greencitydental - Tumblr blog

[greencitydental]

The Value of Maintaining Social Connections in a Time of Social Distancing

As you might already know, as part of the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 our office in Edmonds is closed right now except for dental emergencies. As we continue to monitor the phones and email, we wanted to share some tips for connecting with loved ones in this time of social distancing. 

Introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in-between, every human is by nature a social animal, but you may not realize how crucial these connections are for your overall health. 

The World Health Organization recognizes those with a greater support network experience better health and longevity. As the authors of one 2017 paper on social connections put it,  

Regardless of one’s sex, country or culture of origin, age or economic background, social connection is crucial to human development, health, and survival. The evidence supporting this contention is unequivocal.

Yet you may holed up at home right now, away from loved ones and colleagues, worried about what the next news cycle will bring. Even if you generally enjoy being alone, these times can feel unsettling. 

If you’re not alone -  your partner is home with you, or you’re caring for your children or parents, or your cat is sitting on your lap blissfully ignorant of current events - that still may not be enough to prevent those feelings of anxiety and isolation.  

What to do? Remind yourself social distancing doesn’t mean being antisocial. 

Replace your weekly girls’ night at your favorite cafe or pub with a Skype party, and chat while you share a glass of wine or cup of tea. If you have kids at home, maybe Grandma could read a book to them on FaceTime - or they could read to her! Games kids could play on a video chat - like Pictionary, charades, or Heads Up! - can also be fun on a virtual play date. 

Facebook friends can throw a watch party. Try Jimmy Fallon’s at-home editions of The Tonight Show, which are uplifting and silly. (His wife holds the camera, his kids make the signs, and each night he features a different charity and remote interview). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOS7e6UTNPI

Other options include watching one of the many concerts musicians around the world are live streaming at no cost. Or if it’s sports you crave, you can watch a classic playoff or game, as both the NFL and NBA have made their subscription services free for a limited time. 

If your anxiety is getting the best of you, try mediation or yoga or emotional freedom technique tapping. EFT tapping can seem a little odd at first, but many find it’s a great way to release stress and restore energy. 

You also could design your own Chopped challenge. Create a “mystery basket” for the chef in your family. Be nice - remember you’re going to have to eat whatever they make - and maybe even take a video with your phone to send to loved ones!

Home with the kids or not, there are so many fun educational videos available online, you can go down the YouTube rabbit hole and come out learning something new during this time at home - math, science, reading, and even doodling!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmzjCPQv3y8

But just as Mo Willems says - “There is no right doodle and no wrong doodle” - there is no right or wrong way to stay connected with loved ones. It’s just important that you do. 

Getting through this means getting through it together. 

  The following blog post The Value of Maintaining Social Connections in a Time of Social Distancing was first published on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

CPAP Has Its Dental Downsides – But It’s Not Necessarily the Only Option for Treating Your Sleep Apnea

For some people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CPAP therapy can be a lifesaver. But not everyone is a fan. Up to 83% of users don’t use it as their doctor tells them to, sometimes giving up on it completely. They find the mask uncomfortable or claustrophobic. They find it a pain to have to regularly clean the hose and mask or nasal pillows to prevent infection.

There are also side effects that can crop up from this therapy which uses a steady stream of air to keep the airway open - a stuffy nose, for instance, or abdominal bloating, or dry mouth, which which is not only uncomfortable, but also raises your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

And as research has shown, over the long haul, CPAP can even change your face.

One study tracked 46 CPAP patients for two years to assess the impact on facial structure in long-term CPAP users. The researchers compared cephalometric x-rays of patients at the beginning of the study with images taken at the study’s end. A “ceph” x-ray is one that’s taken outside the mouth and shows the whole side of the head, letting a dentist see the relationship between the teeth, jaw, and profile.

While “none of the patients self-reported any permanent change of occlusion or facial profile,” the ceph x-rays showed changes in the dental arches, with both the upper and lower jaws shifting backwards a bit - something that could possibly worsen apnea symptoms over time.

A more recent case study reported that CPAP usage appeared to cause a patient’s front teeth to shift, creating gaps in her smile.

Follow-up questioning revealed that shifting of the teeth was first noticed in the months following the initiation of CPAP and the result of forward thrusting of the tongue during use. Following 12 months of orthodontic treatment, the malocclusion was corrected and teeth returned to their pretreatment positions.

As if a person needed another reason to avoid CPAP - avoidance led the authors of one paper on the matter to state that the “concept of CPAP as gold standard for OSA therapy is no longer valid.”

And frankly, while many have been helped by CPAP, the therapy is actually a kind of superficial one. As one apnea specialist has described it,

I think CPAP is like a band-aid for sleep apnea. It can be a good short-term answer. But it does not resolve the real issues that are causing the sleep apnea in the first place. It's like putting a spare tire on your car when you blow it out. They always tell you not to ride on the spare tire indefinitely and to get the original tire fixed.

Fortunately, we have ways of getting to the root cause and actually enlarging the airway - even in adults - so patients can breathe freely through the night again. Applying gentle, intermittent forces to your teeth and stimulating stem cells to help your jaws reach their full growth potential, the removable Vivos DNA appliance actually widens the upper arch so your lower jaw can move forward into its natural position. The tongue and soft tissues are brought forward and the TMJs align properly.

The result is a wide open airway. All you need to achieve it is enough healthy teeth and bone - and a year to two year commitment to both the appliance and supportive therapies that lead to the best results and long-term success.

But you’re not without options even if you aren’t a candidate for Vivos. There are other appliances, called mandibular advancement devices, which help hold your jaw in a more forward position during sleep and keep your airway open. A wide variety of options are available, depending on your specific dental situation, and all are customized to your bite and needs.

If your only issue is snoring, some patients respond well to Nightlase, a laser treatment for widening the airway by renaturing and restructuring collagen so that the soft tissues around the top of the airway are tightened. No anesthesia is needed, and there’s no post-op pain. Results can last up to one year before retreatment is recommended.

But if CPAP is your only real option for treating the life-threatening condition of OSA, be sure your dentist knows so they can monitor your teeth movement to ensure your CPAP mask isn’t negatively affecting your bite or the position of your teeth.

Otherwise, breathe easy knowing there’s a range of therapies out there to suit your needs and address those serious sleep apnea issues!

The following post CPAP Has Its Dental Downsides – But It’s Not Necessarily the Only Option for Treating Your Sleep Apnea is republished from: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Boost Your Immune System Against Respiratory Illness

The recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been complicated by what the World Health Organization is calling a massive ‘infodemic’ due to 

an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.

We agree. In fact, there may even be more panic in the air right now than airborne infection, especially if you’re following the outbreak online. 

