Periodontitis is one of the largest problems in dental hygiene in the U.S. it ranks second only to cavities. The American Academy of Periodontology have data that states that in the U.S, 30-55 percent of adults are affected by Periodontitis in a mild to moderate form. The percentage of the less fortunate people who suffer from a more severe stage of Periodontitis is 5 to 20 percent of the population.

Healthy human tissues regenerate themselves over a period of time.In Peridontitis, however, the rate of loss of the bone material is much faster than the rate of its regeneration. Though scientists have come to understand how bone material is lost, they have not yet found out a clear reason why new bone formation could be impaired.

What causes Periodontitis?

According to a new paper by UCLA researchers, it is suggested that a master protein may control the impairment of bone formation in the serious gum disease called Periodontitis.

In another paper published in the online edition of the journal Nature Medicine, researchers have again suggested that a master protein is involved heavily in the process of degeneration of the jawbone structure. They have identified a protein called nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB). They say it is this protein that is responsible for inhibiting regeneration of the bone material. Arresting the function of this master protein, called nuclear factor-kB, will help in maintaining the bone formation.

This NF-kB protein was recognized to play a part in cells that are responsible for resorbing bone. This is what could lead to loss of bone, or impairment of regeneration of bone material.

Research and development in treating Periodontitis.

Research and development in arresting degeneration of the jawbone and finding effective treatment for periodontitis is ongoing in order to improve oral hygiene and health. The UCLA researchers have used a different approach in their study of the NF-kB protein.

They have turned around their focus from the role of the NF-kB protein in cells that results in reabsorbing the bone and have chosen to look at the role it plays and its effects in inhibiting cells that are responsible in forming bone instead. They hope this will lead to better understanding of the dreadful disease and thus a better treatment of the disease eventually resulting in better oral health.

Just like other forms of body decoration, they decorated their teeth by carving notches, grooves and even put in semi precious stones that added to the brilliance of their smiles! It seems that elephant tusks are not the only teeth to be embellished in this manner, human teeth were decorated too. This is especially true of Mayans, who as we now know, were very advanced in their knowledge and wisdom. In fact their calendars are still used as reference in modern times.

Archaeology and Anthropology substantiate facts.

These interesting historical facts are brought to light by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. They have a collection of ancient skulls that date back to the Mayan times.

It is clear from this that the need or want for beauty has existed since time immemorial. Among some teeth found in those collections at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, scientists cannot really pinpoint the origins of some teeth that belonged to people living in a region labeled “Mesoamerica”, which existed in the sixteenth century before the historical invasions of the Spanish.
José Concepción Jiménez, an anthropologist at the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology, further adds that these teeth decorations had nothing to do with social class or a system of hierarchy that the natives belonged to. This is backed by the fact that the Red Queen, (royals in those days) a Maya mummy that was discovered in a temple at Palenque in what is now Mexico didn’t have teeth decorations.

Teeth beautification was commonly used by all purely for enhancing the beauty of their teeth, just as body tattoos were. More interestingly, men were more inclined to decorate their teeth than were women. Another discovery of a skull of a person, who had a ceremonial denture, is further evidence that dentistry existed in ancient times.

Knowledge, skill and materials used by dentist in ancient times.

Dentists were highly knowledgeable even in ancient times. This is highlighted by the fact that to drill into the teeth, they used hard stone for example obsidian, which is strong and hard and can puncture bones. Drilling and any form of cosmetic or restorative dental work can be painful, and the possibility of using herbs to kill any pain, before and after the procedure, cannot be ruled out.

The fact the dentistry was really advanced in those times is proven by the evidence that those dentists had the skill and technology to drill into the teeth without touching the delicate pulp in the tooth, it seems like they did know the importance of avoiding that and knew the damage caused by infection could result in loss of the tooth or teeth.

According to Jiménez, to bond semi precious stones like jade, to the teeth, they used a paste made of natural resins, such as plant sap, which was mixed with other natural chemicals and crushed bones. This was certainly long lasting, as the semi precious stones are still in place after hundreds of years!

