Maintain a healthy mouth-style
“As dentists we want our patients to achieve a level of our health that is comfortable, functional and maintainable. In the way that exercise and diet contribute to a healthy life-style, brushing and flossing contribute to a healthy mouth-style. And the important point is that you don’t need to go to extremes with your mouth either.”

You may not have the perfect smile and you may miss a day or two of flossing (or more). Do the best you can to keep your mouth as healthy as you can and it will serve you well for a long time. If a beautiful smile is what you are after; go for it! And we will help! General oral health is more important than anything else and as long as you are pain free, infection free and focus on keeping your mouth as healthy as you can; your mouth-style works for you.

Dr. Mike Recommeds

One of the things that is always in the media these days are studies suggesting that diet and exercise are important to maintain a healthy life-style. What many, if not all, of these studies ultimately conclude is that the better you eat and the more regularly you exercise, the healthier you will become and the lower your risk for many medical problems. What these studies do not suggest is that you need to take it to the extreme and start running marathons, doing extreme workouts or not eating any sweets or carbs at all. They suggest a level that is comfortable and maintainable so that it leads to a healthy life-style.

As I was writing the article for this month’s newsletter I was reflecting on how these kinds of studies relate to dentistry and oral health. As I was reflecting I realized that what we do for our patients is to try and encourage a healthy mouth-style (mouth-style is a word I made up myself) in the same manner. We want our patients to achieve a level of oral health that is comfortable, functional and maintainable. In the way that exercise and diet contribute to a healthy life-style, brushing and flossing contribute to a healthy mouth-style. And the important point is that you don’t need to go to extremes with your mouth either.

The study found that the participants who did at least some exercise each week were 37-50% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study also went on to conclude that the people who did not exercise but most closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 32-40% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And finally the study found that the risk of Alzheimer’s disease decreased with more exercise and higher diet adherence. Individuals with the highest score for physical exercise and diet adherence were 67% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease during the study.

It is thought that aerobic exercise slow age-related brain deterioration by increasing blood flow in the brain, reducing inflammation and increasing the levels of certain brain chemicals.

The Mediterranean diet helps the brain by combining several foods and nutrients that may reduce free radical damage and inflammation, which are two factors that contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The diet may also help through its protective effect on the blood vessels. The Mediterranean diet helps protect against obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which are risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

It may be premature to recommend that all of us adopt the Mediterranean diet and thorough exercise programs. However, there is ample evidence that maintaining a health lifestyle with good eating habit and some level of exercise is extremely beneficial in lead a long, health and active life.

A healthy diet may help your brain stay health as well

An article in the globe and mail discussed a study that was recently conduct to evaluate the success of both diet and exercise in warding off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Previous studies have investigated how a heart-health diet such and the Mediterranean diet – rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and olive oil - helps to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

This current study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that this same type of diet can help keep the brain healthy as well. 1188 elderly adults (average age 77), without dementia, were followed in the study. The participants were divided into four exercise groups: no exercise, 1.3 hrs of vigorous exercise/wk, 2.4 hrs of moderate exercise/wk or 4 hrs of light exercise/wk .

Do you know what you are drinking?

A recent study found that orange juice markedly decreased the hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel. “The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away. The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84%”, said one researcher.
Weakened and eroded enamel may speed up tooth wear and increase the risk for decay to quickly develop and spread. Most soft drinks and fruit juices are acid and can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth. You can lessen the erosive effects by drinking or rinsing with water after consuming soft drinks or juices to lower the acid concentration in the mouth. Maintain good oral hygiene and see the dentist regularly.

Dr. Mike Recommends

Whiten your teeth to have that dazzling smile. There is no harm to your teeth. But becarful what you a drinking!!! Recent study at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health conclude that orange juice is very harmful to tooth enamel while whitening is perfectly safe.

Orange juice markedly decreased the hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel. “The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away. The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84%”, said one researcher.