That’s not to say you shouldn’t take coronavirus seriously. Like the flu, coronavirus is a  respiratory infection, and complications from these kinds of infections can be severe. They may also worsen long-term medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. 

But there are plenty of practical everyday precautions you can take - wash your hands, for instance, and try not to touch your face; clean your cell phone, and stay home if you’re sick. There’s also lots you can do to strengthen your immune system and boost your body’s ability to heal if you do get sick. 

Start with optimum nutrition, getting more immune-boosting and inflammation-reducing nutrients in particular. For example vitamin D, which is also great for your oral health, may provide increased protection from infections. Vitamin A is likewise known for defending against infection while also having anti-inflammatory properties. With pneumonia being one common complication of respiratory infections, building your body’s ability to control that inflammation is key. 

Zinc is another good nutrient to increase for building up your immune system. Research suggests that it can help control infections by “gently tapping the brakes on the immune response.” Glutathione - the master antioxidant - also plays a key role in controlling infection in the lungs, as does selenium.

And who can forget good old vitamin C, which deserves its stellar reputation for being beneficial against all kinds of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, Candida albicans, and protozoa. And if you do become sick, megadoses of vitamin C may help you recover faster. The government of Shanghai, China has even gone so far as to officially recommend that COVID-19 should be treated with high amounts of intravenous vitamin C. While IV vitamin C isn’t exactly a DIY remedy, liposomal vitamin C, is another powerful way to prevent or lessen infection by controlling oxidative stress.

Ideally, you’ll get most of these nutrients in their original packaging - whole foods (though because of the need to megadose, getting enough C means supplements). Elderberry is one good food source of vitamin C (and makes terrific popsicles!), and leafy greens have a range of immune-boosting nutrients - especially when you toss in some bacteria-busting garlic. Elderberry juice syrup may also reduce the severity and duration of your infection if taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies have also been found helpful over the years. A good homeopathic medicine cabinet for colds and flu includes the likes of gelsemium, bryonia, eupatorium, arsenicum, aconite, belladonna, ferrum phos, mercurius, rhus toxicodendron, and oscillococcinum. 

However, for supplements and remedies alike, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should always talk with a knowledgeable integrative practitioner to make sure you get the right doses in the right combination of good quality products. (Not all supplements are created equal.)

Another thing you can do is cut out sugar or do intermittent fasting to enhance your immune system. Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health, performed a study on mice where she restricted their food intake by 20%. “It’s like skipping a meal,” Belkaid said. And the result?

She found that memory T cells, which produce molecular weapons to kill pathogens and cancers, suddenly became supercharged when they retreated to the bone marrow.

“Not only were they able to survive, they were also optimized, and these T cells were able to protect [the body] better,” said Belkaid.

If it feels impossible to protect yourself and your family against the invisible infectious agents that cause disease, especially when the news outlets put you in high-panic mode, know the more you have in your immune-boosting toolbox, the better off you are. 

The following article Boost Your Immune System Against Respiratory Illness is available on: Green City Dental

[greencitydental]

The 75th Anniversary of Fluoridation Is Nothing to Celebrate

While the CDC and ADA “celebrate” the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation in 2020 as a public health success story, research showing the negative effects of this toxin on brain development continues to pile up.  

One of the most recent scientific reviews updates a review and meta-analysis first published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2012 and focuses on the connection between fluoride exposure and IQ in children. For, as Harvard’s Philippe Grandjean writes in the current review, 

Prospective studies from the most recent years document that adverse effects on brain development happen at elevated exposure levels that occur widely in North America and elsewhere in the world, in particular in communities supplied with fluoridated drinking water.

While Grandjean acknowledges some limitations for various studies, the collective consistency of this research is compelling and strong.

These new prospective studies are of very high quality and, given the wealth of supporting human studies and biological plausibility, leave little doubt that developmental neurotoxicity is a serious risk associated with elevated fluoride exposure, especially when this occurs during early brain development.

Equally sobering is that while Grandjean acknowledges that most epidemiological studies involve some uncertainties, this most likely results in an “underestimation of the risk” of fluoride exposure for children. This means that “the evidence available today may not quite reflect the true extent of the fluoride toxicity.”

And what kind of effect does that have on the brain as measured by IQ?  

The substantial IQ losses associated with elevated water-fluoride concentrations are in accordance with the difference of almost 7 IQ points between exposed groups and controls in the meta-analysis from 2012. Also, the largest cross-sectional study from 2018 showed a statistically significant loss of 8.6 IQ points for each increase by 1 mg/L in the fluoride concentration in water, although somewhat less in another recent study.

Clearly, argues Grandjean, fluoride neurotoxicity during early life is a “hazard of public health concern.” The drop in IQ has very real and profound effects on both the individual and society, as he articulated in an earlier paper for The Lancet Neurology:

Loss of cognitive skills reduces children's academic and economic attainments and has substantial long-term economic effects on societies. Thus, each loss of one IQ point has been estimated to decrease average lifetime earnings capacity by about €12,000 or US$18,000 in 2008 currencies.

And the costs are hardly just financial. 

The persistent decrements in intelligence documented in children, adolescents, and young adults exposed in early life to neurotoxicants could presage the development of neurodegenerative disease later in life.

However distressing this news is, an upcoming court case has many concerned consumer groups hopeful for an end to fluoridation. The suit pits the EPA against several organizations - including the IAOMT and Food & Water Watch - whose citizen petition to end fluoridation it rejected. A judicial review in the US District Court for the Northern District of California is scheduled for April, where a judge will decide the merit of the evidence on fluoride.

Thanks to the Toxic Substances Control Act, which authorizes the EPA to prohibit the use of chemicals that present an unreasonable risk to the general public, there’s a possibility that this one case might lead to the end of water system fluoridation nationwide. 

Suddenly, that glass of (filtered) water is looking half-full. And that is something to celebrate!

The 75th Anniversary of Fluoridation Is Nothing to Celebrate was first published to: https://greencitydental.com/

[greencitydental]

The Queen Has Spoken: Up Your Dental Game

This week, we’re featuring a guest post by Green City Dental’s own Queen of Dental Hygiene - and recipient of the 2019 the Hu-Friedy/ADHA Master Clinician Award - Barbara Tritz. (Patients also know her as our resident specialist in myofunctional therapy.)

Below, Barbara will school you on the value of some of the key services we offer here in our Edmonds office - not just to help keep your teeth and gums health, but also to protect your brain and body from the ravages of bad bacteria and protect your wallet by emphasizing the value of oral hygiene in preventing (perhaps even reversing) gum disease before it gets ahold of your health and well-being.

With tools like saliva testing to detect dangerous pathogens, our phase contrast microscope to visually inspect your oral flora, perioscopy for periodontal treatments, air polishing to remove biofilm beneath the gums, and ozone to stop pathogens in their tracks, your periodontal treatment and preventative care is more effective and thorough than ever before at catching disease and decay the naked eye simply cannot see. 

