Kenneth J. Canzoneri Blog
How To Keep a Healthy Smile
June 9, 2010
It is very common for people to neglect their teeth. I have found that quite often when a person has no pain in their mouth and decent looking teeth that they assume heir teeth are in good shape. These are usually the people who have underlying gum disease and undiagnosed decay. In order to keep your smile healthy and teeth bright pay attention to your teeth and gums. If you are pregnant higher levels of hormones can cause puffy, tender gums that can increase the risk of gum infection. Grinding and or clenching your teeth can lead to severe wear, cracking and chipping of tooth structure. Many medications can cause dry mouth, which increases your risk of tooth decay. Drinking lots of water, chewing sugarless gum and using a fluoride rinse at night can help protect your teeth against reduced saliva. I have discussed the dangers of smoking but I will mention it again. Smokers are two to three times more likely to get periodontal disease. I wont even go into what smoking can do to the color of your teeth. Sitting in a dental chair isn’t anybody’s favorite thing to do but if you go for regular dental check-ups you will learn how to keep your smile healthy!
Dental Photography
May 25, 2010
I have been taking photographs of my patient’s teeth since I started my dental practice. First, I used 35mm slides, then Polaroid’s and now we use digital photography and intraoral cameras. Digital photographs are taken with a macro lens which allows for close up views of all your teeth or just one tooth. An intraoral camera is used by placing a small lens, the size of two pencils in the mouth to see very small areas of a tooth.
These photographs of teeth are used for many purposes. When I am discussing the condition of a patient’s mouth, I want to show the patient a picture of what I see. Photographs also give us a record of what a patient’s mouth looks like at one moment in time. We will also use pictures of teeth to send to insurance companies to substantiate a dental claim. Digital photography as well as digital x-rays can be sent via email for second opinions and outside consultation.
In my practice, I can not discuss a patient’s dental condition and possible treatment without showing them pictures of my wife and kids, that’s ok too!
Dental Implants
May 7, 2010
Patients often ask me a variety of questions regarding dental implants. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root (synthetic material) that is surgically anchored into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or a denture in place.
In order to be a candidate to have implants, you must be in good health and have the proper bone structure and healthy gums for the implant to stay in place. The success rate for implants decreases if you suffer from problems such as clenching, grinding, diabetes, smoking and alcohol.
A question which is asked every time I discuss implants is, “What is the success rate of implants?” Hundreds of thousands of dental implants have been placed over the last few years. Research has been conducted all over the world and the success rate for implants has been between 90% to 97% over the last thirty years.
The main benefit of using dental implants is that they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. Your natural teeth are not altered in order to place a crown or bridge. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth.
Reasons I Cannot Practice Without Dexis Digital X-Rays.
April 12, 2010
The Dexis digital x-ray – what an amazing diagnostic tool. We can now see decay probably 2 to 3 years earlier than with standard x-rays. What this means to our patients is that if we find the decay sooner:
1) The decay will have less time to destroy tooth structure.
2) I will need to do less drilling which according to everyone I know is a good thing.
3) The size of the filling will be smaller which means less cost.
I know patients feel that we are finding areas of decay that were not there 6 months ago. These cavities were present we simply could not see them because they were so small. Thanks to Dexis they can no longer hide !
Teeth Grinding in Toddlers
April 9, 2010
Being the father of four children I can tell you first hand that the noise of a child grinding their teeth is like the sound of dragging your nails on a chalk board!
Teeth grinding or bruxism is surprisingly common in children under five years of age. About 38 % of children grind their teeth, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of Dentistry for Children. Children can start grinding at around the age of 3 or 3 ½ years of age. Usually a toddler will stop grinding her teeth by the age of six. Although no one knows for sure what causes it, some possible culprits are stress, pain associated with teething, earache pain, improper alignment of the teeth and or jaw and allergies. In most cases teeth grinding in a toddler is not harmful and is not anything to be to concerned about. If a parent is concerned or a child complains of pain during the day contact a dentist. The dentist will check for potential problems such as cavities, fractured teeth, swollen gums and other possible dental concerns.
Although the noise of a toddler grinding their teeth is traumatizing to their parents ears, a vast majority stop grinding on their own within just a few years.
