The mouth is so much more than just the “gateway to the body.” You eat and talk with it, but it’s also a very important source of nonverbal communication. Often, the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them is their smile. The levator anguli oris (also known as the caninus) is one…
News
The Truth About Root Canal Dangers
Root canal treatment – referred to as “endodontic therapy” in dentistry – is one of the safest and most successful dental procedures performed today. According to an article in the European Journal of Dentistry (EJD), this treatment is very predictable, with success rates ranging from 86% to 98%. Even so, many people are frightened by…
What Is Ozone Dentistry & How Does It Work?
Ozone dentistry is not what most people think of when they hear the word “ozone.” After all, ozone is the particular layer of our atmosphere that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. But the ozone molecule also has uses in dentistry. According to a review in The Saudi Journal for Dental Research, the ozone…
What Is a Cephalometric X-Ray?
A cephalometric X-ray — sometimes called a ceph X-ray — is one type of X-ray that is used for both diagnostic and treatment planning purposes in both dentistry and medicine. When used properly for evaluating patients, X-rays are considered safe and are often necessary to determine the cause of certain issues. The National Institutes of…
How Cleidocranial Dysplasia Affects the Teeth
Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), also called cleidocranial dysostosis, is an extremely rare inherited condition caused by genetic mutations. A review in the International Journal of Dentistry estimates that it affects only about one in every 1 million people. CCD has a number of distinctive physical features, as well as implications on dental health. Here’s what you…
Dental Tourism - A Brief Review
I’ve been aware of the practice of “dental tourism” for some time now. In fact, I had a patient many years ago, who while wintering in in Arizona, made the short trip to Mexico to have a crown made – and at a substantially lower fee than mine. Honestly, I thought it was adequate! A…
National Nutrition Month
Apparently March is National Nutrition Month! I know- it seems like there’s a month, week or day for almost everything! But it does give me the opportunity to discuss some dentally relevant nutritional information, namely added sugars and sugary drinks. Obviously I’m not qualified to offer nutritional advice, but being a lifelong sugar addict, I…
6 Ways to Make Your Mouth Extra Kissable for Valentine’s Day
I am happy to share this post from the ADA’s Mouth Healthy website which explains why bad breath may not be your only concern when kissing this Valentine’s Day. From the “Kiss Me” messages on tiny candy hearts to romantic songs on the radio, a kiss is probably on your list this Valentine’s Day. Before…
The use of Silver Diamine Fluoride in halting tooth decay
Last night I was pleasantly surprised to watch a feature on the PBS News Hour broadcast about the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in dentistry. SDF is nothing new to dentistry, having been used for many years in other countries, but is now thankfully making its way into the mainstream of dentistry in the…
The Great American Smoke-Out!
Smoking is one of the worst habits for a person’s health. According to the American Cancer Society, “36.5 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.” Each year November 16th is set aside as the “Great America Smoke-out” in an attempt…