She also shares info on some of the natural products she administers to help promote oral and total body healing and wellness the biological way.

In October, I had the best time presenting on behalf of Bio-Botanical Research Inc to about 200 mostly dentists and dental hygienists in Nashville at the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) 2019 Scientific Session. My talk was titled “Up Your Game!” and discussed how to incorporate more biological, holistic practices into your dental health protocols and address the real root causes of dental diseases rather than poking and polishing at symptoms. Today’s post will add to that presentation and hopefully “up your game” as well!

Tradition! Tradition!

Dental hygiene (and dentistry) is nothing if not traditional. Change comes hard to us. We have basically been doing the same thing for the last 100 years. Polish, scrape tartar, and teach oral hygiene instructions. Unfortunately, the statistics show the percent of people with gum disease and dental cavities has not reduced. Forty two percent of the US population has some level of gum disease, and tooth decay affects almost half the world’s population.

Doing more of the same is not an option because we now know the oral systemic connection between heart disease and periodontal disease is causal. We also know spirochetes are connected to dementia. Spirochetes arrive in the brain and trigger a bacteremia. They slowly form biofilms which are impenetrable and result in Alzheimer’s dementia multiple decades later.

We MUST kill the spirochetes before they arrive in the brain. Today, I had a 10-year-old child with a spirochete infection within her gum tissues as evidenced on the phase contrast microscope. It is vital to address these pathogens in our very youngest clients to change the below statistic.

By 2050, it’s estimated there will be as many as 16 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUo1hLCpi6E&feature=emb_logo 

We suspect many more oral systemic links such as preterm birth and stillbirth, chronic kidney disease, COPD, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer. It is time to Up Our Game and truly address oral diseases with new tools and a paradigm shift toward health.

Scale Away, Come Scale Away with Me

The bedrock of traditional periodontal therapy treatment for periodontal disease is root planing or “deep cleaning”. The problem is it does not always really work all that well. We, the dental hygiene profession are leaving much calculus and biofilm behind and damaging the root structure. On top of that, certain bacteria are immune to the scaler.

Problem one - leaving calculus. How can we remove what we cannot see? Yes, we have developed wonderful tactile sensitivity but that’s not enough. Unless you use an endoscope, you have no idea what is really left underneath the gum line. Much calculus is burnished and undetectable, plus there’s microscopic calculus (called sparkle) flecks. All undetectable, yet all still can harbor pathogens. We cannot remove what we don’t know is present. Another issue is overworking the root surface with blind scaling. When you can see what the scaler is doing to the tooth, it reduces the excessive removal of healthy tooth structure.

Ideally, all periodontal therapy should be done with the perioscopy unit to truly see and remove much more calculus. Would a dentist drill by tactile sensitivity? Would you want a surgeon who could not see the entire surgical site work by feel? No, neither would I. Seeing is believing.

Part two of problem one: the biofilm- in addition to removing the calculus, we need to also remove the sticky, thick biofilm still attached to the root. The biofilm is full of the pathogens that are the real root of the problem. Several of the periodontal pathogens are immune to scaling and remain behind- Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a), Tannerella forsythia (T.f), and Parvimonas micra (P.m.) (formerly called Peptostreptococcus micros or Micromonas micros). The tissues remain infected with these perio pathogens, as do the tooth tubules.

We must test for pathogens, treat and then retest. Salivary diagnostics as well as a phase contrast microscope are excellent additions to our tool chest. Then, knowing what we are dealing with, we can introduce products that will kill these pathogens, and change the pH and the makeup of the microbiome.  

Something in the Air Polisher

Along with a perioscopy unit to enhance scaling, we should also consider adding subgingival air-polishing with glycine or erythritol to remove the pathogenic bacterial biofilm (Guided Biofilm Therapy. Glycine and erythritol are safe to use on root surfaces, restorations, implants, and will debride the biofilm in pockets up to six millimeters. It improves healing for periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, and perio maintenance. We must address the biofilm and remove as much as possible to get healing of the tissues.

“Healing is a journey. It involves stepping out of our habitual roles, our conventional scripts, and improvising a dancing path.” – Gabrielle Roth

To help with disinfection and heal the gum tissues and periodontal pockets we need to treat the diseased gum tissues like a wound (which they are!). Proper wound management includes homeostasis, cleansing of the wound, analgesic, skin closure and dressing with follow up. My favorite disinfectants include ozone water and ozone gas, Liposomal Dentalcidin and iodine (50-50 betadine and ozone water).

Ozone is super oxygen and causes lysis of the pathogen’s cell walls almost instantly. I insufflate the pockets using ozone gas and flush the pockets with ozone water in my piezo scaler. I may also use hand scalers dipped in ozone oil while scaling. It reduces post-operative sensitivity and speeds healing. At the completion of scaling and perio therapy, I irrigate all the pockets with Liposomal Dentalcidin in a 24-gauge side port cannula, (occasionally I will use 50% betadine iodine irrigation- depending on patient needs/sensitivity). I finish by having the patient swish with SalivaMax (if too numb then they are sent home with several packets to swish later). SalivaMax and a similar product named Nutrasal are powders of calcium and phosphate that when mixed with one ounce of water are excellent products to remineralize root surfaces and help heal mucositis [21]. They are prescription products made especially for dry mouth, remineralizing teeth and healing mucositis – perfect for wound closure and dressing.

There Ain’t No Bugs on Me

Cleanse, disinfect and heal. Having the proper tools makes our jobs as dental hygienists/periodontal therapists so much more rewarding and successful and ensures better patient comfortable and faster, complete healing. Advanced training is required to properly and safely use these exciting products. We need to go beyond the traditional. These tools are part of my protocols which also include a phase contrast microscope, salivary diagnostics, blood work and nutritional collaborations.

Patient dental health will always be subpar if we do not invest in these 21st century tools – the very best tools for the job ensure success and true dental and systemic wellness.

The blog post The Queen Has Spoken: Up Your Dental Game was first published to: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Is Your Child a Mouth Breather? How to Tell, Why to Worry, & What To Do

Mouth breathing is common in children. In fact, more than half of kids under 9 mouth breathe, studies show.  Sometimes it’s due to habits such as thumbsucking, pacifier use, or poor diet. Other familiar culprits include allergies and enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Often, it’s a combination of factors. 

Whatever the cause, the effects are serious. While nasal breathing contributes to good orofacial development and function, mouth breathing in children frequently means underdeveloped jaws, abnormalities in the bone, and crooked, misaligned teeth. Gum disease, Candida infections, and chronic bad breath are common. More,

Children with the clinical diagnosis of mouth breathing are usually pale, apathetic and they lack concentration and often get tired. Disorders resulting from hypoxy [lack of oxygen] may also be the reason [for] sleep disturbances, such as frequent waking-up, nocturia, difficulties falling asleep.