Weakened and eroded enamel may speed up tooth wear and increase the risk for decay to quickly develop and spread. Most soft drinks and fruit juices are acid and can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth.

The study suggested that there is no absolute way to prevent this but the longer the acid is in contact with the teeth the more the erosive effects. Drink or rinse with water after consuming soft drinks or juices to lower the acid concentration in the mouth. Maintain good oral hygiene and see the dentist regularly.

The study found the group that was almost completely sedentary had a much higher risk of death than the other groups when compared to even the group that did just a little bit of exercise. The article quotes one of the researchers as saying “you don’t have to be a triathlete in the way high end of the scale. Just get out of that least-fit group.”

The difference in physical activity between the least-fit group and the second-least-fit group was small – not much more than and extra half-hour of walking per week. It turns out that 30 minutes of exercise each week could add years to your life. Those in the least-fit group were twice as likely to die of heart disease than the second-least-fit-group. The article again, quote one researcher as saying “It’s not like there were a lot more diabetics or a lot more smokers, or anything like that, that may explain higher mortality in the least-fit group – we notice the one difference that stood out for us was the second-least-fit group was more physically active than the least-fit group.”

Participants in the most-fit group were 4 times less likely to die from heart disease than the least fit group. This group exercised roughly twice as much as the least-fit group or 1 hour per week.

To put this in perspective; if you walk for 10 minutes 3 times per week you can cut your risk of dying from heart disease be 50%!!!!

Even as little as 30 minutes of walking each week can extend your life


An August 2009 column in the Globe and Mail has reported on a study from Stanford University in California which concluded that, just a small amount of physical activity – a half hour stroll a week – can reduce the risk of mortality from heart disease by half.

The study suggested that rather than diet or general health status, physical fitness is the strongest predictor of mortality. The 20 year study test almost 4500 participants in their 50s and 60s who had no major health problems and ask them to use a treadmill. Participants asked how much exercise they did and were then placed in five groups from least fit to most fit and then followed for an average of 9 years to see how many of each group died during the course of the study. Deaths that were caused by factors unrelated to physical activity such as cancer or lung disease were excluded.

Dental Decay


Did you know that babies are not born with the bacteria that cause tooth decay. A recent survey showed that only 13% of adults with children under the age of 12 know that they can spread cavities to children – similar to the cold or flu.
Sharing utensils or letting children put their fingers in your mouth can transfer bacteria in saliva, which can cause tooth decay.

Dr. Mike Recommends

The best way to avoid dental decay and stay healthy in general is to remember that too much of anything is not good. Moderate the foods you give your kids and never put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice or milk. When your kids do have a food or treat that is high in sugar or starch, have them rinse after to flush their mouth and dilute the sugar.

Families like to share things and that should not change. If you maintain good oral hygiene practice the number of cavity causing bacteria will be low in everyone and transferring it will not be an issue.

Remember, your kids are watching what you do more than what you say. Try to be a role model maintain a healthy diet. Your kids will watch and do what you do; eventually.

Here are some of the AAPD recommendations to help protect children against tooth decay:
Just like sugar, cooked starches – such as pretzels and pasta – can lead to cavities. More saliva, which washes away starches and sugars, is produced during a meal, so both are safer for teeth if eaten with a meal instead of as a snack.
Utensils, cups, and other objects should be washed thoroughly before you share them with children to avoid passing germs that cause cavities.
Don’t put young children to bed with a bottle of milk formula or juice; in addition try to get older children to drink more water. When kids sip sugared beverages periods, they’re exposed to a higher risk of decay.
Don’t be afraid of chocolate milk. Like white milk, it provides protein, calcium and vitamins. Chocolate milk washes off of teeth just like white milk does – and since children like it, they often drink more.
Most bottled water does not contain fluoride. Since water is the number 1 way to prevent tooth decay, look for a brand that has added fluoride.
Also, think prevention: Tooth decay can start as soon as a tooth appears, so children should see a dentist shortly after their first tooth erupts or before their first birthday.

