Wednesday, November 17, 2010
New Dental Software to Serve You Better!
To serve you better, my office staff and I have transitioned into using the new dental software, Dentrix! This new program will not only help my team and I to be more organized and productive, but it will help us to serve you more efficiently. From scheduling and appointment reminders to helping you understand your treatment options and optimal plan, this software has it all! This program will enable us to show you your mouth virtually, and display educational videos on the treatments you require or have questions about. We are convinced this new technology will add to the level of service we provide.
'Longevity Now' Seminar
I recently participated in the 'Longevity Now' online seminar put on by Nutritionist and Best-selling Author, David Wolfe. I am really excited to apply the knowledge and remedies to my own life and into my dental practice! The seminar focused on strengthening the immune system, detoxification, living longer and feeling younger! Some of the key factors revealed in the seminar to attaining the above goals included eating raw foods, Vitamin D and medicinal mushrooms. I was so thrilled to learn about the health benefits of the medicinal mushroom supplements that I will be carrying them in my office. The mushroom supplements and the 'Longevity Now' DVD will be available to my patients interested in learning more. I am looking forward to experiencing these new techniques to promote overall health and wellness! I would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Les Berenson for referring me to this helpful information.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Why do I need my crown replaced?
Several of my new patients have come into our practice recently, and many of them have asked me this very common question, 'I thought crowns lasted forever; why do I need my crown replaced?' In each of these new patients I had found decay under their crowns, some mild and some so deep the tooth could not be saved. This prompted me to write an article to explain this common misconception.
A crown is the last restorative step a dentist can take before the tooth is lost. A crown can either be a partial or a full, meaning it fits over part of the tooth or all of it. A crown can restore the tooth for many years. How long a crown last depends on the quality of the dentist's technique and how well the patient takes care of the tooth.
Where the crown meets the tooth is very vulnerable. This is where decay can get it. The crown itself never decays but the tooth can, especially in the seam or margin. There are many reasons this can happen. For instance, sometimes crowns don't really fit well to begin with. The lab could have made an error while making the crown, or the cement may have not sealed well because of moisture contamination.
There are steps that you and your dentist can take to be sure you have a quality crown:
1. The patient should have healthy gums before the crown is made so the impression is accurate.
2. Dentists should check the impression carefully. Even the smallest bubble means the impression should be redone. If the impression isn't perfect then the lab can't make a quality crown. Over the years I have talked to many dental labs; their estimate is 50% of the impressions are inadequate.
3. The dentist should work under high power magnification to insure a clear margin, or edge, for the dental lab.
4. While the patient is wearing the temporary, excellent home care is essential. The patient needs to keep the tooth and gums very clean.
5. The dentist should clean and disinfect the tooth before seating the crown.
6. The dentist should carefully check the fit of the crown before cementing.
7. The dentist should us a water insoluble cement. 70% of dental cements are water soluble and their failure rate is higher.
8. It is important that the bite is correct. An error of a few degrees can cause problems. The dentist should carefully evaluate the bite on all crowns. However, after the seating of the crown the patient is usually numb. If the bite doesn't feel right after the patient returns home the patient should always come back for an adjustment. Patients that ignore that their bite is off can cause real problems to their dental health.
9. The dentist should take a final x-ray to verify the fit is excellent.
10. The patient then should schedule a follow up continuing care appointment.
11. If the patient feels that their floss is catching on an edge around the crown or the floss shreds, the patient should make a follow up appointment and the crown should be reevaluated by the dentist. This could be a sign of problems with the crown.
12. The patient should eat a diet low in refined sugars. This is important for the dental and overall health of the patient.
If a patient needs a crown, I would assume that the patient has or has had a high risk of dental decay. In this case, follow up appointments are extremely important. If something starts to go wrong we want to be able to catch it early. Regular cleanings as well as brushing and flossing at home are also very important for the health of all your teeth including your crowns.
Most patients choose to have porcelain crowns. These crowns are beautiful and natural in appearance and are kind to the dental tissues. The disadvantage is a small percent of porcelain crowns do break or fracture. This should be taken into consideration when getting a new crown.
