Quit Smoking to Save Your Smile

You’ve likely heard that smoking increases risk of lung cancer and emphysema. But did you realize that your cigarette habit also has an impact on your smile? Chronic smokers suffer from increased dental problems that make their smiles unsightly. Understanding how smoking affects your oral health may provide the momentum you need to kick the habit for good.

Cosmetic Changes Associated with Smoking

Cigarettes contain more than 600 ingredients that, when lit, create in excess of 4,000 chemicals. Of these chemicals, many are known carcinogens while others have been shown to have serious negative effects on health. The nicotine and tar in tobacco products are absorbed by the enamel of your teeth. The result is yellowed teeth that look unsightly; with heavy smoking, your teeth may eventually turn nearly brown in color.

The chemicals in cigarettes and cigars also cause your teeth to become less clean. Smoking is associated with a build-up of tartar and plaque on the surface of your teeth. Over time, this increases your risk of developing cavities and other oral health problems. Furthermore, pursing your lips while smoking leads to wrinkles around your mouth, which detracts from your smile.

More Serious Dental Conditions

In addition to having unsightly teeth, smoking can cause serious health conditions. Because of the carcinogens in cigarettes, smoking is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer, which can be deadly. Smokers are also more likely to develop gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss. You may experience an increased loss of bone within your jaw, which will cause significant problems later in life.

Treatment for Smoking-Related Oral Health Problems

Metro Square  Dental will tell you that the best defense against smoking-related oral health problems is to ditch your nicotine habit. By decreasing the amount of nicotine and other chemicals you consume, you can decrease your risk of oral cancer and gum disease. Remember to mention your smoking habit when you’re at our Vernon Hill, IL office. We frequently treat smokers and can recommend smoking cessation programs to help you quit. Dr.Jeffrey Cohen can also advise you about whitening treatments and gum disease prevention activities that ensure you’ll have a beautiful smile for years to come.

Who benefits from Invisalign®?

One problem with trying to answer the question as to who benefits from Invisalign is that the simple answer is “almost everyone.” The see-through, almost invisible aligners for straightening teeth are specifically molded to fit each individual’s mouth. Unlike conventional braces, they can be removed when eating and when cleaning the teeth. Because they use less force in straightening teeth than metal braces, the risk of harm to teeth is lessened.

Benefits to adults

Traditional braces are associated with children and teenagers. Many adults want to have their teeth straightened but cannot decide which is worse: having crooked teeth or wearing metal braces. They also worry about having to change their diet by not being able to eat the foods they normally enjoy.

If you are an adult considering braces, our team at Metro Square Dental will tell you Invisalign aligners will give you the best of all worlds. Your teeth will be straightened with virtually invisible braces. You can remove your aligners when you eat so you can enjoy any food you normally would consume. You do not have to worry about embarrassing yourself by getting food stuck in your braces. You simply clean your teeth normally after eating and replace your aligners. If there is a special occasion during which you do not want to have any braces at all, you can remove the aligners for a few hours without causing any damage.

Benefits to teenagers

Our team knows  that teenagers are often involved in contact sports or gymnastics. Others find that having metal in their mouth interferes with their ability to play a musical instrument. Traditional metal braces contain wires and brackets that can cause damage to the mouth and gums; this is not a risk with Invisalign aligners.

For sports that require players to wear mouthguards, the expense of specially constructed mouthguards to fit over braces is avoided. The aligners can be removed during sports activity, and a normal mouthguard is worn. Teenagers who play musical instruments simply remove the aligners when practicing or playing in the band or orchestra.

Teenagers often feel they are too busy to spend time and trouble flossing teeth between the wires and brackets of traditional braces. Since the Invisalign aligners are removable, brushing and flossing are simpler and more likely to be performed.

For more information about Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, or to schedule an initial consultation call Metrodental.com at 847-680-7171

Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures to Consider for Your Smile

Your dentist is an excellent resource for your oral health, but he can also help you discover cosmetic procedures that will give you the sparking and beautiful smile you deserve. There is a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures available, and many of them can be completed in a single visit to the dentist’s office. Below, you will find an introduction to some of the most popular procedures that might be right for your unique smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain is an excellent material for cosmetic tooth enhancements, because it is durable, stain-proof, and easily customizable. Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped overlays that bond directly to the surface of the teeth to correct poor tooth spacing, discoloration of the enamel, or chipped teeth. One or several veneers may be needed to achieve the effects you are looking for in your treatment.