This month I am going to review much of an article in the Academy of General Dentistry Journal “AGD Impact” as I think it is important information.

Did you know that “such routine practices as sharing utensils, may increase a child’s risk of developing cavities”. The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) conducted a study between Dec 11 and Dec 14, 2008 and found that many parents and caregivers were unaware. Canadians would fair the same.

Most adults with children under age 12 thought a cracker was better than a piece of caramel. Crackers can lead to cavities just as sugars can and caramel will dissolve faster in the mouth than cracker meaning it is not sitting around the teeth as long. The longer a child’s teeth are exposed to food, the more damage is done. The cracker is better for the figure but not for the teeth.

Please keep us up to date with any changes in your health, medications and any changes in the condition or feel of your mouth. Each day we see changes in the oral condition of many or our patients that we did not notice in the past. After investigating noticeable causes such and cavities, broken fillings or cracked teeth we turn our attention to things we can’t see. This often will include changes or new medications, medical treatments, health changes such as altered mobility or tremors. The exact mechanism or cause can be diverse. The point is that, if we are aware of, sometimes even minor changes, we can anticipate and even minimize some of the oral changes that can occur. So I recommend that each time you visit us think about what has changed in your life. Sometimes, even the smallest detail can help. You would be surprised!!

Pregnancy and your oral health.

Gum disease is the most common oral condition associated with being pregnant. As a result, the gums may appear more red and swollen, and they can bleed or become sore.
Some women avoid dental check-ups for fear of harming their baby. In truth, untreated gum infections and decayed teeth can put a mother and her baby at risk. Dental infections may be responsible for as much as 5% of low birth-weight and pre-term babies. It is important for pregnant women to have routine check-ups. Ask your dentist for more information.

Use or oral contraceptives may cause gum tissue changes in some women. Women who use birth control pills may also be more prone to healing problems or dry socket (lack of blood clot formation) after tooth extraction.

During menopause, women may experience oral changes that include pain, a burning sensation in the oral tissue, changes in taste, and dry mouth. After menopause, there is an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, which may increase the chance of tooth loss.

To help maintain healthy teeth and gums women should continue to brush twice daily with a fluoride-containing tooth paste and floss once daily. Have your teeth professionally check and cleaning at least once every 6 months (more frequently where recommended by your dentist). Exercise and a well balanced diet are also important for general health.

During pregnancy, some women develop gingivitis or gum disease. Gum disease is the most common oral condition associated with being pregnant. Some women avoid dental check-ups for fear of harming their baby. In truth, untreated gum infections and decayed teeth can put a mother and her baby at risk. Dental infections may be responsible for as much as 5% of low birth-weight and pre-term babies. As a result, pregnant women need routine check-ups. Some women experience a dry mouth while pregnant. Taking frequent sips of water and chewing sugarless gum or candies can help with this. Women who experience morning sickness need to rinse and brush their teeth more than twice a day to prevent stomach acids from stay in contact with the teeth causing permanent damage to the enamel.

Did you know that changes in hormone levels can affect women’s oral health?

Hormone levels change at 4 main times during a women’s life and include puberty, menstration, pregnancy, and menopause. Changes in oral health can occur during all these times. Oral contraceptives can also have an impact on oral health.

During puberty, hormone fluctuations make the gums more susceptible to gum disease. As a result, the gums may appear more red and swollen, and they can bleed.

During menstration, some women have a tendency to develop canker sores and cold sores and some women even find this becomes a pattern during all menstral cycles.

Did you know that even kids can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is one of the group of conditions called sleep-disordered breathing.

Symptom of OSA in children include snoring, pauses in breathing while asleep, restless sleep, bizarre sleeping positions, unusual chest movements, bedwetting, hyperactivity, stunted growth and disruptive behaviour at school.

In the case of children, mouth-breathing which occurs with OSA, has an especially devastating affect you orthodontic development. If caught early many of the associated altered jaw development and tooth eruption can be corrected.