To sum up, crowns usually need to replaced at some point, but the patient can do a lot to preserve the health and longevity of their crowns. First, choose a dentist that abides by all of the guidelines stated above. Second, take responsibility for your dental health. Have regular cleanings, excellent home care and diet, and follow up on any and all concerns related to your crown.
A crown is the last restorative step a dentist can take before the tooth is lost. A crown can either be a partial or a full, meaning it fits over part of the tooth or all of it. A crown can restore the tooth for many years. How long a crown last depends on the quality of the dentist's technique and how well the patient takes care of the tooth.
Where the crown meets the tooth is very vulnerable. This is where decay can get it. The crown itself never decays but the tooth can, especially in the seam or margin. There are many reasons this can happen. For instance, sometimes crowns don't really fit well to begin with. The lab could have made an error while making the crown, or the cement may have not sealed well because of moisture contamination.
There are steps that you and your dentist can take to be sure you have a quality crown:
1. The patient should have healthy gums before the crown is made so the impression is accurate.
2. Dentists should check the impression carefully. Even the smallest bubble means the impression should be redone. If the impression isn't perfect then the lab can't make a quality crown. Over the years I have talked to many dental labs; their estimate is 50% of the impressions are inadequate.
3. The dentist should work under high power magnification to insure a clear margin, or edge, for the dental lab.
4. While the patient is wearing the temporary, excellent home care is essential. The patient needs to keep the tooth and gums very clean.
5. The dentist should clean and disinfect the tooth before seating the crown.
6. The dentist should carefully check the fit of the crown before cementing.
7. The dentist should us a water insoluble cement. 70% of dental cements are water soluble and their failure rate is higher.
8. It is important that the bite is correct. An error of a few degrees can cause problems. The dentist should carefully evaluate the bite on all crowns. However, after the seating of the crown the patient is usually numb. If the bite doesn't feel right after the patient returns home the patient should always come back for an adjustment. Patients that ignore that their bite is off can cause real problems to their dental health.
9. The dentist should take a final x-ray to verify the fit is excellent.
10. The patient then should schedule a follow up continuing care appointment.
11. If the patient feels that their floss is catching on an edge around the crown or the floss shreds, the patient should make a follow up appointment and the crown should be reevaluated by the dentist. This could be a sign of problems with the crown.
12. The patient should eat a diet low in refined sugars. This is important for the dental and overall health of the patient.
If a patient needs a crown, I would assume that the patient has or has had a high risk of dental decay. In this case, follow up appointments are extremely important. If something starts to go wrong we want to be able to catch it early. Regular cleanings as well as brushing and flossing at home are also very important for the health of all your teeth including your crowns.
Most patients choose to have porcelain crowns. These crowns are beautiful and natural in appearance and are kind to the dental tissues. The disadvantage is a small percent of porcelain crowns do break or fracture. This should be taken into consideration when getting a new crown.
To sum up, crowns usually need to replaced at some point, but the patient can do a lot to preserve the health and longevity of their crowns. First, choose a dentist that abides by all of the guidelines stated above. Second, take responsibility for your dental health. Have regular cleanings, excellent home care and diet, and follow up on any and all concerns related to your crown.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Natural Story Teller
Ever since he was little, my son James has always loved to have stories told to him. Recently he needed to have some dental treatment so our newest team member, Katlyn, stayed late to assist me in doing his treatment. My son asked Katlyn to tell him a story to distract him during his procedure and she happily complied. Wow! For the full hour she told him a great story that kept his mind occupied during his care. The story started and ended in Australia with stops in Europe and Africa. She drew a mental picture of all the characters. I have to tell you, I can't wait for the sequel! I hope you all get a chance to meet her and maybe even hear one of her stories; she assists me in the afternoons if you want to make an appointment while she is here :). She has been a great addition to our team. Thank you Katlyn!