Other common challenges linked to mouth breathing and its effects include poor concentration, frequent headaches, bedwetting, and subpar academic performance. It’s not uncommon for kids who mouth breathe to be misdiagnosed with ADHD. 

That’s certainly not a fun future to think about for any child! The good news is that with early intervention and a shift to nasal breathing, such problems may be avoided all together. 

The first step is to determine whether a child’s mouth breathing is just a bad habit or if an underlying issue - allergies, say, or an obstructed airway - is keeping them from being able to breathe comfortably through their nose.  

When Mouth Breathing Is a Habit 

For some children, mouth breathing is simply a habit - one often encouraged by other behaviors. For instance, if the child was bottle-fed instead of breastfed, mouth breathing may have felt natural; likewise, with a pacifier or thumbsucking habit. 

Buteyko breathing exercises are one excellent way of transitioning from mouth to nasal breathing. Myofunctional therapy is another. You can think of “myo” as a kind of physical therapy for the mouth and face muscles that helps develop proper breathing and swallowing habits while eliminating parafunctional habits such as thumbsucking, cheek biting, and lip chewing. 

When Sinus Congestion Is the Problem

When your nose is plugged up, it’s natural to breathe through your mouth. So the question becomes: What’s causing the congestion? Find the root cause, and you can find the solution for it to promote healthy nasal breathing. 

If congestion is the rule rather than the exception, you may want to have your child checked for allergies. Three of the most common triggers are dust, dander, and dairy. Food sensitivities should be ruled out, as well. A naturopath, nutritionist, or other holistic health pro can help with testing and guidance here. 

That said, nose clearing can be an excellent practice to enhance or restore nasal breathing. Sometimes, all it takes is some simple exercises you can do anywhere at any time: 

https://youtu.be/pXWYYe3PZKY?t=25

An ever bigger benefit can come from regular saline nasal rinses, which flush out dust and pollen, shrink swollen mucous membranes, and may even help prevent sinus infection. At Green City Dental, we recommend a device called NetiFlow for rinsing with a simple saline solution two to three times a day and always before bed. Dr. T also recommends using XLear nasal spray right after each rinse.

Or Maybe It’s the Airway 

Some kids have trouble breathing through their nose because of enlarged tonsils and adenoids. If this is the result of inflammation, such as that caused by allergies, simply treating the allergies may alleviate the issue. 

Other times, though, the issue may merely be an underdeveloped airway, in which case appliance therapy can be used to enlarge it so there’s plenty of room for the tongue to rest and plenty of room for oxygen to get through to the lungs. 

What’s so amazing about correcting mouth breathing is that the results in healthier facial development can be remarkable, especially when you start correcting the problem sooner rather than later!  

Is Your Child a Mouth Breather? How to Tell, Why to Worry, & What To Do is available on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Have a Heart-Healthy (& Sugar-Free) Valentine’s!

Nearly every holiday has some version of a guilty pleasure, whether it’s ice cream on the Fourth of July, a flood of candy on Halloween, or all that pie on Thanksgiving. Valentine’s is no different, from heart-shaped lollipops to heart-shaped peanut butter cups to heart-shaped boxes filled with all kinds of tempting, sugary treats. 

A piece of candy or chocolate once in a while isn’t a problem, but oral pathogens love sugar like Romeo loved Juliet. And just like their story didn’t end well, too much sugar in your diet can lead to both tooth decay and gum disease, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and a host of other systemic health problems. 

On Valentine’s Day - and every day - you want to prevent that kind of tragedy playing out in your mouth!

But don’t panic! Your holiday homework’s been done for you. We’ve got some lovely sugar-free Valentine’s ideas for you, no matter your talents or time. 

Crafty? Try these origami paper heart boxes:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6CSRBzM0S4  

Use a large enough piece of paper and you could even fit some extra treats inside like dental floss or picks!

    If cooking’s your thing, you could make a heart-shaped egg! 

Or how about some healthy heart-beet soup for you and your honey?

      Got a green thumb? Maybe create a cute, heart-shaped topiary! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ATBTI2Wqqg

You also could spend the evening together starting garden seedlings inside - like tomatoes, peppers, or herbs. Just do your best to track down organic and GMO-free seeds. In a couple of months, they’ll be ready for replanting in your backyard organic garden. Let love grow!

If you want to stick with tradition and just go for that romantic dinner, look for a restaurant that sources local, healthy, and delicious cuisine. Some of our favorite options here in Edmonds include Kelnero, Epulo Bistro, Salt & Iron, and Caravan Kebab. Then head home for a romcom from the comfort of your couch - after cleaning your teeth of course!   

Truly, the best way to show your love isn’t with treats that are hard on your teeth, gums, heart, and overall health. It’s by making the most of the time you have, living healthy together. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

  The blog post Have a Heart-Healthy (& Sugar-Free) Valentine’s! is available on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Why Younger Adults Need Sleep & Airway Assessments, Too

Whether bragging about pulling an all-nighter before finals or hanging with friends into the wee hours binge-watching or club-hopping, younger adults tend to take pride in pushing the envelope when it comes to getting enough sleep. After all, they’re adults now, and “everyone” knows adults don’t need as much sleep as kids. 

  Actually, sleep remains just as important - in some ways, even more important, as there’s a 

“fairly precipitous decline in deep slow-wave sleep through the teen years into the early 20s.” Basically your sleep becomes less restorative, meaning you need to be more mindful of your sleep habits. 

You probably already know that adequate sleep pays dividends when it comes to your systemic health. There are oral health benefits, too. Sleep loss is second only to smoking as a risk factor for gum disease. 

And then there are the benefits of sleep on your cognitive health. 

A recent study out of MIT suggests that missing even just a half hour of sleep has serious cognitive consequences for younger adults. Initially, researchers intended to study the connection between physical exercise and academic performance among students in a single one of their classes. One hundred of them wore Fitbits to monitor their activity. One quarter were enrolled in an intense fitness class at the University. 

The focus of their research shifted when they noticed a correlation between sleep and grades that was “not at all subtle.”

There was essentially a straight-line relationship between the average amount of sleep a student got and their grades on the 11 quizzes, three midterms, and final exam, with the grades ranging from As to Cs.

More, they found that sleep consistency mattered, as well. Those who got about the same amount of sleep each night did better than those who had greater variations from one night to the next, even if they ended up with the same average amount of rest.

But what if you get enough hours of sleep, and you even exercise and eat well - habits that also contribute to healthy, restorative sleep - and you still wake up tired and cranky? 

