Recent research gives us more insight into why people get cavities and how we can prevent them from happening. Evidence shows that cavities (also known as dental caries) are caused by an overabundance of certain types of bacteria in the mouth. Along with the increase of certain bacteria, the mouth also becomes more acidic (lower in pH). The acidity of the mouth and the acid produced by the bacteria create cavities in the teeth.

The breakthrough in the new CariFree system is that we can test your mouth for susceptibility to cavities and treat the imbalance in bacteria and pH before you get another cavity! With a Caries Risk Assessment test and a CariScreen bacterial swab test of your mouth, we can determine if you are at risk for cavities in less than 10 minutes. If you are at risk, we can prescribe a treatment rinse to help restore the health of your mouth. This can save you money in dental restorations and preserve more of your natural tooth structure.

Contact us today for your screening, and take control of your cavities!

For more information about this exciting new service, visit http://www.carifree.com/



Source:  Women's Health magazine, October 2008 issue

--www.realage.com/agingcenter (please note medical disclaimer on site)

...which is a big shift from the late 80's and early 90's, when about 90% of cosmetic dentistry patients were women.

Just goes to show you... a gorgeous smile is not a gender thing!

Unfortunately, another misconception (believed by both women and men), is... cosmetic dentistry simply means a dental crown here and a teeth whitening there.

Men are realizing that one of the greatest things they can do to reduce their age is to get their smile done.  Cosmetic Dentistry or a 'Smile Makeover" are making men and women feel more attractive, improving their confidence, self-esteem, sex-appeal, love life and ultimately improving their entire outlook on life. 

I hope you have enjoyed my "Shopping for the Right Smile" series and I hope when you are thinking about making a large purchase that you take a moment to admire your smile.  Is your smile what you want it to be, and if its not ,I hope you remember how important that first impression is.  It's not your handbag or suit -- but your smile they will remember!

There are many options for straightening your teeth. In all honesty, like anything you shop for, it depends on quality, time, and what is necessary for what you need.

***OPTIONS***

Invisalign:

If your teeth are merely crooked, you are a good candidate for these "adult braces."  More like trays than braces, they are almost undetectable to other people. UPSIDE: Teeth are not traumatized by drilling OTHERSIDE: Process can take up to a year and can be a little spendy.

Bonding:

If you only need a few teeth fixed, this might be what you are looking for.  It's ideal for lengthening, widening, fixing chips or making gaps disappear in teeth.  It is a soft pliable resin material painted onto the existing tooth, then sculpted, filed and polished to perfection. UPSIDE: Relative bargain compared to porcelain veneers. OTHERSIDE: Lasts 3-5 years and can be more susceptable to stain.

Porcelain Veneers:

Veneers cover all manner of sins including teeth that are missing, overlapped, worn down, or badly stained.  This state of the art procedure does not miss a thing.  The porcelain is smoother, stronger, and longer lasting than bonding.  The glow it casts in your mouth is almost pearlescent, because the translucency reflects light in a very realistic way.  It is also highly resistant to stains, so you won't need additional whitening! UPSIDE:  Unless you are opening beer bottles with them, they can last up to 20 years and NO MORE BLEACHAHOLIC visits. OTHERSIDE: $$$$$

BARGAIN BUYS!!!!

Toothpaste: Crest Pro-Health $4.49...Colgate Total $3.59

Toothpaste: Philips Sonicare FlexCare $179.99

Mouthwash: Act Antiactivity Flouride Rinse $5.29...Crest Pro-Health Rinse $5.29

Whitening: Crest Whitestrips Premium $34.99...Crest Whitestrips Renewal $39.99

Last Installment for this series..."Real Men Smile Too."

See you next week!

Imagine you are at work and introduced to a new employee.  This employee is dressed from head to toe in a fantastic suit, donning a pair of shoes you just saw in a fashion magazine, and accessories to die for. They open their mouth and say, “It’s so nice to meet you,” and you are shocked to see crooked yellow teeth. At that moment, your impression of that new fantastically dressed employee completely changes.

So why do so many of us spend endless amounts of dollars on great clothes and nice cars and leave our smiles behind? Your smile is your best accessory and is the first thing anyone notices when you open your mouth. Many are unknowing of the many procedures and tips to improving your smile. There are the “Rolls Royce” treatment plans and there are also many other solutions that are more reasonable and economic for any budget.

So next time you head out to shop, go and shop with your dentist for a product that will last you a lifetime….

Stay tuned…..”Shopping for Your New Smile,” I will give you all the tips you need and the right products to use for that perfect “smiling shopping experience.”

The latest news? Well, a few weeks ago, I was able to attend the 24th annual scientific session of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (link to www.aacd.com) in New Orleans, LA. The theme was “dedicated to advancing excellence.” As the title would suggest, the five day conference was excellent.

Each year, cosmetic dentists from  the US,Japan, Austria, Iran, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic and other parts of the world come and share their passion for what they do. It’s awesome! Not only do I get to share in their infectious enthusiasm; I have the opportunity to learn what is working in their practices as well. One of the highlights this year was Friday evening’s speaker from Brazil, a culture known for their special care for appearances and body consciousness. The speaker was extremely gifted in aesthetics. He offered his expertise, materials and methods that lend itself to natural appearing smiles. I was inspired to elevate my artistic endeavors even more.

I also had the opportunity to enjoy the culture of New Orleans.  It was very endearing to experience the human spirit,optimism and kindness of the locals despite the effects of Katrina (link to Katrina). It's a cause to reflect and be grateful for what you do have. It looked to me like New Orleans is going to come back stronger than ever! 

What’s it for?

Bluetooth was created to unite devices without cable or wires.

See all those wires hooked up behind your computer desk? That’s the kind of mess Bluetooth was created to clean up. With Bluetooth technology, we don’t have to trip over that cable duct taped to the floor or group the 50 we have behind our desks with plastic ties to keep them from tangling. We’ve all seen more people than usual ”talking to themselves” as they walk down the street – that’s also thanks to good ol’ Bluetooth.

How does it work?

What happens is, the Bluetooth chip takes the information normally carried by cable and transmits it to the receiver Bluetooth chip found in devises such as your phone, computer, etc. Viola! You’re wireless.

So…what’s it got to do with a blue tooth?

The name “Bluetooth” was inspired by the Danish Viking and King, Harald Blatand (loosely translated in English as “Bluetooth”). This king united and controlled Denmark and Norway (as Bluetooth technology unites devices and people). This king apparently loved blueberries so much that his teeth were stained blue, leaving him with some pretty-looking molars. That’s where the name came from.

Hmmm… “Mr. King Blatand? Might I interest you in a one-hour BriteSmile Whitening appointment?”

Research shows that eating a couple ounces of yogurt every day will help protect from both gum disease and tooth loss. It’s the friendly bacteria in it that does the work. Isn’t that cool? Quite the delicious fact worth passing along.

Yogurt can benefit your health in other ways, too. Check out this article.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go grab myself a blueberry yogurt….or raspberry….or maybe peach…or….