 3 allows us to:

See your entire mouth all at one and evaluate treatment more accurately.
Share the images with patients so that they can see the clinical situation be more comfortable accepting treatment.
Have open communication with our patients about treatment plans.
Get high definition photos of a patient’s mouth so that we can easily see problem areas.
Perfectly measure the shade of teeth for an exact match.

In the past we had to have impression trays, scanners, an intra-oral camera, and inaccurate shade measures. Now we only need the TRIOS. Of course we love that we need less equipment, but we also love that we will be saving our patients’ time by doing all of that in one go.

We’re so excited to begin using this in all areas of our practice, but especially for planning implants.

Some other services we will using this for are:

Crowns and bridges – this will give us an accurate guide to properly sizing, fitting, and coloring so that they will look more natural.
Veneers, inlays and onlays – perfect color matching will make it so they look real.
Temporary crowns and virtual diagnostic wax-ups.
Removable partial dentures – you’ll have natural looking dentures with a perfect fit.
Orthodontics – A clear, full picture of your mouth will let us plan the best course of action with the smallest amount of time.

We hope that you’re as excited as we are to use this tool. We love being on the cutting edge of dental technology, saving you time, and giving you a perfect smile.

How Can I Deal With My TMD?

October 8, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage

In our last blog we talked about what Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is and how you could identify it. Now you know what it is, but what do you do about it?

Diagnosis is an important step before you begin any treatment. There are many other dental conditions that can cause some of the same symptoms as TMD. Please always consult with your dentist before you begin any treatment.

Home Remedies

There are things that you can at home to relieve your pain. But, we still recommend that you go to see your dentist as soon as you suspect you might have TMD.

Avoid extreme jaw movements – keep yawning to a minimum and avoid yelling, singing, and anything else that requires your mouth to open wide.
Keep your chin up – Don’t rest your phone between your shoulder and your ear, don’t rest your chin on your hand, and make sure that you’re practicing good posture. Proper posture reduces tension on your neck and will help relieve the pain.
Don’t grind your teeth – keep your teeth slightly apart as often as possible. Constant clenching and grinding causes a lot of damaging pressure. Put your tongue between your teeth to help control the habit.
Eat soft foods – yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, scrambled eggs, fish, cooked veggies, beans, and cottage cheese are all healthy and soft foods. Crunchy foods like pretzels and raw carrots or chewy foods like caramels and taffy will dramatically increase the strain in an already sensitive area.
Avoid excess chewing – don’t chew gum, avoid chewy candies, don’t munch on ice, and stop chewing on pencils/straws/pens. Overly repetitive motions will aggravate the situation.
Use cold packs and moist heat – Apply an ice back to the side of your face and temple for about ten minutes, stretch your jaw, and then hold a warm wash cloth to your face for about five minutes.
Take over-the-counter medications – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen will reduce the swelling and reduce muscle pain.
Learn to relax – your tension will be held in your jaw as well as through the rest of your body. Physical therapy, massage, and biofeedback are all options for stress reduction. Yoga is a fantastic way to stretch and focus on yourself. Meditating is also an excellent way to reduce your tension levels. Ask your doctor to show you some simple stretches or massage techniques to stretch, strengthen, and relieve your muscles.

Traditional Treatments

At your next appointment, these are some options to discuss with your dentist. They’re all tried-and-true ways to relieve your discomfort.

Dental work – crowns, bridges, implants, or braces are all ways to rebalance your bite surface or correct a bite problem that might have caused your TMD.
Bite Guards – plastic mouthpieces that are molded to fit over your teeth are actually quite comfortable. The guards will keep your teeth apart and prevent grinding or clenching. These can also correct your bite, if necessary, by pulling your teeth into the proper position. Night guards are worn while you sleep and splints are worn all the time.
Medications –
- Pain Relievers – if over-the-counter remedies aren’t enough, your dentist can prescribe higher dose NSAIDS.
- Tricyclic Anti-depressants – traditionally used for depression, medications such as amitriptyline can be used for pain relief as well.
- Muscle relaxers – if you grind or clench your teeth these can be used for a short amount of time to help stop the habit.
- Anti-anxiety sedatives – reducing anxiety can sometimes reduce the stress that causes the grinding, clenching, and tensing of your facial muscles that contribute to TMD. Taken at night they’ll work while you sleep.