You might have an undiagnosed airway problem. 

Too many younger and middle-aged adults buy into the myth that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) only affects older or overweight folks. While weight and age may certainly be contributing factors, particularly for menopausal women, sleep apnea affects people of all ages and sizes, including children. The vast majority go undiagnosed. 

For younger adults, especially those with active lifestyles, an apnea diagnosis may seem absurd, but the consequences aren’t. 

In an article on the stroke risks of undiagnosed apnea in otherwise healthy and active men, John LeCornu, a former Coast Guard boatswain mate whose daily exercise routine included a 10-mile run, 2-hour gym routine, and “marathon” basketball pickup games, said he’d been “playing with fire” until his apnea was diagnosed. Despite all the physical activity, his blood pressure was sky-high, even with medication.

"I thought I was putting my heart through its paces during the daytime," LeCornu says. "But the real stress, it turned out, was happening at night when I thought my body was resting and recuperating. In retrospect, my cardiovascular system was working on overdrive 24/7. I was headed straight toward stroke central."

No matter your sex or age or weight, if you snore or grind your teeth, if you regularly wake up with dry mouth or headache, or if you feel exhausted, anxious, or depressed through the day, you may want to seek answers sooner rather than later. 

Not only can your dentist determine whether airway issues may be impacting your sleep and overall health, know there are so many options now for appliances that are more comfortable than CPAP, including treatments that are entirely appliance-free. 

Don’t sleep on it - call your dentist today!

Why Younger Adults Need Sleep & Airway Assessments, Too was originally published to: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Joint Vibration Analysis: A Simple & Quick Way To Diagnose TMD

Biological dentistry takes a minimally invasive approach, where the best dentistry is the least dentistry. That’s why prevention is key - and also why it’s crucial to find the source of any disease or dysfunction as soon as possible.

This is certainly true for dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), those all-important hinges that open and close your jaw. When your TMJ is overused or damaged and your bite is off, the symptoms can be pretty severe.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can lead to neck, back, jaw, or face pain; ringing in your ears and popping in your jaw joints; headaches and migraines; sensitive teeth; and receding gums. It may also raise your risk of sleep apnea, as well as change your posture in ways that contribute to back pain and other systemic health issues.

Because so many TMD symptoms can seem to have nothing to do with your bite, patients can struggle for years to find answers. Even when you suspect TMD, diagnosis can range from the somewhat subjective - a dentist listening or touching the joints as you open and close your jaw - to more costly procedures such as MRIs or CT scans.

But there’s an underused tool that is excellent for detecting TMD, sometimes even before the patient notices any symptoms: Joint Vibrational Analysis (JVA), which we use right here in our Edmonds office.

JVA works on a simple premise. If your bite is off, even by a slight amount, there’s going to be friction. Where’s there’s friction, there’s vibration. By placing sensors on your TM joints, then having you open and close your mouth, we can objectively measure joint vibrations to screen for TMD.

Current research supports the ease and accuracy of JVA as a screening tool. Case reports in a recent paper found JVA screenings confirmed by MRI, considered the “gold standard” in diagnosing TMD. Yet JVA is far quicker, far less expensive, and far more dynamic, giving results in real time. More, there are none of the risks that MRI involves.

JVA, the authors note, can also detect characteristic sounds of joint dysfunction “that are not conveniently detected or analyzed through any other method.”

A 2018 NIH-supported study looked into the reliability of JVA as a screening tool and the ease and accuracy of TMD diagnosis.

The excellent reliability obtained by the examiners reading the JVA data demonstrates that examiners can be properly trained and they can reliably identify and interpret the pertinent data produced by this technological device. In addition, the assessment of the joint vibration as phenomena can be reliably assessed within a short period of time.

Even more exciting evidence came from this study in which researchers focused on using JVA to assess healthy young people with a full set of teeth and no TMD symptoms. The goal was to examine whether JVA could detect “early or latent dysfunction.”

Sure enough, JVA was able to detect vibrations in participants with early stage TMD - dysfunction that would otherwise have gone undetected until much later, after symptoms worsened or emerged during dental treatment.

Know, too, that while TMD can seem like a condition for adults - and more commonly occurring in women - children can have it, too. Having a detection tool like JVA is invaluable, especially considering the alternative - waiting until the pain or popping of TMD rears its ugly head.

  Joint Vibration Analysis: A Simple & Quick Way To Diagnose TMD is available on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

All About Airway: Tongue Edition

Breathing is something you don’t think about a lot until it’s hard to do. This is especially true if you or a loved one - especially a loved one you share a bedroom with - has airway issues. 

But enduring the rattle of someone snoring next to you - or being regularly startled awake through the night as you gasp for breath yourself, only to wake up exhausted - is more than just a nuisance. These could be signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious health risk linked to stroke, heart attack, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, lowered immunity, anxiety, depression,and more.

With millions of adults suffering from OSA, lots of research has been done to examine causes and find solutions. Just this month, a new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggests that excess tongue fat could be a culprit.

 Scientists used MRI imaging to measure the tongues and upper airways of 67 obese patients from the Penn Center for Sleep Disorders, the University of Pennsylvania's Bariatric Surgery Program, or the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. Some had sleep apnea; others didn’t. Patients were measured again after losing about 10% of their total body weight. 

The researchers found that reduced tongue fat “was the main reason why the overall sleep apnea scores improved by 31%.”

Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep specialist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California said that this study shows reducing excess fat, in general, can help reduce your tongue size.

Though excess weight has long been known as a major risk factor for OSA, it’s hardly the only cause. One can still be at a healthy weight and experience sleep apnea or other issues caused by the root cause of sleep disordered breathing: an underdeveloped or pinched airway. 

  This is why we ask you about your snoring and sleep patterns. Sleep is a crucial part of your oral and overall health, physical and mental. If your sleep is disordered, chances are good that other things are, too. 

Plus, who better to assess your airway, hear your challenges over mouth breathing, and discuss what kinds of therapies, appliances, or treatments may help? Diagnosis is easier than ever now, thanks to portable, wireless, take-home sleep monitors, in conjunction with CBCT and cephalometric imaging. 

Depending on the cause of your apnea, you may benefit from a custom fit appliance that works to actually remodel the airway, making it easier to breathe freely and consistently during sleep.

Another option is Nightlase, a laser treatment that widens the airway by tightening the soft tissues at the top, renaturing and restructuring collagen. Just three short appointments over the course of several weeks is often enough to last a year. 

Treating your airway issues is especially important if you face the double challenge of OSA and excess weight or obesity, like the patients in the study. With the two conditions so closely linked, we can also work with you to create a holistic - and realistic - plan for healthy eating and activity. 

