SMILE CHICAGO

CDC: Oropharyngeal cancer second most diagnosed of HPV-associated cancers - American Dental Association - ADA.org

2012-05-04T18:48:00.001-05:00

CDC: Oropharyngeal cancer second most diagnosed of HPV-associated cancers - American Dental Association - ADA.org

Julie's Health Club: Five surprising threats to your teeth

2010-08-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

Julie's Health Club: Five surprising threats to your teeth

Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

2010-08-07T21:11:00.002-05:00

Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

Click on the link to learn the importance of good dental care while pregnant.

How Teeth Change With Age

2010-08-06T19:21:00.001-05:00

How Teeth Change With Age

Your mouth ages over time, just like the rest of you. Click on the link to find out more.

How to Keep Your Kids Cavity-Free - Parenting.com

2010-07-30T19:23:00.001-05:00

How to Keep Your Kids Cavity-Free - Parenting.com

Click on the link to help your kids stay cavity-free!

Do You Have Tooth Enamel Erosion?

2010-02-09T18:08:00.004-06:00

Tooth erosion forms from the process where acidic chemicals erode, or melt away, the enamel from your teeth. It is different from tooth abrasion or tooth attrition which are caused from brushing with too hard of a toothbrush, grinding your teeth, or eating a rough diet of foods. Both processes lead to enamel loss, but the patient with enamel erosion is usually unaware of the cause of the problem, or even that there is a problem.

Acidic chemicals can come into tooth contact from many different avenues such as consuming acidic foods and beverages, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bulimia, and swimming in chlorinated swimming pools, among others.

Let's look at some common foods that are highly acidic.

FOOD	pH
Lemon/Limes	1.8-2.4
Oranges/Juice	2.8-4.0
Apples	2.9-3.5
Grapefruit	3.0-3.5
Black Coffee	2.4-3.3
Wines	2.3-3.8
Coke	2.7
Vinegar	2.4-3.4
Pickles	2.5-3.0

Your risk for tooth erosion increases if you consume these highly acidic foods often, or in large quantities. If you are concerned that you may be at risk, please have your teeth checked for enamel erosion with your dentist. Enamel erosion can make your teeth sensitive and increase your chances of tooth decay.

Gum Disease and Your Overall Health Risks

2010-01-27T22:27:00.003-06:00

Gum disease can impact your overall health status. Now add to that idea the fact that 50% of the population has some form of gum disease. The implications cannot be ignored.

The mechanism that links gum disease to the health of the rest of your body is the bacteria that causes gum disease. This bacteria can enter your bloodstream and can cause some serious medical problems.

Like What?

1. A suspected link to pregnancy and premature births.

Please read the 1-22-2010 news report: "Mother's Gum Disease Linked to Infant's Death"

Bacteria from the mother's gums was traced to the placenta. Her baby was full-term, but stillborn. This is only one case, but a direct link was demonstrated. Dentists has long suspected the possibility of premature births and low birth weight to be correlated with gum disease.

2. A suspected link to cardiovascular disease.

In 2009, the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology acknowledged a strong association between gum disease and heart disease.

This article noted: "those patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis [gum disease] should be informed that they might be at an increased risk of atherosclerotic CVD [cardiovascular disease]. Cardiologists and family physicians should be sensitive to this and refer CVD patients to their dental care providers for a complete periodontal assessment."

3. A suspected link to diabetes.

While more research is needed, we know that poorly controlled diabetics are more likely to have gum disease than well controlled diabetics or non-diabetics. We also know that diabetic patients with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.

So, you see, good oral hygiene, and routing dental checkups and cleanings, can do more for your overall health than you thought!

Reasons to Consider Porcelain Veneers

2010-01-24T15:53:00.001-06:00

Celebrities and others in the public eye have been improving their appearance for years with porcelain veneers, but it may also be a great option for your smile.

What can porcelain veneers do for you?

Cosmetically close gaps between your teeth;
Change the color of your teeth, or cover up discolored teeth;
Change the shape of your teeth;
Create the illusion of better tooth alignment;
Strengthen tooth surfaces that have been weakened by prior cavities and fillings;
Replace missing tooth enamel that has been damaged or is defective; and
In some circumstances, repair broken porcelain on existing crown or bridgework.

At your next appointment, ask if porcelain veneers are right for you!

"Just Take It Out, Doc" - Better Yet, Not So Fast!

2010-01-21T21:11:00.004-06:00

Yes, some teeth cannot be saved, no matter what heroic measures are taken to try and save them.