The latest development by Scientists at the University of Michigan, for regenerating gum tissue is a technique that uses gene delivery. This method of gene delivery looks safe and does not seem to pose any hazards for regenerating gum tissue that supports teeth. According to William Giannobile, a professor at the U-M School of Dentistry, there still remain many issues that revolve around concern for safety of the patient undergoing gene therapy, though this form of therapy is accepted widely as a method of treatment and healing.

This concern for safety was highlighted in the early stages of its development a number of years ago, when a teenager undergoing gene therapy died after the administration of adenovirus during a gene therapy clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania.

Gene therapy versus U-M therapy

When he compared gene therapy to U-M therapy, Professor Giannobile said that both therapies use adenovirus but in U-M therapy, the dosage is much lower and treatment is in the form of a local application, quite like a paste which is applied directly on the tissue during surgery; as opposed to gene therapy where the genes are injected directly in the blood vessels which allows adenovirus to travel in the blood stream and this may at times result in unexpected developments which can sometimes be fatal. The U-M method is more of a topical method where the adenovirus is controlled in the localised area and is not allowed to spread throughout the body. This approach lessens concerns of saftey and about negative reactions that may occur within the body.

Professor Giannobile, who has an appointment at the U-M College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and also directs the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research, explained that the teenager died, as the adenovirus got into his bloodstream and he reacted adversely to it. It was tragic.

He said that in the first study of periodontal disease therapy, it was demonstrated the that distribution of these genes was very safe. He also said that it could be used in the clinic for clinical application. He said that their study does not address all the safety concerns, but that safety was surely a very important concern to the field. (The success of using this treatment will surely depend on its safety factor.) The U-M method of treatment shows great potential in clinical treatment of Periodontal disease and diabetic wounds. He pointed out that that this could be due to the fact that both these diseases are a result of a “defective healing environment.”

In their ongoing research, Scientists in Canada and China have developed an enduring material using human bile acids. They hope that this material can be used to fill dental cavities. Bile acids, as we learnt in school, are body substances that the liver produces in order to help in the digestion of fats. Bile acids produced by the liver are stored in the gallbladder.

The description of the process in which these researchers collected human bile acids and proceeded to convert these acids into sturdy, tough, durable plastic kind of material that is hard and resistant to cracking, has appeared in an article in ACS (Applied Materials & Interfaces). This article also states that the newly developed material using human bile acids is much better at resisting cracking than the other materials that are currently in use.

The team of scientists working on this development are at the department of chemistry in the Shanxi University in China. They are led by Julian Zhu. They stated that this new material certainly seems stronger and longer lasting. They added that this material with its capacity to resist cracking, will certainly reduce the number of emergency visits to the dentist that could result due to cracked fillings which are rather painful.

There are many options available for you to choose from, in order to reduce your dentist bills. They are described in brief herein. Do read each option carefully and decide which one will work best for you.

• 1. Dental insurance – this is an insurance plan that you subscribe to, or pay a premium for, in order to recover any dental health expenses. It works quite like medical insurance, where the amount that will be reimbursed to you will be decided depending on the plan you have chosen and the amount of premium you choose to pay.

  There are many packages that various companies offer- family coverage, individual coverage etc. If you choose your insurance provider carefully, you can save up to $2000/- annually on dentist’s bills. Isn’t that a substantial amount to add to your savings?

  Additionally, if your company or your employer offers dental care benefits, then you would be very fortunate. Dental insurance benefits the company as well as the employees.

• 2. Dental tourism: this is an upcoming trend like medical tourism. As it is a well known fact that dental treatment is very expensive in the United States and in Europe and Australia, many people are choosing to travel to Asian countries to get their oral hygiene and dental care requirements met. There are many benefits to this, one is that you get to travel and see new places and simultaneously get your teeth taken care of.

  Secondly the cost of traveling and dental bills still works out to be economical as compared to getting your dental care in the USA or Europe or Australia. Plus there is the added advantage of getting excellent qualified experts at more economical rates in Asian counties. These dentists have international acclaim. If you opt for dental tourism, you can save up to $300 on a dental filling and almost $2500/- for a root canal treatment.