A Wonderful Laser Experience
I rarely see children under eight years old in my practice, but recently a new patient came into our office and asked if I would look at her almost five year old son. She had been hoping to find her son a dentist with a holistic philosophy who could treat him with a laser using no anesthetic. In my office I use the Waterlase Turbo Laser, with which I am able to do treatment with no anesthetic with little or no pain; so I agreed to see her son for one appointment to see how he would respond to the treatment.
I am happy to say the appointment went wonderfully! The five year old little boy sat in my chair very still and the cavity was quickly and easily cleaned with the laser. He told me it didn't hurt at all. The little boy did such a great job, I felt he needed a little reward. I found out that he loves legos, and being a parent myself, I know what legos mean to a five year old. Kendra, my office manager, ordered him a Star Wars lego kit, and we had it all wrapped up and waiting for him at his next appointment. When he opened it he was beside himself. He had the biggest grin and his whole body was shaking with excitement! He ran around the office giving hugs to all of us. His second and third appointments went equally as well, even with having decay right down to the nerve he said he had no pain.
What in the past had been a stressful appointment for a child, my team and myself, ended up being a joy beyond compare. I wish I had a video of the whole experience. I feel so much gratitude to all the people at Biolase for creating this incredible tool for doing dentistry faster, easier and better.
I am happy to say the appointment went wonderfully! The five year old little boy sat in my chair very still and the cavity was quickly and easily cleaned with the laser. He told me it didn't hurt at all. The little boy did such a great job, I felt he needed a little reward. I found out that he loves legos, and being a parent myself, I know what legos mean to a five year old. Kendra, my office manager, ordered him a Star Wars lego kit, and we had it all wrapped up and waiting for him at his next appointment. When he opened it he was beside himself. He had the biggest grin and his whole body was shaking with excitement! He ran around the office giving hugs to all of us. His second and third appointments went equally as well, even with having decay right down to the nerve he said he had no pain.
What in the past had been a stressful appointment for a child, my team and myself, ended up being a joy beyond compare. I wish I had a video of the whole experience. I feel so much gratitude to all the people at Biolase for creating this incredible tool for doing dentistry faster, easier and better.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Dentist's Point Of View
I stumbled across an article by Reader's Digest Magazine entitled, '50 Secrets From Real Dentists', and although I can't say I agreed with all of the comments, especially the ones promoting amalgam fillings, I did appreciate quite a few of their expressions and I thought I would pass them along to you.
-Dental Misconceptions-
"Some truly educated people think that if nothing in their mouth hurts, they're fine. High cholesterol doesn't hurt, either, but it's a big problem. I honestly think that the general population doesn't understand that their mouth is part of their body." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS, general dentist, Arlington, Virginia
"If your hands bled when you washed them, you'd run to the doctor. But in the public's mind, bleeding gums are okay. Unless you're really whaling away with your brush, if your gums bleed even a little, that's periodontal disease, period." -Ron Schefdore, DMD, general dentist, Chicago, Illinois
"The advice to see your dentist twice a year applies only if you have healthy gums. Most people don't." -Chris Kammer. DDS, cosmetic dentist, Valencia, California
"A mouthwash with alcohol dries out your mouth- you'll smell nice and minty for a half hour, but then the bad breath comes back worse than ever." -Gary Herskovits, DDS, family dentist, Brooklyn, New York
"There is a limit to what toothpaste can do. New whitening formula? It can get rid of surface stains, but it can't whiten like a bleach." -Careen Young, DDS, prosthodontist, Beverly Hills, California
"I have to extract a lot of baby teeth that are abscessed or heavily decayed. Parents think there is no reason to pay attention to baby teeth because they fall out. But when a tooth comes out prematurely, other teeth crowd in to fill up the space. Without the right treatment, it turns into a mess." -Paul Hettinger, DMD, general dentist, Orlando, Florida
-Dental Statistics-
"When someone meets you for the first time, the first thing they notice is eyes. Second is teeth and third is hair. But people spend way more money on their hair than their teeth." -Damain Dachowski, DMD, general dentist, Horsham, Pennsylvania