Other teeth can be saved, but the patient wants them removed because of the immediate tooth pain, or perceived financial pain to save them. In the long run, pulling a tooth that can be fixed is a mistake. Period.

Here are some of the things that can happen when one or more teeth are pulled:

Adjacent teeth or opposing teeth (the ones the extracted tooth once chewed with) will shift;
The bone that once supported the tooth's root will resorb (melt away) reducing the strength of your jaw;
As teeth shift, the remaining teeth will meet at odd angles, increasing the wear to those teeth, and increasing the risk of fracture;
Also, as teeth shift, gaps may appear in areas where the teeth once touched. This allows for more food to be caught between the teeth, and causes the gums be become irritated and inflamed;
If many teeth are lost, and consequently much jaw bone is lost, there is a potential increase of jaw fractures;
If not many teeth remain, the stability and retention of removable dentures decrease;
As teeth are lost, and if they are not replaced, diet and nutrition suffer, as the diet becomes one of soft foods; and
The way your face looks will change - sagging of the skin, skin folds around the mouth and wrinkles increase.

Lost teeth can be replaced with many different restorative options. A patient can have a flipper, a Maryland bridge, a traditional bridge, an implant or a denture depending on the number of teeth that are missing, the overall dental and medical health of the patient, the time available for treatment, and the cost of the treatment.

Thinking About Invisalign?

2010-01-17T14:26:00.021-06:00

More and more patients are asking about whether Invisalign is right for them.
There are many things to like about the treatment method that has, in recent years,

What's to Like?

Patients can continue to brush and floss normally because the traditional orthodontic hardware is not attached to the teeth. This reduces the chances of white spots (weakened enamel) or cavities forming during treatment, not to mention fresher breath;
Patients can continue to eat normally because the Invisalign aligners are easily removed prior to eating. Gone are the embarrassing moments of food caught around your braces;
Adult patients can go to work and social events without feeling like they look like a pimply teenager; and
Patients who had traditional braces in their youth will remember how painful it was when orthodontic wires poked into their lips and cheeks. Not a problem with Inivsalign's aligners!

Please note not all patients are good candidates for Invisalign. Ask your dentist if
Invisalign is a good treatment choice for you!

Amalgam (Silver) Fillings and Composite (White) Fillings

2010-01-16T16:53:00.003-06:00

The tooth to the left has a composite filling and the tooth to the right has an amalgam filling. What is the best restoration for you?

Amalgam restorations are time tested, durable and safe restorations. The American Dental Association, the WHO, and the FDA all have recently released statements and supporting clinical research on the safety of dental amalgam for all non-allergic patients and healthcare workers.

Composites are a newer class of restorations that offer patients esthetics and bonding. This often allows for more conservative tooth reduction during filling placement than for amalgam.

Amalgam fillings are better suited for:

Teeth that take a heavier chewing burden - i.e. premolars and molars;
Teeth that have the need for a large restoration;
Areas in the mouth where moisture control, during the filling process, is hard to achieve. Amalgam is a more forgiving material is areas where the cavity is below the gumline, or near salivary glands; and
Areas in the mouth where esthetics are not critical.

Composite fillings are better suited for:

Teeth that do not carry a heavy chewing burden - i.e. anterior teeth and first bicuspid teeth;
Teeth that will have small to medium restorations;
Areas in the mouth where it is easy to have good moisture control during the filling process; and
Areas in the mouth where esthetics are critical.

Dental Insurance Explained

2010-01-13T21:25:00.001-06:00

Dental insurance can be confusing to everyone. Let's break it down into the basic types of dental insurance.

Traditional Plan:

Can go to any dentist or dental specialist.
Has a fixed yearly deductible.
Has a fixed maximum dollar amount the insurance will pay yearly. Any amount of work beyond this maximum is the responsibility of the patient.
While the insurance has a yearly maximum, any given procedure is paid at a percentage of the actual charge.
Dentist charges full price for dental services.

PPO Plan - In-Network Dentist:

Must go to only an "in-network" dentist or dental specialist. Usually a large number of dentists are eligible in network providers.
Has a fixed yearly deductible.
Has a fixed maximum dollar amount the insurance will pay yearly. Any amount of work beyond this maximum is the responsibility of the patient.
While the insurance has a yearly maximum, any given procedure is paid at a percentage of the actual charge.
Dentist charges contracted prices for dental services covered by the insurance plan, and charges full price for dental services not covered under the plan.