Dentists are in a great position to evaluate whether a sleep study would be beneficial and to assess your childs jaw development.

If someone in your family, whether it be your child or your spouse, has breathing problems while they are sleeping including snoring or mouth breathing please let us know. Dentists are in a great position to evaluate whether a sleep study would be beneficial.

In the case of children, mouth breathing has an especially devastating affect you orthodontic development. If caught early many of the associated altered jaw development and tooth eruption can be corrected.

In the case of adults an effective way of treating snoring where sleep apnea is mild or moderate is the use of a dental snoring appliance. The appliances are easy to make, comfortable and will allow other family members to sleep better as well.

If you have concerns please let us know. If beneficial we will refer you for a sleep study.

Research has also confirmed that children with enlarged tonsil and adenoids often are found to have an obstructed airway and OSA. In one study 21 of 22 infants were found to have OSA as a result of large tonsils and adenoids. 6 of the 22 infants were diagnosed with failure to thrive.

The consequence of untreated OSA include a strain on the cardiovascular system due to an increase in the blood pressure and fragmented sleep. OSA in children can also result in developmental problems including failure to thrive, attention deficit disorders, behavioural problems, decreased academic performance and heart disease. One study reported that OSA children are more aggressive, have high rates of inattention, are more moody, and have impaired visual perception and working memory.

OSA is easily diagnosed be having a sleep study and can be successfully treated.

Risk factors for development of OSA in children include a family history of snoring or OSA, Down’s syndrome and other medical conditions, mouth breathing and any condition that leads to a narrowing of the upper airway. An important general risk factor is obesity. A recent increase in the rate of childhood obesity has led to an increase in the number or OSA cases in children.
Symptom of OSA in children include snoring, pauses in breathing while asleep, restless sleep, bizarre sleeping positions, unusual chest movements, bedwetting, hyperactivity, stunted growth and disruptive behaviour at school.

How well are you sleeping? A recent artice in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association discusses this common condition.

Obstrutive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition characterized by repeated episodes of airway obstruction for more than 10 seconds during sleep, resulting in pauses in breathing. OSA is the most common of the group of conditions called sleep-disordered breathing and can affect both adults and children.

Recent studies have focused on OSA in children. OSA in children usually appears between the ages of 2 and 7 years. It is more common in boys than girls which is consistent with the tendency in adults for overweight males.

Once intial therapy has been completed and the follow-up assessment performed a maintenace schedule or additional treatment will be arranged.

If the gums healing nicely a normal maintenance schedule is cleaning at 3 month intervals. Research tells us that this is the ideal interval to keep the gum disease causing bacteria at their lowest level which gives you the best chance for success.

If one or several areas are not healing well additonal surgical treatment may be necessay to better clean or rebuild the area(s). In advanced disease cases this is the time where a decision may also be made to remove bad teeth to prevent them from affecting the teeth around them.

The first stage of treatment for severe gum disease or periodontal disease is a very thorough cleaning above and below the gum line and often the use of disinfecting solutions as well.

The gums at this stage are often very tender and sore so the use of local anesthetic is required. Some patients who find they are nervous at the dentist will also request sedation although it is definitely not a requirement. Most patients do quite well with the "numbing" alone.
Most of time half the mouth is done per visit. In exteme cases only the top or bottom teeth on one side will be completed in a visit.

Once local anesthetic is administered the hygienist will perform the gum cleaning. An analgesic such as Tylenol or Advil is give before hand to minimize post operative discomfort which not not usaually very severe.

Due to the nature of the bacteria that cause gum and periodontal disease the entire mouth should be completed within 1 mo or sooner. Healing is allowed to occur for the next 4-6wks and then all the gums are re-evaluated to monitor improvement or the lack there of.

More severe gum disease and periodontal disease require more aggressive treatments. The concern with severe gum disease and periodontal disease are all the possibilities that can happen without treatment and in advanced cases, even after treatment.