Crowns

Dental crowns are used to cap dental implants, preserve the structure of a broken tooth, or complete a root canal procedure. In the past, the dental crown procedure took several office visits to complete, but now most dental crown treatments can be completed using CEREC same-day restoration technology. CEREC uses digital tooth impressions to create custom tooth restorations made from versatile, beautiful porcelain that will blend seamlessly into your smile.

Invisalign

If you have crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, or gaps between the teeth, you may have chronic oral health issues in addition to aesthetic dissatisfaction with your smile. Invisalign can correct these problems without the discomfort of unattractive metal brackets and wires so that you can undergo orthodontic treatment at any age.



To see if you are a candidate for these and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact Dr. Jeffrey T. Cohen  DDS today by calling (847) 680-7171. Dr. Cohen offers a wide range of dental services to Vernon Hills residents, from general cleanings and checkups to advanced and complex procedures such as dental implants.

"Cerec" Crown in a day is here at Metrodental.com

Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC®) has revolutionized dental procedures. Traditionally, if crowns, onlays, inlays or dental veneers were required to restore damaged teeth, multiple procedures and a great deal of waiting time in-between would be inevitable. CEREC® creates these ceramic restorations within minutes in the dental office. This means that many treatments can be completed in just a single visit.

CEREC® is comprised of several computer-assisted design (CAD) tools and a milling machine that creates custom ceramic restorative devices. CEREC® can benefit almost anyone needing a ceramic restoration. This is of great benefit to nervous patients, and it can also reduce the cost of treatment.

How can CEREC® benefit me?

CEREC® can benefit almost anyone needing a ceramic restoration. Exceptions include patients who have a prior history of breaking ceramic devices and those with a deep bite. CEREC® devices are proven to last for over 5 years, but recent research indicates that most CEREC®-created restorations last for more than 10 years.

Here are some other advantages associated with CEREC®:

• No temporary restorations.
• High-quality ceramic products.
• Minimal invasiveness.
• Less injections and discomfort.
• Fewer dental visits.
• Cost effectiveness.
• More natural tooth is saved.
• Long lasting restorations.
• Biocompatible solutions.

What is the CEREC® system comprised of?

The CEREC® System is sometimes called a CAD-CAM system. CAD-CAM means Computer Assisted Design and Computer Assisted Milling. The CEREC® system has three major components:

Acquisition device: This device is home to a high-quality camera and a medical grade computer. The function of this unit is to photograph the prepared tooth. Three-dimensional images are created of the tooth on the screen, which the dentist uses to design the perfect ceramic restoration.

Three-dimensional CAD software: This software allows the dentist to examine the tooth from every angle. It is the closest possible thing to holding the tooth in the hands and rotating it.

Milling device: This unit actually manufactures the custom restoration from the specifications entered into the computer. A ceramic block that best resembles the existing tooth color is chosen and placed into the unit. Within minutes, the milling device produces the restoration the dentist designed.

What does a CEREC® restoration procedure involve?

The first step in the procedure is to prepare the tooth. The dentist removes all tooth decay and creates a divergent occlusal axial wall, to make the opening of the tooth wider than the base. Next, an impression is made using a covering of titanium dust. This dust allows the camera to take a highly detailed picture of the tooth. Images are formulated with the CEREC® camera. CEREC® optical imaging utilizes an infrared wavelength.

The image is transposed onto the computer screen. It is here that the dentist is able to view the tooth from every angle and design the final restoration. When the design is complete, it is transmitted to the milling unit. The dentist chooses a block of ceramic that matches the color of the teeth. This ensures that the restoration will be almost invisible.

Within 15 minutes, the full crown, onlay, overlay, or veneer is complete. The restoration is made of compressed, rather than laboratory-layered, porcelain. This enhances strength and durability.