• 3. Free dental care options: this is a little bit of a misnomer because though they are labelled free, these dental treatment options do cost you some money, but the amount is very less and thus very economical, and so practical that it looks like it is free. This also may be a charity organization where only the low income group people or people with HIV or some other disease are treated; or payment could be requested inform of a donation.
• 4. Sleep dentistry: this is a roundabout way of saving costs. The treatment method used is such that the patient is sedated during the treatment and so feels no pain before, during and after the dental treatment procedure. Thus they end up saving themselves the cost of painkillers and lost time at work due to painful dental procedures.
• 5. Dental plans that offer discounts: there are easy to use options as compared to dental insurance plans. Using these discount plans, you can save from 20% to 60% on most dental treatments, be they restorative or cosmetic.

  If you register for a discount dental plan, you will gain access to a whole network of dental care experts, who may even offer you cosmetic or other types of treatments at discounted rates. With this kind of an option, you start saving your money almost immediately.
  So choose your options and begin saving right away!


]]> http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/5-tips-save-dental-costs/feed/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-discount-plans-insurance-plans-option/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-discount-plans-insurance-plans-option/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:57:41 +0000 admin http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/?p=790 In recent years, an increasing trend towards the use of dental discount plans in place of insurance plans is starting to emerge.

Many people can be seen to switch to dental discount plans simply due to its attractiveness as a cheaper option in the context of the rising insurance costs, and the misconception that dental discount plans provide the same benefits of insurance. An informed decision for the switch is not as prevalent as it should be.

Medical Discount plans : A clarification

Even though a significant number of people now opt for dental discount plans instead of insurance, not many are aware of what exactly a discount plan entails.

A discount plan is a scheme that offers lower discounted prices for services obtained from providers that are members of the plan. This service is provided for a monthly fee. The discount levels can vary from widely from service to service, and from provider to provider.

Dental Discount plans : The advantages

Even with work place options, many people are finding it more and more difficult to afford the monthly insurance premiums. In such cases, there is a higher tendency to drop the dental insurance benefits rather than any other, as dental health is generally not considered a priority.

Unlike insurance, however, with a dental discount plan

• there are fewer limits/ restrictions on the age, number of visits and the services available
• pre-existing conditions are covered
• there is more flexibility to change providers

Companies can offer or provide information about the discount plans to their employees without incurring any additional costs.

For such persons, a discount plan provides a much awaited low cost solution. Reputed companies have extensive networks of providers that that offer considerable discounts. They also offer package deals/ offers for the whole family to further ease the cost burden.

Dental Discount plans : The disadvantages

It should be kept in mind that a discount plan is, however, not insurance.

Therefore, with such a plan the medical bills still need to be paid by the patient. This may cause unnecessary hassle when requiring an urgent visit to the hospital.

Due to discount plans being a novel concept, there is a high prevalence of dishonest providers in the market as well. A person proposing to switch to a discount plan needs to be doubly cautious when selecting such a plan.

Misleading terms in advertisements such as “coverage” and “long term care” should be closely investigated to ensure their validity. A patient who is under the impression that such terms offer insurance will be greatly inconvenienced when the time arrives to pay for large medical bills.

Dental Discount plans : Yes or No

As can be seen discount plans have their benefits and risks.
The decision to use a dental discount plan instead of insurance is solely at the discretion of the patient depending on the value he expects for his money spent.

If a person is considering making the switch, what is most important is that a thorough understanding is obtained beforehand of how the plan works and the exact benefits and costs involved of that particular plan.


]]> http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-discount-plans-insurance-plans-option/feed/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-care-prevent-heart-attacks/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-care-prevent-heart-attacks/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:54:48 +0000 admin http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/?p=788 How can teeth, a part of the body so relatively insignificant, that it can even be pulled out almost at will, have an effect on one of the most important and almost irreplaceable body parts - the heart?

For decades, most scientists and reflexology practitioners have argued how each part of your body is connected to others, and how proper treatment of some of the most unnoticed body parts can have huge benefits on the most invaluable ones. Being one of the most complex systems in the world it is invariable that there are little known links within the body.