Peridonatl disease means the bone around the teeth is being slowly eaten away by the infection. The more bone that is loss the looser the teeth will become. The front teeth can splay and look unattractive, there can be pain on chewing, abscesses can form and teeth can be lost.

In these case the best success is by quick and aggressive treatment. In severe cases, as mentioned prognosis may not be predictable. In some severe cases the decision is made not to attempt treatment and to remove some or all the teeth to avoid put money into a treatment that may not work.

If a decison is made to proceed with treatment of severe gum or periodontal disease here is what it will look like...

A visit to the dentist can be full of a lot of good information especially regarding how to care for your gums. It can be also quite overwheling when you are informed that the health of your gums is not what you thought it was. My first recommendation is don't panic!

Generally speaking gum disease progresses slowly (there are some rare exceptions) so you do have time to digest all the information presented and to decide what to do.

Treatment will depend on the severity of your gum disease as you would expect. Early gum disease often requires very little professional treatment at all and will likely involve getting you back on schedule with your professional hygiene maintenance appointments and instructions for home care. As stated previouly, home care is most ofter the key in theses cases.

By maintaining great oral hygiene you will help keep your teeth and gums health. If you do find that your gums are bleeding or if it has been a while since you have had you teeth and gums checked it would be a good idea to visit your dentist.

Your dentist will check your teeth and gums and let you know what is happening that you may not be able to see. Your dentist will discuss with your the status of your gums and this can range from healthy to mild/moderate gum disease right up to severe periodontal disease when the infection has spread to the bone holding the teeth. Next we will talk about what this all means.

As I eluded to in my last post, flossing your teeth is the most effective method to avoid early gum disease. No matter how often you brush your teeth, it is the cleaing of and eliminating the bacteria between your teeth that realy makes the differece. You need to continue brushing, but brushing alone is most often not enough.

Flossing is tough and a hard habit to get into. My suggestion is to start with your upper front teeth only. They are easy to access and easy to floss. Do this for a week or a month until you feel confident about it. Then add one or two teeth at time as you become comfortable. This allows you to figure out how to manipulate the floss aroud one/two teeth at a time and avoid the frustration that comes if you try to do your whole mouth in the beginning. Before long you will be flossing your whole mouth in approximately one minute.

If you are at home wondering if you may have early gum disease the best test is to pick up some dental floss. Try flossing your teeth. If there is any bleeding especially around your back teeth you likely have early gum disease or even more gum disease. If you are already flossing this test will not work and your gums are likely already quite healthy. If you think you may have gum disease see your dentist as soon as possible to discuss treatment opions.

Treatment can often be very simple and cost effective. Most of the success in treating gum disease come from patients help with their own home care.

Everyday and several times each day adult patients come into dental offices with a condition called early gum disease. Even worse, some patients do not even make it to a dental office. The reason is that early gum disease (and sometimes more severe gum disease) is a little like diabetes or high blood pressure in that you can have for quite a while and not even know it.

There is no pain, no tooth sensitivity and even no bleeding when brushing. So this can go on for years and slowly get worse. Believe it or not this is the first step towards tooth loss if not addressed. If the thought loosing teeth concerns you it is important that you address this condition and be sure it is treated if present.

Your consultation and consent process are complete and you and your dentist have established your treatment goal. Cavities and other disease conditions such as abscessed teeth or gum infections have been treated. You are now ready to begin work on your new smile.

There are many ways to remake a smile as we have discussed previously especially if comprehesive treatment does not fit in your budget. For the sake of argument lets assume that to give your the smile that you have always dreamed about you need to restore your 10 upper front teeth.

Your first appointment will be to shape your teeth so that temporary restorations can be placed tp give you an opportunity to study the size, shape, speech and feel of your new teeth. Once your are happy with the temporary teeth an impression is made of the temporaries so they can be closely duplicted for your permanent restorations.