Other Treatments

These are less traditional remedies but have proven to be effective for many people.

Physical therapy – heat/cold treatments, stretches, and exercises will stretch and strengthen the affected area.
Counseling – can help you to understand the factors and behaviors that aggravate your pain.
Trigger point injections – pain medication and anesthesia can be injected directly in the tender muscles, or trigger points, to give more immediate relief. Corticosteroids and Botox are also occasionally used.
Ultrasound – deep heat applied to the joint will help to improve mobility.
Radio wave therapy – stimulate the joint and increases blood flow to reduce pain.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – uses low-level electrical currents to relax your jaw joint and facial muscles.
Low level laser therapy – lowers inflammation to help you move your neck easier and open your jaw wider.

Surgical Options

If all of the other options have been exhausted and you still haven’t found relief you can discuss surgery with your dentist. Once surgery is done though, it can’t be undone so make sure that you’ve explored all of your other options and even get a second opinion. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends that surgery be avoided whenever possible.

Arthrocentesis – if you haven’t had a history of TMD but your jaw is locked, this is the procedure most likely to be used. It can be performed in office with only general anesthesia. A needle is then inserted into the joint to wash it out. If there’s damaged tissue, a dislodged disk stuck in the joint, or just to unstick the joint, a special tool will be used.
Arthoscopy – is performed with an arthroscope; a tool with a lens and a light on it that allows your doctor to see your joint. Hooked up to a video screen, the tool is inserted through a small hole in front of your ear. With the aid of the lens the doctor can see any damage, remove inflamed tissue, or realign the disc. This is minimally invasive, leaves a tiny scar, and has a short recovery time.
Open-joint surgery – is the most extreme option. If your joints are wearing down, there are tumors in or around the joint, your joint is scarred, or your joint is filled with bone chips this procedure might be necessary. There is a longer recovery time, a larger scar, and greater chance for complications.

What Is TMJ? Or Do You Have TMD?

September 25, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage

More than fifteen percent of American adults live with some form of chronic facial pain like jaw pain, headaches, or earaches. About ten million of those people can attribute that pain to TMJ Disorders.

What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are located on each side of the head just in front of the ears. It is the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. Along with muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones, your TMJ helps to make the different movements required for eating and talking.
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) covers multiple conditions that affect the TM joints. TMD can occur when your jaw opens, closes or moves from side to side. TMD pain can be experienced in the jaw joint as well as in the muscles that control your jaw’s movement.

What causes TMD?

Because the TMJ combines hinge action with sliding movement it is a complicated structure that is easily damaged. The areas of bone that interact with the joints are covered in cartilage and separated by small disks to absorb shock. This set-up normally keeps movement smooth. Erosion of the disks, slipping of the discs out of alignment, damage to the cartilage, or injury to the joint from a hard impact are all risks to joint’s efficiency.
There’s no definitive cause of TMD and it can be hard to pinpoint for each person, especially if there’s no problems in the joint itself. Symptoms can arise from problems with the joint or the muscles around it. Injury to your jaw, trauma in the muscles of your head and neck such as whiplash, teeth grinding, arthritis, improper bite, jaw dislocation, and stress can all be contributing factors.
Stress from heavy lifting or taxing situations can aggravate TMD because it generally causes you to clenching and grinding of the teeth.

What are the symptoms of TMD?
TMD affects nearly twice as many women as men and is most common women between the ages of 20 and 40.
Symptoms include:

Pain in or around your ear.
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Dizziness
Aching facial pain.
Headaches and neck or shoulder aches.
Swelling on the side of your face.
A tired feeling in the muscles of your face.
Tenderness in your jaw.
Jaw pain that is worse in the morning or late afternoon.
Jaw pain while chewing, yawning, or biting.
Difficulty opening your mouth wide.
Jaws that get stuck or locked open.
Tooth sensitivity when no dental problems can be found.
Clicking, popping, or grinding noises when you open and close your mouth. This may not include pain.
Trouble chewing as if your upper and lower teeth aren’t fitting properly together anymore.