"Proper oral hygiene requires ten minutes of brushing and flossing every day. The average adult spends two or three minutes total, and kids even worse." -Joel Slaven, DDS, general dentist, Middleton, Wisconsin
"Kids with dental problems often struggle in school. They're distracted and easily agitated. Teachers will say they have behavior problems, but they really have toothaches." -Winifred J. Brooker, DDS, pediatric dentist, Owings Mills, Maryland
"Misaligned teeth can cause migraine headaches. If we can align the teeth and fix the bite, the pain often goes away." -Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS, general dentist, San Francisco, California
"The electronic toothbrush is one of the best things ever to happen to dentistry. The newer ones replicate professional cleaning- they won't reach much below the gum line, but they're far superior to regular toothbrushes." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS
"One of the first signs of diabetes is bleeding gums. I started taking blood samples from all my patients with bleeding gums and bone loss around the teeth and discovered that many of them were diabetic or prediabetic." -Ron Schefdore, DMD
"The bacteria that cause cavities can be spread from mother to baby through saliva. If you have poor dental health and you taste your baby's food and then pop the same spoon into his mouth, you're putting him at risk." -Mark Helpin, DMD, pediatric dentist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"I call soda pop the liquid chain saw. It cuts through teeth. And it's not just the sugar- it's the acid." -Chris Kammer, DDS
-Dental Tips-
"I wish people still used the Waterpik [a water-shooting device that was popular in the 1970's]. Each tooth is surrounded by a putrid, germy moat of saliva. If you replace that moat everyday, you'll go a long way toward keeping your mouth clean and your gums healthy." -Chris Kammer, DDS
"I tell nervous patients that we can give them the sedative triazolam an hour before their appointment- they just need to have someone else drive. It works so well that sometimes they don't remember the appointment." -Chris Kammer, DDS
"If you want to reduce the bad bacteria in your mouth, you should be all over xylitol [a sugar substitute found in chewing gum]. It changes the chemistry of your mouth. Six or seven pieces of xylitol gum every day will help keep cavities away." -Chris Krammer, DDS
-Insurance-
"A few decades ago, most insurance plans would cover up to $1,000 or $1,500 in dental bills every year. Today, a single crown can cost that much, but most policies still have the same limit. People are getting teeth pulled that could be fixed because they can't afford to pay for the work." -Bryan Tervo, DDS, expert at www.justanswer.com
"If you're missing teeth, chances are that your insurance company won't cover implants- only one out of twenty-two insurance companies I deal with covers them, even though they're better than dentures in every way." -Joel Slaven, DDS
"Most people without insurance don't go to a dentist until they're in a tragic situation. They could wind up needing $20,000 worth of work." -Paul Hettinger, DMD
-Dental Misconceptions-
"Some truly educated people think that if nothing in their mouth hurts, they're fine. High cholesterol doesn't hurt, either, but it's a big problem. I honestly think that the general population doesn't understand that their mouth is part of their body." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS, general dentist, Arlington, Virginia
"If your hands bled when you washed them, you'd run to the doctor. But in the public's mind, bleeding gums are okay. Unless you're really whaling away with your brush, if your gums bleed even a little, that's periodontal disease, period." -Ron Schefdore, DMD, general dentist, Chicago, Illinois
"The advice to see your dentist twice a year applies only if you have healthy gums. Most people don't." -Chris Kammer. DDS, cosmetic dentist, Valencia, California
"A mouthwash with alcohol dries out your mouth- you'll smell nice and minty for a half hour, but then the bad breath comes back worse than ever." -Gary Herskovits, DDS, family dentist, Brooklyn, New York
"There is a limit to what toothpaste can do. New whitening formula? It can get rid of surface stains, but it can't whiten like a bleach." -Careen Young, DDS, prosthodontist, Beverly Hills, California
"I have to extract a lot of baby teeth that are abscessed or heavily decayed. Parents think there is no reason to pay attention to baby teeth because they fall out. But when a tooth comes out prematurely, other teeth crowd in to fill up the space. Without the right treatment, it turns into a mess." -Paul Hettinger, DMD, general dentist, Orlando, Florida
-Dental Statistics-