You will return for fitting and insertion of your permanent restorations which will be tried in place. Everything should look and feel similar to your temporaries and will be placed in your mouth with a strong cement. Your new smile is now complete. You will need to return a short while after to confirm the bite is ideal. Now you can enjoy your new smile!!!

Your consultation visit. This is the time when the entire plan is explained to you in detail. It is important that you understand each part of the treatment and give your consent.

There may be parts of the plan you don't agree with and want altered. To give you the ideal smile somtimes it is necessary to reshape the gums, do some orthodontic alignment or replacing missing may be be accomplished using dental implants. Will you go along with all these treatments.

If you feel parts of the plan are not for you it is important that you understand how the best possible treatment outcome may change (it will not always change, or you may not be concerned about the change).

This is also when scheduling and timing will be reviewed. Once you are happy and ready to go the next step first phase of treatment which is making sure your mouth is healthy.

Okay. So you have decided that it is time to fix you smile. You and your dentist have disussed what you want you new smile to look like. You have an idea of the cost and your are ready to role. You hoping that your new teeth can be completed as soon as possible. You want to know how long it will take and exactly what treatment will be done.

Firstly, each patient is completely different and will require as seperate plan. Some elements can be similar but there are numerous variations.

In general there are a few stages of treatment and they happen in sequence.

Number one is Diagnosis. You will have had a cursory exam to establish some idea at to what is necessary and a cost estimate. Now that you are ready to go a more detail diagnosis is needed. This will include a clinical exam, x-rays, models of your teeth and bites and photos.

Your dentist will study everything and design a detailed treatment plan. Computer imaging may be done to see an estimation of the final result and the final result will be built in wax so it can be seen in 3D and use as a template to form your temporaries.

Next comes the consultation where you are presented with the treatment plan and the necessary consent process is completed....

If your treatment requires modification of the way your teeth fit together it will not be possible to work in one are at a time because by doing so does not allow for bite changes.

If this case what you can to to spread out treatment for cost purposes or scheduling issues is make long term temporary restortions that will include all the necessary teeth. This allows for making the bite fit the way it needs to for success as well as giving you a very good cosmetic outcome.

Once this is complete time is on your side. You can now do the remaining treatment at a pace that is comfortable for you. Treatment will involve replacing sections of your temporary with permanent restorations until you eventually are finished.

Many patients choose this options and are very happy through the entire process.

Once you have established your budget and dealt with scheduling concerns you are ready to go. Here's what you can do.

You can do some of the treatment toward you goal. For example, it may be possible to do your front teeth first if that is you main concern. Or if you are missing teeth in a particular area you can start there.

In some cases where set-up work needs to be done prior to restorative work, such a orthodontic treatment or gum procedures; you can start with these and do the restortive treatment later.

In some very complex cases where the way the upper and lower teeth fit together has to be altered it is not possible to work in different areas at a time. The approach will vary but it is still possilble to phase in the treatment...

Please don't make the mistake of thinking that treatments like this are all or none. The best approach to take is to be honest with your dentist as to what you can manage both financially and time wise. Your dentist can then be upfront with you about what they will be able to achieve and what the limitations may be cosmetically and functionally. You need to work as a team with your dentist. Your dentist needs complete trust in your committment and you need to trust you dentist. Trust your dentist to give you the best result possible at a fair fee. If you don't have complete trust in your dentist think about finding someone you do trust; or maybe it is just that you are not ready for this type if treatment.

Once you have an idea of what the cost may be now you have to decide if it will work for you. There may be part of the idea treatment that you do not agree with or are not willing to accept. And then there is the cost. Can you afford that amount of money right now. Will the treatment time fit into you schedule. Do you have things going on in your life that make this not the opportue time financially, emotionally, scheduling or any other reason that may come before dentistry.

If so, there is nothing wrong with delaying treatment until the time is right for you. In fact, without your complete committment to the treatment, it is hard for you and the dental team to make things work the way they should. So wait!!