How do you know if you have TMD?
Because there is such a variety of symptoms and there are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, you should see your dentist for a diagnosis.
Your dentist will first want to rule out other causes such as tooth decay, sinus problems, arthritis, or gum disease. Then she will ask you some questions about your health history and conduct a physical exam. During the exam she’ll check your joints for pain and tenderness, listen for clicks, pops, or grinding during movement, make sure your jaw doesn’t lock open or closed, and test your bite. If TMD is suspected you may need x-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan to get a more detailed picture of your joint and disc health.
In most cases discomfort from TMD will eventually go away with some simple self-care practices. If your symptoms aren’t going away, try to stick with conservative treatments. If irreversible treatments are recommended, make sure to get a second opinion first. We’ll cover these self-care practices and treatment options more in our next blog.

Can Sleep Apnea Affect My Health?

July 9, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage, Snoring Anchorage

Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when your breathing is interrupted while you sleep. Untreated sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing repeatedly as they sleep, this can deprive the brain and body of much needed oxygen.

The two types of sleep apnea are:

Obstructive sleep apnea – This is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by the airway being blocked when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep. A popular analogy is to think of drinking a thick milkshake through a paper straw. As you suck in, the weak paper collapses and you can’t get any of the milkshake. When you’re awake your brain signals the muscles of your tongue and throat to stay strong, acting like a stronger plastic straw. But when you sleep those signals don’t always reach your muscles, especially when you sleep on your back.
Central sleep apnea – This type of sleep apnea is not caused by a blockage but by the brain. CSA is caused by instability of the respiratory control center causing the brain to fail to signal muscles to breath.

Who’s At Risk For Sleep Apnea?

Anyone is susceptible to sleep apnea at any age – even kids. But there are certain traits that will increase your risk.

Male
Overweight
Over 40 years old
Menopause
A large neck (Over 17” in men and 16” in women
Large tonsils or tongue
Small jawbone
Family history of sleep apnea
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Nasal obstructions from a deviated septum, allergies, or other sinus issues.

How Can You Tell if You Have Sleep Apnea?

Snoring – When you don’t get enough air into your lungs your blood oxygen level drops and your levels of carbon dioxide go up. With OSA your brain detects that you’re not breathing and wakes up. The amount of time that you can be affected varies from a few seconds to over a minute. Normal breathing resumes, but your airway may not be at its full size. When this happens the tissue surrounding the restricted airway vibrates causing snoring.

Silence – No snoring does not necessarily mean that someone is breathing unobstructed. Silence could indicate that they’re not breathing at all as a result of sleep apnea. If you listen or watch carefully when someone is sleeping you can see when they semi-wake up and take a deep breath.

What are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

Untreated sleep apnea has a large variety of effects on your health. Your body and brain are extremely sensitive to oxygen levels and when those drop it can wear on your overall health. The longer your periods of no breathing are, the higher your chances for more serious effects.

Effects due to your heart being under extra stress.

*Inflammation *Diabetes

*High Blood Pressure *Stroke

*Irregular heartbeat *Heart attacks or heart failure

Effects due to increases in hormones and neurotransmitters.

*Increased inflammation *Higher stress

*Mood swings *Hypothyroidism

Because you have to wake up to end an episode of sleep apnea you will be forced to wake up over and over again during the night. This reduces the quality and quantity of sleep you get. Even if you don’t notice the periods of wakefulness your brain does.

Effects due to insufficient sleep.

*Headaches *Poor performance at work

*Insomnia *Academic underachievement

*Heightened ADHD *Motor vehicle crashes

*Daytime sleepiness *Fatigue

*Lowered concentration *Reduced memory

*Depression *Cognitive Deficits

How Can I Treat Sleep Apnea?