PPO Plan - Out of Network Dentist:

Can go to any dentist or dental specialist.
Has a fixed yearly deductible.
Has a fixed maximum dollar amount the insurance will pay yearly. Any amount of work beyond this maximum is the responsibility of the patient.
While the insurance has a yearly maximum, any given procedure is paid at a percentage of the actual charge. This percentage is often, though not always, slightly lower than that paid to an in-network dentist.
Dentist charges full price for dental services.

DMO or HMO:

Must go to the assigned "in-network" dentist. Only one dental provider is assigned per patient.
To see a specialist, a patient must first obtain a referral from the assigned in-network primary care dentist.
No deductible.
Has no fixed maximum dollar amount the insurance will pay yearly because the insurance does not pay per procedure performed. The patient pays the entire copayment for every dental procedure that is completed. The only payments made to the dentist by the HMO plan are based on a predetermined, fixed, monthly, payment that is based only on the number of patients assigned to the practice by the HMO, and is not in any way related to the actual procedures performed on those patients.
Dentist charges contracted prices (equivalent to the patient copayment) for dental services covered by the insurance plan, and charges full price for dental services not covered under the plan.

Keep Your Child's Teeth Healthy By Keeping Your Own Teeth Healthy

2010-01-11T23:02:00.002-06:00

Childhood dental caries, or "cavities", is an infectious disease. Read that again, and let it sink in. Childhood caries is an infectious disease.

Infections are caused by the transfer of bacteria or viruses from one person to the next . In the case of early childhood caries, the bacteria is passed from the child's caregiver, usually the mother, to the child via sharing of utensils, or kissing on the lips.

The window of infectivity is the first two years of life. If the bacteria is passed from caregiver to child in the first two years of the child's life, the child's chances of getting cavities are dramatically increased.

How does this process happen? The bacteria in the mouth break down food, and in the process, produce acids. These acids break down tooth enamel and the caries process begins. The more sweet foods the child eats, the greater the chance of caries formation. Keep in mind that the frequency of sugar consumption is more harmful than the quantity of sugar consumption.

What can be done?

If you are a child's caregiver, keep your teeth clean and healthy. Fill any existing cavities in your own mouth;
Do not share used utensils with your child;
Do not kiss your child on the lips;
Limit the frequency of sugar consumption for both you and your child;
Take your child to see the dentist between the ages of 6 months to 1 year;
Help your child brush their teeth;
Have the dentist give your child a fluoride treatment every 3-6 months depending on the caries state of your child;
Examine your child's teeth for caries. You will see white spots or brown spots in areas of active tooth decay; and
Use tap water as often as possible in order to increase the fluoride exposure to the teeth.

Help for Your New Year's Resolution to FLOSS MORE!

2010-01-01T17:19:00.000-06:00

We know flossing more will help keep our teeth and gums clean and healthy, our breath fresh, and the general level of inflammation in our bodies lower - all good things! The problem for a lot of people is just getting themselves to do it.

At night, before bed, and after your last meal or snack, is the best time to floss. Having said that, what if your routine is to fall asleep in front of the television and then crawl into bed? Think you will stop and floss on the way to your head hitting the pillow? I think not!

So, for those of you who "lack the time" to floss at night before bed, here are some suggestions for finding extra time in your day to floss:

1. Floss after breakfast or lunch;
2. Floss in the car at traffic stops;
3. Floss at commercial breaks on television;
4. Floss at school or work;
5. Floss at the gym; or
6. Floss while surfing the web.

If these hints result in flossing more than once in a day, your bonus will be a dazzling smile in 2010!

Is There a Difference Between Plaque and Tartar? Absolutely!

2009-12-30T17:46:00.002-06:00

Patients often confuse plaque and tartar buildup in their mouths. What is the difference?

Plaque is:
Soft;
Sticky;
Made up of bacteria and their byproducts;
Made up of Food Debris;
Harmful to the Teeth and Gums; and
Easily Removed with Brushing, Flossing and Rinsing.

Tartar is:
Hard;
Non - sticky;
Porous (bacteria attach to the rough surface easily);
Made up of mineral deposits from saliva;
Harmful to the teeth and gums because of the bacteria it harbors; and
Can only be removed professionally during your checkup and cleaning visits with the dentist.

The good news is that patients can exert a great deal of control on the plaque in their mouths through good home oral hygiene techniques. On the other hand, since tartar is a hard deposit it will continue to build until removed by a dentist or dental hygienist. So, stick with your biannual checkups and cleanings, and you will keep your mouth clean and healthy!

