Hello everyone!
About 2 weekends ago I attended a Waterlase dental laser seminar done by Dr. Marshall Golan. Much of this seminar discussed technical aspects of laser dentistry, and some of it I'd like to share with you all today.
I've had my Waterlase for over 5 years now, and I use it as often as I can on my patients. Dr. Golan outlined some suggestions that I've already been putting into practice during the seminar, but one thing he mentioned is that he uses the laser on just about every patient to kill bacteria and decontaminate after decay removal, even if he used the drill. On Dr. Golan's website, he outlines some other advantages of using the laser, such as:
- It helps remove areas of infection
- Removes gum disease with great precision
- The laser beam sterilizes as it works
- Anesthetic is not needed as often
- Faster healing
- Less bleeding and swelling
- Less noise so less anxiety
- Less post operative pain so less pain medication is needed.
92% of stained grooves on a non smoker's occlusal (or biting) surface has decay underneath, and this does not show on an x-ray. If that decay stays only on the enamel, then we can treat that as a sealant, but if it goes into the dentin layer of the tooth, at that point we have to do a composite filling. The laser can often be used in removing such decay without the use of anesthetic. Some other uses of the laser include:
- Gum surgery- we can often treat gum disease with the laser to disinfect deep pockets, remove diseased tissue, and stimulate reattachment of the tissue to the gum without invasive painful scapel surgery.
- Decay removal- the laser can remove decay, disinfect and biostimulate the tooth
- Cosmetic purposes- the laser can re-contour the gums and eliminate a "gummy" smile
We love using our laser, and I enjoy learning new ways to use it. If you'd like more information about the Biolase water laser that I use in my practice, please visit their website.
Be well,
Richard Stickney DDS PS
Today we wanted to talk a little bit about what's being put into current toothpastes and mouthwashes. A dangerous chemical called Triclosan, which is an antibacterial chemical used in mouthwash and toothpaste, along with other products such as lipstick, deodorant and hand soap. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shown that not only does Triclosan hinder reproductive hormone activity and signaling in the brain, but also has dramatic effects on cardiac functions and hinders muscle contractions on a cellular level. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating the safety of this chemical.
What we'd like to get across to our patients is the importance of checking the ingredients on the dental products you use. Many of the popular products on the market these days are using ingredients and chemicals that might be harmful to overall health. These chemicals are then being absorbed quickly into the body "sub-lingually" (under the tongue) and directly into the blood stream.
I once heard from Dr. Marshall that you don't want to put anything on your skin or in your mouth that you wouldn't eat because it can be absorbed into the skin very easily. And that has become part of my philosophy here; don't put things in your body that cause problems. In my practice I like to use and recommend products that are natural and that have no harmful chemicals in them. One of the mouthwashes and toothpastes that I carry is from a company called "Dental Herb Company" and their products contain medicinal grade herbs and essential oils. The tonic and toothpaste contain no artificial chemicals, flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners or fractionated ingredients.
I hope that you are all experiencing good health!
Richard Stickney DDS
"I take Asprin for the headache caused by the Zyrtec I take for the hayfever I got from Relenza for the uneasy stomach from the Ritalin I take for the short attention span caused by the Scopederm Ts I take for the motion sickness I got from the Lomotil I take for the diarrhea caused by the Zenikal for the uncontrolled weight gain from the Paxil I take for the anxiety from Zocor I take for my high cholesterol because excersise, a good diet and regular chiropractic care are just too much trouble."
This is a picture of a real T-shirt. My son, Pearce, sent this to me, and although I knew you'd all enjoy the humor in it, I also believe our patients can see the seriousness as well. What we put in our bodies sometimes have side effects, and to cover those side effects, many people take other medications. What a cycle!
The problem is.. many doctors do not take the time to search for the CAUSE of the problem, but instead just cover over the symptom. In our practice, we enjoy taking the time to listen to the needs of the patient, and try to discover the underlying problems associate with their symptoms. From there we are able to help relieve the patient's immediate symptom or pain while at the same time addressing the cause of the problem.
To hoping you are all happy and healthy (and enjoying this beautiful summer)!
Richard Stickney DDS PS