Before affixing the restoration to the tooth, the dentist will place it dry to ensure it fits perfectly. It is then polished and affixed to the tooth with dental cement. The procedure is now complete and all without the need for a second visit! The quality of the results is the same as the laboratory-generated restoration, but a great deal of time and money has been saved.

If you have questions or concerns about CEREC®, please ask us during your next visit.

FLU Season and Teeth ?

The dreaded cold and flu season is here again! After recovering from your cold, one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush! Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart – keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips: • Wash your hands before and after brushing • Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen • Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster • Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long! We hope these tips help! Feel free to give us a call 

Manual vs Electric toothbrushes

We’ve all seen the commercials for power toothbrushes, usually featuring scenes of seemingly impenetrable plaque being scrubbed away with little effort. But is the electric toothbrush all it’s cracked up to be? Does it really clean your teeth better than manual brushing? The answer is not a simple one. Like anything else, there are pros and cons with each option, and there is no one-size-fits-all toothbrush for everyone.

Electric toothbrushes have a lot of great feature that make them an attractive choice. Many have built in timers to help you know how long to brush, and the moving bristles and/or sonic waves can help break up plaque. The down side is that they can be expensive, and the ongoing cost of replacement heads can pile up. Be sure you know what you are getting into. Keep in mind, regularly replaced manual toothbrushes will do a better job of cleaning your teeth than worn out electric heads.

Manual toothbrushes are tried and true, and can work just fine if used properly. Technique is especially important with manual toothbrushes, because you have to do all the work. Many people develop bad habits, simply swabbing the toothbrush around for a few moments. Don’t just passively brush, pay attention. Avoid “spacing out” while brushing, taking care to clean all the surfaces.

So which toothbrush is best for you? The one that you will use frequently, and effectively. And don’t forget, no matter which toothbrush you decide to use, daily flossing and regular dental visits are still a must to keep your mouth healthy. Have questions? Stop in and ask your oral hygienist during your next dental visit.

Tooth Scaling May Lower Heart Risk While Gum Disease Predicts Type Of Risk

Two new studies give further insights into the links between mouth hygiene, gum disease and cardiovascular events. Researchers in Taiwan find that dental patients who had their teeth cleaned and scaled professionally had reduced risks of heart attack and stroke, while researchers in Sweden find that the type of periodontal or gum disease may predict degree of risks for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

In their nationwide, population-based study, Drs Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen and Hsin-Bang Leu from the Cardiology department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, examined data on over 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling from a dentist or dental hygienist, and a similar number of matched controls who had never had their teeth professionally cleaned.

None of the participants had a history of stroke or heart attack. The data came from Taiwan National Health insurance records, and the researchers ran statistical tests to compare the cardiovascular event rates between the two groups for an average follow- up of seven years.

They found that participants who had their teeth professionally scaled frequently or occasionally had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not. The researchers considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years, and considered it occasional if it happened once or less in two years.

Chen, a cardiology fellow at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, told the press:

"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year."

She suggested that professional tooth scaling removes inflammation-causing bacteria that in turn can lead to heart disease and stroke.

One drawback of the study is that the researchers did not adjust the results to take into account other potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as weight, smoking and race, since this information wasn't in the health records.

The Swedish study was the work of Dr Anders Holmlund of the Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gävleborg, and senior consultant, Specialized Dentistry, and Dr Lars from the Department of Acute Medicine at Uppsala Academic Hospital.

They examined data on 7,999 participants with periodontal or gum disease and found that types of gum disease predict risk for heart attack, congestive heart failure and stroke in different ways and to different degrees.

Afer adjusting for age, gender, smoking and education level, their results showed that:
Participants who had fewer than 21 teeth had a 69% higher risk of heart attack compared to those who had the most teeth.

Participants with most infection (ie the highest number of deepended periodontal pockets around the base of the teeth) had a 53% higher risk of heart attack compared to those with the least infection (fewest number of pockets).

The participants with the fewest number of teeth had 2.5 times the risk of congestive heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.

Those with the highest incidence of gum bleeding had 2.1 times the risk of stroke compared to participants with the lowest incidence.
Holmlund and Lars concluded that:

"Markers of periodontal disease predict future common cardiovascular events in different ways, suggesting that they are risk indicators for different cardiovascular disorders."


-posted by Dr. Jeff