10 Things To Ask Your Dentist

2009-12-28T23:21:00.001-06:00

What I find happens during most dental appointments is the dentist asks most of the questions. Patients reply to their dentist's specific queries, and we go on to begin active treatment. It might be a time crunch on everyone's part that silences further dialog, but here are 10 things I wish my patients would ask me to clarify for them:

1. Tell me what you believe is the best brush/toothpaste/floss/rinse I can use to keep my mouth clean and healthy.
ANSWER: Slight variations in dental products can help you get the best results. The same regimen will not work for everyone.

2. Tell me what you believe are the foods I should minimize in my diet in order to keep tooth decay/gum problems at bay;
ANSWER: All patients know to avoid table sugar and candy. Did you know that many other foods such as dried fruit, granola, popcorn and sugar-free diet soda can harm your teeth and gums as well?

3. Tell me what you believe are some of the most staining foods, and is there a way to reduce their staining effects?
ANSWER: Coffee, tea, darkly colored sodas, darkly colored candy, darkly colored juices, and red wine are very staining. Adding milk to coffee and tea reduces stain, drinking a glass of water shortly after consuming the staining food helps wash it off the teeth to reduce stain, and, of course, brushing shortly after consuming the staining food reduces its staining effect.

4. Tell me what constitutes excessive tooth whitening product use, and what damage I may be doing to my teeth and gums if I do not cut back;
ANSWER: This answer will be different based on the age of the patient, the condition of the patient's teeth and gums, the type of whitening product the patient is using, the concentration of the whitening product being used, the length of time the product is placed on the teeth, and many other factors, so please ask your dentist to provide you with the answer that applies to you. If you are indeed using the products excessively, your teeth may become more sensitive, your tooth enamel may become damaged, and your gums may become irritated.

5. How can tobacco potentially harm my mouth?
ANSWER: Tobacco can come in the form of chewing tobacco, cigars, pipes and cigarettes. All of these products increase your chances of getting oral cancer. Other conditions that can arise may not cancerous, but the gums may have become chronically irritated or inflamed. Both of these conditions may require surgery to correct.

6. How can unprotected sex potentially harm my mouth?
ANSWER: HPV (human papilloma virus) is a sexually transmitted infection that can infect the mouth during unprotected oral sex. HPV is a known risk factor in oral cancer, and oral cancer is on the rise. There are tests available to determine if you are at risk. They are quick, easy, inexpensive and pain free.

7. What are all the available dental materials available to place in my mouth, and is any one better than another?
ANSWER: If we are talking about fillings, the choices are gold alloy, silver amalgam, tooth colored composite filling material and porcelain. Each has potential advantages and disadvantages, and which one is best for you would be determined based on the condition of the tooth being filled.

8. How long can I expect my dental restorations (fillings, crowns, etc.) to last?
ANSWER: Once again, the answer would depend on the size of the restoration, how the patient bites on the tooth, and the oral hygiene habits of the patient. The answer would be different for each patient based on these factors.

9. At what age should my dentist begin regular dental checkups for my child, and how do I care for my child's mouth?
ANSWER: Children should have their first dental visit at the age of one year. Parents need to keep their baby's/toddler's mouth clean until the child can start brushing on his or her own with supervision, and lastly without supervision. Parents need to limit sugar and carbohydrate intake, and maintain adequate fluoride exposure, in order to prevent tooth decay in both the primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth of their child.

10. Is is all genetics or is it mostly what I do on my own that will help me keep my teeth into old age?
ANSWER: While you may inherit the shape and size of your teeth and jaws from your parents, and that may have an effect on brushing and flossing, for the most part, it is what you do in your oral hygiene routine (at home and at the dentist's office) that will determine the health of your mouth.

Dr. Obucina's Office Specials

2009-12-25T16:40:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Keeping Your Pearly Whites White.

2009-12-20T22:45:00.000-06:00

Patients want to know how to keep their teeth whiter than white.

Don't Smoke. It is BAD for your health, and the color of your teeth!

Limit consumption of drinks and foods that stain the teeth - red wine, coffee, tea, colas, dark colored candy, including gum and chocolate, blueberries, cherries, beets, and other items that are rich in color.

If you do drink coffee and tea, add milk or creme to the mix.

If you can, brush or rinse with water, after you consume products that stain.

Brush your teeth twice daily, floss daily and rinse with antibacterial and/or anti-cavity rinses twice daily.

Get your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year, so stains on the teeth can be removed before there is heavy buildup.

Professionally whiten your teeth, under a dentist's supervision, with either in-office or at-home teeth whitening products. Over the counter whitening products work well for touch-ups.

Consider straightening your teeth so brushing is most effective in reaching all tooth surfaces equally. Crooked teeth may harbor areas that are difficult to clean, and easily hold on to stain.