Depending on the cause of your sleep apnea, there are several options available. Most require the care of a doctor or sleep specialist.

*Weight Loss – If your sleep apnea is caused by being overweight then shedding some of those pounds can reduce the pressure on the muscles around your airway.

*Removal of the tonsils – If you have larger than normal tonsils then having them removed will open up your airway.

*CPAP – A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine provides a positive flow of air via a mask worn all that keeps your airway open and prevents it from collapsing.

*Oral Appliance – These appliances work by keeping the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open and prevents the tongue and muscles from relaxing and blocking the airway. These simple mouth pieces are custom made for each individual and can be worn at night without restricting movement or limiting comfort. This is not suitable for all cases of sleep apnea, but it is the best, least invasive, first defense. A simple trip to your dentist is all it takes to get started.

8 Ways Your Teeth Affect Your Physical Health

June 10, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage

We’ve all heard the adage “Your body is a temple.” We know that we need to take care of it and we know that what we eat, how much we exercise, how often we see a doctor, and a whole host of other factors can have major effects on the rest of our body. But did you know that brushing your teeth and going to the dentist regularly can affect more than just the number of cavities you get? Research is coming out all over the place that shows that having a healthy smile will increase your likelihood of having a healthy body as well! Here are just 8 ways that the health of your mouth will affect your overall health.

Periodontitis – When bacteria builds up on your teeth it can make your gums more prone to infections. When your immune system senses the infection it will move in to attack. This attack will cause your gums to become inflamed. Long-term inflammation and the chemicals it releases can eat away at your gums and the bones that hold your teeth in place. This is called periodontitis.

Diabetes –If you have diabetes, your body is already struggling to process sugar due to a lack of insulin. Periodontal disease complicates the issue by further impairing your body’s ability to use insulin. To make things even worse, high blood sugar contributes to ideal conditions for infections to grow. This starts a really vicious cycle that can rapidly get out of control.

Heart Disease – There is still some debate on the exact correlation, but research indicates that up to 91% of patients with heart disease also have periodontitis. Among people without heart disease, only 66% have periodontitis. This would suggest that there is a stronger connection beyond similar risk factors like smoking, excess weight, and unhealthy diets. Some experts theorize that inflammation in the mouth also causes inflammation of the blood vessels. This increases the risk for heart attacks by allowing less blood to travel between the heart and the rest of the body, increases blood pressure, and raises the risk of fatty plaque breaking off of a blood vessels wall and traveling to the heart.

Pregnancy Complications – Some research shows that gum disease is a contributing factor to premature labor. Studies have shown that infections and inflammation, in general, interfere with fetal development. Hormonal changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy can also increase the risk of periodontal disease. It’s always a good idea to have a comprehensive periodontal exam if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant so that you can catch any trouble before it becomes a real problem.

Osteoporosis – Periodontitis, and osteoporosis have one big thing in common – bone loss. Beyond that though experts are divided. Some experts point out that osteoporosis affects the long bones in arms and legs and is more common in women than in men. Periodontitis affects the jaw bone and is more common among men. Despite these differences, some studies have found that women with osteoporosis are more likely to have gum disease than women without it. Researchers are also testing a theory that inflammation caused by periodontitis could weaken the bones in other parts of the body as well.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Studies have shown that treating the periodontal disease can reduce the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis! Patients with RA have also been shown to be at higher risk for periodontal disease. A number of similarities have been found in the joint and oral tissues as well as the way they become inflamed.

Lung Conditions – Increased bacteria in the lungs from periodontal disease can make pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worse.

Obesity – Periodontitis has been shown to progress more rapidly in the presence of higher body fat.

The impact of oral health on the rest of the body is still a fairly new area of study. New mouth-body connections are still being discovered and investigated. But from just this short list we feel it’s safe to say that having a healthy smile will definitely increase your overall health. Come in to see Dr. Mandanas and let us make sure you’re as healthy as possible!