Chances are, once you’re breathing better and sleeping better, you might find all aspects of holistic living not just manageable but truly enjoyable, awake and asleep!

  All About Airway: Tongue Edition was originally published to: https://greencitydental.com/

[greencitydental]

Making Sense of All Those Tooth-Cleaning Tools

Would you believe there’s a New Year’s resolution you can make that takes less than 10 minutes a day, yet could not only extend your life but your quality of life for years to come? 

If you guessed “brushing and cleaning between your teeth,” a gold star for you!

It’s not much: just two minutes of brushing and a couple more to floss or otherwise clean between your teeth and along the gumline. Even so, it’s all too easy to forget supporting a healthy mouth/body connection when you’re late for work or exhausted before bedtime. Those few minutes of oral hygiene can seem downright overwhelming.  

Also overwhelming is how that tiny portion of your self-care routine can be riddled with tricky questions. Power or manual toothbrush? To rinse or not to rinse? Are there options other than floss? 

First of all, don’t panic. Help is here! 

The choice between a power or manual brush is actually a pretty simple one, especially when you consider how much longer you have to brush manually to get your teeth clean. As our own hygienist Barbara notes,  

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get all the plaque biofilm and gunk off with a manual toothbrush. Yes, I have timed it.

A power toothbrush does the job much more quickly and effectively. (Barbara recommends the lightweight, angled brush from Kyoui.)

If you choose to use a rinse after brushing, the best thing is actually your very own healthy saliva, which not only helps wash away debris but delivers minerals back to your tooth enamel.

If you do opt for a mouthwash, though, check the pH (Barbara offers a partial list of rinses with their pH values) and consider your timing. If your mouthwash has a pH below 5.5, it could damage your tooth enamel, especially if you use the rinse right before bed.

Where confusion can really reign, though, is with all the options for interdental cleaning. Floss? Interproximal brushes? Waterpik? Rubber tips?  It can be tough to take, especially when you’re standing there in the store, looking at dozens of products, all with marketing ploys promising ridiculously stellar results. 

Luckily, science has stepped up to identify which interdental tools are most effective for keeping your teeth clean and your gums healthy. 

The most recent review from Cochrane set out to evaluate the effectiveness of various tools in combination with toothbrushing versus toothbrushing alone: floss, interdental brushes, wooden sticks, rubber/elastomer sticks, and oral irrigators. 

Analyzing 35 random controlled trials involving nearly 4000 individuals, the research team found that 

Using floss or interdental brushes in addition to toothbrushing may reduce gingivitis or plaque, or both, more than toothbrushing alone. Interdental brushes may be more effective than floss. Available evidence for tooth cleaning sticks and oral irrigators is limited and inconsistent.

However, they also noted that most of the studies only looked at short term results, with the overall evidence being of “low certainty.” 

Some of this is echoed in another recent review, one that looked at a much larger batch of studies. Among its findings: 

  Effective flossing is hard for a lot of people to manage. Ineffective flossing may be no better than not flossing at all.

  Interdental brushes are more effective than just toothbrushing alone and better than floss at reducing plaque and gingivitis. They’re especially helpful for people with gum disease. Soft-picks are also effective. 

  Wooden sticks may help reduce gingival (gum) bleeding but otherwise seem to offer no advantage over brushing. 

  Oral irrigators appear to be effective for reducing gingival inflammation but not so much for reducing plaque. 

  For cleaning around dental implants, oral irrigators and interdental brushes seem to do a better job than floss. 

  While we find that interdental brushes and oral irrigators are a particularly good combo for keeping both teeth and gums at their healthiest, ultimately, the best interdental tools are those you use both regularly and well. Your dentist or hygienist can let you know how you’re doing and, most importantly, offer specific advice if you still need to improve your home care - whether that’s using different tools or simply getting better with your technique.

We want you to keep your smile healthy and whole for a lifetime. Helping you out with your home hygiene is a big part of our job.

The following post Making Sense of All Those Tooth-Cleaning Tools is republished from: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Pinhole Surgery for Receding Gums: Fast, Simple, Effective

Most people know that receding gums are nothing to smile about, but you might not know just how common this dental problem is. If you’re over 18, there’s a 50-50 chance you have at least some recession; when you’re over 65, those chances shoot up to 88%. 

It’s not just a cosmetic issue. 

For one, recession exposes the roots of your teeth. Since no protective enamel covers them, they’re more prone to decay. At the same time, the space between teeth and gums gets deeper, creating pockets that are perfect harbors for harmful bacteria and other pathogens. If this infection - gum disease - isn’t treated, bone loss and tooth loss usually follow. 

Sometimes, gum disease itself is the reason for the recession. Clenching and grinding is another (and a reason to check the airway, as well, since grinding can also be a sign of sleep apnea or other breathing disorders). Tobacco use or over-brushing can also spell trouble for the gums. Roughly one-third of the time, genetics is involved.  

Additionally, women are at higher risk of recession thanks to the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy and menopause. 

For a long time, the main treatment for receded gums was gingival grafting - surgically removing tissue from the roof of the mouth and attaching it to the gums to cover the exposed tooth roots. But now a better option has emerged: the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique. 

First developed nearly 15 years ago by Dr. John Chao, this minimally invasive procedure doesn’t involve any cutting. Instead, we make tiny holes in the gums through which we loosen and guide existing soft tissue over the areas of recession. Instead of sutures, collagen strips hold the gum tissue in place during healing, helping promote tissue growth that will ultimately secure the gums in their new position. 

You can see Dr. Chao performing the procedure in this clip from The Doctors:

https://youtu.be/JxjKvUKXgKg?t=70

As you can see in the video, with the pinhole technique, we can treat multiple areas in a single visit - something that can’t be done with conventional grafting. 

When using the patients' own tissue

[for grafting], there are inherent limitations in the number and size of the area that can be treated at one time. It is not uncommon to take over a year to treat an entire mouth, requiring multiple rounds of palatal grafting. In contrast, PST can be used to treat the whole mouth and be completed in a single sitting.

More, with the use of PRF to support healing, there’s typically less post-treatment discomfort, faster recovery, and fewer complications.  

Think that sounds too good to last? It’s not. One study showed overall root coverage of 96.7% after 6 months. A larger study examined patients a year and a half after pinhole surgery, and gum coverage was still in place in 91% of cases, with root coverage in 81% of cases. 

More good news? 

Some of the biggest advantages of this technique are in the subjective patient assessment realm. Time of the surgical procedure compared to conventional soft-tissue grafting techniques was decreased. Postoperative patient discomfort and swelling were also extremely reduced.

All in all, pinhole surgery is a great option for many, although if you have bone loss or thin existing gum tissues, we may need to look at other treatments instead. Additionally, if you have active periodontal disease or severe gingival inflammation, we may need to treat that before addressing the recession. 