DO NOT use peroxide out of the brown bottle or brush with baking soda. Both methods are too harsh to the teeth and gums, and you can damage your teeth and gums.

"Nothing Hurts, So I Must Be All Right." - WRONG!

2009-12-06T14:26:00.000-06:00

It seems to make sense that when something is wrong with your body, it would hurt. Many times it does.

What does not always make sense, but often is true, is that things may "feel fine", yet there is something seriously wrong. Just think of the person that has a heart attack seemingly out of the blue. It was not just out of the blue. That person's cardiovascular condition was deteriorating for years prior to the attack, but the person never had any pain, and thought they were fine.

When it comes to your mouth, please know:

Not all cavities will cause pain or sensitivity. Some do, others don't.

Just because you have never had a cavity in your life does not mean you do not have one now, and/or never will in the future.

Even stranger, not all abscessed, or "infected", teeth hurt. Reason is, the nerve of the tooth may already be dead. Not a pleasant thought.

Sometimes our bodies will send us a signal that something is wrong by setting our pain receptors in fireworks mode. Other times, our bodies are just on vacation, and no pain signal gets put into our brain's inboxes.

So, stick with your biannual dental checkups and cleanings, along with x-rays as recommended. Even though your pain signals may be "off", your dentist will have a chance to catch things before it is too late.

Why Are Dental X-Rays Important?

2009-11-20T11:06:00.001-06:00

Almost on a daily basis a patient makes the statement, "I do not need x-rays. I'm fine."

I secretly find the statement amusing because, even I, their dentist, cannot make the statement that they are fine, with any certainty, without the diagnostic aid of dental x-rays. Why? I do not have x-ray vision!

Here are just some things a dentist cannot see without the eyes of the dental x-ray:

Tooth decay ("cavities") on surfaces that are not visible to the naked eye. These surfaces include root areas and inbetween the teeth areas. That is more than half of your total tooth structure!
The level of bone supporting the tooth roots. This is a measure of gum health.
Impacted wisdom teeth and/or other impacted teeth.
Tooth infections or abscesses.
Cysts or cancers.
Integrity of existing dental work - fillings, crowns, posts, root canals.

So, as you can see, much of your oral health indicators are hidden from plain sight. Dental x-rays are the ONLY way to obtain this information.

Dental x- rays are a necessary part of your check-up oral evaluations. Please opt to have them taken at appropriate intervals.

What Causes Bad Breath?

2009-11-18T08:31:00.000-06:00

Patients ask me this question all the time: " What Causes Bad Breath?"

The possibilities are:

1. Tooth decay ("cavities") or tooth infections ("abscessed tooth");
2. Gum disease - gingivitis or periodontitis;
3. A diet of spicy foods;
4. Post nasal drip;
5. Acid reflux;
6. Retention of bacteria on the tongue;
6. Retention of bacteria on the tonsils; and/or
7. Certain medications or vitamins - prescription or over the counter.

As you can see, bad breath can have many causes. It may be due to only one factor listed above, or a combination of factors.

Remember a good start is a dental exam and cleaning (or "deep cleaning" depending on your needs).
During this visit, your teeth and gums can be evaluated to find the possible solution for your bad breath concerns.

Bad breath can usually be improved once the possible cause is determined.

In the meantime, keep brushing, flossing and rinsing!

Start the Week Off Right

2009-11-16T08:43:00.000-06:00

Brush, Floss and Rinse!

Brush with a soft brush, twice daily, for two minutes each brushing. Remember that two minutes is the length of a typical radio song. A little longer than it seems when brushing in a hurry as you run out the door in the morning. A manual brush will do well in keeping your teeth clean, but an electric or battery operated brush is better.

Floss once daily, ideally at night, but anytime at all is still beneficial. Remember that the floss should clean under the gumline, not just snap through the tooth contacts.

Rinse with a mouth rinse twice daily - morning and night. You can alternate between an anti-cavity fluoride rinse (good options are the pink/purple Listerine® or ACT®) and an antibacterial antiseptic rinse (Listerine® or Crest ProHealth®). The anti-cavity rinse strengthens the tooth enamel and the antibacterial rinse will help prevent gingivitis. Both are important!

6 month check-ups and cleanings will help catch any areas you may be missing in your daily cleaning routine at home.

Following this routine should help you maintain a healthy vibrant smile!

Blogging for Healthy Teeth

2009-11-15T21:06:00.000-06:00

This will be a site for dental patient education. I will post dental information that patients should know in order to have healthy teeth and gums. Please let me know if you have questions, and I will do my best to answer them.