13 Tips to Survive Your Child’s First Dental Visits

May 14, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage, Family Dentist Anchorage

We all know the importance of regular visits to the dentist but the prospect can be a scary one for toddlers that have never gone before or even for parents that have had their own negative experiences. Here are some tips to help smooth your child’s first trip to the dentist.

Their first appointment should happen by their 1^st birthday. It’s not a bad idea to make the first appointment after the first few teeth come through though.

Schedule for a time when your baby is normally happy and easy going. Avoid scheduling during their normal nap time or when they usually get hungry.
Let the Dentist know about any sucking habits like pacifiers, thumbs, or bottles. This will help them to properly diagnose any issues they see.
Examine your baby’s teeth as often as you can. This will help them get used to the feeling of fingers poking around in their mouth.
Avoid letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth. Pooling liquids will promote tooth decay.

Their first Toddler appointment should happen around two years old. By this time all their baby teeth should have come in.

Use positive language leading up to and when talking about the visit. Focus on the good things, like the prizes at the end of the visit. Don’t say “It won’t hurt.” This dentist in New Hampshire has some great suggestions for positive language.
Talk to them about exactly what will happen, from the check in process, to the exam, and especially the prize at the end of the visit.
Let them come with you to your own cleaning so they can see firsthand what’s going to happen and that you’re comfortable.
Know when to walk away and reschedule.
Stay with your child to offer comfort and reassurance. Strangers can be scary.
Practice brushing often so they get used to the feeling.
Use a pea size amount of toothpaste. This is the perfect amount for adequate fluoride coverage, but nowhere near enough for over-ingestion.
Use a soft kid sized tooth brush.
Find a fun, over-sized model to allow the kids to practice brushing teeth they can see. Pinterest is an amazing resource for free ideas.

Tips to avoid dental issues.

Brush often.
Avoid sugary and starchy foods that will stick to teeth long after eating and promote decay.
Rinse with water after meals if they can’t brush.
Stop sucking habits as early as possible.
Find ways to make oral hygiene fun with timers and fun brushes.

6 Reasons to Let Your Smile Shine

April 30, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage

As if the spring sunshine isn’t enough reason to smile, here are six more reasons to flash your pearly whites at the world!

Flashing a smile makes you more attractive. A study by The American Psychological Association showed when a person sees someone they’re attracted to smiling it stimulates their orbitofrontal cortex (the part of the brain associated with sensory rewards.) In other words it makes them want to approach you so they can keep being rewarded with smiles. Even E-Harmony believes smiling is an integral part of attractiveness! Smiling also makes you look reliable, relaxed, and sincere – all attractive traits in a partner.

Smiling fights off stress. The University of Kansas asked three groups of participants to perform a stressful test. One group was asked to smile and another was given chopsticks to hold in their teeth which formed a smile. A comparison of physiological responses showed both genuine and chopstick-induced smilers had lower heart rates and faster cardiovascular stress recovery than the non-smiling control group.

Smiles can be a mood booster. Smiling releases neuropeptides in your brain. Those are the tiny molecules that allow your neurons to talk to each other and spread the message to the rest of your body that you’re feeling something. Some neurotransmitters such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin are also released when you smile. These chemicals all relax your body, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and make you happy. Seratonin in particular is an anti-depressant and mood booster – and when you smile you get it without a prescription!

Smiling acts as a pain reliever. Studies have been done where they asked participants to smile, remain neutral, or frown during painful procedures. Participants that smiled through the ordeal reported feeling lower levels of pain! Smiling releases endorphins, which act as a natural pain reliever. So next time you are getting a tight hair-do, feeling sore from a workout, or getting a tattoo, put on a smile and you’ll feel better!

A smile can lengthen your life. A study by Wayne University in Michigan using 230 photographs of baseball players from 1952 showed those who smiled lived the longest. Researchers separated the photos in non-smiling, partial smile, and full smile. Straight faced players lived and average of 73 years, partial smilers lived an average of 75 years, and the players with full blown smiles lived an average of 80 years! You can do a lot of extra living and laughing in 7 years!