"When someone meets you for the first time, the first thing they notice is eyes. Second is teeth and third is hair. But people spend way more money on their hair than their teeth." -Damain Dachowski, DMD, general dentist, Horsham, Pennsylvania
"Proper oral hygiene requires ten minutes of brushing and flossing every day. The average adult spends two or three minutes total, and kids even worse." -Joel Slaven, DDS, general dentist, Middleton, Wisconsin
"Kids with dental problems often struggle in school. They're distracted and easily agitated. Teachers will say they have behavior problems, but they really have toothaches." -Winifred J. Brooker, DDS, pediatric dentist, Owings Mills, Maryland
"Misaligned teeth can cause migraine headaches. If we can align the teeth and fix the bite, the pain often goes away." -Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS, general dentist, San Francisco, California
"The electronic toothbrush is one of the best things ever to happen to dentistry. The newer ones replicate professional cleaning- they won't reach much below the gum line, but they're far superior to regular toothbrushes." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS
"One of the first signs of diabetes is bleeding gums. I started taking blood samples from all my patients with bleeding gums and bone loss around the teeth and discovered that many of them were diabetic or prediabetic." -Ron Schefdore, DMD
"The bacteria that cause cavities can be spread from mother to baby through saliva. If you have poor dental health and you taste your baby's food and then pop the same spoon into his mouth, you're putting him at risk." -Mark Helpin, DMD, pediatric dentist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"I call soda pop the liquid chain saw. It cuts through teeth. And it's not just the sugar- it's the acid." -Chris Kammer, DDS
-Dental Tips-
"I wish people still used the Waterpik [a water-shooting device that was popular in the 1970's]. Each tooth is surrounded by a putrid, germy moat of saliva. If you replace that moat everyday, you'll go a long way toward keeping your mouth clean and your gums healthy." -Chris Kammer, DDS
"I tell nervous patients that we can give them the sedative triazolam an hour before their appointment- they just need to have someone else drive. It works so well that sometimes they don't remember the appointment." -Chris Kammer, DDS
"If you want to reduce the bad bacteria in your mouth, you should be all over xylitol [a sugar substitute found in chewing gum]. It changes the chemistry of your mouth. Six or seven pieces of xylitol gum every day will help keep cavities away." -Chris Krammer, DDS
-Insurance-
"A few decades ago, most insurance plans would cover up to $1,000 or $1,500 in dental bills every year. Today, a single crown can cost that much, but most policies still have the same limit. People are getting teeth pulled that could be fixed because they can't afford to pay for the work." -Bryan Tervo, DDS, expert at www.justanswer.com
"If you're missing teeth, chances are that your insurance company won't cover implants- only one out of twenty-two insurance companies I deal with covers them, even though they're better than dentures in every way." -Joel Slaven, DDS
"Most people without insurance don't go to a dentist until they're in a tragic situation. They could wind up needing $20,000 worth of work." -Paul Hettinger, DMD
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Welcome to my blog
Hello and welcome to my blog. I have decided to use this new avenue of communication in order to pass on helpful information about dentistry and whole body health to my patients, friends and others who decide to read it. I am a strong believer in continuing education and state-of-the-art technology, and now I can pass on what I learn to you.
My mission is to help people heal, so I hope this blog can help you on your way to living the healthiest and happiest life possible!
Thank you,
Richard Stickney DDS
Learning more to help you better
Last month my assistant Brook and I attended a two day conference on Quantum Reflex Analysis. QRA is a style of energy medicine which involves muscle testing of acupuncture points and meridians. I have attended many of these conferences, but this was Brook's first time attending. The information we receive at these conferences is always evolving, so we are constantly learning new information. We have a number of friends who practice QRA that refer their patients to us for dental evaluation. QRA practitioners believe that dental imbalances and infections can lead to other health problems. The founders of QRA are Dr. Bob Marshall and his wife Dr. Forbes. Dr. Marshall is a clinical nutritionist who has an excellent line of health promoting supplements. Dr. Marshall also does a weekly radio show about health and healing through nutrition on KGNW 820 am Saturdays from 1-2 pm pst.
Thank you,
Richard Stickney DDS
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