Dentistry Goes Green
March 25, 2010
Everyone who lives on this planet should be concerned with being eco-friendly. Dentists are beginning to move toward green. Recently an article in New Beauty by Erica Pearlman outlined what make an eco-friendly dentist. The traditional procedure of drilling is being replaced by the green option of lasers. The beams of light energy emitted by lasers can prepare teeth for fillings, surgical treatment of gums and gum recontouring. Lasers allow dentists to be more conservative and holistic. The traditional procedure of metal fillings is now replaced by composite fillings. By using tooth-colored resin material to fill cavities instead of metal, dentists enhance both the health and beauty of the mouth and minimize the risks of environmental pollution. The traditional procedure of dentures can now be replaced with implants. Dentures require a great deal of maintenance, materials and production chemicals. Dental implants are performed in one visit using fewer materials in less time. The traditional dental x-rays are now replaced with digital x-rays. Digital x-rays use about 80% less radiation can save 200 liters of toxic x-ray chemicals and eliminate 17,200 film foils over a five year period. The green dental movement has just begun and will continue to advance and improve ways of reducing pollutants for few years to come.
What Causes Teeth To Stain?
March 15, 2010
At any time during a persons life the color of their teeth can be influenced by a number of factors.
- Foods that stain teeth: Soy sauce, berries, curry, coffee, red wine (even my favorite Pinot Noir) dark soda, dark fruit juice
- Tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and even smokeless tobacco can cause tooth staining.
- Medications such as Tetracycline and Doxycycline will cause teeth to stain if it is taken during those periods when teeth formation is occurring (i.e. pregnant women and children 8 years and under)
- Extremely hot or cold liquids: can cause your teeth to expand and contract allowing stains to penetrate your teeth.
- Slightly acidic foods: opens up the pores of the tooth enamel allowing stains to more easily move into your teeth.
To limit staining brush, floss and have regular dental cleanings and try to avoid events and foods that promote stain.
Healthy Ageless Smile
February 15, 2010
Aging is a concern even I ponder periodically, Yes even doctors are concerned about what can be done to stay healthy and active. Teeth and the ability to eat and maintain a nutritious diet is essential to ones overall health.
Proper oral care can keep you smiling well into retirement. Brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, soft bristle brush and daily flossing is essential to keeping teeth and gums resistant to aging. A poor bite can cause your teeth to not only look older but can lessen your ability to attain a nutritious diet.
Oral cancer occurs most often in people over 40 years old. If you notice any red or white patches on your gums or tongue that do not heal with two weeks ask a dentist to check the spot.
Dry mouth (Xerostomia) can occur due to medications, disease, cancer treatment and age. Dry mouth can lead to complications in the mouth such as gum disease, decay and bad breath.
My favorite age reversal dental procedure is teeth whitening. A bright smile alone can take years off a person’s appearance.
We are all striving to maintain our health and youthful appearance, by treating your teeth with the same care a personcan maintain a healthy ageless smile.
Jaw Position and Mouthguards Improve Performance
January 15, 2010
An article in the sports section of the Los Angeles Times, from Friday November 6th has attracted a great deal of interest and questions among patients.
The article titled “Money were mouth is” discusses how custom-fitted mouthguards give athletes “increased strength, flexibility and endurance by optimizing their bite” Forty of the then undefeated New Orleans Saints Pro Football team are now wearing the special mouthguards. The Makkar PPM (Pure Power Mouthguard) is designed not only to protect the teeth but also to “align the lower jaw in an optimal position.”
As most of you who read my articles know, I am a big fan of a “balanced bite.” That is when the teeth, jaw joints and muscles work in harmony with each other. It is a known clinical fact that a bad bite can cause multitude of problems such as sore jaw joints, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, headaches, neck and back pain and the list can go on. According to PPM “a misaligned jaw puts pressure on cranial nerves and tenses jaw muscles. An aligned jaw opens the breathing airway and relieves pressure on the articular disc.”
So if I am asked if a mouthguard can improve performance, my answer is possibly. Is a mouth guard a necessity for anyone playing a sport – absolutely!
Deep Scaling or Regular Cleaning?
October 23, 2009
My hygienist, receptionists and I are asked this question everyday. There is some confusion between a prophy (regular cleaning) and periodontal scaling (deep cleaning) A prophylaxis is when stain, plaque and calculus is removed from the surface of the tooth. A deep cleaning or scaling is the process where plaque (bacteria and food mixture) and calculus (mineralized plaque deposits) are removed from both above and below the gumline. The root surface just under the gum is also cleaned of any plaque or calculus, resulting in a smooth, sleek surface.
In my dental office a patient is usually numb for a root planning procedure so that the appointment is completely comfortable. This may require the use of a topical anesthetic such as Oraquix or Cetacaine spray or a small injection at the gum.
Deep Scaling is one of the best treatments to fight gum disease. Sadly, gum disease often has no major symptoms but can do significant damage the supporting structures of the teeth which ultimately can cause bone and tooth loss!