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Show WedThursFri, April 7-9, 2004 The Park Record B-7 TO YOUR HEALTH How to have a beautiful The history of dentistry goes back to the beginning of time. Skulls of Cro-Magnon people peo-ple who lived 25,000 years ago had evidence of tooth decay. The earliest recorded reference on oral disease came from a Sumerian text (circa 5.000 B.C.). The people in that era thought that "tooth worms" were the cause of tooth decay (American Academy of Dentistry). . There have been incredible changes in dentistry den-tistry over the ye.ars. Many of us can remember our parents and grandparents having false teeth, or bridges that held their teeth together with wires. Many a joke was made about false teeth, in spite of the fact that it is no fun having one's teeth extracted. In the old days, dentists were few and far between. A "barber surgeon" usually performed pulling out a diseased tooth. In addition to cutting hair, he applied leeches, and' embalmed the dead. These "barber sur geons . used primitive wrenches and pliers pli-ers to extract diseased teeth. Ouch! Recently, I had a chat with Dr. Ron Cohn, a well-known Park City dentist. We discussed recent breakthroughs in dentistry. . . . , ' Some of us dre.ad going to the dentist, den-tist, probably because of the stories related above and the pain associated with primitive dentistry. Now, according to Cohn, dental visits can be painless. With newer techniques a dentist can completely numb the area that needs attention. The injection itself is not felt by the patient. This is because the gum is numbed using a swab containing a topical anesthetic before a needle is injected into the surrounding tissue. Usually, the numbness goes away in about four hours following the injection. Its uncomfortable, but there is no pain felt during the procedure. Some other amenities found in dental offices are reclining dental chairs and headsets for the patient to wear while watching a television program above the reclining chair. Besides being more comfortable for the patient, these chairs make it easier for the dentist den-tist and his assistant to work more efficiently. One of my questions had to do with what I have heard about silver fillings being unsafe. The doctor explained that much research is being conducted because amalgamsilver fillings fill-ings appear to be the cause of many illnesses. This is because the amalgam contains up to 50 percent mercury. Mercury is toxic and poses health hazards. In other instances, silver- fillings fill-ings fail because they are not bonded to the tooth, causing leakage around the borders of the filling. When this occurs the metal acts as a wedge to weaken the surrounding natural tooth. Many patients experience distress when the filling stays in place while the tooth breaks off. '-, In present dental practice, fillings are bonded to the tooth actually make the tooth "Stftnigtrr aiiu less iiKeiy to t'rcan. on. i ins uonu ina technkiue is just one of the great strides in 111 . . L llf L V. L w V : I t - 1 'A by Joan Jacobson smile: Recent dental breakthroughs present-day dentistry. Composite, gold, and ceramic appear to be the materials of choice for dental practice these days according to : holisticdentist.com. Later, we discussed gum disease. Healthy gum tissue does not bleed while infected gum tissue does. You may experience gum bleeding when you floss between your teeth- This is not normal and should warrant a call to your dentist. den-tist. Getting rid of gum disease should include you and your dentist deciding how to care for gum tissue through frequent brushing and floss-. ing. This will keep your gums healthy. Gum disease has two main forms, according to the University of Texas, Health Leader. Both of these forms are caused by bacterial plaque, a combination of saliva and bacteria that forms a sticky substance that accumulates on the teeth and eventually the gums. When the plaque Other amenities found in dental offices are reclining dental chairs and headsets for the patient to wear while watching a television program above the reclining chair." causes the gums to become inflamed the condition condi-tion is called gingivitis. The second form of gum disease is periodontitis. peri-odontitis. As in gingivitis, bacterial plaque is the cause. In this case, not only are the gums inflamed but also the bone surrounding the teeth. This causes the teeth to loosen and drift out of alignment. Dr. Antonio Moretti of the University of Texas Dental Branch Houston says there is more to gum disease than just bleeding gums and loose teeth. Researchers have discovered that gum disease-causing bacteria are carried throughout, the body by the blood stream. These by-products from bacteria may exacerbate exacer-bate or contribute to health problems throughout through-out the body. There is increasing evidence that infection in your mouth contribute to other systemic sys-temic problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, and even the birth of premature babies. . - . . Research continues, but current statistical" analyses reveals that people with periodontal (gum) disease are almost twice as likely to suffer suf-fer from coronary heart disease as those without with-out periodontal disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Dr. Cohn advises his patients to use electric toothbrushes such as Souicare and Braun to remove plaque from teeth and to keep the gums stimulated.' Proxybrtreh Pik also work well. V . - . ' r'iv 'ife s ' ... ii mmwmmw Wmmmm V - Also recommended are antiseptics such as chlorine dioxide and fluoride rinses. A prescription pre-scription toothpaste, Prevident, is also helpful in removing and controlling harmful bacteria. He also recommends taking Vitamin C to help the immune system fight harmful bacteria. Another amazing discovery in dentistry, according to Cohn, is the invention of a device that is placed in the' mouth that prevents a patient from grinding his or her teeth while sleeping. The device is called the Tension Suppression System (Tss). The Tss device, molded to fit the patient s mouth, is worn pri-marily pri-marily during sleep. The device prevents grinding grind-ing of the teeth and reduces the muscular triggering trig-gering component of migraine headache and jaw' disorders. This device can help the 44 million mil-lion people who suffer from chronic clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth. It may also preclude the trigger mechanism that caus- es migraine headaches (23 million Americans) when the jaw is clenched. Your dentist can fit you for a Tss in a short and simple procedure. Dr. Jim Boyd is the developer of the device, and has appeared on Good Morning America to show it off. Finally. Dr. Cohn discussed the popular popu-lar procedure for teeth whitenine. He relates that there are several ways to whiten teeth. ' There are "over the counter products" such as Crest Whitestrips. The profession- , al approach is having the dentist make custom trays to be used with professional-strength gel, and in-office power bleaching using laser light along with whitening products. 'Die trays and gel are used by the patient, at home, for a peri- od of two weeks. The patient also receives two sessions of office bleaching, and the result is a beautiful, bright smile. The patient can then use the tray and gel every six months to maintain the perfect smile. Major strides have been made in dentistry. Most of us will live our lives from now on with all of our original teeth. These days, instead of going to. our dentists solely for soothing the horrible pain of a diseased tooth, we go to the dentist for regular checkups check-ups to maintain our teeth. 'Die most important impor-tant advance in dentistry is the concept that the health of the teeth is related to the health of the rest of our body. Dental health is dependent on our overall health and vice versa. It's a holistic synergy. Perhaps in the future, genetic discoveries will eradicate tooth decay altogether. Maybe decay preventing pre-venting medications, or even toothpaste, will be developed based on genetic discoveries. In the meantime, prevention is the best antidote for tooth decay and gum disease. , Park City resident Joan Jacobson, PhD, RN, is an adnmel professor for the University of MidlifcWotnen..' - 1 1 2L w (I if 3C ONLY YOU 7k 4l v. ' ' ' Tti at Silver Lake Come join us for our Winter Menu . Lunch and Dinner 7 Days a Week 940.0800 7580 Royal Street East Silver Lake LUNCH, DINNER, RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED COMPLIMENTARY PARKING Mount Air Cafe Family Restaurant Since 1979 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Specials Daily Open 7 days a week Great family menu Breakfast served 6 a.m.to 9 p.m. Park City Jet. 224 & 248 East 649-9868 ft 0 i 7 t if C A N PREVENT FOREST FIRES. www.imokaybaar.com i BO |