Of course, the other thing to address - pinhole surgery or not - are the causes of the recession. Keep the problem from recurring over the long haul, and you’ll have all the more reason to smile. 

The following post Pinhole Surgery for Receding Gums: Fast, Simple, Effective was first seen on: https://greencitydental.com/

[greencitydental]

A Gift-Giving Guide as Unique as You

A Gift-Giving Guide as Unique as You

When it comes to holiday gift-giving, maybe it’s time to reduce, reuse, and recycle! (And that doesn’t mean wrapping that ugly chip and dip set you got two years ago to give to your grandma who gushes over everything anyhow.) 

Nope, maybe this year you can find gifts for the special people in your life by exploring your local thrift store. Not only will you help support a local business or charity shop; you’ll also help the environment by buying gently used items instead of new. 

In addition to saving money, whatever you give will also be more distinctive - maybe even one-of-a-kind! If you’re really lucky, you may even find some dental-themed discoveries . . .

    Like a picture of a tooth that’s happy and it knows it! (Probably because it gets brushed and flossed daily?)

                Who wouldn’t want a tooth-shaped stool? Perfect place for a little one to sit while contemplating a future in biological dentistry.

            Isn’t it time to see the dentist?

                    If you use these as toothbrush holders, they’ll be a constant reminder of what happens to your smile if you don’t take care of those teeth!

    Don’t know what’s scarier - a hand-painted Gene Simmons or a game called Doctor Drill N’ Fill. So wrong!

      Frogs don’t normally have teeth, but this frog got some implants. They seem to be biocompatible. 

            Most bears actually do have teeth, but Pooh? Yikes!

                Most folks prefer teeth in their mouth, but different strokes . . . 

                  No words. . . 

            Anyway, when it comes to gift-giving, it truly is the thought that counts, right? Here’s to a bright and merry season from Green City Dental!

The following blog post A Gift-Giving Guide as Unique as You is available on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

Time to Talk Mercury 

Biological dentists and hygienists ask A LOT of questions - usually far more than your typical dentist. We do it because integrating your concerns and challenges is crucial when it comes to serving your healthcare needs. 

Whatever happens in or is done to the mouth can have effects throughout the body - and vice versa - so it’s always important to hear about any changes to your overall physical and mental well-being. 

Not only does sharing your story allow for a more empathetic and fruitful patient/provider relationship; it also could be the first step to discovering if your health is being compromised by a dental burden, such as the hidden infection from cavitations or heavy metal toxicity from mercury amalgam fillings.

And when it comes to those fillings, your story could even become a catalyst for change, too. 

Last month the Food & Drug Administration's Immunology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee met to hear expert testimony and recommend solutions for problems associated with metal-containing implants, including mercury fillings. 

University of Maryland professor of medicine Dr. Melissa McDiarmid shared with the committee that “evidence is there” to indicate dental amalgam isn't fully safe. Dr. Mark Dykewicz, professor of allergy and immunology at St. Louis University in Missouri, spoke about the lack of informed consent and lack of choice, particularly for underprivileged populations. 

"I think it's unconscionable that Medicaid children in some states are forced to get amalgam and may not be offered alternatives in an informed consent with their parents. Do we wait to see that there are neurocognitive problems before we take some action?"

The FDA advisory committee did ultimately propose that packaging should list the “elemental compositions” of each device - a/k/a which metals it contains - and that information be provided to patients about the risks of mercury amalgam, especially for vulnerable populations. 

The most encouraging news, however, came in the summary statement from committee chair, Dr. Raj Rao, professor of orthopedic surgery at George Washington University:

The general direction should be to move away from using mercury-containing amalgams and towards nonmercury-containing products to deal with dental restorations.

That’s music to the ears of mercury-free, mercury-safe dental offices like ours - and should be music to the ears of patients everywhere. Yet when it comes to mercury in dental materials, as in our environment, the pace of action by the FDA can seem positively glacial.   

What to do in the meantime? If you have an amalgam story, tell it. 

As the FDA considers the committee’s recommendations, they’re also asking for consumer input on amalgam. They’ve already collected hundreds of comments on the adverse health impacts of mercury fillings, plus plenty of complaints about the lack of informed consent and lack of choice when it comes to dental materials, but they need more. 

With every story the FDA sees, the argument against mercury amalgams grows. Ultimately, there will be no choice but to take action.

Comments don’t need to be long, and submitting them is simple and quick. The FDA is only taking them until December 16, 2019, though, so why not share your story right now? 

The blog post Time to Talk Mercury  is available on: https://greencitydental.com

[greencitydental]

How to Quit Mouth Breathing & Start Breathing Through Your Nose Instead (& Why That Matters a Whole Heck of a Lot)

When it comes to breathing, a lot of folks focus on oxygen, which kind of makes sense. You sure can’t live without it. But have you ever thought about how you breathe?

Your nose is the main route for breathing. Even when you breathe mainly through your mouth, you still take in air through your nose. When your nose closes up - as when you’re congested - your lungs close up, too, making breathing tougher. You can thank your nasal-pulmonary reflex for that. 

Nasal breathing also allows your nose to act as a humidifier, filter, and sensor for detecting everything from smoke to spoiled food to a potential mate. 

More, it helps increase nitric oxide levels in your body, a chemical produced by the lining of your blood vessels. It’s key to heart health and much more. 

For anyone who suffers from various breathing difficulties, it is essential to know that nitric oxide acts as a bronchodilator making respiration less laborious. Nitric oxide is also a vasodilator, which means that it relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, causing them to widen. This, in turn, allows increased blood circulation in the body. Moreover, it is a key player in strengthening our immune system. In addition, it is an antibacterial agent that helps to neutralize germs and bacteria.

A lack of nitric oxide, on the other hand, has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and other health problems. 

Considering that there are dental drawbacks to mouth breathing, as well, there’s every reason to make sure that you regularly breathe as you were designed to breathe: through your nose. 

One way of making the switch from mouth to nasal breathing is using what’s known as the Buteyko Method, developed by Russian physiologist Dr. KP Buteyko after he discovered the potential harm of over-breathing (hyperventilation) - things like mouth breathing, constant yawning or sighing, gulping air, and such. 

Indeed, recent research has confirmed that, for those with obstructive airway diseases such as asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, 

Buteyko Breathing was effective in improving breathing control, breath holding and reducing the work of breathing 

 So, just what is Buteyko?

People practicing the Buteyko Method are taught to reduce their volume of breathing by using a combination of increased abdominal muscle tone and relaxation of all the other muscles of breathing, particularly the shoulders and chest. Low-volume breathing often reduces the effort of breathing, leads to relaxation of respiratory muscles, and improves the function of the diaphragm.