What are your options if you can't proceed with the ideal right now?

So now you have decided that you are ready to think about getting that beautiful smile that you have always wanted. How do you decide what that should be? You and your dentist need to start by having conversation about where you are starting from and where you want to get to. Bring pictures from when you were younger. Look in the mirror and point out to your dentist exacly what you don't like. This will give your dentist a good idea of what you are looking for. From there it is possible to estimate what a similar treatment fee as been as an estimate. Keep in mind that each case has its limitations so sometimes perfect is not possible but great improvements always are.

Sometimes this can be quite expensive as there is a lot involved that you really do not get see or appreciate. As dentists we are trained to give you the best treatment possible and to give you the result you are looking for that will be long lasting and healthy.

This ideal treatment is great if it works for you and we will discuss what it may look like but what if the ideal is not possible for you?

If you have been unhappy with the way you teeth look for quite some time or you are starting to notice changes you don't like then it may be time to think about doing some treatment.

Why do I say think about doing some treatment? Beacause treating tooth wear or teeth that are chipped, cracked and mis-aligned can be very complex and it can be time intensive and expensive. The are often ways to spread out the cost of treatment by deciding what the end result needs to be and then moving ahead in phases. A rough idea of treatment cost can be given based on similar treatments for other patients. Before you can do this though, you need to decide what it is that you are after.

There are a number of treatment approaches to dealing with worn teeth and they go from simple to complex.

The simplest, by far, is to wear a "grinding appliance" while sleeping. You may not be aware of it but this is when the most significant grinding occurs. Other examples when this occurs are during intense periods of concentration, driving in heavy traffic and weight lifting. It is during these periods that the subconscious takes over (just like breathing; you don't have to think about it) and a tremendours amount of pressure is placed on the teeth. Sometimes up to 1000psi.

This treatment approach assumes that the overall cosmetic appearance is acceptable or that it is not the right time for you to have more extensive treatment.

One thing that can be done prior to a grinding appliance is some minor reshaping of the teeth if wear is not to severe. This is quite inexpensive and can make a big improvement in appearance.

More complex treatments next...

Dr. Mike

Did you know that changes in hormone levels can affect women’s oral health?

Hormone levels change at 4 main times during a women’s life and include puberty, menstration, pregnancy, and menopause. Changes in oral health can occur during all these times. Oral contraceptives can also have an impact on oral health.

During puberty, hormone fluctuations make the gums more susceptible to gum disease. As a result, the gums may appear more red and swollen, and they can bleed.

During menstration, some women have a tendency to develop canker sores and cold sores and some women even find this becomes a pattern during all menstral cycles.

Another reason why the teeth may look shorter and have that aged appearance is due wear of the teeth. The incisal edges are worn flat and covered more by the upper lip. There are a number of ways to deal with this but the best by far is to prevent the wear from occuring to such an extent.

Improving the position of the upper lip is tough (medical procedure are available) but dentistry can do an awful lot to make aged teeth look younger.

We will dicuss treatment approaches next...

Don't see as much of your Upper front Teeth?

Have you noticed lately that when you smile that you don’t see as much of your upper front teeth as when you were younger or that the edges of your teeth are worn or chipped? Have you wondered why this happens when your teeth looked great in the past? One reason for showing less upper teeth when smiling is aging. The other is the deterioration of the teeth due to wear.

Between the ages of 30 yrs and 70 yrs the muscles of the upper and lower lips become more lax. So what we see is that a 30 year old will show a lot of upper incisor teeth measured in a relaxed position or when speaking; and no lower teeth. A 70 years old will show minimal or no upper teeth and a lot or lower incisor teeth. The change amounts on average to approximately 1 mm per decade between 30 and 70 years. What is lost in appearance by the upper teeth is gained by the lower teeth. A 30 year old female will show roughly 4mm of upper teeth in a relaxed position and the same female will show 4mm of lower incisor teeth at 70 years.

Stay tuned for the solutions...