This is true when it comes to teeth as well. Professor Howard Jenkinson of the Bristol University, along with the Royal College of Surgeons, has identified the link between poor dental health and heart disease through their studies.

The risks of poor dental care

The mouth has almost 700 different types of bacteria living in it. Some bacteria are the harmful kind. But, there are harmless bacteria as well. These bacteria help in breaking down food particles. Every time you eat, drink or even open your mouth the numbers of bacteria in your mouth increase. Through regular brushing and proper dental care the bacteria are kept under control.

However, improper dental care can result in gum infections, gingivitis and similar oral diseases. This causes the harmful bacteria to enter the blood stream. Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are some of the bacteria causing oral infections. Such bacteria have been identified to be factors resulting in heart disease.


How to prevent heart disease

It has been the case that certain antibiotics do not seem to work against heart disease. It is possible that oral bacteria could be the reason. Professor Jenkinson and Dr Steve Kerringan are working to find a solution to this. Until such time, prevention of oral diseases and maintaining proper dental hygiene and care is the best possible method in protecting yourself.

Regular brushing, especially after meals, is the main method of keeping mouth disease at bay. Protection can be further enhanced by the use of dental care products such as anti-bacterial sprays and mouthwash. This will help to prevent against oral bacterial diseases. In turn, this would also protect against one of the causes of heart attacks.


]]> http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/dental-care-prevent-heart-attacks/feed/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/simple-home-remedies-achieve-perfect-smile/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/simple-home-remedies-achieve-perfect-smile/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:50:11 +0000 admin http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/?p=786 What does it take to achieve a smile that everyone envies? The most effective way is to have attractive and perfect teeth.

When asked of how they would want to achieve the perfect smile, most people would come up with the instant, quick fix remedies such as teeth whitening scrubs or gel or even cosmetic dental work.
These methods may be quick and even effective, but why pay for an expensive treatment or use products that may do more harm than good by stripping away the protective layer of teeth enamel.
There are plenty of ways at home that can be used to maintain a healthy smile. All that is needed is a little additional time spent on taking care of your teeth.

Method 01 : Regular brushing

The outermost layer protecting your teeth is known as the enamel. The layer immediately below is known as the dentine.

Food gets accumulated between gaps and crevices in the teeth if you do not brush the teeth after every meal. If the teeth are not cleaned properly, the food particles that are retained in those gaps and crevices get converted to lactic acid. The acid attacks the enamel and dentine causing decay and tooth cavities.

Therefore it is advisable to brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, if not after every meal to ensure an attractive smile.

Method 02 : Gum massage

Teeth plaque generally collects along the gum line. This area generally gets missed out when brushing teeth. Massaging the gums will help remove the plaque around this area. It will also increase blood circulation to gums, keeping them healthy.

Method 03 : Use of a tongue cleaner

The tongue is a haven for most of the oral bacteria. Using a tongue cleaner will ensure proper and thorough cleaning of the accumulated bacteria, food particles and dead cells. This will also ensure fresh breath.

Method 04 : Use the correct toothbrush

The correct type of toothbrush is an essential consideration especially when you’re using that brush on your teeth at least twice a day.

Toothbrushes with soft bristles are advisable to prevent scratching and damage of the gums. These toothbrushes will remove food particles whilst ensuring the gums are not damaged. Too hard bristles will cause gum bleeding and may result in oral infections.

M-shaped bristles are also ideal to ensure the bristles reach all tooth crevices. The M-shape ensures that the shape of the teeth is taken in to consideration to allow the bristles to reach all the gaps and remove the food particles collected.

Method 05 : Proper diet

Teeth consist mainly of calcium and phosphorous. A diet inclusive of these elements will ensure hardness of teeth and proper development of new teeth in children.

Raw food is also important as they provide friction to keep gums firm and remove plaque. This in turn prevents decay. These raw foods are known as detergent foods.

The following food products are also invaluable in obtaining the perfect teeth:

• Millet and sesame seeds – Source of calcium
• Sunflower seeds – source of vitamin A, fluoride, phosphorus and calcium. Prevents gum bleeding
• Food containing chlorophyll (a green pigment), such as parsley, turnip, beet and radishes and Neem sticks – contributed towards maintaining healthy teeth
• Rose water, spirit and peppermint mixed with water – can be used as a refreshing mouthwash.