It’s important to remember, though, that just like myofunctional therapy, Buteyko is NOT do-it-yourself! It should be taught by a trained health professional - such as the amazing Lily Corley here in our Edmonds office.

Not only can it help you - or your child - make nasal breathing a habit; when Buteyko becomes second nature, 

Adults and children start experiencing numerous improvements in their health and the quality of their lives improves. Breathing through the nose peacefully balances levels of nitric oxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body, calms the nervous system, boosts immunity, clears the mind, improves focus and increases overall energy.

That’s what we call a win-win-win - for mouth, mind, and body alike! 

The article How to Quit Mouth Breathing & Start Breathing Through Your Nose Instead (& Why That Matters a Whole Heck of a Lot) is courtesy of: https://greencitydental.com/

[greencitydental]

The Power of Empathy

There are lots of ways we express gratitude when Thanksgiving rolls around. You share a special meal. You reach out to family and loved ones. You reflect on the blessings you’ve experienced.

Chances are you already know a bit about how good gratitude can be for both your physical and mental health. From articles and blog posts to TED Talks, podcasts, and that super-cheerful Facebook friend who posts her gratitude list daily, the benefits of gratitude pop up everywhere this time of year.

But what do you do when gratitude comes easy for you while life seems to be falling apart for a loved one or friend or colleague? It can feel so awkward and wrong.

That’s where the work of empathy comes into play.

While research suggests that gratitude and empathy are related, empathy can seem a lot more challenging - so much that some people choose to avoid it. “They just don’t want to make the mental effort,” noted the lead author of one recent study on the matter, “even when it involves feeling positive emotions." They see empathy as being too hard.

But the study authors also found that a simple mindset change made a difference. Participants who were told they were “good” at empathizing were more likely to report that empathy required less mental effort. As lead author C. Daryl Cameron remarked,

If we can shift people's motivations toward engaging in empathy, then that could be good news for society as a whole. It could encourage people to reach out to groups who need help.

Also just like gratitude, empathy is good for your mental and physical well-being, while also “providing an emotional bridge that promotes prosocial behavior,” according to Helen Riess, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It’s especially important in the doctor/patient relationship.

Empathic medical care is associated with many benefits including improved patient experiences, adherence to treatment recommendations, better clinical outcomes, fewer medical errors and malpractice claims, and higher physician retention.

And isn’t that true of all relationships? Whether it’s with your partner, your child, your coworker, or your dentist or hygienist, you want to be heard and treated with respect. You don’t want to feel lectured to. You want to feel like you’re on the same team with a provider who truly cares about your wellness, your needs, and your input. This creates a support network that leads to a mindset of healing and health, whether it’s in a dental office, the workplace, or at home.

Gratitude is great, there’s no doubt about it. But when it comes to forming long-lasting and healthy relationships - with family, friends, and holistic healthcare providers - empathy is truly empowering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw#action=share

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Green City Dental!

The Power of Empathy was originally published to: Green City Dental Blog

[greencitydental]

GCD Flashback: It’s Alive!: New Ways to Save Dying Teeth

Originally posted May 15, 2019

When you look at your smile, it can be tough to realize that each tooth isn’t just some hard, lifeless mass. Each tooth is, in fact, a living organ surrounded by a coat of enamel.

Underneath that enamel is a softer layer of tissue called dentin, which is made up of miles – yes, miles! – of microscopic tubules. Fluid flows through these much like blood flows through your veins, so you can think of it as part of the tooth’s own circulatory system.

Dentin also protects the soft tissue at the tooth’s core, the pulp.

Rich in blood vessels and nerve endings, the pulp is what makes a tooth alive. It helps deliver nutrients to the tooth and provides the specialized cells needed to repair or generate new dentin.

So when its health is at risk – due to deep decay or injury – it’s a Very. Big. Deal.

Now, most dentists at this point would recommend root canal therapy. In this procedure, all the living tissue is removed from the pulp chamber and the canals that extend into the roots. The canals are disinfected and packed with a rubbery substance, and a filling or crown is then placed to seal off the tooth’s insides.

Unfortunately, the result is a dead tooth – and often a harbor of residual infection that can ultimately have systemic effects.

But unlike what was shown in the notorious documentary Root Cause, this isn’t the fate of every instance of endodontic treatment. (Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the health of the pulpal complex.) Nor is root canal therapy the only option we have for dealing with a damaged pulp.

We now have ways of actually restoring a diseased pulp to health: regenerative endodontics, in which biologically-based materials are used to stimulate natural healing of the pulp.

For younger patients, whose permanent teeth are still growing and developing, there’s an option called vital pulp therapy. Here, we use lasers to remove only the necrotic (dead or dying) pulp tissue, leaving the still vital tissues in place. The laser has the added benefit of disinfecting adjacent tissues, as well.

The next step is to thoroughly disinfect the pulp chamber and dentin. For this, we use ozone instead of the usual chemical rinses. As Dr. Val Kanter, a leader in regenerative endodontics, has written, ozone is a

more biological antiseptic agent that has shown success in endodontics. Ozone is considered one of the best bactericidal, antiviral, and antifungal agents available. With only 20 seconds of exposure, ozone effectively eliminates 99% of microorganisms in primary carious lesions and also has the ability to destroy oral biofilms and their byproducts. This highly unstable form of oxygen acts as a strong and fast oxidizer of the bacterial cell walls and cytoplasmic membranes. Ozone can penetrate several millimeters into infected dentin, making it possible to disinfect deep decay without risking a pulp exposure.

Ozone has another benefit, as well: It supports healing. It helps with immune system regulation and circulation, increases antioxidant production, and much more.

At this point, we cap the tooth and leave the body to do the healing work it was designed to do.

Vital pulp therapy tends to be most effective for immature permanent teeth, less so for older, fully developed ones. With those, a procedure called revascularization tends to be far more effective.

Much of the process is the same as for vital pulp therapy, but there’s one more critical component it includes: platelet rich fibrin, or PRF for short. This is a membrane we make out of a small sample of your own blood, centrifuging it to separate the red blood cells and concentrate the platelets. Those platelets are a great natural source of growth factors.

Since the PRF comes from you, it’s 100% biocompatible, and it’s well proven to encourage the regeneration of healthy new tissue. (That’s why we use it on surgical sites, as well – to stimulate healing.) So we place PRF on the area of the pulp needing healing before we cap the tooth.

This is a far cry from your parents’ dreaded root canal therapy, making use of advances in tissue engineering and laser dentistry to do what once only seemed a dream: restore life to dying teeth.

Tooth diagram by BruceBlaus, via Wikimedia Commons; x-ray via Dr. Val Kanter

GCD Flashback: It’s Alive!: New Ways to Save Dying Teeth was originally seen on: Green City Dental Blog