When you smile you make other people happier. When you see someone smile your cingulate cortex is unconsciously activated. This is the part of your brain responsible for smiling when happy and mimicking other people’s smiles. A study in Sweden showed that when participants were shown photos of smiling people, and told to frown, their facial expression went automatically to imitating the smile. It took conscious effort for them to frown while looking at someone smiling. So smile at everyone you see, it will make them smile back at give them an immediate boost of those fun neurotransmitters that make them feel good!

If you aren’t comfortable with your smile, we’d love to help you change that! Everyone should feel confident with themselves but sometimes it can be hard. Our offices offers many options, including 6 Month Smiles, to give you the confidence you need to smile every day.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Braces at Any Age

April 23, 2015/in Blog, Dentist Anchorage, Orthodontics Anchorage

I am fortunate to be able to make people smile for a living!

Many times I cannot get my guests to show any teeth in their “before” or pretreatment photos. Honestly, I so feel lucky because by the time we are done (or even close to done) with treatment, they are finally able to smile- something they haven’t actually done in years or sometimes their whole adult life.

I would like to introduce you to Teri. She came in for multiple reasons but her main concern was a front tooth that had started to stick out “like Nanny McPhee” she said. She just wanted to be able to smile, but due to other dental health concerns, she didn’t think anything could be done.

We decided to place Teri in short term orthodontics and in my office I work with an orthodontic company called 6 Months Smiles. Teri’s case was VERY short term. She started in early February 2015 and we finished her treatment in April 2015. She was so happy with the results and tired of feeling like a teenager that I agreed to take them off and place a permanent retainer.

Sometimes I forget how blessed I am and forget to take pictures of me and my guests, but here is a shot that I love!

Do Genetics Play a Role in the Overall Health of Teeth?

January 8, 2015/in Dentist Anchorage

The nature versus nurture debate is one found throughout the physical and social sciences, and it has even made its way into dentistry. It’s easy to blame genes for bad luck with a variety of health-related issues, whether the genes are fully to blame or not. While genetics are not solely responsible for the overall health of teeth and gums, genetic factors can influence oral health, and behaviors acquired through parents and family members can also play a role.

When it comes to oral health, genetics can play a role in development and resilience, affecting teeth growth and sizes, as well as the gums. Inherited malformations of the jaw and possible genetic factors that affect teeth crowding among other problems can have an effect on overall oral health. While these conditions are not genetically inherited, per se, patients can inherit a predisposition to developing certain types of dental problems. Having a genetic predisposition for gingivitis and other gum diseases also affects the oral and overall health of the patient.

Cavities are caused by bacteria that gradually eat away at teeth. When the enamel on teeth is weak, the bacteria in the mouth has a much easier time getting through the enamel to the middle of the tooth and creating a cavity. Genetically speaking, it is possible to inherit thinner enamel layers, which can make the development of cavities, also known as dental caries, more prominent in some patients.

There are other ways enamel can be weakened. Acids weaken enamel, and many highly acidic foods or beverages, such as berries, juice, coffee, or tea, are known to increase surface staining on teeth. To reduce the setting in of stains, patients will sometimes brush immediately after consuming these things, when the enamel is weakest. This brushing wears down the enamel faster.

Teeth grinding has been found to include some modest genetic factors, meaning it may be an inheritable condition despite being considered a behavioral condition. Patients may inherit a predisposition to develop bruxism, teeth grinding, at some point, just as some patients are more affected by stress in their everyday lives. Bruxism is typically associated with comorbid conditions – that is, another condition occurring alongside the teeth grinding. Patients that grind their teeth may also have a sleep disorder, manage stress poorly, experience significant anxiety, or any of a number of other conditions. Teeth grinding wears down teeth over time, especially molars, and can result in cracks, broken fillings, and other damage that affects overall oral health.

For more information on how genetics and learned behaviors can impact oral health and development, contact our experienced dentist office today!