]]> http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/simple-home-remedies-achieve-perfect-smile/feed/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/treatment-malocclusion-teeth/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/treatment-malocclusion-teeth/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:15:57 +0000 admin http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/?p=783 Malocclusion is more commonly known as crowded teeth, cross bite, overbite, under bite, or open bite. It is simply the misalignment of teeth. It is a common problem seen in most people at least to some degree.

How to identify Malocclusion

Even though most people do not have perfect alignment of their teeth, for some, the misalignment causes other more noticeable problems. A dentist should be consulted if any of the following symptoms occur together with poor alignment of teeth, in order to effect a proper diagnosis and treatment of Malocclusion.

• pain arising from pressure to the jaw
• problems in speech and ability to eat
• breathing through the mouth
• difficulty in keeping the lips closed

Types of Malocclusion

In 1899, Edward Angel identified three different categories of Malocclusion:

• Class I Malocclusion : This is the more widespread type of Malocclusion. In this type, the first molars are normal. However the other teeth are affected by problems in spacing, crowding, and over/ under eruption.
• Class II Malocclusion : In this type of Malocclusion the upper molars significantly overlap the bottom teeth.
• Class III Malocclusion : This is the inverse of class II where the lower jaw protrudes more than the upper, causing the bottom front teeth to overlap the upper ones

Causes of Malocclusion

Malocclusion can either be inherited from parents or acquired through bad habits:

Inherited Malocclusion : This is mostly the case. This type of Malocclusion is evident in there being less or more teeth, or space between the teeth, than appropriate. It is caused by irregular jaw size or shape or by unusual formations like cleft palates.

Acquired Malocclusion : A major cause of acquired Malocclusion is bad habits. The bad habits that children mostly succumb to, such as thumb/ finger sucking or tongue thrusting, are causes of Malocclusion. As such, monitoring of such bad habits by the parents and controlling the same can easily prevent this type of Malocclusion occurring.

Treatment of Malocclusion

• Use of Braces

Malocclusion is commonly treated by using dental braces. The constant and gently pressure provided by braces will enable teeth straightening and help push teeth back to their correct position.
Braces consist of brackets that are fixed to the teeth, and wires that connect the brackets. Since the braces cannot be removed, extra attention should be paid in keeping the teeth clean and getting rid of food particles that are likely to get stuck in the braces.

• Removal of teeth

This will help in instances of overcrowding, where it would make room for the other teeth to move to the correct position.

• Reshaping, and bonding or capping teeth

This will treat rough or irregular teeth removing resistance in forming a proper bite.

• Surgery

Requirement of surgery is rare. Surgery can be used to reshape the jaw or to stabilize the jaw bone through wires, plates or screws where required.

Malocclusion can be treated in the majority of cases. Consulting a dentist early when Malocclusion is suspected can ensure the proper and effective treatment which would help in maintaining proper dental health.


]]> http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/treatment-malocclusion-teeth/feed/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/photodynamic-bleaching-removing-tooth-stains/ http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/photodynamic-bleaching-removing-tooth-stains/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:43:43 +0000 admin http://www.dentalhealthsite.com/?p=779 Photodynamic bleaching is the new type of treatment proven to be successful in the removal of tough stains from teeth. Stains caused by tetracycline are rigid making it very difficult to remove by laser or conventional treatment. This is where photodynamic bleaching comes handy.

In photodynamic bleaching a whitening gel is applied on the stained tooth. This tooth is then kept under the laser light for just two minutes for it to start acting on the tooth. A study conducted on a small group showed that this process is very successful, showing an 80 percent improvement.

Lasers can, to some extent, remove stains caused by coffee or food but not tetracycline. Tetracycline causes dark stains on teeth affecting the enamel. This drug should be avoided especially if pregnant and is not prescribed to children as their teeth are still developing. Earlier dentists used to cover the tetracycline affected tooth with veneer which had the same color as the normal tooth.


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